By Lekan Otufodunrin.
Media Career Services www.mediacareerng.org recently uploaded a vacancy for a media position on behalf of a media organisation.
Some days after the announcement, I asked the MD of the company if he has received responses to the advert.
His response was ” Just three so far and none suitable”
I was not really surprised that despite a large number of young graduates seeking media employment, the applications the MD has received were few and none of the three that applied was suitable considering the requirements in the vacancy announcement.
The requirements are supposed to be basic skills and experience media job seekers should have, but my experience in helping to recruit staff shows that, like a former minister was once quoted as saying, many applicants are not employable.
When vacancy announcements include requirements like the three below, the applicants will definitely be few.
*Mastery of grammar, spelling and punctuations which can be assessed based on the application letter.
*Proficiency in digital journalism as well as an active presence on social media which can be confirmed by checking the social media handles of the applicants.
*Web-based materials written by applicants which must be included in the applications.
I know a number of young and very bright graduates who may meet the above requirements, but many just don’t have what it takes to get hired by especially start-ups companies that need ‘ready-made’ staff who can work with little or no supervision.
I know some young graduates who have been changing jobs almost at will on the basis of their mastery of new media skills, while others are finding it difficult to convince employers to invite them for interviews.
Which employer wants to hire a graduate who does not know how to apply punctuations in his or her write-ups?
Vacancies are indeed not as many as they used to be considering the prevailing economic situation in the country and the changing media landscape, but those who have the required skills and competence have a better chance of getting jobs under the present circumstance.
My advice for graduate job seekers is that they cannot afford to sit back waiting for employment when they don’t have enough proof of their editorial capabilities apart from their certificates.
There are enough online platforms to demonstrate their skills like having blogs, being professionally active on social media and publishing content.
I know what it takes to search for jobs for long after completing the national youth service. It took me almost a year to get my desired kind of job in 1986, 30 years ago.
