Home⇛QCU The Gavel: Journal of Business and Social Sciences⇛vol. 3 no. 1 (2025)

From Graduation to Job Seeking: The Lived Experiences of Initao College BSBA Alumni

Rubie Cabasag | Rowena Bandojo | Elejane Lumahang | Gerlyn Butaslac | Jeleza Sabaldana

Discipline: Teacher Training

 

Abstract:

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) graduates from Initao College as they transitioned from graduation to job seeking. The study aimed to understand their journeys, the challenges and opportunities they encountered, and the coping strategies or support systems they relied on during their job search. A total of 16 newly graduated participants from the 2024–2025 batch were selected through purposive sampling. Data were gathered through in-depth, semistructured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method to identify emerging themes from significant statements. Three major themes emerged from the study: The Emotional Landscape of Transition, which captured graduates’ mixed feelings of hope, pressure, and uncertainty during the job search process; Barriers and Pathways in the Job Search, which highlighted issues such as lack of experience, financial limitations, and job location challenges, as well as proactive strategies like internships and resume-building; and Motivation Through Support, Faith, and Purpose, which emphasized the role of family, faith, and personal goals in helping graduates persist through difficulties. This study concludes that the journey from graduation to employment is both emotionally and practically demanding for graduates. This study recommends that Initao College may enhance career preparation through expanded exposure to practical industry experiences, mentorship programs, and more seminars and training. The curriculum may be revised to focus more on practical skills rather than theoretical knowledge to better prepare students for the workforce. Local Government Units may provide job facilitation programs such as job fairs and employment seminars to support graduates in finding employment opportunities.



References:

