Acquire work experience while at varsity
Work experience seems to be the biggest obstacle faced by unemployed graduates. This article looks at how you can gain experience while you are at university.
The university graduation ceremonies taking place this month have prompted many of the graduating students to ask themselves whether their new qualifications will guarantee them a place in the job market.
This question is brought about by the high unemployment among university and college graduates. Lack of job experience is perceived to be one of the main contributing factors to their struggle in finding jobs.
Many graduates bemoan the fact that job advertisements require “five years' experience”.
I believe you do not necessarily have to meet that requirement if you do the following: choose an organisation you would like to work for; get acquainted with the functions of that particular organisation; and approach them for holiday work. If there are no vacancies, explicitly state that you are willing to work without pay, just for the experience.
By doing that, you will become accustomed to the actors of the industry you would like to enter and you might as well guarantee your place in that organisation after graduation.
Nevertheless, the number of students enrolling at institutions of higher learning is increasing much faster than the number of new jobs being created.
That brings us back to the question whether a university qualification guarantees employment. This is not a simple 'yes or no' question. The answer depends on factors such as your field of study and the state of your country's economy.
Some study fields are more in demand than others. For example, in Namibia the fields that are in high demand include medicine, education, healthcare, information technology and agriculture.
As far as the country's economic status is concerned, you might find yourself in the predicament of having the relevant qualifications but still failing to find a job. When a country encounters financial setbacks, vacancies in the public service and at parastatals are bound to be frozen.
Successful job hunting is also determined by one's drive, determination, willpower and how badly you want to make it in life.
ISDOR KAMATI
This question is brought about by the high unemployment among university and college graduates. Lack of job experience is perceived to be one of the main contributing factors to their struggle in finding jobs.
Many graduates bemoan the fact that job advertisements require “five years' experience”.
I believe you do not necessarily have to meet that requirement if you do the following: choose an organisation you would like to work for; get acquainted with the functions of that particular organisation; and approach them for holiday work. If there are no vacancies, explicitly state that you are willing to work without pay, just for the experience.
By doing that, you will become accustomed to the actors of the industry you would like to enter and you might as well guarantee your place in that organisation after graduation.
Nevertheless, the number of students enrolling at institutions of higher learning is increasing much faster than the number of new jobs being created.
That brings us back to the question whether a university qualification guarantees employment. This is not a simple 'yes or no' question. The answer depends on factors such as your field of study and the state of your country's economy.
Some study fields are more in demand than others. For example, in Namibia the fields that are in high demand include medicine, education, healthcare, information technology and agriculture.
As far as the country's economic status is concerned, you might find yourself in the predicament of having the relevant qualifications but still failing to find a job. When a country encounters financial setbacks, vacancies in the public service and at parastatals are bound to be frozen.
Successful job hunting is also determined by one's drive, determination, willpower and how badly you want to make it in life.
ISDOR KAMATI
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