Industry Required Competencies as Predictors of Graduates’ Employability

This study primarily focused on understanding the required competencies of the industry for our graduates and the factors that predict employability of graduates. Itanswered the following objectives: a) determine the competencies required bycompanies in hiring new graduate students and graduates with one-year experience;b) find out difference in competencies that predict employability of graduates whennew and one year graduates were compared. This research utilized descriptivemethods and used purposive sampling in the selections of 32 participants who aresupervisors and human resource managers that were responsible for hiring andselection of employees within the CALABARZON area (Region IV-A). The studyutilized CHED Memorandum Order No. 20, series of 2015 (CMO) and GraduateEmployability Indicators (GEI) Employers Survey by the Australia Learning andTeaching Council as the basis in the development of questionnaire. Theparticipants answered the validated survey questionnaire to generate the findings ofthis study. The data gathered were tallied and interpreted through a statistical tooland utilized mean score, t test and Pearson r. The findings showed that employersexpect new graduates to must have competencies such as: computingprofessionalism & ethics; communication; and individual and team work; workattitude; and work spirit. While competencies that predict employability ofgraduates are working quality; working attitude; working spirit; and workingefficiency. The study implied the necessity to look at the alignment of curriculumthat would produce competencies among graduates. It is recommended to increasethe number of participants and involve more stakeholders in the enhancement ofthe curriculum