English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed
Of late, various quarters have expressed their concern with the employability of graduates, and communication skills and English proficiency are among the factors frequently highlighted by the government and potential employers. However, the views of would-be graduates entering the job market have r...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Proceeding |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, UNIMAS
2012
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/726/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/726/1/proficiency%2Band%2Bemployability%2BPolytechnic%2Bstudents%2Bnotions%2Bof%2Bwhat%2Bit%2Btakes%2Bto%2Bget%2Bthem%2Bemployed%2528abstract%2529.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848834604726747136 |
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| author | Kien, Bee ooi Ting, Su Hie |
| author_facet | Kien, Bee ooi Ting, Su Hie |
| author_sort | Kien, Bee ooi |
| building | UNIMAS Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Of late, various quarters have expressed their concern with the employability of graduates, and communication skills and English proficiency are among the factors frequently highlighted by the government and potential employers. However, the views of would-be graduates entering the job market have received less attention. This study examines the polytechnic students’ notions of the factors that increase their employability. A survey was conducted among polytechnic students in Kuching, Sarawak. The questionnaire encompassed items on likely means to secure their first job, the relative importance of factors that influence employability as well as their knowledge of and confidence in writing good CVs, job application letters and performing in job interviews. As the majority of polytechnic students are post SPM school leavers, they do not have working experience. The results indicate that while they have some idea on the value of good qualifications to secure good jobs, they may not be fully aware of the importance of being proficient in English or the implications of poor mastery of English on their job hunting prospects. Their lack of familiarity with resume, cover letter and job interview underscore the importance of English courses which prepare them for communication in the workplace. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T05:54:37Z |
| format | Proceeding |
| id | unimas-726 |
| institution | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T05:54:37Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, UNIMAS |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | unimas-7262022-05-12T08:36:22Z http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/726/ English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed Kien, Bee ooi Ting, Su Hie AC Collections. Series. Collected works L Education (General) Of late, various quarters have expressed their concern with the employability of graduates, and communication skills and English proficiency are among the factors frequently highlighted by the government and potential employers. However, the views of would-be graduates entering the job market have received less attention. This study examines the polytechnic students’ notions of the factors that increase their employability. A survey was conducted among polytechnic students in Kuching, Sarawak. The questionnaire encompassed items on likely means to secure their first job, the relative importance of factors that influence employability as well as their knowledge of and confidence in writing good CVs, job application letters and performing in job interviews. As the majority of polytechnic students are post SPM school leavers, they do not have working experience. The results indicate that while they have some idea on the value of good qualifications to secure good jobs, they may not be fully aware of the importance of being proficient in English or the implications of poor mastery of English on their job hunting prospects. Their lack of familiarity with resume, cover letter and job interview underscore the importance of English courses which prepare them for communication in the workplace. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, UNIMAS 2012 Proceeding NonPeerReviewed text en http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/726/1/proficiency%2Band%2Bemployability%2BPolytechnic%2Bstudents%2Bnotions%2Bof%2Bwhat%2Bit%2Btakes%2Bto%2Bget%2Bthem%2Bemployed%2528abstract%2529.pdf Kien, Bee ooi and Ting, Su Hie (2012) English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed. In: Persidangan Kebangsaan Penyelidikan dan Inovasi dalam Sistem Pendidikan dan Teknik dan Vokasional (CIETVET 2012), 25-26 September 2012, Politeknik Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.. |
| spellingShingle | AC Collections. Series. Collected works L Education (General) Kien, Bee ooi Ting, Su Hie English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed |
| title | English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed |
| title_full | English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed |
| title_fullStr | English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed |
| title_full_unstemmed | English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed |
| title_short | English proficiency and employability: Polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed |
| title_sort | english proficiency and employability: polytechnic students’ notions of what it takes to get them employed |
| topic | AC Collections. Series. Collected works L Education (General) |
| url | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/726/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/726/1/proficiency%2Band%2Bemployability%2BPolytechnic%2Bstudents%2Bnotions%2Bof%2Bwhat%2Bit%2Btakes%2Bto%2Bget%2Bthem%2Bemployed%2528abstract%2529.pdf |