Capable and jobless
As it turns out, graduation and a qualification are no recipe for success or getting a job in Namibia.
The Zone caught up with graduates who have been struggling to find jobs after they obtained their qualification. The graduates share advice on how would be graduates can ensure they are employed when they graduate one day.
For many university students graduating is an academic milestone. Obtaining your qualification after so many years of sleepless nights and countless hours of stress it is a proud moment for any student. Your parents and siblings are always super proud of you and you are sometimes amazed by your outstanding accomplishments.
But what happens after all the endorphins and excitement fades away? What do you do when the ululations and praise from your parents and siblings can no longer be heard? When you have finally received your degree, what do you do with it and is it useful? Many graduates who obtain their qualifications at university cannot secure employment in their respective career-choice industries.
When Rebecca (not her real name) finally got her degree after four years of hard work she was excited about her achievement. She graduated with an Honours Degree in Human Resources at the International University of Management (IUM). She finished her studies in 2016 and what was supposed to be a moment of pride for her became a nightmare because she could not get a job. “Since I completed my studies I have been looking around for jobs and I applied for jobs that I knew I was qualified for but I was never called for interviews, even for jobs which required a Grade 12 qualification. But I do not know… since I am applying with my degree maybe I am overqualified,” she said.
It is very frustrating for her because she cannot find a job even though she is qualified. “It is very frustrating and sometimes I cannot sleep and I want to help my parents but I cannot find a job. I thought I would get one after I was done with my studies,” shared Rebecca.
The unemployed graduate feels that due to corruption in Namibia many graduates are being robbed of jobs that are intended for them. “Sometimes companies advertise and make vacancies public but they already have someone they have employed for the positions that are vacant,” shared Rebecca. Rebecca has advised local institutions of higher learning to secure job attachments for their students to curb the number of unemployed graduates in Namibia.
Rebecca says she is not certain about what the future looks like for her but is hopeful she is going to be employed soon. “I do not know how the future looks like but I will not give up I will continue looking for jobs,” said Rebecca.
Simson Nangolo, another unemployed graduate who studied banking, finance and credit at the Institute of Bankers (IOB) has encouraged future graduates to ensure that they equip themselves with the necessary skills to make themselves marketable to companies so that they can be easily employed. “Whenever you are going to graduate there is too much competition and you cannot even secure internships. If you do not pull up your socks you might end up in the same cycle as those who have already graduated before you,” he said. Nangolo says that part of the reason why graduates are finding it hard to get jobs is because companies’ job requirements are too high. “The market is asking for six years’ experience and they are not likely to take us in because we do not have that experience,” shared Nangolo
He has continued his studies since his graduation last year and is currently studying for a degree in accounting at the University of Namibia (Unam) because he could not find a job. “I’m still studying because I could not find a job within the time frame that I graduated,” said Nangolo.
Paulus Haimbodi another graduate did not let the fact that he could not get a job slow him down. After he graduated in 2016 with a degree in information technology (IT) for business information systems he started his own business instead of waiting for employment. “I am currently just running my own personal business and trying to survive,” said Haimbodi.
Haimbodi says that companies have “unrealistic” goals when they are trying to hire people and that graduates usually do not get jobs because of requirements that they cannot fulfil. “The most troubling things are the requirements that they need for certain jobs. Sometimes we apply for entry-level jobs and the kind of things that they are asking for are unrealistic. These are the kind of things that are really knocking us out,” shared Haimbodi
Haimbodi says it is possible for graduates to start their own companies and not rely heavily on employment from companies but it is difficult for them to do so because of funding. “We really have brilliant ideas but the funding is not - even if we are running businesses right now,” said Haimbodi.
Gerhard Jansen the general manager at employment agency Jobs Unlimited says there are many reasons why graduates cannot secure jobs, some of which include a lack of experience, a mismatch of qualifications and vacancies that are available, and that sometimes graduates expect to start working at companies while earning high salaries which is not the case in reality.
Enko Ndemuweda, who runs a community and research youth organisation called Conscious Communiversity says that there is a mismatch in skills development from universities for graduates and the job market. “We found out through our investigations that there is a mismatch between the job market and universities and they need to work together,” shared Ndemuweda.
Jansen has advised graduates to build up their working experience by starting off working entry-level jobs and to always apply for the right positions and vacancies when they are job hunting. “They must be willing start with an entry level position in their line of qualifications, just to get the necessary experience, for example if you have an accounting qualification maybe start as a processing clerk, debtor clerks, bookkeeping assistant, and from where you can work your way up to an accountant or managerial position,” advised Jansen
He added that institutions of higher learning should ensure that they collaborate with would-be employers to make sure that there is not a high number of unemployed graduates in Namibia. “The respective faculties could develop a network between possible employers and their students,” said Jansen.
He says that universities should ensure that the quality of education they provide matches with the demand from the job market. “Emphasise more on courses in which there is a need for in the market or for which the skills shortage is high, rather than flood the market with graduates in a specific field for which there is no need or shortage,” shared Jansen.
