A flooded university course is one with few job opportunities and countless university graduates. In Kenya, we have degree courses deemed to be flooded, where finding job opportunities is next to impossibility. In such cases, graduates should look for means of improving their marketable worthiness, else they remain jobless forever.
Below we discuss various ways to make yourself marketable when you are in a flooded field
- Join the best university in the country
If you are a form four leaver, don’t sacrifice your worth by joining a poorly ranked university. As soon as you get your KCSE result, ensure you identify the program you wish to pursue, then the best university to study the program from.
It’s understood employers are biased towards some universities. This means if you pursue a flooded course from a less desirable university, employers will shun you.
- Pursue a professional course
More often, I find university graduates presenting degree certificates without professional courses. In a competitive environment, you will find it hard to secure employment without a professional certification.
In Kenya, here are marketable professional certifications to pursue:
- CPA
- ACCA
- CIFA
- CPSP – K (Certified Procurement and Supply Professional Of Kenya)
- Actuarial certification
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Certification
- CFE Certified Fraud Examiner
- Association of Certified Chartered Economists (ACCE)
- CFM Certified Financial Modeler
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Network
The easiest way to secure employment in Kenya is to network. Networking starts with the people you schooled with, your friends, family members and friends of your friends. All the people you meet in social places are important. As you meet and interact, never forget to share with them your career aspirations.
- Internship
I know most of you aspire to earn a decent salary few weeks into graduation, even before. But in most cases, it doesn’t happen like that. Internship, even unpaid one, would expose you to potential employers. Never shy away from sharing your skills to a potential employer, because it’s the only way you’ll get noticed.
- Start a business
There is something I regret about,I spent most of my time seeking employment ,thinking a job would present itself as soon as my heart desired.I ended up waiting for almost a decade. I never knew there are wonderful opportunities out here that do not necessarily require my skills.In our balanced society,not everyone would fit into the job market, others often go into business. If you find yourself harbouring passion for something, please follow your heart.
I’d advise any graduate to drop their ego and launch a business. It doesn’t matter how small it is but as long as you’re engaged somewhere, you’ll learn lessons, which can make you a better person.
- Enroll for a Postgraduate program
If you discover that there is no opportunity coming your way,you better enroll for a postgraduate program. Some courses,like BSc General,BSc Arts,Statistics,Education and Economics need advanced skills for one to secure employment.
When you are through, you can seek employment in universities as a lecturer, then look for a clear bearing from there.
- Seek opportunities abroad
Another way to rescue yourself from the miseries of unemployment is by seeking opportunities abroad. The best countries being USA,UK,Canada,Dubai and Germany. The safest route out of the country is to apply for a masters course in the aforementioned countries, then you can apply for casual jobs as you gain ground.
