Graduates' integration on the labour market

• Author: Palade, A. - Constantin, C.
• Position: Student at Marketing Policies and Strategies Master Program, Transilvania University of Brasov - Dept. of Marketing, Tourism and International Relations, Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 65-74

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 6 (55) No. 1 - 2013

GRADUATES’ INTEGRATION ON THE

LABOUR MARKET

A. PALADE

1 C. CONSTANTIN2

Abstract: This paper contains a research study about the integration of 1 st

cycle gr aduates on the labour market. Marketing r esearch was carried out

among university gra duates, emphasising their career path a fter gra duating,

taking into account that graduates’ job pla cement h as acq uired gr eat

importance in higher education. The conclusion drawn in the pa per is that

career counselling and orientation should be fostered for students, while more

weight should be given to pra ctical placements in the study programs’

curriculum, in order to build specific competences for students, which make

them capable to obta in a better job position after gr aduation.

Key words: labour market, mar ket resea rch, career path, higher educa tion

marketing.

1. Introduction

In recent years, the professional insertion

of graduates has become a difficult process,

such that an increasingly longer period of

time is required from their graduation until

they find a job. However, this process plays

a crucial role in adapting to economic and

social life and in the further development of

young people. Therefore, in this paper we

aimed to analyse the integration of

university graduates in the labour market.

We chose as a case study the Faculty of

Economic Sciences and Business

Administration of Transilvania University

of Brasov, Romania.

Given the difficulty for young people to

find a job after the completion of their first

cycle of studies, a survey was conducted

among graduates regarding their insertion

on the labour market. The research was

conducted in November and December

2012, and its main purpose was to identify

1 Student at Marketing Policies and Strategies Master Program, Transilvania University of Braşov.

2 Dept. of Marketing, Tourism and International Relations, Transilvania University of Braşov.

the intentions of the target population in

terms of their career path. Thus, we aimed

to identify the attitude of graduates with

regard to the improvements that should be

made by the faculty to facilitate the

provision of a professional career in the

graduates’ field of study, as well as their

attitude towards the chosen career path.

Based on the research results, we

concluded that greater emphasis must be

placed on the practical activities rather than

on the theory, so that young people may

have a better chance to integrate into the

labour market. Also, policies on lifelong

learning should be developed. To increase

the chances of possible employment and

add value to the knowledge acquired,

graduates should be in-line with

technological changes.