GRADUATE and youth unemployment in South Africa has been discussed ad nauseam, but with President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioning youth unemployment as the greatest challenge to social development in the country and, with the unemployment rate for youth with tertiary qualifications rising above 20%, how to go about entering the job market deserves a lot more attention. Three human resources and recruitment specialists, Netcare transformation director Dr Nceba Ndzwayiba, recruitment agency Pro Appointments CEO, motivational speaker and business coach Cindy Norcott and Varsity College National Career Centre manager Andrea van den Berg agreed that networking is an effective way for graduates to find employment. They added that many job seekers are employed not through traditional channels, but because of referrals or recommendations by family or friends or by attending networking events. The greater the graduate’s network and ability to use it, the higher his or her chances of entering the job market. Ndzwayiba said:
“Networking is critical because it exposes one to a broader network of contacts, thus giving one greater exposure to an audience which may impact (on) one’s career positively. Once you start networking, you’ll find that it creates a ripple effect, thereby expand your network and increasing possibilities for opportunities. “It also broadens your knowledge, exposes you to critical career enhancing information, and allows you the opportunity to tap into an experienced audience that can offer psycho-social support and industry specific insight.” “A strong network increases one’s employment options considerably,” Van den Berg agreed.
So how does one go about building and nurturing an effective network?
“There is no one size-fits-all (approach). There are many factors one needs to consider for networking to be effective. One is your pool of potential contacts at the time of networking. You need to identify people who are in or who know your industry well. If you can’t attend industry networking events, interact with industry leaders and specialists digitally by sending emails or joining industry-specific online platforms. Networking is not a quick fix – it will take time to achieve your goal. Just make sure that you always show up and keep at it, “ Ndzwayiba advised. On what you can do to improve your networking skills, Van den Berg said: “Start small. If you are looking for a new job, start with building contacts in that particular industry.
Join LinkedIn and ask your parents or friends if they know anyone you should connect with. “Asking for referrals as you go will enhance your network. Listen to the advice and wisdom that these people share. Why not volunteer to work for them or assist them with ad-hoc duties to gain work experience? Offering your time and resources while you are young will assist with building skills that you could charge for at a later stage. You are building your personal brand and experience as you engage with these contacts. If you are keen and eager to learn and grow, you will become highly recommended by your contacts and you will be surrounded by great opportunities to choose from.”
According to Norcott, bringing an air of positivity to any networking event is crucial. “When someone asks you how you are, you need to tell them something positive (because) nobody wants to talk to someone who is negative. It is important to have positive body language and to smile. “Listening skills are also essential, as is the ability to remember names and facts about others. If a graduate has a big network on social media, then they need to understand the importance of how what they are posting portrays their personal brand on these platforms. “Another important skill if someone wants to be an effective networker is to refer and recommend others as well, thus adding some value to others. One favour often leads to another,” concluded Norcott.
Supplied by Varsity College.
