How a fresh graduate could have “work experience”
By Taiwo Obe
I have just listened to a radio programme where a fresh graduate (I assume) lamented “how employers expect a fresh graduate to have four years working experience.”
It certainly would be presumptuous to expect a fresh graduate to have such experience.
However, I think it is possible for a fresh graduate to have at least one year working experience.
I can illustrate with the story of a business administration graduate of Ashesi University, Ghana, and she’s somewhere in the accompanying picture.
From the outset, she had set a career goal: to become a logistics specialist. Note that as Step One: have a career goal.
On her first holiday, she sought a vacation job, even if it was not going to be paid for, at a logistics firm. She worked there for three months. Step Two: Be engaged, during your holiday, in an organisation which aligns with your goal, even if you have to work for free.
Second holiday, she got herself fixed in another logistics firm, this time, even bigger than the other one. Not sure if she was remunerated. But, she added another three months to her experience. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Third and last holidays, same thing. Each time, a new place but different aspects of the specialisation.
That has stood her in good stead.
This is a true story: the young lady is my daughter.
Taiwo Obe originally posted this article to LinkedIn..
