For many fresh graduates, finishing university is supposed to feel like the start of a new chapter.
But for one Universiti Malaya (UM) graduate, the job-hunting process has been more difficult than expected.
In an anonymous post that gained attention online, the graduate shared a struggle with finding a job despite having a CGPA of 3.5 and applying for many roles over the past three months.
The graduate had applied for many jobs since March, but remained unemployed.
The graduate also shared that career fairs felt like “window shopping”, suggesting that attending such events did not lead to much progress.
Netizens offer advice and encouragement
Many netizens came forward with advice, encouragement, and even job leads.
A netizen said that “CGPA is just a number” and mentioned a job opening and asked the OP to send over their resume.
Another commenter shared a personal experience of graduating from UM with a CGPA of 3.4, adding that though the first job secured wasn’t related to the degree and came with a salary of RM2,700, it eventually opened doors to better opportunities, including a move into an MNC.
Career paths are not always straight
Another netizen shared that a CGPA of 2.76 did not stop a career from progressing.
After graduating eight years ago and securing a job within three months, the commenter is now a manager at an e-commerce enabler.
The commenter added that companies do not only look at academic results, but also confidence, character, and how a person carries oneself during interviews.
Several others also suggested that the graduate review the resume format and customise applications according to each job.
One commenter said more interview calls started coming in only after the resume was changed and made more specific.
CGPA is not everything
Some netizens also pointed out that even a perfect CGPA does not guarantee immediate employment.
Apart from academic results, commenters said networking, communication skills, student activities, internships, and interview performance can also make a difference.
Others encouraged the graduate to consider taking up any available job first while continuing to search for a role related to the field of study.
Some also suggested trying platforms or reaching out directly to recruiters.
In a follow-up comment, the OP said many people had asked about the course studied at UM.
However, the OP felt embarrassed to reveal it as people from the same faculty might recognise the situation.
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