‘Not enough’

bachelor’s degree alone won’t be enough to land one’s dream job, a University of the West Indies career counsellor has suggested, based on the current trends in the domestic, regional and international job markets.

Don-Marie Holder told Barbados TODAY that some employers were looking for workers who had more than a degree and it was therefore in the best interest of students to ensure that they had other feats listed on their curriculum vitae that made them stand out and be more competitive.

She was speaking on the sidelines of a job fair at UWI Cave Hill that featured just under 40 businesses in various fields.

“This is why the job fair is so important because we are trying to make sure that students understand what the job market looks like right now, what are some of the things that help them to be competitive and what are some of the skills [they need]. It’s not just their qualifications [that matter]. Their degree is one thing but what about your attitude? How do you get along with others? How do you show initiative? Do you speak a foreign language?

“We are just trying to help students to understand what are some of the skills that are needed in today’s workforce because some of the jobs that they might have been thinking about before are changing. This fair is really about helping them to connect with what is needed now and what is likely to be needed in the future,” Holder said.

She added that it was also important for students to keep abreast of the hiring cycles of government and private sector agencies, pointing out that many students find it challenging to land a job after completing their studies.

Stressing the importance of participating in workshops and other personal and career developmental activities to enhance one’s employability competitiveness, Holder said students should, at least in their second year, start considering what other programmes and initiatives they can get involved in to give them the edge.

“One of the areas that we get that a lot from is sometimes our science students, and sometimes students who are doing studies like sociology and political science. I work with students so they understand what the hiring cycle looks like for the space that they’re in.

“For example, if you’re doing psychology, you may need to consider postgraduate studies before you think about getting into the world of work. So depending on the area that you’re looking at, some people may be able to go right out of their first degree and get into work while others may need to consider additional training,” the UWI advisor explained.

“Apart from what you see here, one of the other things that we do is offer scholarship information sessions to help students understand the next steps for grad school – how they pay for that, how they write letters, essays and proposals to be considered. We are providing career planning and career guidance.”

Holder said there were also mentors at the job fair to help students “think through the plan that they have and to appreciate what are some of the changes that are going on as they put plans in place”.

“The job fair today is just one part of it but there are workshops and other pieces that students are encouraged to be a part of as well,” she added.

As it relates to the UWI’s mandatory Give Back Programme, Holder said students should consider it a window of opportunity to gain work experience. She also advised them to put their best foot forward as some students have gone on to secure jobs at places where they had volunteered. (SZB)