My name is Chin Chiew Lan, HE2006-6078, a student of Human Resource Economics

(HE11) program, School of Business and Economics. I am conducting a research for my

thesis as part of the requirement for my Bachelor of Economics (Human Resource
Economics). The title of this thesis is “Unemployment Among Graduates”.

In my research, the respondents will include graduates who are not working yet, 3
months after their convocation and graduates who are employed. From 1 December
2008 onwards, I will email the questionnaires to all graduates. Please fill up your
information in the questionnaire below and reply to my email address
(chinchiewlan85@yahoo.com or chinchiewlan@gmail.com) on or before 31
December 2008. Your co-operation is much appreciated. Your response will be use for
the preparation of thesis only and the information will be kept confidential. Thank you for
participating in this survey.

Steps for filling the questionnaire

Step 1: Fill in your general information, education

background and employment status data
in section A by typing in the shaded box
provided.

Step 2: Graduates who are not Step 3: Graduates who are

working yet, please fill working, please fill in
section C.
in section B

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My name is Chin Chiew Lan, HE2006-6078, a student of Human Resource Economics
(HE11) program, School of Business and Economics. I am conducting a research for my
thesis as part of the requirement for my Bachelor of Economics (Human Resource
Economics). The title of this thesis is “Unemployment Among Graduates”.

In my research, the respondents will include graduates who are not working yet, 3
months after their convocation and graduates who are employed. From 1 December
2008 onwards, I will email the questionnaires to all graduates. Please fill up your
information in the questionnaire below and reply to my email address
(chinchiewlan85@yahoo.com or chinchiewlan@gmail.com) on or before 31
December 2008. Your co-operation is much appreciated. Your response will be use for
the preparation of thesis only and the information will be kept confidential. Thank you for
participating in this survey.

Section A

General information

1. Birth date

2. Gender

3. Race

4. Marital status

5. Email address

Educational background

6. Year of Bachelor’s degree

graduation in university

7. Program,

School/ Faculty

University

8. Any other training or education

attended?

2
 - Yes/no

- If yes, what is the course? and

- How long?

9. CGPA achievement

10. MUET achievement

11. Highest educational attainment

(for those who pursued further
studies in Master, Doctor or
others)

Employment status data (answer all questions)

12. How many jobs have you been

applying for after graduation?

13. How many job interviews have you

attended after graduation?

14. If you are not working, how much is

your expected salary?

15. Are you presently employed?

(Yes / no / still searching a job /

further study)

- If no or still searching for a job,

please proceed to section B

- If yes, please proceed to

Section C

- If you are furthering study, you are

not requested to answer this
questionnaire. Thank you for your
co-operation.

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Section B (For those who are not working yet )

16. Please state the reason(s) why you are not yet employed by filling in the
appropriate number (on the scale of 1 to 5) which best describe your opinion.

1 2 3 4 5
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
disagree Agree

Answer in number.
a. Lack of skill

- I acquired fewer skills which are relevant 4

to the jobs that I applied

(ex: I have chosen “Agree”, so I typed 4 in the

column)

1 2 3 4 5
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
disagree Agree

a. Lack of skill
I acquired fewer skills which are relevant to the jobs that I
applied for.
I frequently play the role as a leader among my friends.
My friends like to listen and are easily convinced by me.
I can find out efficient and effective solution to solve
problem.
I always help people to overcome dilemma/difficulties.
I feel that I do not have enough time frequently.
I always do not have enough time to finish my job.
I am punctual in submitting a task.
I can manage my time in all activities.
I always quarrel with people.
I like adventure in my life.
I understand and like myself.
I know what I can do.
My friends like to chat with me.
I can easily share my idea.
I am often concern with others’ feeling.
In university, juniors like to talk to me.

4
I can communicate well with elderly.
I can fluently communicate in English with others
1 2 3 4 5
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
disagree Agree

I often speak English with others.

