Title: Employers' preference and assessment of the qualities of fresh business graduates: empirical evidence from Malaysia

Authors: Mazuki Jusoh, Abdul Razak Mohd Rizal, Siong Choy Chong

Addresses: JAI Network Systems Sdn. Bhd., 474 Jalan Beserah, 25250 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. ' Faculty of Business and Law, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia. ' Institut Putra, Lot 1838, Mukim Bukit Katil, Ayer Keroh, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia

Abstract: This paper examines the qualities of fresh graduates in business from the perspectives of employers. Three main research questions are addressed: 1) What are the qualities preferred among fresh business graduates? 2) What ratings do employers give to the qualities of fresh business graduates? 3) Are the employers satisfied with the qualities of fresh business graduates? Data was collected from a questionnaire-based survey done on a sample of 127 human resource managers in Malaysia. The qualities of the fresh graduates include knowledge, skills, abilities, and others (experience, behaviour and attitudes), or KSAOs. Analyses on the mean scores indicate various aspects of KSAOs that employers seek in fresh business graduates. Even though the employers are generally satisfied with the graduates| qualities, the preference-assessment comparison reveals significant gaps in the graduates| skills and abilities. The findings are discussed and interpreted to provide important implications to employers, graduates and educational institutions.

Keywords: employer preference; Malaysia; graduate quality; business graduates; skills; abilities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2007.012682

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2007 Vol.4 No.3, pp.316 - 336

Published online: 08 Mar 2007 *

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