Why graduates may struggle to secure good jobs
This week we will continue our discussion on how people, in particular, young graduates, can contribute to unemployment in Botswana. Young graduates often complain that they are not taken on by companies even though their qualifications may match the requirements of the job for which they are applying. But they may also be part of the problem!
When applying for a job, candidates are usually asked to send in a curriculum vitae ( CV) and accompanying certified copies of educational certificates and transcripts. And a well- constructed CV will go a long way in persuading a company to shortlist you for interview. So, do not fall at the first hurdle! A CV should begin with your personal details, followed by personal profile, educational qualifications, work experience, skills, hobbies and interests, and details of referees who can be contacted to provide references.
A personal profile may summarise your skills and qualities in a way that shows how you are suitable for the job. For example, you could use phrases such as: good communication skills, works well as a member of a team ( team player), keen to take on new challenges, able to work calmly under pressure, able to meet tight deadlines, able to work independently without supervision… But never overdo it by saying something like: “My mother always said that I was good at figures and am a computer wizard and so I will perform well as an accountant in your company”, or “My skills, character and qualifications show that I am the ideal candidate for the job; so, your company must not fail to interview me!”, or “You simply cannot do without me!” Leave it to the company to decide that! And the likely reality is that by reading such comments they will regard you as arrogant and your CV will quickly find its way into the nearest trash bin! Qualifications and work experience should always begin with the most recent. As for referees, only give names of people who can professionally comment about your academic performance or how well you discharged your duties at the workplace ( if relevant). Companies will not be interested in what your mum or friends think about you; after all, their comments will be biased!
If your CV contains errors in spelling and grammar and is put together in a haphazard way, then the company may think that you are a disorganised person and someone who does not pay attention to detail – you will not make it to the interview! Remember that the person reading your CV may have to read CVs from many other candidates; hence they must be able to find the information that they need easily and quickly. And time may not be on their side!
A CV may also not be up to standard for other reasons – it may be too short, some important information may be missing and some information may be irrelevant. So, for example, it’s not enough to simply say that you have previously worked as an accountant; you also have to give details of your duties and responsibilities if you are applying for a similar position with another company.
And you should also give information concerning any special skills that you have; for example, if you are familiar with specific types of computer software packages that may be required. Do not focus too much on work experience that may not be relevant to the post that you are now applying for. For example, your first job may have been as a Sales Manager after which you then worked as an accountant and now you wish to apply for another job as accountant. So, give fewer details of your first job!
And most important, be truthful! You may think of exaggerating, or adding to, the duties that you have carried out in your previous company, or even say that you once worked for a well- known prestigious company when you did not! Or you may say that you have an educational qualification which you do not actually have. In so doing, you may think that such false information may impress the company and so will enhance your chances of working for them! Be warned – we live today in a small world and sooner or later you will be found out and you will then be shown the door! And worse still, you may even be blacklisted and that may lead to other companies refusing to hire you.
Another golden rule when applying for jobs is to follow the instructions concerning applications to the letter. So, if the company asks you to email your application, then do just that and do not send it by post; or if they ask for three referees, do not give just one. And most important, keep to the deadline – if they want to receive applications by July 31st at the latest, then do not email yours a week later since by that time they would probably already have started screening applicants. So, don’t fall by the wayside here!
Should your CV impress the company, then you may be shortlisted for interview. But applicants can still fall short here; they should remember that being called to interview does not guarantee an offer of a job! In fact, there are many pitfalls to avoid here. Firstly, do not be late for the interview – there are no excuses like there was too much traffic, I woke up with a mighty headache, my alarm failed to ring… Being late may make the company think that you will also not keep to working hours if they decide to take you on. And dress smartly and modestly – first impressions count for much! During the interview, you should speak up when answering questions and answer truthfully and confidently.
And one question candidates will certainly be asked is why they wish to work for the company. Answers here to avoid include: to get a good salary, to be promoted quickly, the working hours are short… But instead you could say, for example: “I feel that by working for your company, I will gain valuable skills and experience in…”, or “My qualifications and previous work experience will put me in good stead should I be offered a post in your company”, or “I enjoy taking on new challenges and this will help me to live in a remote area working as a geologist for your company.” Such replies will be viewed more favourably by your interviewers.
Let us say that you are applying for the post of Sales Manager of a company that makes computer software. Now I strongly believe that before attending an interview, candidates should do some research and find out more about the company for whom they wish to work – what products they make, where they sell them... Now from your research, you have found out that the company sells software only to some English- speaking states in SADC – South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Perhaps in your CV you mentioned that you are fluent in French and so this is the time to emphasise that. Now you can say, with confidence, that with a knowledge of this language, you would be better able to identify possible markets for their products in countries in Francophone Africa, such as Ivory Coast, Gabon, Cameroon and the DRC. Such an answer will impress your interviewers who will now see you as a high- powered go- getter, someone who has a vision for the future of their company. But you could not give such an answer without having done your homework first! It may take some time and effort, but it will reap dividends!
At the end of the interview, you will probably be asked if you have any questions that you might like to ask. But do not say that you have no questions! Instead, you could ask the interviewers about what plans the company has for the future, or what types of software they might make in future. Asking such questions will show that you have an interest in the company.
Job applicants should realise that they are competing with others for jobs; not everyone will be offered a job and there may be only one job available! Some of the candidates may be much older than you with years of work experience. So, they need to take the interview seriously – no employer will hire someone without an interview! And you could arrange with some older people beforehand a ‘ mock interview’ where you can practise giving answers to questions that you are most likely to be asked. At the end of the day, you need to convince the company that you are the right person for the job. In other words, you should stand out from the crowd, a cut above the rest. You need to sell yourself in the market place!