I can share my ideas with others by using English.
I can write very well in English.
I can easily make new friends.
I will analyze others’ suggestion or idea critically.
I believe that co-operation among team players
(example football team) is the point for my team
achieve the goal.
I can perform a task by using computer.
I am always in dilemma when having to make
decisions.
I am not interested in decision making.
I can easily generate new ideas.
I often attend course or seminar.
I like to access the internet to obtain latest news and
information.
I often have online discussion with friends .
b. Lack of vacancies/ job opportunities
The present colleges/universities graduates are too
many in our nation.
There is no job vacancy for graduates in the current
market.
Employers decrease their employees engagement.
Employers reduce company size.
Working hours are being decreased day by day.
I think that industry/companies depend on technology.
Human beings are being replaced by technology.
The economy changes from P-economy to K-
economy.
c. Lack of work experience
I do not know the current working environments’
needs.
I never see how other people perform their job/ works.
I never go to my parents’/ relative working place to
help them.
Parents do not share their experience with me.
I do not have opportunity to observe parent work.
I do not interest work in a part time job.
I never work part time job before.

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I prefer staying at home in stead of working.

1 2 3 4 5
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
disagree

d. Quality of education
I did not attain sufficient subjects/courses in my
Bachelor’s degree.
My lecturers always conduct lectures in English.
Lecturers taught issues/information which was
outdated and less relevant to the present and future
market.
Oversea education is better than local education.
I was always absent to class..
e. Lack of interest in seeking job
My parents can afford my daily spending.
My parents still and always offer financial help to me
now.
I feel that working is providing less incentive to me.
Most of my friends do not encourage me to work.
f. Characteristics of job
The starting salary for graduates is too low.
Firm offers me a position that requires lower
qualification then my qualification.
I think career advancement is bad in certain job.
Most firms do not provide good facilities.
I am interested in a highly paid job.
I dislike hard work.
I prefer flexible working hours occupation that offers
high job security.
I am interested with jobs that provide opportunities for
promotion (advance to higher position).

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Section C (For those who are employed)

Please tick where relevant with a left click on your mouse. You may advance the
boxes using TAB key or press arrow down.
For open questions, kindly type your answers.

17. Present Employment Status

(Please tick which are appropriate
your opinion)

- Regular/ Permanent

- Temporary/ contractual

- Part time

- Self-employed

18. Present occupation

(Please tick which are appropriate
your opinion)

- government sector

- private sector

- self-employed

19. What skills acquired in university

were you able to apply in your
work?

20. How long have you been working?

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21. What are your reason(s) for staying
on the job? You may tick more than
one answer.

- Job security

- Peer influence

- Family influence
FORMCHECKBOX
- Career challenge

- Salaries and benefits

- Related to special skill

- Proximity to residence

- Related to course or study

- Related to academic
qualification

- Good human relation with

employer/ fellow employees

- Other reasons, please specify

22. Was the curriculum you had in

university relevant to your present
job? Yes/No

If Yes, what competencies learned

in university did you find most
useful in your job? You may tick
more than one answer.

- Entrepreneur Skills

- Critical thinking skills

- Problem-solving skills

- Communication skills

- Human relations skills

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 - Information technology skills

- Skill related to my course such as

- other skills, please specify

23. How long did it take you to get your

present job after graduating from
university? (Please tick one only)

- 1-15 days

- 16-30 days

- 1 month to less than 1.5 months

- 1.5 months to less than 2 months

- 2 months to less than 2.5

months

- 2.5 months to 3 months

24. How did you find your current job?

(You may tick more than one
answer).

- Internet

- Job fair

- Job agency

- As walk-in applicant

- Information from friends

- Information from relatives

- Recommended by someone

- Response to an advertisement

- Arranged by school’s job

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 placement officer

25. Is this your first job?

Yes/No

-If yes, how long have you been

working on this job

- If yes, how long you get your first

job?

-If no, how long did you stay in your

first job?

26. How many jobs do you have

previously if this is not your first
job?

27. What were your reason(s) for

changing job? You may tick more
than one answer.

- Job security

- Career challenge

- Salaries & benefits

- Proximity to residence

- Related to special skills

- Relations with people in the

organization

- Others, please specify

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Thank you for taking time out to fill out this questionnaire. You may also help by
listing down the names and email addresses of other graduates who are not
employed yet (especially those graduated in year 2008). Their participation is also
needed.

Name(s) Email Address

Thank you very much for your participation!!!

Note: Please save your answers on this questionnaire by clicking the save button
and email this file to chinchiewlan85@yahoo.com or chinchiewlan@gmail.com

-End of questionnaire-

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