She dropped out, hunted for a job, and came out with bursary

When she came through the door, she looked like somebody who had given up on something and was searching for hope. We sat down in the office to talk.

She was in her second year of university when she dropped out. She did not have the money to continue. So how can I help you? I asked her. She looked at the ceiling. Tension and desperation in her eyes let off the tears which gleamed against the light.

‘Uhm, I’m not sure. I’m here because I want to finish my studies,’ she said as she shifted slightly in the chair. ‘But my grandparents don’t have money so… I guess I have to get a job, but I don’t have qualifications, so please help me because I don’t know what else to do.’ she was fighting the tears. Her voice trembled as she hastily wrapped up. It shook something in me.

I asked her about her life and family situation. She had had a stint as news reader for a community radio station. She spoke with clarity and her emails to me indicated that she had great potential. ‘I enjoy the research part of Engineering so I want to follow that stream,’ she said. I was spell-bound to find a way to help her.

She came back the following week. I was pleasantly surprised by how meticulous she had done her homework. She had compiled the research about companies which we thought she could approach to offer her skills. She sent me evidence of her proposals to companies including the company responses to her.

For about three meetings, I shared some life lessons with her. Those lessons have shaped key moments in my own life, and in the lives of those who’ve taught me one or two things. They are long stories which I can only summarise in this way…

1.     When you aspire for something, be it a job, an important relationship, healing or even a car which you “need,” claim it. Call it forth. Say, ‘I will work at ABC soon;’ ‘I will have a meeting with so-and-so one day;’ ‘There goes my car,’ and proceed to do what is necessary to achieve it. This is the prayer that I know.

2.     When you are struggling to get ahead (and the truth is that you are actually getting ahead even during strife), and the doors don’t seem to be opening, think differently. Surrender – not “give up” - to the desperation… Yes. And soon your God-mind may abandon your selfish thoughts and then it will ask: How can I help somebody? Life is not just about you; it is about everyone. Sometimes the stumbling block in life is that I have not given myself to others; I have just been taking, taking, and trying to take more. Life says we are called to re-create ourselves even during bad times; to conquer and surprise ourselves. This is the game of aspiring to be in God. Offer YOURSELF, the universe will return the love.

Pulane [not her real name] and I shared these and many other lessons, suffice it to say that when she sent me an email on 27 January, she had this to say:

‘I just had an "Aha" moment when I recall what you used to say "helping people is like doing a prayer for yourself." I couldn't continue with a mission [visiting companies with proposals] this year. We had nothing at home this month [she’s depending on pensioners] and then that's when I came to a point where I got so bored and decided to keep myself busy by helping out at the church. One day (about a week ago) the Reverend became interested in knowing what am currently doing with my life, I explained to him and he said the church can give me bursary. My application has been approved and I am submitting my results [to church] this week. I’ll be going for an interview on Sunday and hopefully I’ll be able to register soon.’

This morning of 27 February 2014 I received a long email from her. I will only quote the following extract:

‘Do you remember the last e-mail I sent to you(last month)about me going to the interview for the church bursary? It went well. But it was not easy to register because I was owing the institution R5000.00 and the bursary was only willing to pay for my 2014 fees. So I got sooo emotionally drained, I talked and talked to them, like you taught me :)… until NSFAS pledged to pay the outstanding, by God’s grace. I only registered on Valentine’s day, and started attending last week (doing a lot of catching up) and this is my second week.’

You are in the job market; here is the checklist…

1.     Can I write a CV?

2.     Can I write a Suitability Motivation Letter

3.     Can I write my own Skills and Competency Profile

4.     Can I write a brief value proposition of what I can do/ offer/ deliver on? What am I bringing?

5.     Can I use telephone skillfully?

6.     Can I use email skillfully?

7.     Do I have interviewing skills?

8.     Do I observe the basics of professionalism?

9.     Do I have the resources to search (transport fare, internet access, mentor, network, etc.)?

10.  How many people have I personally informed that I am in the job market? Am I in touch with them? Have I convinced them that I am ready or good enough?

Graduates are not having it easy in the job market

It is taking 2 days for three graduates to send me their updated CVs. The opportunity is Accounting graduate programme in Johannesburg. The closing date is today.

What could be the hold-up?

