Elizabeth held her mother firmly in excitement when the Makerere University chancellor conferred upon her a degree in Social Works and Social Administration back in 2016.

She had made her mother proud and had all the reasons to celebrate. Single-handedly, her mother had denied herself every comfort of life to put her in school through to university. 

Elizabeth, like many young graduates, had gallant dreams running through her mind as she headed home, engulfed in joy. She pictured herself having a well-paying job shortly after graduation, driving the latest car, and starting a family shortly. 

It’s been four years since. And to her shock, none of her dreams have come to pass. Elizabeth is still the child who depended on her mother for almost all her needs.

“Mom many times asks me if indeed she made the right decision to spend all her money on my education. She reminds me that I am old but still her a dependant,” Elizabeth echoes her mother’s apprehension about her joblessness. 

“It is very frustrating,” she adds. 

But Elizabeth’s dilemma is commonplace for many young graduates when it comes to employment opportunities, especially in Africa.

In Uganda, at least 700,000 young people enter the job market annually. Few jobs, however, are being created to absorb the growing population. A study by the World Bank recommends that Uganda should at least create over one million jobs annually if it is to absorb the growing labour force.

In neighbouring Kenya, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), at least one in every three young Kenyans, are jobless. Overall, there are four million Elizabeths in that country alone. 

In the current labour market, characterised by such stiff competition, how can one position him or herself to be recruited? 

Remember, as Emmanuel Dei-Tumi, the president of Human Capital International wrote in his book Strategic Positioning, you are no longer competing with your classmates from your local university or Africans alone, but with other graduates globally. 

That is the stark reality about globalisation: you have to compete as a global citizen for every vacancy advertised in your profession.

What can you do to favourably compete with a Canadian or Australian for the same job advertised in your country? Our intention in this article is to give you tips on how to compete as a potential global employee and get the job you want. Consider the following points below.

Mind your image and disposition

You may also read: Four strategies to Avoid Being Jobless in The New Normal.

As it was in the past, employers are picky when it comes to recruitment in these present times. 

For every potential job advertisement, thousands of competent candidates are waiting to grab them. It is therefore you, the candidate, who has to exhibit uniqueness to convince the employer of your suitability.

 Employers are not magicians to decipher your inner beauty and competencies until you give a clue about who you are. Aside from your qualification, the surest way to present yourself as the obvious choice is by your appearance.

A study by Dr Jacqueline Davidson, Research Fellow at the University of York, concluded that a candidate’s appearance had a big influence on whether he or she will be hired.

“Employers reported forming first impressions of candidates from their appearance, manner, and dress. The candidate’s perceived performance at interview informed recruitment decisions,” reads part of the research. 

The book, Strategic Positioning, says that image is everything if you are to get a job.

“Your self-image influences the image others have of you. People will treat you the same way you treat yourself.” 

Therefore, the moment you land a job interview, ensure you work on a winning professional look for this first official meeting with your prospective employer. 

Even to those who are already employed, remember to keep a professional image at all times. And in this digital age, your posts and photos on social media, says a lot about you.

You should ensure to appear professional at all times if you are to get that job or promotion.

Become the expert in your field

Jim Rohm once said that “do not bring your need to the marketplace, bring your skill. If you don’t feel well, tell your doctor, but not the marketplace. If you need money, go to the bank and not the market place.” 

Businesses and job descriptions have changed so much especially as technology evolves. What the employer wants is not your need to have a paycheque that solves your many money problems but your skills that creates value for the company or organisation.

This article will interest you: Four Signs You Are Becoming Irrelevant In Your Career

Your academic excellence is good but the ever-increasing skills mismatch between what is taught in school, and what the job market demands, should be your concern as well. It is the reason why a university degree no longer guarantees competency, and therefore, a job offer. 

Justine Moore says the world is experiencing degree inflation. A 2014 survey by the Inter-University Council for East Africa, a body that regulates higher education in the East African Community’s five-member countries, illustrated that a degree is not a guarantee of skills.

The survey showed that 63 percent of Ugandan graduates lacked job market skills. Tanzania tallied 61 percent, followed by Burundi at 55, Rwanda at 52 and Kenya, 51.

Therefore, for people like Elizabeth to become employable, they must get the necessary skills through training, internship, or volunteering.

To quote Dei-Tumi, “No longer are employers looking for academically competent individuals who are devoid of any flexibility and creativity in their dealings with the customer, or for the academic genius who fails to demonstrate innovation and initiative in the discharge of their duties at the workplace, particularly in their interactions with the customer.” 

No employer will leave out a candidate with expertise or creative thinking skills. Instead, they will do everything to pay for your expertise as long as it adds value to the overall organisational objectives. Become that expert in your field and get hired. 

Grow your social capital and learn how to use it.

It may be hard to tell how and when the networks you cultivate today will be of help and when you would need them most. However, what is not in dispute is the fact that networking is essential to your career growth. 

Within your networks, people will refer you to prospective employers, help you hone your skills as dictated by the industry, or even advise you on your career path.

You can grow your networks by building a reputation in both private life and as a career person. In all your interactions, ensure that you espouse integrity and respect, willingness to learn, and also prepare yourself to meet people who embody positive values.

As author Idowu Koyenikan said, “everything you want in life is a relationship away.” Continue to audit and build those relations because the reward can be big.