Students in the Workplace

Taking into account the employers' statements, what is the main problem with the current education system?

• University degrees do not incorporate a solid theoretical basis and are too practice-oriented, which results in students not being able to perform the functions required of them in the labour market

• Degrees last too many years and students lose interest in studying, leaving their education prematurely

• Degrees do not provide updated practical content that meets the demands of the labour market, making it difficult for graduates to enter the workplace

• There is a lack of students at universities due to the progressive increase in university fees

Are the following situations true or false?

• A young woman went to work in a legal firm and was dismissed for not having adequate knowledge of her country's legislation

• A young graduate in HR was hired for an internship, but his contract ended prematurely due to an error that caused a large financial loss

• A business management graduate faced legal actions for setting up two organisations and providing inconsistent data to the administration

• A boy from an IT institute started his internship in a private company and, while he knew how to set up a firm, he was unable to use an electronic soldering iron

Considering the employers' comments, what is the first thing they normally do when receiving a job/internship/volunteer application from a student?

• Check their criminal record to make sure they do not have any criminal offences

• Thoroughly study the attached CV to assess whether or not they have the right profile

• Google the candidate's name and take a look at their profile on social networks such as Linkedin

• Phone the candidate's previous employers to get their opinion on their suitability as an employee

Based on employers' statements, what are the most valued skills when hiring a person?

There are two truthful statements among the following situations. Can you identify them?

• A company boss had to pick up a printer weighing 400 kilos. He asked his trainee if he could help him transport it, but the trainee refused claiming that he had been "hired" to "programme". He stayed inside the vehicle using his cell phone.

• A student hired by a well-known brand to work in its marketing department refused to do some paid extra hours during a particularly busy time. She claimed that her contract was not explicitly stipulated.

• A student was selected for an internship in the International Affairs Department of a food company. He was fired shortly afterwards for his disrespectful attitude towards colleagues, the use of his mobile device during working hours, and his refusal to travel for a few days to another location.

• An economics graduate was hired as a trainee accountant at a consultancy, where she was instructed to attend a few clients and to refill the printer in case it ran out of paper. The student rejected the tasks, arguing that she had only been hired for "book-keeping".

What problematic aspects do employers frequently detect among students or recent graduates applying for jobs?

• Lack of etiquette skills during online communication and problems in managing personal emotions such as criticism, nerves or frustration

• A careless external image and lack of interpersonal skills when dealing with people from other socio-cultural backgrounds

• A disrespectful attitude towards superiors as well as a lack of ambition when it comes to promotion within a company

• The absence of a more intensive theoretical training and commitment, preferring not to take on long-term professional commitments with the employing company

According to the answers provided by the students surveyed, the use of digital platforms such as Moodle or Teams in the educational system is...

• Very unproductive, as it is a waste of time for both students and teachers, who prefer more familiar traditional methods

• Indifferent, as these platforms suffer from many technical problems that hinder their use and limit their effectiveness

• Absolutely essential, as nowadays all teachers use this type of technology in all subject area

• Very useful despite some occasional problems, as they facilitate teacher-learner communication as well as the study and development of contents thanks to easy access to them

Linkedin is a tool that most of the students...

• know it very well, as it is fashionable and allows them to get quality jobs very quickly

• know little about, as, they use it sporadically with outdated profiles

• use it frequently as a social network to chat with other friends, acquaintances and famous people

• do not know it at all, being Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok the only ones they have used so far.

How do students contact companies when applying for a job position?

How else do students contact companies?