Topics

Topic 3 Securing Employment
I believe you already know or understand what a job is and its role or contribution to personal life as well as to the development of the community and nation. Some of you have worked before; others are working now and may want to change careers in the future while for some, you are thinking of starting to work There are a wide variety of jobs. These jobs requires different qualifications in terms of credentials and attitudes. The training or education that you undergo will help you make a wise decision of which job to apply for. Furthermore, employers normally make it clear in their advertisements the type of person (qualifications and experiences) they want as well as the types of job tasks the applicants will perform. Having the right job search skill is all about knowing the job that you fit in well or the job that fits you well. In this module, therefore, you are exposed to some few job search skills including the identification, location and use of different advertisement sources such as media, the internet and ‘word’ of mouth. Learners will also learn how current trends in technology make it possible for them to know about job opportunities in countries other than their own. Through these skills, learners will develop positive attitudes towards looking for and securing employment. They will making job search personal commitment.

There are a number of qualities you need to be able to search for and secure a job. These qualities are many. This module exposes you to some of these qualities, for example, the need to be self-directedness. Self-direction is one of the important skills you must have when you plan to start looking for a job. Self-direction is facilitated by a clear understanding of the job opportunities that are out there and how your present training/education prepares you to qualify for the job. You may have done ‘a good course’ that you think can qualify you for a particular job but if employers in that areas are not interested in qualifications, then you better think of another employer or re-think what else you can do with the qualification you have. in addition to being self-directed, you need to have the right type of attitude, for example, self-motivation, perseverance and optimism. Only with these attitudes will you understand when the trial you make does not bear some positive results. There is need to develop confidence that you will succeed. This is a very good motivation and it gives hope to keep trying. These attributes are explored throughout this module.

As you plan to look for a job, you must also begin to think about sources of information about available job/job vacancies. This entails being knowledgeable about both the local, national and international sources. It is for this reason that a unit in this module is devoted to exposing you to when you aggressively go around and market your qualifications and interests. You need to devote enough time and direct your energy to soemthing that might bear fruits. the journey to getting the jon that you want might be long but at the end it is fulfilling to work.