the jobless

The Hurdles of Job Searching
From the dry streets of Kampla. The joyous tears of completing tertiary education turn into tears of sorrow when the job hunting errands start.
After the hussle and huddle of compiling the rather still slim curriculum vitae, humbly wording the application letters, the cloth is wrapped around the groins and the feet hit the street.
This is the easiest part of all.
In today’s world, the first person you meet on your way to the office of the company you hope to get your dream job is the gateman. The best way to get past the askari is to evoke your sense of humility, if you show any hint of English-attitude, it may be the start of a bad day.
This is the end of the smooth walk.
Secretaries and receptionist are the nightmare of any one tempting to see the big boss in office. The ladies (usually) seated on the front desk wield more authority than could be described in their terms of work.
According to Richard Mutebi, the best way to get help from a receptionist/secretary is try and be as humble as possible, and show that you recognise her authority.
Mutebi has just completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University.
For Allan Atuhairwe, his religious credentials were the factor considered by the Human Resource Manager. “The lady asked me whether I was saved, when I replied in the negative, she started preaching to me,” Allan says. “Yet all I was looking for was a job, which she did not give.” He laments.
Edward Mulindwa and Martin Agaba formed a tag team. “We found that it is better to walk in pairs,” Martin says. “You don’t feel he fatigue like the one who moves alone,” he concludes.
The most common response that is received by applicants goes along these lines, “we shall put your application in our file, and should any opportunity arise, you will be contacted.” Don’t be fooled this id the end of your tour to this prospective employer.
The products of today’s education have been taunted to be job seekers rather than creators. This has seen the unemployment rate catapult into double figures.
While addressing women entrepreneurs on July 7th this year, Mr. Charles Ocici said that “approximately 9,000 new jobs are projected to be created annually against an outlay of 29,000 graduates, representing an unemployment rate of 82 per cent”. Mr. Charles Ocici is the Executive Director of Enterprise Uganda,
But all is not doom, you can create a better resume’ that will attract the employer.
Jim Stroud, a consultant in job recruitment describes the recruiting process as a ‘selling process’, and any candidate without an understanding of basic sales steps is doing him or herself a disservice.
Some graduates have had to work way off what they studied in institute. Grace Akech is a mass communication graduate from U.C.U Mukono, but works with a Coffee exporting firm based in Nakawa as an administrator.
There are very many professionals and entrepreneurs who operate outside of what they studied. According to Ivan Kato, a Human Resource Manager, “the best benefit of any major is mastering the patience, dedication, and organization it takes to achieve a long-term goal.” These traits are transferrable across every discipline.
But Agrrey Kabona has a bitter reservation with graduates themselves. “All graduates expect to get high paying office jobs, if you advise them to start as interns, or volunteers, they scoff at you.” He says.
This however can be attributed to the existing curriculum that is exclusive, a filtration system for excluding all but academic elite.