Johannesburg - Statistics from the latest employment, unemployment, skills and economic growth survey conducted by Stats SA indicate that 36 percent of South African youth are unemployed.
About 65 percent of college students are unable to find work experience, let alone full-time jobs. These findings show how challenging and competitive it is for young professionals to find work.
Lindi Dlamini, group human resources executive at PPS, believes it’s vital for young graduates to go the extra mile to ensure they are first on a prospective employers’ list to be offered a job. “Applicants need to make sure they stand out in the crowded job market,” she says.
Dlamini provides the following tips for young professionals to ensure they have a better chance of securing their first job.
* Have a proper, well-written CV- the first step for any young graduate, before they even start looking for employment, is to create a properly constructed CV. It, together with the cover letter, provides the prospective employer with a first impression of you. Even one minor spelling or grammar mistake, misalignment of tables or a confusing sentence could annoy the reader. Have your CV reviewed by a peer, mentor or lecturer to critique it.
* Draft a memorable cover letter– never use a generic cover letter based on a template found on the internet. It’s best to construct a letter which contains specific information to make the applicant stand out from the rest. The message should be short and concise, yet memorable. It should describe exactly why the individual is applying for the job and why they believe they will be the best fit for the role.
* Apply for relevant jobs– many people tend to send their CV for consideration for a job that is not relevant to their industry, qualifications or skills. If a job advert specifies that the candidate must have eight years of experience, someone with only three years’ experience should not be applying. There are certain qualifications and skills required to do specific jobs. If the applicant doesn’t meet those requirements, the prospective employer will simply become annoyed and never consider the applicant.
* Online/social networks must reflect a positive image– prospective employers are increasingly evaluating applicants’ social media pages in addition to the traditional applicant screening process. A professional and updated social media presence is extremely important. It’s crucial not to post defamatory, inflammatory or offensive information. A prospective employer wants to see a social media profile that depicts the type of employee the businesses would want to hire.
* Be prepared for the interview– Conduct proper research about the organisation to ensure that a -basic knowledge of the company is obtained. Personal grooming is important, as it working through a list of common interview questions the day before the interview.
“While the high unemployment figure is a reality, graduates can attempt to set themselves apart in the job market by fully equipping themselves with the right skills to stand out in the crowd of job-seekers,” says Dlamini.
* PPS is an authorised financial services provider. See www.pps .co.za.
THE STAR