STILL JOBLESS? TRY VOLUNTEERING OR SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Sep 23, 2008
The idea of being without a job, two years after graduation, is daunting. Every year, about six universities release over 20,000 job seekers to compete for the few available jobs.
By Rosette Nagimesi
The idea of being without a job, two years after graduation, is daunting. Every year, about six universities release over 20,000 job seekers to compete for the few available jobs.
There is, however, still hope and it comes in three forms; volunteering, humility and entrepreneurship.
Graduates, should not shy away from voluntary work. You should consider offering your knowledge, skills and expertise for free. Many organisations need extra help but cannot afford it so free labour is welcome. It is not hard to get a voluntary job.
To be a volunteer, you must be objective and think long-term. Volunteering helps you gain experience, network and build your curriculum vitae.
Many graduates leave school with a specific idea of what they want to work as. For example, if they majored in international relations, they want to be ambassadors or mediators. Anything different is disregarded. When they fail to get their preferred job, they are devastated.
The best way to gain experience is to start at the bottom and work your way to the top. As long as the job generates money, consider it as you look for a better one.
Lowly jobs may be a spring board for you to rise to greater heights and get into the field of your choice.
“My first job was at Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Corporation as a pupil engineer. I earned about sh150,000 per month,†says Eng. Irene Muloni, the managing director of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company.
Alternatively, you could start your own business. When school qualifications fail to yield desired results, it is a good idea to fall back on creativity. A hobby or interest could be turned into a money-generating activity. The beauty of this approach is that you do not need a lot of money to start a business.
Davie and Tony co-own Gonja, a restaurant at Makerere University. Both are qualified architects. “We hunted for jobs and got a few. But our lack of experience made the clients pay us poorly. We decided to find an alternative source of income. â€
The two admit that at first, it was not easy but once they got off the ground, there was no turning back.
So, if the conventional job hunt is not working, change tactics; you just might strike gold.
The idea of being without a job, two years after graduation, is daunting. Every year, about six universities release over 20,000 job seekers to compete for the few available jobs.
There is, however, still hope and it comes in three forms; volunteering, humility and entrepreneurship.
Graduates, should not shy away from voluntary work. You should consider offering your knowledge, skills and expertise for free. Many organisations need extra help but cannot afford it so free labour is welcome. It is not hard to get a voluntary job.
To be a volunteer, you must be objective and think long-term. Volunteering helps you gain experience, network and build your curriculum vitae.
Many graduates leave school with a specific idea of what they want to work as. For example, if they majored in international relations, they want to be ambassadors or mediators. Anything different is disregarded. When they fail to get their preferred job, they are devastated.
The best way to gain experience is to start at the bottom and work your way to the top. As long as the job generates money, consider it as you look for a better one.
Lowly jobs may be a spring board for you to rise to greater heights and get into the field of your choice.
“My first job was at Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Corporation as a pupil engineer. I earned about sh150,000 per month,†says Eng. Irene Muloni, the managing director of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company.
Alternatively, you could start your own business. When school qualifications fail to yield desired results, it is a good idea to fall back on creativity. A hobby or interest could be turned into a money-generating activity. The beauty of this approach is that you do not need a lot of money to start a business.
Davie and Tony co-own Gonja, a restaurant at Makerere University. Both are qualified architects. “We hunted for jobs and got a few. But our lack of experience made the clients pay us poorly. We decided to find an alternative source of income. â€
The two admit that at first, it was not easy but once they got off the ground, there was no turning back.
So, if the conventional job hunt is not working, change tactics; you just might strike gold.