Where new university graduates gain work experience

James, a recent university graduate, is frustrated that all the job opportunities he has seen advertised, some of which he knows he is qualified for, require an applicant to have work experience.

His question is, where do graduates like him get the work experience that employers are looking for?

Francis Kahiu, a Nairobi-based business manager, notes that today’s work environment is very competitive and many companies can no longer afford to focus on employee training.

“What companies are looking for are qualified employees who will hit the ground running, instead of requiring an investment of resources in training,” he says.

He adds that even those getting internship in some companies do not end up starting a career there. He attributes this to limited learning time.

Mr Kahiu offers a number of solutions for this. The first of which is finding a temporary placement.

“Temporary opportunities do not come with security, like in permanent placement situations, but they offer a contract that allows you to build up experience.

“However, keep in mind that these placements may not come with much work responsibilities, meaning you can end up gaining little in terms of expertise if you don’t show any initiative.”

He believes that these types of contracts offer job seekers a chance to make themselves more marketable by providing a chance to improve one’s skills.

Positive Outlook

Eric Kaniaru, who recently began working at a small startup after a long time searching for a job, said the nature of temporary contracts can make the going tough.

“But the advantage is that this job has exposed me to numerous departments in a short while.”

According to him, one needs to be proactive and innovative to benefit from such placements.

“I realised that those who wait to be told to do something, instead of jumping at any opportunity to help, do not stand high chances of getting their contracts extended.”

Kahiu adds that jobseekers can also build up on work experience through volunteering. This also presents them with an opportunity to meet others with similar interests, which helps with building up a network.

“You can work at a company for low or no wages and master critical job skills. You can also engage in something related to your career. For instance, if you have IT training, look for an opportunity to teach students at technical institutes how to write or develop software, and so on.”

Further, he says, one should not underestimate the power of a ‘can do’ outlook and willingness to learn.

Employers are often more interested in taking on people who are hard working, reliable and passionate about the job, rather than just qualified for it, and will support them in getting training if they prove to be great prospects.