Profile, Employability Status, and Challenges in Job Hunting of Bachelor of Technology Graduates: A Tracer Study

Abstract

The goal of every academic institution is to produce competent graduates who will meet the demands of both local and global industries. The result of the tracer study provides valuable information for evaluating the whereabouts and performance of the graduates. The study aimed to trace the graduates of Bachelor of Technology from the school years 2015-2020. Specifically, it identified the profile of the respondents, including the area of specialization, year graduated, sex, and civil status. The study also determined the status of their employability and recognized the challenges they encountered in finding a job. The main respondents were the 667 Bachelor of Technology graduates from nine majors covering the 2015-2020 school years.

Results revealed that the majority of the technology graduates are male and single, regularly employed in private companies, and secured their first job in less than six months after graduation. The major challenges encountered by the graduates in finding a job include lack of self-confidence, financial pressure, seeking better job/career opportunities, and limited or no work experience. The relevance of the degree program to professional and career requirements was a key strength of the undergraduate curriculum of the Department.

Conducting regular tracer studies leads to continuous updating, revising, and enhancing of the curriculum for better employability opportunities for graduates, particularly by the Technology Department. The school may organize Job Fairs and establish more partnerships and linkages to assist graduates, especially the unemployed and self-employed, in improving their career prospects. Likewise, the University may design a program to support students' employability skills.