Dear graduate, you should take that job

These jobs may not have been what you studied for but the bleak unemployment stats mean that many will not find immediate employment in their field of study.

Tertiary education is no longer a guarantee to securing employment. The graduate unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2018 was 10.2 per cent while the rate among adults aged 35 to 64 years was 4.7 per cent.
Taking that job is in fact a strategic career move. Here are some reasons why you should take that job.

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A foot in the door
Before you get a job, you are a just another CV or a number. But once you get a job you have a face. You will be able to interact with senior staff members and even across departments. This access to a network of information and people allows you to be the first in finding out about new opportunities which will assist you in moving up the proverbial ladder.
If you come across an opportunity within a large organisation, even if it’s way below what you believe you are qualified for, consider taking it. Often in major corporations there is a lot of room for growth. Companies spot talent quickly, and if you distinguish yourself you will be noticed and recommended for a higher position.

There is strategy in joining a specific organisation
It is much easier to move up a company’s ranks from the inside than from the outside. Preference to existing staff is common, they already know the culture, the operations and the company’s mission. Existing staff are a known quantity and it is also a lot easier to up skill and train than someone from the outside.

Experience is king
Qualifications are one part of attaining employment, experience is the other. Experience, even in lower positions, makes you a more valuable asset to the organisation because it shows that you have resilience, tenacity and problem-solving skills. Experience cannot be taught, rather it is something you pick up. Experience offers transferrable skills which can serve you as you grow your career.

In-house training
Once employed, companies often provide in-house training to their staff. It may be in the form of a learnership, or a technical training. These make you much more employable. On the job skills, training and experience are vital for an employee to remain competent, relevant and productive.

Increase in social capital
Studies have found that a lack of social capital contributes to unemployment. Once in the workplace, you will then have a brand new network of people who are part of the formal economy. They come with their own contacts and experience and can be instrumental in helping you find a long-term career which is in line with your qualifications.

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