“Know Your Strengths and Look for Practice”
Monday, June 23, 2008 - Editor: Tiep Seiha
TIEP-Seiha: Which are the most successful majors that a student should study?
Prach Minea (speaking with gestures): Engineering health, information technology and agriculture. With these significant majors you can also run an independent business. Cambodia for example has oil and mines, so technology is needed. The Institute of Technology of Cambodia is designing a course.
Which degree offers the best job opportunities?
Usually we say: The higher the degree, the better the opportunities to find a job. But in Cambodia today, specific trades, such as mechanics, cooks, bakers and workers for garment factories have good chances to get jobs after two years of training. They can earn up to 100 Dollars a month.
What should students consider before the chose a major?
(Sighs) Students ought to know in which subjects they are strong. As for the major, a student who wants to study law, economics and computer studies should choose the Royal University of Law and Economics. To study English literature and computer programming, students will go to the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The National University of Management is strong in graphic design and information technologies. Engineering and general information technologies are also successful at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. Health workers are well advised go to the University of Health sciences and future architects will join the Royal University of Fine Arts. But in general, I recommend to avoid studying two majors at once, it is better to focus on one subject and to do it well. Students may not be more successful in the future just because they studied a lot.
Why are students without a job after graduation?
Jobs never come to us; we have to search for them. However, some students think that some jobs are not suitable to their degree. This attitude is not helpful. Other students get bachelor’s degree without proper qualification. Employers choose candidates by looking at their CV first. Secondly, they look at the university. There are about ten institutions which employers respect; among them are the ones which I mentioned earlier and also Pannasatra and Norton Universities. Of course, students have to hand in a convincing application.
What is your advice to students who did not find a job?
They should get together in groups of three of five people and create their own jobs. For instance, IT students should think creatively and try to hook up with other institutions. It is a bad habit that we wait for jobs and do not invent them by ourselves.
What should students know in order to get job?
(Knocks the table with his fists) Besides studying theory, students have to become active and get some work experience. Many job ads require at least one year of practical experience. Students should try to study and should go to work as much as they can.
