Dear Counsellor,
It’s been three years since I graduated from college but I have failed to find a job. Every interview I’ve been to didn’t end well. No one has ever called me back. I thought about getting a loan to start a small business but I don’t think I have what it takes to get it. Where do I even start? I’ve been doing a few small jobs but no one wants to employ me on a permanent basis and I could really use a financial boost. I live with my parents and they seem to be tired of me, or disappointed. My dad is always calling me lazy yet I try to go out and find work. I don’t know what else to do. Is there something wrong with me?
Anita
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Dear Anita,
There are many reasons one would be denied a job, and it is easy to give up when you feel rejected. However, persistence and diversification of effort is crucial in achieving a difficult goal. Think carefully about the opportunities you are pursuing and the possible obstacles that are hindering you from getting your dream job. Do you have the right skills? Do you present yourself well on the interview panel? Is your CV attractive? You must realise that you are competing against hundreds or thousands of other applicants who are probably better than you in many aspects related to the job-fit skills.
Consider spending quality time updating your resume to appear complete. This is your selling tool which describes your abilities and portrays the potential skills you want to offer to the new position. Establish a network of reliable friends, family members and people heading different institutions, as well as updating your LinkedIn profile for increased connections; also, dress professionally in case of any interview that you may be called for. Treat your search as a fulltime exercise by increasing your exposure to develop personal relationships and connections with people in the field and go to conventions, conferences and career fairs to make more connections. Think about people that can help you, such as professors, former classmates, neighbours, or your relatives and friends. You never know who in your network may hold a promising opportunity.
Building your own brand is a critical step towards getting a job. Branding yourself can help people understand your values and objectives quickly with regard to who you are and what you want to do. Keep depositing your smart applications to any career opportunities you come across in the newspapers, Internet, on radio or TV stations. Different recruiters may be impressed by your CV and develop an idea of hiring you. It’s also crucial that you find a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that will teach you different skills and give you a great breadth of experience to push on. Learn from your mistakes and keep applying until you get the right offer.
Alternatively, you can turn into an entrepreneur and start your own business. There is a huge portfolio of business opportunities for self-employment that do not necessarily require investing massive amounts of capital. Today, fresh graduates are taking aggressive steps towards ensuring their own financial success. You don’t need to be a millionaire, but little capital is enough to begin with. Opening up an advertising or consultancy company won’t require huge amounts of money. You need to begin small and grow big. Apply money management principles in your investment plans while putting special attention on the legality, location and marketability of the business. A well-developed plan will allow you to build a solid reserve and create opportunities for your money to grow.
How can Anita find employment? Readers offer their advice.
Look for jobs in person
If you have been searching for work only online, I advise you to also try going in person to different companies. Although it’s not easy, this could be an opportunity to meet and interact with different people, which increases the chances of getting a job.
Sylvester Nkulanga, Plumber -----
Get a loan and start a business
Try to focus on what you want exactly, sometimes panic makes us not do our best. This could be the case with you, and that is why employers will not get back to you. Also, get a loan and start a small business.
Solange Uwamahoro, Parent -----
Employment does not come easy
I advise you to be patient because it’s not easy to get a job right after graduation. I believe some of your classmates haven’t found employment yet either. Contact them and think of meaningful things to do as a group.
Edward Gatsinzi, Electrician -----
Keep yourself busy
Do volunteer work with some organisations, especially NGOs. This will help you market your skills and open doors for employment in the future. It requires patience to look for a job, which I think you lack.
Perez Mbabazi, Kigali resident -----
You need more skills
You need to assess yourself and see if your skills are fit for the labour market. Employers look for unique skills, and if you think you are not experienced enough, try doing internship in different companies and gain more experience.
Celine Uwezabe, Make-up artist