Shona Ngava
For many university students graduating is an academic milestone. Obtaining your qualification after so many years of sleepless nights and countless hours of stress it is a proud moment for any student. Your parents and siblings are always super proud of you and you are sometimes amazed by your outstanding accomplishments.
But what happens after all the endorphins and excitement fades away? What do you do when the ululations and praise from your parents and siblings can no longer be heard? When you have finally received your degree, what do you do with it and is it useful? Many graduates who obtain their qualifications at university cannot secure employment in their respective career-choice industries.
When Rebecca (not her real name) finally got her degree after four years of hard work she was excited about her achievement. She graduated with an Honours Degree in Human Resources at the International University of Management (IUM). She finished her studies in 2016 and what was supposed to be a moment of pride for her became a nightmare because she could not get a job. “Since I completed my studies I have been looking around for jobs and I applied for jobs that I knew I was qualified for but I was never called for interviews, even for jobs which required a Grade 12 qualification. But I do not know… since I am applying with my degree maybe I am overqualified,” she said.
It is very frustrating for her because she cannot find a job even though she is qualified. “It is very frustrating and sometimes I cannot sleep and I want to help my parents but I cannot find a job. I thought I would get one after I was done with my studies,” shared Rebecca.
The unemployed graduate feels that due to corruption in Namibia many graduates are being robbed of jobs that are intended for them. “Sometimes companies advertise and make vacancies public but they already have someone they have employed for the positions that are vacant,” shared Rebecca. Rebecca has advised local institutions of higher learning to secure job attachments for their students to curb the number of unemployed graduates in Namibia.
Rebecca says she is not certain about what the future looks like for her but is hopeful she is going to be employed soon. “I do not know how the future looks like but I will not give up I will continue looking for jobs,” said Rebecca.
Simson Nangolo, another unemployed graduate who studied banking, finance and credit at the Institute of Bankers (IOB) has encouraged future graduates to ensure that they equip themselves with the necessary skills to make themselves marketable to companies so that they can be easily employed. “Whenever you are going to graduate there is too much competition and you cannot even secure internships. If you do not pull up your socks you might end up in the same cycle as those who have already graduated before you,” he said. Nangolo says that part of the reason why graduates are finding it hard to get jobs is because companies’ job requirements are too high. “The market is asking for six years’ experience and they are not likely to take us in because we do not have that experience,” shared Nangolo
He has continued his studies since his graduation last year and is currently studying for a degree in accounting at the University of Namibia (Unam) because he could not find a job. “I’m still studying because I could not find a job within the time frame that I graduated,” said Nangolo.
Paulus Haimbodi another graduate did not let the fact that he could not get a job slow him down. After he graduated in 2016 with a degree in information technology (IT) for business information systems he started his own business instead of waiting for employment. “I am currently just running my own personal business and trying to survive,” said Haimbodi.
Haimbodi says that companies have “unrealistic” goals when they are trying to hire people and that graduates usually do not get jobs because of requirements that they cannot fulfil. “The most troubling things are the requirements that they need for certain jobs. Sometimes we apply for entry-level jobs and the kind of things that they are asking for are unrealistic. These are the kind of things that are really knocking us out,” shared Haimbodi
Haimbodi says it is possible for graduates to start their own companies and not rely heavily on employment from companies but it is difficult for them to do so because of funding. “We really have brilliant ideas but the funding is not - even if we are running businesses right now,” said Haimbodi.
Gerhard Jansen the general manager at employment agency Jobs Unlimited says there are many reasons why graduates cannot secure jobs, some of which include a lack of experience, a mismatch of qualifications and vacancies that are available, and that sometimes graduates expect to start working at companies while earning high salaries which is not the case in reality.
Enko Ndemuweda, who runs a community and research youth organisation called Conscious Communiversity says that there is a mismatch in skills development from universities for graduates and the job market. “We found out through our investigations that there is a mismatch between the job market and universities and they need to work together,” shared Ndemuweda.
Jansen has advised graduates to build up their working experience by starting off working entry-level jobs and to always apply for the right positions and vacancies when they are job hunting. “They must be willing start with an entry level position in their line of qualifications, just to get the necessary experience, for example if you have an accounting qualification maybe start as a processing clerk, debtor clerks, bookkeeping assistant, and from where you can work your way up to an accountant or managerial position,” advised Jansen
He added that institutions of higher learning should ensure that they collaborate with would-be employers to make sure that there is not a high number of unemployed graduates in Namibia. “The respective faculties could develop a network between possible employers and their students,” said Jansen.
He says that universities should ensure that the quality of education they provide matches with the demand from the job market. “Emphasise more on courses in which there is a need for in the market or for which the skills shortage is high, rather than flood the market with graduates in a specific field for which there is no need or shortage,” shared Jansen.
Shona Ngava
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