THE YOUNG JOB SEEKER’S DILEMMA: ‘EXPERIENCE’, THE DISQUALIFIER

There seems to be a common trend these days by companies/organizations both public and private in their announcements of vacancies. All seem to quote a minimum number of years of experience, usually two years. As a young graduate and speaking for all unemployed and young, this is really frustrating. This is because the experience usually quoted automatically cuts off all young school leavers and rather paves way for those who are already in the system and working.

In our various tertiary institutions and other non-tertiary institutions within the country, students are eager to complete their programmes of studies in order to search for jobs as the ultimate to make a meaningful living for themselves and for their families. Upon completion, these young graduates now come face to face with a reality. This is the reality that most institutions/organizations are ready to employ only the already cooked/baked bread. These are people who have several years of work experience. No one wants to consume the half/partially baked loaf.

Is this a new strategy to keep the young out of the system? We always hear people talking/ making speeches about youth empowerment but how probable is this empowerment if we keep on reading all job opening announcements with a minimum experience of two years?

The question now becomes, who should train who for whom to scoop up? Which company/institution is then responsible for the training of the young unemployed? Is there another institution or most likely a shop for the sale of this experience? If we are requesting for all this experience, how then will the young unemployed gain any form of experience if companies are not prepared to train them? Who should consume the partially baked loaf?

In most developing countries and even some institutions/organizations within the country, provisions are made for recruiting young unemployed to give them some form of on-the-job training before they are given positions within the company. I believe this is a bold step in the right direction. By this, people are provided with some form of knowledge and of immediate relevance to their jobs and competences. Even those currently in the system with all the credentials and years of experience reached this arena with an opportunity given to prove themselves. Why then should it be a problem to employ someone without much experience?

I believe it is time for most agencies within the country to review their employment qualifications to enable the young unemployed confidently apply for employment in an institution of choice. There are a lot of good brains out there who are being denied the opportunity to prove themselves. If this culture of ‘experience’ continues, a time will come where people will find alternatives to this problem and that will not auger well for us all as a nation. This experience fever is really dampening the spirit of most young people out there.

There is a time and season for everything and everyone. Yesterday was someone’s day to prove his worth; today someone is making a point somewhere. What about tomorrow? We keep saying the youth/young are the leaders of tomorrow but how can they lead if they are meeting resistance everywhere? How can they lead if they are met with obstacles in the form of ‘experience’ all the time? How then can they take charge of the future if they are not being allowed to unleash the talents in them? How can they gain any experience if no one wants to employ them?

In as much as we believe in the skills and knowledge base of an experienced person, we also know that sometimes this experience is not always enough. We should not ignore the abilities of a young and energetic mind. We should learn to encourage young minds and open up to fresh ideas. We should encourage dynamism.

Even at the work places, a lot of young brains are being stunted since the older colleagues are not giving them the chance to explore new ideas and to prove themselves. This is the problem confronting us a nation and it needs immediate attention. We should be open for a change if we truly want to see development. We should not see news things as a threat but should rather be prepared to learn and understand its relevance especially if it leads to progress and development.

From all indications, they system has been designed to the disadvantage of the younger generation.

This is an appeal on behalf of the young and future leaders of this country; an appeal to the various institutions/organizations both public and private within the country to review their employment qualifications/specifications policies to make room for those who are yet to obtain some experience. We can only gain some experience if we are given the opportunity to try our hands at something.