1. Lack of resources?

2. Lack of knowledge on what should be done?

3. Lack of professionalism? 

I am asking the three questions because…

Applicant 1 promised to phone me this morning at 09h00, after I protested that the noise levels in the background were assaulting my eardrum (she was commuting in a train) She called me at 09h48, no apology, and got cut off within a minute. When I called her 10 minutes later, she said she was on her way to buying airtime.

Applicant 2 kept saying "Ya" instead of "Yes" when we were on the phone yesterday. When I pointed out to him that Ya is neither polite nor consistent with, at least English, he replied 'Okay,' and that was it.

Applicant 3 phoned me this morning to inform me that the e-mail she sent to me returned undelivered. I had offered to email blank e-mail to her; she insisted that she will write my email down. That was 2 days ago.

Please share your thoughts.

The ways of finding work are shifting

Every time I make the completing students (and graduates) aware that the trend of searching for work by way of sending CVs and hoping for luck are shifting, the reactions I get from them range between shock and indifference. Times are changing. The signs are there.

Finding work takes more than just academic qualification and appealing CV. Among other things, it takes dedication and investing in your trade. It requires robust research about the industries/ organisations/ markets which need your skills.

It takes mutual connections (not only who you know, but how you influence the decision-maker at the time of the pitch) to get ahead. Those of us who do not gear up for this often miss out. Sometimes we rely on chance to give us jobs. But how often does “chance” come around?

Most of us who have been struggling to find work for over 2 years of graduating – I work with many of them - have not taken steps beyond just sending CVs into a Black hole and hoping for luck. What is holding us back?

Fear
False expectations appearing real.

I am shy

Shy people are constantly evaluating themselves negatively.

Dream job

Only deliberate research about your profession/ trade will dispel the myth about “dream job.” You don’t land a dream job passively. Only by taking proactive action can we do a worthwhile job.

Right opportunity

What exactly is the right opportunity? Put yourself out there. Use your talent more. Do what comes naturally to you a lot more. Hone your skills. Meet your opportunity. Do what you can right where you are.

Seeking approval and validation

We live up to expectations of our lecturers, parents, siblings, friends, lovers, neighbours, employers, etc. Are you trying to please someone? How about seeking the God in you instead?

Fearing rejection

When we go out to give what we can offer; to tell somebody (manager, company, investor, audience) what we are good at, we must anticipate rejection. Learning to deal with rejection is one of the most important life practices available. The industrial age rewards us for avoiding rejection. No, we must pursue rejection, until we realise that all we get for our endeavours is feedback. When people give us the feedback we did not expect, we think they are rejecting us. No, they are giving us feedback. What you do with that feedback is crucial.

Eye on the bling

From the moment we measure the progress and success of others through the bling they have, we have missed the point. Once we ignore the trials and tribulations the people we look up to have experienced to be where they are, we become the slaves of ill-fitting dreams.

Our country has many challenges (economic, political, social and spiritual. These challenges have for a long time conspired against a young generation (the highest unemployment rate is with the youth). If you are young and Black, you are worse off.

The economic and social system appears to be denying us job opportunities, because it does not trust us. Trust is scarce, (real human) connection is scarce and so is the element of surprise. We are too compliant; we are too similar; we are too average. We are trying not to ruffle the feathers.

The commitment to bringing something new or different to the table, the commitment to standing out, and the faith of saying at the time of meeting decision-makers, ‘I can help you with this,’ ‘I can do this for you,’ will propel us to the level of playing our A-game.

Entrepreneurs emerge from this mindset. They are not accidental success stories. They did not start businesses as a fall-back alternative after failing to secure employment. They are authentic people. They have surrendered (not given up) to the life of serving, of giving something of themselves which others won’t give, or are too afraid, or lazy, to offer. They are providing something which is new, real and important in this era of connection economy. In the words of Seth Godin, ‘the connection economy rewards the leader, the initiator, and the rebel.’

If you don’t know what you are offering, and you are not willing to find out, wait your turn in the unfair and often dissipating promise of employment. But if you know what you are offering (as a leader, initiator and the rebel), step up. Why do you wait to be called in?

Oprah Winfrey used to call people to give them spotlight on her show. She is no longer there. YouTube has changed the game. Rebels meet their important audience without asking to be given a chance. The real chance is not the moment you have asked for, but the moment which you seize. So grab your chance. Knock on the doors. Find out what the people need. Can you satisfy the need?