How Far Can You Go In Your Career with an Ateneo Education?

by Florence T. Ladion, MA Psy ’06, AB Psy ‘01

The eagle is arguably the most powerful and imposing bird in the animal kingdom. With its laser-like eyesight, fatal talons, muscular legs, and hooked beak, the eagle can out soar, overpower, and overcome almost any other known bird species. Unbeknownst to many, too, it is the only creature that can look directly into the sun without getting blinded by its glare. Also, it can effortlessly soar into great heights even without flapping its wings. Yet in all its splendor and beauty, the eagle is a picture of calm and peace especially when in flight. Hence, the eagle is often used to epitomize power, strength, stability, excellence and greatness.

In Philippine shores, you will almost always see a dominant species of eagles atop every crucial sphere of influence. Be it in business, law, medicine, public service, research, science and technology, literature, sports, music and the arts, or entertainment, there is almost always a spirited Blue Eagle scaling heights of greatness and excellence.

In terms of employment, the Blue Eagle is known to be an asset in every institution he/she works with. It is not surprising then that the Ateneans rate of unemployment has been steadily low in recent years – this despite crashing economies. In the most recent data on Ateneo graduates (Batch 2007) gathered by the Ateneo Placement Office, only 1.28% of 1,257 respondents (roughly 16 students) were not employed after more or less a year out of college. It should be noted that this figure does not necessarily mean that these unemployed Ateneans had never been employed.

This statistic also pertains to those who were in-between jobs and those who did not work by choice.

Annual surveys on fresh Ateneo graduates show that majority of them go to the industrial sector for employment, that is, when they are not being entrepreneurs or taking over the family business themselves . An overwhelming 83% (406 out of 487 of those who responded to the question on length of time to find employment after graduation) also reported that they received job offers 1 month or less after graduation. Only 1% (8 out of 487) still did not have work 6 months or more after graduation. For Batch 2007, about 90% went to different industries including banking and finance, computer and information technology, manufacturing, media, telecommunications, marketing, consultancy, and sales. More and more, Ateneans have also been going overseas for employment in multinational companies. For instance, 40 Batch 2007 graduates (about 4.35% of 1,250 survey respondents) worked in Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong deployed by their companies as management trainees or direct hires.

And so at this point, we ask: What is it about Ateneo education that brings its graduates this far in the employment scene?

Supervisors and HR managers are one in saying that the training which Ateneans get from school rubs off on the way they do things in the work place. You can expect them to be passionate about their work, have the initiative to modify existing systems, and infuse creativity in their output. They focus and work hard to achieve the goals that their organizations set. More importantly, they know how to lead others to do the same. They are generally described to be proactive, adaptable, and willing to learn new things.

If there is one thing that easily sets apart the Atenean from the rest of the crowd, it is their communication skills.Trained for years in hurdling oral exams, Ateneans exude confidence when they speak and present their ideas. They are not only commended for their excellent analytical skills, but for how they can present insights with such ease and composure. Even when the going gets tough, Ateneans show the resilience to deliver way beyond the minimum required of them. They are rated to be adequately equipped with the technical know-how to go about specific jobs that require a certain level of competency (e.g. IT skills, creative writing, marketing, etc).

But over and above these competencies and skills, Ateneo educates and forms its students to be professionals-for-others who remain distinctly Asian in perspective. A strong point why Ateneans are preferred in the labor market is because of their solid core values. Theology and philosophy courses orient Ateneans to give preferential option for the poor. Hence, they work not just to earn profit, but for something greater than themselves. Likewise, Ateneans stamp their mark with a strong commitment to finish the work entrusted to them. Involvement and leadership in organizational work during college years prepare them for the real work ahead.

The dictum “AMDG” (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) is what animates the Atenean’s drive to be excellent. “Magis”– to be more in everything that he/she immerses himself/herself in. Supervisors and colleagues alike agree that though Ateneans are misconstrued as being overbearing, they deliver more than what is expected from them.

Combine knowledge and skills that are globally competitive with character and values that are rooted to an Asian perspective, and what you have is an education that is uniquely Atenean. Distinctly Blue Eagle. Proudly Filipino.