If there was a Job Experience School…..

If there was a school teaching experience, an over flow of people would flood it just so they can get the treasure sought after by every job announcement-Experience. Experience is a prerequisite that one can’t fail to spot for almost or even every vacancy announcement. That only means one thing-if you are a fresh graduate, never worked before, then that job isn’t for you since you have no experience. A massive number of people today are afraid to apply for particular jobs because they lack experience which, often times is a major precondition. Everyone of us longs for that six figure salary with six zeros before whichever number but it doesn’t come overnight. You could be having all the academic qualifications but no hands on skills and practical knowledge for the specific job position. No Employer would be willing to pay you large sums for money just because you have a 1st class bachelor’s degree and a good master’s degree but no skills and knowledge of the job. Certainly the good degrees will take you places but the practical knowledge and skills are equally vital and might just do much more. A barrage of questions could linger into your mind wondering where one can get experience from since it’s not taught in schools. You could also be wondering whether that’s not unfair for a fresh graduate who probably has never had a chance to work. Internship Placements If you are still in school, you still have a chance to gain experience even before you go out to the real career world. There are some Universities and Institutions where Internship isn’t compulsory. Whether it is optional or compulsory, it’s very imperative that you go through Internship. There is nothing that gives you self-confidence as having a C.V with your experience Information when you have barely made a year out of school. It s a good feeling when you are assuring that Interview Panel about what you have done, can do and what you know about the specific job. It not only boosts your self esteem but might leave the panel with no other alternative but to employ you. Take Internship seriously and learn all you can! Starting out as a Volunteer Strange but true, there are people that would rather sit home and do nothing than take up a volunteering role. If you ask me, I would think these are the kind that aren’t fore sighted but only think of today and to them, tomorrow will take care of itself. Taking up Volunteering jobs is one way to gain experience. Quite a good number of people have gotten juicy jobs through the experience they have gotten from the voluntary jobs they took on earlier in life. If every company has disregarded your Curriculum Vitae just because you got no two year or which ever number of year’s experience they require, then its time you thought about volunteering. Volunteering may be the exactly fun given the demands we have in life but it’s far better than sitting home. While Volnteering, you might get little or no incentive at all but those skills and knowledge and worth more. Through Volunteering, one has a chance to mingle with other professionals thus building a network and getting connections. The networking and connections made through volunteering could be the path to one’s career enhancement and growth. Theresa Dusabe got her breakthrough after working as a Volunteer for over three years in an NGO. “I worked as an Administrator without pay for three years. I used that chance to learn whatever I could and that landed me a good job. At some point I wanted to give up but keeping home dint seem like a suitable option either. I decided to endure but today am so thankful for that three years experience that has earned me big,” Dusabe narrates. Dusabe advises that people should never despise volunteering. It might not be easy but says a lot about your character besides the experience and knowledge you gain. She adds that when she applied for a job in one of the big companies, her competitors had more transcripts but she surpass them because of her three years experience and good knowledge on the particular job applied for. She got the job from zero pay to a six digit salary. “If I had declined the offer for the voluntary job, I wouldn’t be having this big one I hold now. I weighed my two options, which were either sitting home or volunteering. If given a job as a volunteer, you should make use it and learn all you can. It’s from that knowledge and skills that you will get a better and paying job,” she advises. Enrolling for short courses This might seem a little off or may not be your idea of experience but does count a lot. If you looked through the job adverts in Rwanda, most of them will require you to be bilingual with a strong command in English, French or Kinyarwanda. Most people can only speak Kinyarwanda and one of the other two. If we took it upon ourselves to take u short courses in languages, computer packages and others then we would raise our chances alongside experience. Quit waiting for that six pack digit salary job offer. Most of it will require good knowledge and skills. Make use of every opportunity that will gain you skills, knowledge and experience. m.kaitesi@yahoo.com