Empowering youth career readiness through SULAM: A pre-post evaluation of experiential learning in job search skills

Abstract

Youth career readiness represents a critical priority in higher education and vocational policy, as successful transitions into employment demand practical job-search competencies alongside formal academic credentials. However, young individuals routinely enter the labor market with severe deficits in workplace capabilities, application confidence, and job-search literacy. This study empirically evaluated the overall effectiveness of the Service-Learning Malaysia–University for Society (SULAM) experiential learning initiative in enhancing youth job-search skills and career readiness. Utilizing a quantitative pre- and post-intervention research design, data were collected from a diverse sample of 253 youth participants across various community categories in Melaka, Malaysia. The intervention comprised a structured, two-month, seven-module experiential curriculum emphasizing career goal setting, job-search tools, digital networking, resume building, and interview preparation. Survey instruments measured Program Effectiveness, Knowledge Evaluation, and pre- and post-SULAM Implementation. Inferential analyses, combining parametric paired-samples t-tests and non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, revealed an extraordinary, statistically significant upward shift in youth career readiness. Participant composite competency scores advanced from a low baseline pre-intervention rating to a near-maximum post-intervention mean, representing a substantial mean gain on a five-point Likert scale and an exceptionally large standardized effect size. High supporting ratings for program effectiveness and knowledge evaluation confirmed that structured facilitation and collaborative group dynamics served as key operational drivers of learning retention. The study concludes that SULAM successfully converts theoretical career concepts into actionable, high-efficacy behaviors, equipping young job seekers with the practical tools and social knowledge dissemination capabilities required for modern workforce transitions.