College is the time to focus on what you will do when you are finally done with school. After graduation, many students hope for a better life as they transition to the world of careers and working. Unfortunately, this is not what happens, at least not immediately. Many graduates struggle with finding jobs; they take time to apply and send in their CVs but don’t always get any response. And this can be discouraging, especially when you see yourself not moving anywhere yet all your friends are excelling. In 2020, statistics showed that the unemployment rate in Rwanda was approximately 1.35 per cent. Many graduates struggle with finding jobs. Though unemployment is a real struggle, it’s important to understand that as a graduate, not getting the job of your dreams immediately is not also losing options in life, and there are plenty of things to do in the process. Lise Eugenie Tuyisenge, an entrepreneur and consultant says that there are a lot of things to do and that graduates should not only rely on skills and knowledge they acquire from classes. “They must read books to get financial intelligence, social intelligence, emotional intelligence skills and knowledge. As an entrepreneur and a good employee, I know these are very important skills to be an outstanding candidate on the labour market or business-wise,” she says. Eve Queen Uwase, an HR consultant notes that graduates should take time to learn from those who are already in the job market. “As an HR consultant, I am always happy to provide guidance to companies. But I am always happier when a graduate approaches me asking for tips or guidance on what to have in mind while applying for jobs, or even looking for what to do,” she says. Uwase says she always advises graduates to not rely only on that one job they want but to be versatile, navigate all areas until they know what they want to do. “They have all the years before them, so spending them being disappointed that they can’t work the job of their dreams, or that they can’t find a job, having conversations with people who know how employment works helps a lot,” she says. Indeed, an American worldwide employment website for job listings, shows that not getting a job immediately could be because of delaying to search for jobs. “Looking for work can take several months. Instead of waiting until after graduation to begin your job search, start applying at the beginning of your last semester,” they note. Tips on what to do if you can’t find a job Tuyisenge believes that going out, meeting new people, and making as many contacts as you can is helpful. It is through people that we get opportunities and, we learn from others. He names a few tips: Staying focused and being precise on what you want; whether business or a job, and being precise on the job position you want. Staying informed Learning new skills, especially tailor-made skills You can start learning how to bake. Monster.com, a global employment website that also shares some tips for college graduates and guidance, provided some tips on what to do: Adjust your expectations “Most people don’t develop careers related to their majors anyway, and even if they want to, if the field is competitive it will probably happen gradually over time,” says Alexandra Levit, author of ‘They Don’t Teach Corporate in College.’ Crack the networking nut There are a lot of young people out there in jobs, and they are very approachable. College students should go to alumni and recruiting events while they’re still in school to make connections early in the game. Don’t rely only on resumes Reach out and call alumni. Identify people who work in your target industry or company. Offer to meet them for happy hour, and have a drink with alumni. They want to talk to young people and connect. And if you can make a connection and get a current employee to submit your resume to a potential employer, odds are you’ll probably get an interview out of it. A part-time job is still a job Having something on your resume is better than nothing. Taking a part-time job shows that a candidate has to pay bills and cares about personal finances, that he’s motivated and hungry, it demonstrates a strong work ethic.
