JOHN KAUPA KAMASUA
YOUTH unemployment is one of the serious national development issues facing Papua New Guinea.
For a number of years now, I have run a program on career development at the University of Papua New Guinea.
The short course, which I developed, is called the Career Development & Employment Enhancement Program. It offers ‘soft skills’ to encourage students to develop a career and enhance their employability.
I’ve also run a number of workshops for colleges and secondary schools in the National Capital District and hope to take it to other provinces and districts.
I’m hoping that provincial Governors, MPs, corporate sponsors and business houses come on board to provide funding to take this program to schools and technical colleges where students will find it useful.
It is becoming more difficult for young people to secure employment, or even get a part-time job. Competition for jobs is intense.
That said, all young people and graduates have their own “unique selling propositions” they can use to market their skills and knowledge.
Packaging this information through CVs and getting through an interview successfully are vital skills.
After four or five years acquiring knowledge and skills, university students complete their studies and seek employment in the private and public sectors.
Their years of study represent a serious investment on their part. Yet many students do not take seriously the need to package information about themselves: they do not know how to prepare a basic CV.
It was clear to me in developing the Career Development & Employment Enhancement Program (CDEEP) that students nearing the end of their studies and recent graduates seeking employment needed to be assisted.
The career development component focuses on how to develop a career. Among the tools used are an aptitude test, the Holland Code Career Test and personality tests.
The employment enhancement component assists students to develop effective CVs, write cover letters and market themselves effectively during job interviews.
These main components are delivered through interactive workshops that get students packaging information about themselves and learning about how to get into employment.
The outcomes of the program include awareness of the importance of developing a career, preparation of a robust CV, understanding how to present well at interview and numerous job search tips.