IPB Job Fair 2010 Open to Public

Head of Sub Directorate of Career Development, Directorate of Career Development and Alumni Relations (DPKHA) IPB, Iin Solihin, S. Pi, M. Si said in the RRI Dialogue (23/11) that IPB Job Fair 2010 from 27-28 November 2010 is open to the public. Graduates from other universities can participate in the Job Fair.

IPB holds a Job Fair as the national unemployment rate is quite high. It is estimated that 8.7 % of the Indonesian labor force are unemployed. "IPB facilitates companies to meet with job seekers," said Iin. This event was attended by 26 national and international companies from various sectors, especially agriculture. IPB has organized a job fair eight times. Every year the public interest rises, including the number of companies doing the recruitment.

In general, the admission requirements of the prospective companies are the GPA and soft skills of the jobseekers. ‘Therefore, DPKHA encourages students to achieve the highest GPA and to be active in student affairs," said Iin. Quite often companies do not see the GPA, but rather look at their soft skill. This is because the employee candidate is deemed able to provide benefits for the company, adapt and control creativity, and communicate well with others. Meanwhile, those who rely solely on GPA with low soft skill may not get much attention from a company.

Based on a tracer study by IPB, more than 60 % of IPB alumni still plunge into the world of agriculture, but if some alumni work outside the agricultural sector, this is because of their achievements. Iin further said, institutionally we are very concerned with agriculture. Each time before the graduation ceremony, IPB holds a stadium general by presenting successful alumni and top leadership to motivate the academic graduates. IPB also organizes a go-field program to develop experience in the various fields of agriculture. The problem often encountered by those entering the job world is their inability to see their own potential. (mtd)