WE CELEBRATE GRADUATION BUT AFTER THAT WHAT NEXT ?

 Uganda is officially dominated by young people. Over 50 %of the population are youths. With a high population the job market also shrinks yet people need to survive. It is the means of survival that create social pressure. The unemployment dilemma in the country can be dissected from different angles and each person or all stakeholders have a critical role to play. 

Universities and other institutions of higher learning produce over 300,000 graduates per year. The job creation rate is about 70,000 jobs per year. This means that the job market is narrow. It is a common sight to see over 100 applicants for one job. This is a signal that something drastic must be done to change this trajectory. Development partners such as government, private sectors and donors such as Master Card Foundation are playing a critical role in addressing youth unemployment. In fact this suggests that fight against youth unemployment must be multifaceted. 

During graduation season it is justifiable for any student to celebrate this moment of victory. University is tough. But beyond the celebration what awaits the graduate? Is the transcript a magic bullet to success? Does the transcript guarantee the university student that they will walk to their dream employer and hand them a job? Does the transcript signify that the graduand has all the skills needed to handle the fast paced nature of the world? Is the graduate aware that Artificial Intelligence is here to stay and how prepared is he or she to use it as a tool of competitive advantage. Is the graduate aware that some times one may have to be humble enough to accept voluntary work as a gate way to his dream job? There are a lot of unanswered questions that I want to pose to a graduand.

In the battle against unemployment the youths have a great role to play. They can not afford to play victims. No one will apply for the jobs apart from the graduate . It is critical for the youths to first analyze the state of affairs so that they can design realistic strategies. We need to reach a stage where the youths can put their pride aside and take stock of the skills they have and make a difference in their communities. The real world is tough and that is a message that is not emphasized at university. The belief of most graduates is that after graduation a job will find them which is not normally the case except for a few. For those university students who realize early enough that the employment world is tough they make early preparations.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

1.Develop a big vision for your life

2.Develop your soft skills

3.Develop a personal relationship with God

4.Have mentors 

5.Invest in life long learning

6.Associate with successful people

7.Think long term

8.Develop your ICT skills

9.Ask questions

10.Have a positive attitude

11.Avoid self comparisons and learn from others.

12.Have accountability partners 

13. Start small

14.Attend financial literacy seminars.

It is good to be a graduand and that is the dream of every student. Is a graduation a magic bullet to the dream job. I have no clear answer. From the above discussions a graduand has a lot of work to do to become a useful member of society.

Phillip Kiryowa

Finance and Leadership Coach

+256752615916

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