  1. Affum-Osei, E., & Chan, D. K. (2024). Job search in a difficult labour market: linking goal orientation to job search strategies and outcomes with the moderating role of self-control. Current Psychology, 43(4), 2947-2964.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04439-x
  2. Ariansyah, K., Wismayanti, Y. F., Savitri, R., Listanto, V., Aswin, A., Ahad, M. P. Y., & Cahyarini, B. R. (2024). Comparing labor market performance of vocational and general school graduates in Indonesia: insights from stable and crisis conditions. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 16(1), 5. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40461-024-00160-6
  3. Arthur-Holmes, F., Busia, K. A., Vazquez-Brust, D. A., & Yakovleva, N. (2022). Graduate unemployment, artisanal and small-scale mining, and rural transformation in Ghana: What does the ‘educated’ youth involvement offer? Journal of Rural Studies, 95, 125–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.08.002
  4. Belle, M. A., Antwi, C. O., Ntim, S. Y., Affum-Osei, E., & Ren, J. (2022). Am I gonna get a job? Graduating students’ psychological capital, coping styles, and employment anxiety. Journal of Career Development, 49(5), 1122-1136.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/08948453211020124
  5. Bolton, L. E. (2022). “ Reality Shock”: Understanding the Work Values of Young People Entering the Workplace (Doctoral dissertation, University of Leeds).https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/31778/
  6. Braun, G., Rikala, P., Järvinen, M., Hämäläinen, R., & Stahre, J. (2024). Bridging skill gaps–a systematic literature review of strategies for industry. Sustainable Production through Advanced Manufacturing, Intelligent Automation and Work Integrated Learning, 687-696.https://jyx.jyu.fi/jyx/Record/jyx_123456789_94425
  7. Christiansen, B., & Even, A. M. (Eds.). (2024). Prioritizing Skills Development for Student Employability. IGI Global.https://shorturl.at/Ia9iT
  8. Colaizzi, P. F. (1978). Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it.
  9. da Motta Veiga, S. P., & Gabriel, A. S. (2016). The role of self-determined motivation in job search: A dynamic approach. Journal of Applied Psychology, 101(3), 350.https://shorturl.at/WLQ4P
  10. Decker-Lange, C., Lange, K., & Walmsley, A. (2024). How does entrepreneurship education affect employability? Insights from UK higher education. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 30(5), 1249-1269.https://shorturl.at/aHaJE
  11. Diao, R., & Yao, J. (2025). The effect of family support on college students’ slow employment intention: The chain mediating role of resilience and career choice effectiveness. Acta Psychologica, 254, 104810. https://shorturl.at/O4EET
  12. Emmanuel, A. O., & Olayinka, A. W. (2024). 21st century work environment and contemporary employability skills among millennia university graduates. African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovations (AJeIN), 3(2), 1-19. https://shorturl.at/eeYDR
  13. Jang, J. H., & Lee, S. Y. (2025). Exploring Perception Types of Humanities Job Seekers in Employment Preparation: Implications for Career Guidance. Behavioral Sciences, 15(2), 151.https://sl1nk.com/eWb2F
  14. Jaskari, M. M. E. (2025). Bridging the Skills Gap in Higher Marketing Education: Enhancing Graduate Competencies Through Education-Related Industry-Academia Collaboration. In Developing Managerial Skills for Global Business Success (pp. 151-174). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.https://l1nq.com/P840i
  15. Jocson, R. M., & Garcia, A. S. (2021). Religiosity and spirituality among Filipino mothers and fathers: Relations to psychological well-being and parenting. Journal of Family Psychology, 35(6), 801.https://sl1nk.com/IpJpB
  16. Kang, Y., & Xiong, W. (2021). Is entrepreneurship a remedy for Chinese university graduates’ unemployment under the massification of higher education? A case study of young entrepreneurs in Shenzhen. International Journal of Educational Development, 84, 102406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102406
  17. Labrague, L. J., McEnroe‐Pettite, D., & Leocadio, M. C. (2019, April). Transition experiences of newly graduated Filipino nurses in a resource‐scarce rural health care setting: A qualitative study. In Nursing forum (Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 298-306). https://sl1nk.com/HshdF
  18. Li, R., Hassan, N. C., Saharuddin, N., & Ouyang, S. (2024). Understanding college success through the lens of first-generation students in China: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Heliyon, 10(10). https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)07010-5
  19. Llanos-Contreras, O., Alonso-Dos-Santos, M., & Welsh, D. H. (2024). Graduating college students apply here: communicating family firm ownership and firm size. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 15(1), 100535.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877858522000596
  20. Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Sage Publications.https://shorturl.at/iUC0h
  21. Mueller, A. I., Spinnewijn, J., & Topa, G. (2021). Job seekers’ perceptions and employment prospects: Heterogeneity, duration dependence, and bias. American Economic Review, 111(1), 324-363.https://shorturl.at/qWZr8
  22. Mueller, A. I., Spinnewijn, J., & Topa, G. (2021). Job seekers’ perceptions and employment prospects: Heterogeneity, duration dependence, and bias. American Economic Review, 111(1), 324-363.https://shorturl.at/5yZ2o
  23. O’Leary, P., Coakley, N., & Bennett, D. (2023). Endured and prevailed: a phenomenological study of doctors’ first year of clinical practice.https://shorturl.at/TrWJ0
  24. Pham, T., Soltani, B., & Singh, J. K. N. (2024). Employability capitals as essential resources for employment obtainment and career sustainability of international graduates. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 48(4), 436-448.https://shorturl.at/2q2iH
  25. Ridho, W. F. (2024). Unmasking online fake job group financial scams: a thematic examination of victim exploitation from perspective of financial behavior. Journal of Financial Crime, 31(3), 748-758.https://shorturl.at/2q2iH
  26. Sagna, S., & Vaccaro, A. (2023). “I Didn’t Just Do It for Myself”: Exploring the Roles of Family in Adult Learner Persistence. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 71(2), 168-182.https://shorturl.at/2L547
  27. Tandika, P., & Ndijuye, L. G. (2022). The question of university graduates’ employability: are the students aware of the employers’ preferences. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 12(3), 588-603.https://shorturl.at/xU9lR
  28. Whalley, J., Imbulpitiya, A., Clear, T., & Ogier, H. (2024). From student to working
  29. professional: A graduate survey. arXiv preprint arXiv:2410.07560.https://shorturl.at/3pYWD
  30. Zhang, Z., Wang, T., Zhao, Y., & Shi, X. (2025). Transition shock experience of newly graduated nurses: a qualitative study. Contemporary Nurse, 61(1), 21-32.https://shorturl.at/TH2cJ

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic