Jakarta vocational students train for psychometric tests to boost job prospects

Fifty-one vocational high school students in Jakarta received training in psychometric testing, a crucial step for formal employment. The initiative by YARSI University's Psychology Faculty aims to equip students from SMKN 39 Jakarta with the skills needed to navigate job selection processes.

This program directly addresses the concerning unemployment rate among vocational school graduates in Indonesia. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that 9.01% of SMK graduates are unemployed, a figure higher than high school and university graduates. Fitri Arlinkasari, a lecturer at YARSI University and the program's organizer, explained that the primary challenge for SMK graduates isn't a lack of technical skills but rather their performance in initial recruitment stages.

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When we discussed with the school, the pattern that emerged showed that the number of alumni who directly found work was still below ten per batch.

"When we discussed with the school, the pattern that emerged showed that the number of alumni who directly found work was still below ten per batch," Arlinkasari stated. She noted that even schools with "A" accreditation and industry partnerships struggle to place their graduates because students often falter during psychometric and personality tests, which are the first hurdles in formal recruitment.

The training, funded by YARSI University's internal community service grant for the 2025/2026 academic year, focused on closing the gap between students' existing competencies and their preparedness for job selection mechanisms. The program involved five lecturers, four psychology students as facilitators and testers, and one administrative staff member, prioritizing students aiming for immediate employment after graduation.

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The main problem for SMK graduates is not technical skills, but the selection process for entering the workforce.