Good grades alone can’t get you a job

By Timothy Makokha

THERE is more to getting a good job than having good grades. Experience! Seen in most job advertisements, experience is one thing that will never go to waste. Every employer wants it, even for ‘entry-level’ positions.

But why must this always happen? Samuel Mugume, a human resource consultant with a recruitment agency, says training new employees is one of the most costly aspects of a business.

“This is why organisations want to hire individuals who already have skills,” he explains. “However, it is not just about the money. Experience also tells something about an employee’s level of commitment and reliability,” he adds.

“Potential employees with relative experience are likely to communicate better, demonstrate initiative and take responsibility. These aspects are not taught in school, yet they are more valuable than any first class degree,” Mugume elucidates.
So, how do you get experience? Unless specified, any type of work, responsibility and assignments are usually experience.

Mugume says it does not have to be a full-time engagement with a blue company. “Almost everything you do in school and after somehow counts towards experience,” he explains.

Mugume highlights ways in which a person can gain experience to give their career path the much-needed boost.

Volunteering:
It offers hands-on experience, allows you to discover your suitability for a particular job and provides networking opportunities with people who have similar career interests. You also do something good for someone else.

Mugume advises that the key to great volunteer experience is to seek organisations or events that stir a passion in you. “After all, you want to land your dream job and feel passionate about the work you do.”
This is what Derrick Mukose did after his degree in Adult and Community Education from Makerere University. “Before I graduated, I was a volunteer with a community-based organisation.

“This provided an opportunity to network and present papers during seminars. In seven months, I was employed by one of the partner organisations as a senior outreach coordinator,” Mukose says.

The benefits of voluntary jobs are diverse. According to Mugume, if you haven’t figured out your career goals, volunteering can help point you in the right direction. Try out different activities to discover what is right for you.
“There is no better way of confirming whether a job is a good fit for you than by trying it out – and volunteering lets you do just that! In fact, it will probably open up a whole bunch of opportunities you hadn’t even considered.”

Internship:
Get involved in one or more internships. Internships provide an opportunity to gain work experiences while you are a student. But you can also request for internship placement after school.
Usually, organisations that grant internships ensure that interns or trainees receive adequate orientation, training and evaluation.
Internships also provide employers who are often willing to give strong recommendations. They enable you to think about your career options and learn about the atmosphere in a work environment.
Sometimes internships provide a chance to work in a new environment, an important aspect of experience. Overall, they enhance your marketability. Chris went to Namirembe Hillside Secondary School as an intern three years ago. Today, he is a staff teacher.

Projects:
Mugume challenges students to consider carrying out a special project as a course assignment. Rather than concentrating on the theoretical aspects to obtain your grades, identify an organisation that could benefit from your work.

“By doing so, a student adds value to an organisation while expanding his/her knowledge of the workplace by linking academics to real-world applications,” he tips. “If students prepared a marketing plan for a business or conducted market research, they should include this valuable experience on their CV.”

Part-time:
New job seekers often downplay these jobs that help pay the bills. But is that all they offer? No, Mugume rectifies. There is a lot to gain from being a part-time sales clerk in a supermarket or a waiter in a hotel. “These part-time jobs show that you can be a responsible employee, you can interact with customers, and you understand the basics of business.”

Self-employment:
Students and graduates alike can start their own businesses – whether traditional ones, such as hair dressing or emerging ones, such as a web-based business. “The experience of managing your own business is crucial in managing institutional or departmental affairs,” he says.

Leadership: Key experiences, especially in leadership positions held in school should count towards one’s experience on a resume. Some of these positions define a strong spirit of teamwork, organisation, communication and self-drive.