Abdullahi Gains Independence
Organisations or institutions’ recruitment culture contribute largely to the overall challenges of getting jobs through qualifications, consequently relying job seekers on personal connections and powerful and influential persons, even though the candidates are more competent and willing to compete for vacancies. Job seekers lost the trust in a formal recruitment process or applying vacancies unless the employers are personally known or someone in the job seekers’ network knows them. “My greatest worry was about job openings that are not openly announced, and an employment based on a recommendation, mainly through personal and family connections” Abdullahi stated.
“Taking these challenges into account, I determined independently getting a job, without relying on elders or politicians to recommend employers for offering a job to me. In addition to this, my relocation to Garoowe decreases the size of my networks, using the connections could had been challenging for me” he stated. When he enrolled in the University of Bossaso (UOB), he learnt a graphic design skill to skew him towards the demand side, making sure others demand his skillset.He used to work as a cameraman receiving without or with little income-- just only for introducing him to clients. He worked voluntarily the IT section of UOB with his camera, taking photos and making them more appealing.
The management of IT section recognized his voluntary work which resulted offering him an internship, limited opportunity; limited available positions. His previous engagement had a little interaction with the people. Therefore, the internship improved his work readiness and interpersonal skills. He said, “When you are interacting with people with different behaviour and attitudes, a patience and flexibility is required and crucial—I learned this important lesson during the internship period”. When he looks back his journey, there something he can share with other job seekers a number of steps to get a job. The job seeker should not focus so much on a remuneration instead the person’s main priority should be demonstrating his capacity and competence to avoid relying on a personal connection. It is crucial for young job seekers to accept a voluntary work or work with a little incentive. The other important lesson is obtaining a practical or technical skillset that could help the job seekers or students to enter faster into the job market and take small jobs. “Having a hard skill boosted my confidence and felt sure about what to do, that also helped me to be demanded by employers instead of pursuing them for giving me a job.”
The host company, UOB recruited Abdullahi working with IT section. He is unsure if could get this job without working with them as an intern. It means that the internship provided him an opportunity to demonstrate his ability, professionalism, commitment, and attitude. He thinks that focusing on his goal, finding a job, played a critical factor in getting the job. Since he landed the job, his living standard improved and he was financially independent paying all personal expenses including the rent and daily consumption. Previously, he was living with relatives who housed him, but now he is not dependent on anyone.
“Having a hard skill boosted my confidence and felt sure about what to do, that also helped me to be demanded by employers instead of pursuing them for giving me a job.”
The host company, UOB recruited Abdullahi working with IT section. He is unsure if could get this job without working with them as an intern. It means that the internship provided him an opportunity to demonstrate his ability, professionalism, commitment, and attitude. He thinks that focusing on his goal, finding a job, played a critical factor in getting the job. Since he landed the job, his living standard improved and he was financially independent paying all personal expenses including the rent and daily consumption. Previously, he was living with relatives who housed him, but now he is not dependent on anyone.
Name: Abdullahi Ali Farah
Program: LEAD program