70 percent of job seekers underpaid, overqualified

70 percent of job seekers underpaid, overqualified

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

For Iwan, 28, finding a job that is commensurate with his level
of education is no easy task. As a Master of Natural and
Environmental Resources Management from the Bogor Institute of
Agricultural (IPB), Iwan has been forced to apply for all sorts
of jobs, including as a scriptwriter for a TV station and an
accounts officer for an advertising company.

"Actually I want a job in a green company, but I realize it
won't be easy. I have applied to 10 green companies and
institutions but so far there's been no response. However, I need
a job more than I need idealism," said Iwan, who was awarded his
master's degree in May.

Iwan was one among 9,000 people who flocked on Wednesday to
the Kartika Chandra hotel for the second day of the two-day
Career and Recruitment Exhibition 2003. A total of 18,500 people,
mostly university graduates, visited the exhibition. This figure
was, however, lower than the expected 20,000.

The exhibition, staged by online recruitment service
JobsDB.com, proved to be a mecca for job seekers looking for
better positions and higher salaries.

Ani, 24, is currently working as a customer service officer
for a marketing company but is looking for a new job as a
secretary or an administrative officer.

"I'm looking for a job that offers a promising career and
provides a conducive place to work," said Ani, who holds a
diploma in business administration.

Sugeng, 23, a university graduate, told The Jakarta Post that
he had been waiting since 8 a.m.

"I didn't get into the ballroom yesterday. That's why I came
earlier this morning. Thankfully, today's event is better
organized," said Sugeng, who graduated from the School of
Economics of the National Development University (UPN) last July.

He brought with him 10 sets of application letters to present
to some of the companies in the exhibition.

Sugeng had sent about 10 applications through the post but
received no favorable replies.

"I began to feel a bit of stress, but now when I see so many
university graduates who are also desperately looking for jobs at
this event, I feel relieved. I'm not alone," he said smiling.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) show that there
were 549,356 unemployed job seekers with different educational
levels in Jakarta alone in 2002.

There were a total of 9,132,104 jobless people nationwide, of
which 5,659,715 were fresh graduates holding diplomas and
bachelor's degrees.

JobsDB.com's managing director, Eddy Tjahja, said that about
70 percent of the exhibition's visitors were employees looking
for new jobs offering higher salaries, improved careers or a
better future.

Noted scholar B. Herry Priyono told the Post that this was a
disturbing phenomenon.

"Many people are taking temporary jobs just to earn money.
They consider it a stepping stone to getting work in the big
corporations, for example, those located on Jl. Jend. Sudirman
and Jl. M.H. Thamrin," he said.

He said that corporations were continuing to reduce their
work forces while at the same time the universities continued to
produce more new graduates every year.

Herry called on the government to encourage the growth of
small and medium enterprises that could provide greater
employment opportunities.

In contrast to the first day, which was marked by a near riot,
the second day appeared to be better organized. The organizers
took measures to avoid any repeat of yesterday's melee by
demarcating special lanes leading towards the ballroom.

The organizers had to open the exhibition at 9:30 a.m., 30
minutes ahead of schedule, as the line of job seekers, many of
whom had been queuing since 7 a.m., was already hundreds of
meters long.