ALMOST HALF of young Filipinos leave their first jobs in less than a year, a global employment solutions company said in a study released Thursday, citing slow professional development, low salaries and lacking challenge in their work.

Results of a pioneer survey by Monster.com with 1,115 respondents comprised of fresh graduates and employers showed 42% fresh graduates in the Philippines end up quitting in less than a year, with 72% citing slow professional development as a trigger. This is followed by a desire to earn more money (48%) and the need for more challenging work (32%).

According to the survey, 41% of respondents said the biggest challenge they faced in their first job was that they lacked industry knowledge. Meanwhile, 32% said issues with their bosses was the second biggest hurdle, followed by 30% citing “not being prepared for work life”.

On the other hand, 80% of employers believe they provide enough support to fresh graduates to meet their job requirements. However, they said these talents “may be expecting too much when it comes to money and compensation.”

According to employers, the biggest job interview mistakes made by these graduates include “focusing too much on money” (26%), turning up late (24%), and not doing sufficient research on the company (21%).

Some 53% of employers also found discussions about compensation during initial interviews “unprofessional,” as they expect job hunters to focus on understanding the role they are applying for.

“Money is obviously a key concern for fresh graduates, and this makes sense – they are finally embarking on their career journey and will be excited about earning their first full-time wage. But young talent would be smart to play down their salary hopes, and instead focus on what they can gain from experience in their first job. How can they contribute to the bigger picture, what skills can they learn, and what path might they have to grow?” said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director of Monster.com – Asia-Pacific ​and​ ​Middle​ ​East.

“In the same breath, employers must be mindful of young talents’ keen desire for leadership support to up-skill. Fresh graduates are aware that being given the opportunity to expand their responsibilities and competencies can lead to bigger and better-paying roles, which will help employers to retain and develop talent in the long-term.” – A.G.A. Mogato

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR