Graduation could be one of the happiest days of a person’s life or the most frustrating. When those years of study come to an end, that’s when the real work begins.
Some graduates hit the ground running, looking for work using all sorts of strategies. Others rely on influential relatives to get them jobs. There is also a third group of people that sends a hundred e-mails to a hundred different companies, waiting for one to reply with a job offer. This group may spend the rest of their time whining about the hardships of life on the internet as they wait for something good to happen.
Thousands of graduates are released by universities in Ghana…well prepared with papers to be employed but not to employ or start a business. Today, “whom you know” has graduated into “whom you know who knows somebody” as the search for jobs is tougher.
There is a general assumption that it is very easy to get a job when you graduate as a health professional; whether you are a Nurse, Biomedical Scientist, Doctor, Radiologist, Physiotherapist or Pharmacist, you will get employed right after graduation.
Yes, there is a demand for health professionals in Ghana…at least we witness that on TV when a documentary is made about a health facility but the TRUTH is that MANY INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT EMPLOYING. Many don’t have the funds to pay salaries thus avoid taking new people. Ghana Health Service may not conduct an interview in a 2-year period…and when they finally call for an interview…you can guess the number of people who will be on the protocol list. One particular kind of list that has left many graduates miserable and depressed.
Even the health sector that we have all known to be rosy is no more. Getting employed is hard in EVERY SECTOR in Ghana. There are many health professionals who have been searching for jobs for close to 2 years now since they completed their Internship (National Service).
In order not to become the General Secretary of the Unemployed Graduates Association of Ghana (UGAG), find below, five (5) lessons you may need to learn immediately after you graduate:
1. Keep Your Friends Close, but only the Ones you Need
You won’t get a job without a network of prominent friends and if you do, it might not be a good one. Knowing people really counts and it’s almost a guarantee to get things done faster. You also need to be careful about the company you keep. Good friends are the ones who share opportunities and get you employed.
2. Learn to Crawl Before You can Walk
By the time you graduate, you should have done at least one class project and gotten a bit of experience from an internship program. When you finally get your Degree, working for free feels like you have been cheated. The truth of the matter is, not every employer wants to hire you off the bat. You may have to cope with a probationary period before you get that job. Some employers may even demand a few years of experience before they can hire you.
Katakyie HiLary (Biomedical Scientist and CEO of myJCR) worked for twenty-three (23) months after graduation taking a pay that is less than 10% of his basic salary before he finally got employed. No pain no gain. Learn to crawl. Learn to sacrifice. Learn to appreciate small beginnings.
3. Your First Salary Will be Modest
Don’t expect your first pay-slip to have more than 4 zeroes because your academic experience is not worth as much as real world experience. You may need to lower your expectations. Unless you get lucky, your salary will grow only as fast as your circumstances allow it to grow. Don’t expect to make GH¢1,000 a month because you majored in Business Administration or Mechanical Engineering.
4. Money Can Buy Happiness
Whoever said money can’t buy happiness did not know what to do with it. Truth be told…a lot of employed people would be happier if someone offered to double their income. Go for the job that pays higher. If you have a stress-free job with a meager income, a stressful job with a bigger salary is like substituting one advantage for another. Sometimes, you can even get the best of two worlds – a stress-free job with a satisfying salary.
5. Luxury is Only for the Rich and Famous
If you are still paying rent and have no assets to speak of, you cannot afford to buy a car. Unless it’s a taxi or a tractor. A vehicle is not an investment. It is either a sign of prestige or a way to make your commute convenient. A car does not appreciate in value, does not give you an income, and a car definitely is not keeping your money safe.
You should spend the money you get building your future. Don’t waste money on expensive smart phones or clothing. You socio-economic status may not last forever. Who are you trying to impress?…Plan for the future. Living beyond your means will only lead to disaster.
These are the ones we have for you as you prepare to graduate. myJCR wishes you success in all your endeavors.
