The fear of the unknown – Life after graduation

Gabby TjirozeAdjusting to life after graduation can be nerve-wracking for many young people with so many not knowing what to do and whether they will be employed in the field of their choice. It is yet another step on the ladder of life. Life after graduation is not necessarily going to be worse, but it’s normal to fear the unknown. To be truthful, there is no ‘guide for survival in real life’, no recipe for a successful future from now on everything depends on an individual, whether you will sit and wait for a job to be provided or you will make something out of your situation.The choices we make and on the paths we embark on determine our future. With this Career Guide, there are different career paths that graduates can look at and have an idea on how to shape their future.Graduates should not give up in hunting for jobs in both public and private sectors and also in the international arena. If they have graduated with an undergraduate qualification, they should if possible, continue to pursue postgraduate studies while looking for employment and not just sit idle. Graduates can also venture in entrepreneurship if possible to create small to medium businesses.Being a new graduate can be an exciting time and scary at the same time. One chapter of life is closing and another is just beginning. But, in many ways, finding post-grad work is a job in itself. Making that transition from student to employee is not as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of mistakes to be made if you don't know what to look out for especially if you have studied a course that is not in demand.We all pray for the day to come where we will not have any more exams and assignments ever again but when that moment actually comes, we simply do not know what to do any more. Most students have gotten so used to ‘student life’, which is sort of independent but not nearly as full of responsibilities as they have after graduating. Gabriel Shinyemba, a recent graduate is one of the fortunate who got employed right after college at an engineering company.Shinyemba, a 25 year old 2018 NUST engineering says that “After studying for a bachelor of technology in civil engineering for 6 years, I was privileged and honored to wear the gown after so much effort. There were times I wanted to give up, but I pushed through,’’ he said. Now Shinyemba is an independent young employed man working at an engineering firm. ‘’Going to school was one of the best choices I have made because education is key” He mentioned.Some graduates recently took to the streets to demonstrate their frustrations and demanding clarity from the Prime Minister’s office on why they are not getting jobs. According to a 2016 report from the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, 16.8 per cent of graduates with university degrees were unemployed, along with 0,8 per cent with masters or doctorate degrees. Most experts’ in the employment industry advice graduates to study fields that are in demand in the country. According to one expert, he says that there should be intervention to tackle this serious issue. “I think the government is really trying what it can to attend to this pressing matter which is not only unique to Namibia. The youth should be empowered through funded programmes to be able to create work for themselves and for others too. Our education system should be able to provide technical skills to learners and students in order to utilize such skills to earn an income and not just perhaps focus on academia as such so that they can be technically fit to meet the demands of the job market” he says.Another in the law fraternity stated that most law graduates are not ready upon graduation for the industry due to the fact that more practical work is in the industry itself when compared to the very little practical training given at university. “A lot is learnt in the working environment as one deals with real issues and clients/community that you have to provide proper service to. It is a daunting task for me to highlight a common mistake made by graduates because what must be noted is that law is a very broad field and it being a noble profession, it is necessary for one to be thorough when faced with a legal question” “A lawyer requires a lot of reading, preparedness and hard work. Do your research before any assignment and consult as many sources as possible for you to reach new horizons in your career” he says.

The fear of the unknown – Life after graduation

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

Please login to leave a comment

The fear of the unknown – Life after graduation

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

Please login to leave a comment

Login