CEO of Jobberman Ghana, Hilda Nimo Tieku, has called on tertiary students in Ghana to take internship and volunteering opportunities to gain experience as they prepare for the job market.
“As tertiary students, right after school, the next step is to look for a job or be self-employed to earn a living. Taking up internship and volunteering opportunities contributes to the overall work experience employers look out for. So, the big question is; how prepared are you for the job market?”
She quizzed students during her presentation at the just ended employability summit organized by the Youth Opportunity and Transformation Africa, (YOTA).
Speaking on the topic; Securing your first job; Skills and qualities employers look for, she explained that employers are always looking for people with employability skills who can contribute to achieving the overall business goal.
“Employers want people with the requisite technical skills and are competent for the job, yet to excel in the workplace you need to work on your soft skills. Soft skills play an essential role in the workplace, so make it a point to identify the peculiar ones that matter to your career path and work towards it.
Meanwhile, you must pay attention to these basic soft skills which employers consider very essential, including; effective communication skills, problem-solving & critical thinking skills, resourcefulness, punctuality, teamwork & collaborative skills, willingness to learn, as well as having a positive attitude to work,” Hilda added.
Akua Ampah, founder and a career consultant at Virtual Career Office, in her presentation at the summit, also stressed that for anyone to thrive in the world of work and career, you must know your values, be able to identify your interest or passion, personality type, and your skillset.
“Your VIPS’ are what guides you as a professional, no matter the career path you choose. If you know who you are and know what you want, you will make use of your skills and at the end of the day, you will feel fulfilled’, she explained.
The Vibe Check Employability Summit is an initiative by the YOTA- Youth Opportunity & Transformation in Africa which seeks to equip and support students in tertiary level of education on their journey from education to employment.
The three-day event had a session held in three major universities in Ghana, including Wisconsin University College in Accra, University of Ghana, Legon, and All Nations University, Koforidua.
Climaxing the event at the University of Ghana Legon, Executive Director of YOTA, Emmanuel Edudzie, commended the speakers for their insightful interaction with the students and hinted that the summit will be crowned with a mega career fair on the 9th of April, 2022 at the University of Ghana, Legon campus.
