“OUR (GRADUATES) FIELDS’ HAVE ALREADY FLOODED” this is what they will always tell you!

Today, meet most graduates and ask them why they have not landed themselves high profile jobs and the answer that they are all giving is that the careers they have studied have many graduates; thus their ill fate.

I would like to guide graduates to through this article with an open mind and they will tap where their potential lies. USUALLY TECHNICAL CAPABILITY IS BESIDES THE POINT (we all understand that you are a fresh graduate) but a few things highlighted here will guide you through.

POSITION YOURSELF!

1. Addressing- A background research conducted at managerial and office level, it is clear that most candidates are not able to address a group of persons. Every environment needs to be addressed; formally especially in work places.

Most employers said that many graduates could not address them with respect, introduce themselves formally or even answer simple questions with intellect and intelligence.

2. Professionalism (self-introduction)– I have conducted quite a number of interviews on both fresh candidates and those with hands-on experience. You always see a very big gap on how an individual is tackling questions.

For instance, when you ask a candidate to tell you who they are, “Tell me about yourself”

The generational professional gap arises here. FRESH candidates will rarely tell you about their professional and technical skills, but they will tell you at length about their social background and the kind of relationships they have been through.

Employers are usually less interested in knowing your social background as compared to your competence in handling the tasks they are hiring you for. Tell the panellists on the skills that you will bring on the table. Make them aware that you want to work with them and increase their shareholders and stakeholders wealth. Verse them on how you want to grow with such a reputable firm and help them meet their set goals and objectives.

3. Incompetence-Most candidates are not well versed on their fields of profession and therefore they lack lined up references. For instance, make sure you can illustrate incidences where through the internships you undertook, what skills you acquired and how best you can put them into practise. Study the company profile and know where and how you can add value to the company.

Most candidates when asked this question, and followed by “Where do you think you can add value to us”(company); They literally dig their hole to hell and fall in it

4. Too much unnecessary information on your resume and cover letter– Aim at only informing the employers on your skills, competences and achievements. Ensure your achievements are outstanding. Be brief but make sure that you stand out amongst the thousands of applicants and candidates shortlisted.
5. Poor stage presence-Quite a number of interviewees that I have met will appear uninterested and or depict negative body language. From the postures taken to the flat answers that are summing up an open question. This will just send a perception about you. The tonal variations used and the eye contact maintained will send ‘outright’ signals to the interviewers.

Many candidates create the conclusion of a state in the interviewer’s mind that “Just because you went to the university does not make you worthwhile”. Look out for our article “Presenting yourself professionally for an interview”

6. Lack of Genuine connection with interviewers– As much as you maintain a good posture and eye contact with your interviewers, you are expected look at the job description and the role for which you are to be interviewed.

Forget the fields you may think you are an expert in and focus on the job that has landed you on the table.

Candidates talk much about themselves and other unrelated topics, they forget to ask themselves what the panellists want to hear. All we want to know is “how fit are you for this particular task that we are interviewing you for?”

Finally, it is always good for candidates to know that THAT degree you possess does not buy you any kind of special access rather; it’s just the price of entry, not the destination.

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