Alternative Employment for Youths
Sheikh Iraj
Employment is a very important issue for both the people and the government of any country. The employment rate of a country can easily indicate in which direction it is headed. The more the people are employed, the higher the possibility of that nation to prosper and develop. Today, there are over 160 million people living in Bangladesh, and nearly half the population consists of children and youths. Every year, a huge number of students are graduating from both public and private universities. One of the prime reasons students go through all the hurdles to complete higher education is to find employment. Now the question is: Do all of them manage to find jobs?
In the past, one just needed to have a graduation certificate to apply and get a job. Today that scenario doesnt exist anymore as the competition in the job market is ever increasing. Nowadays, many youths choose alternative career paths rather than follow the more conventional ways. Many youths prefer to go for internships, part-time jobs, self-employment, freelancing, vocational training, etc, before applying for a full-time job.
Many government institutions are working with youth employment. According to the official website of the Department of Youth Development, as per National Youth Policy, those between 18 and 35 years of age are considered to be youths, and they constitute one-third of the total population. Since its inception in 1981, the department has been extending multifarious training, guidance, and support to the youths to harness their potentials and transform them into human resources. Despite several attempts by this correspondent, no one from the Department of Youth Development could be reached for further information.
For many university students, it is now mandatory to do an internship. Many experts believe an internship is a stepping stone towards a bright career. It is very much evident that internships offer a range of opportunities to build skills and gather experience, which adds extra points to ones curriculum vitae. M Musaddik Al Muktadir, 26, told YI: I recently complete my BBA from a private university. Right now, I am doing my internship at a tech company named Green and Red Technology. I dont want to get into a full-time job right now; I want to complete my MBA first. I am doing this internship as a part of our course. Besides the academic value, through this internship I am able to gather practical knowledge about the corporate world. I believe every student should do an internship before starting a full-time job.
Hasibur Rahman is also doing an internship at the Dhaka Regency Hotel Resort. He recently completed his graduation in tourism and hospitality management from a public university. He wants to work in the sector after doing his MBA. I am not getting any pay for my internship, but we get a complimentary lunch. I think an internship is very important nowadays. Before hiring, employers always check if the candidate did an internship or not. Those who have done an internship always get an edge over other applicants. I chose to study this subject because the hospitality sector has more potential to grow than many other orthodox sectors. There were 105 students in our batch; more than 10 of them went abroad. The rest want to continue here in this sector, Rahman said.
Career counseling is now more available in our country. Besides different universities, many private organisations provide this service. Manzurul Haque Khan, director of Career Counseling Centre, United International University, said: Todays job sector is extremely competitive. There has been a significant change in the way we look at jobs and employee qualifications. Employers look for candidates who have better soft skills, like basic computer skills, public speaking, negotiation skills, etc. We believe in learning through experiencing. We organise different types of programmes throughout the year. There are 6,500 students in our university and all of them are somehow connected to this centre. Career counseling helps students to prepare for the real world. We work on their limitations and try to sharpen their communication skills.
Benjir Abrar, 23, a private university student, told this correspondent, I am thinking of getting a part-time job. We have a career counseling centre on our campus. Besides organising different programmes, it works in arranging internship opportunities for students. The centre also provides recommendations to employers for our students. I am engaged with this centre from my second year, and it has helped me a lot, especially when it comes to public speaking. Once, I heard people are more afraid of public speaking than death! I was scared to speak in front of a crowd. The seniors who were associated with the centre helped me to overcome that fear.
With better salaries and facilities, government jobs also have become lucrative and competitive at the same time. Thats why many youths are showing renewed interest in different public sector jobs. Ashique Mustafa, 27, told YI: I got my degree in microbiology two years back from a private university. I had this notion that I will get a job as soon as I complete my graduation, but that was not the case. I applied for many jobs, but despite having good grades and doing well in the interviews, I didnt get a position. Then I decided to set my focus on government jobs. Today, public sector jobs are really rewarding and I am preparing myself for that. The age limit to apply for government jobs is now 30, and I will apply before I reach that age.
Shifa Saleheen, 27, graduated in 2014. After completing his studies, he decided to apply for government jobs. I am applying for government jobs, but its not so easy to get one. One really has to study hard and read a lot, because one doesnt know what type of questions one might get in the BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) exams. We live in a society where one is expected to get a job as soon as they graduate. So, I just could not stay unemployed. I am doing freelancing in design and multimedia at the moment. I learned that all by myself. As long I dont get a regular job offer, I will continue this freelancing. I have seen many of my friends who stayed unemployed after graduation because they didnt get good job offers. I am always pro-work and I believe while trying to get your dream job, working and earning at the same time are very much possible. Working helps to build ones self-confidence.
There are many youths who are looking for decent jobs long after completing their graduation. Some of them are doing vocational training courses in the hope of better job opportunities. Then there are some who are planning to go abroad. Omar Tipu, 22, is one of them. He completed a diploma course in textile engineering from a private vocational training institute two years ago. But he has been not able to find a job to his liking, yet. Sometimes, I become frustrated as to why I am not getting a job in the sector for which I am qualified. The support of my family and friends help me to stay positive. Every time I apply for a job in the readymade garments sector, the recruiters ask if I have any previous experience in the field. I live in Mirpur and I recently started a driving course at German Technical. I will try for jobs in the garments sector again this year. After that, if I dont get a job, I have plans to go abroad.
Shobuz Kumar, 28, completed a course on garments finishing and quality control from an institute run by a nonprofit organisation. I completed my graduation in English from Titumir College. I didnt want to spend time doing nothing, so I did a six-month course from UCEP. After completing my course, I immediately got a job in the readymade garments sector. When the idea of doing a vocational course came to my mind, I was a little wary about what people might think. But when I took the admission, I saw many youths like me doing such courses. I only had to pay Taka 70 for the entire course. I would urge those who are still unemployed to do some vocational courses, he said.
Ziauddin Bablu, 27, recently completed his Masters degree in accounting and information system. He said: I come from a middle-class family. A few years ago, my father had an accident and since then he is not able to work. The entire responsibility of the family fell on my shoulders. Many suggested that I give up my education and look for a job, but I didnt do that. I continued my studies and since no one normally gives jobs to students, I give private tuitions. I am applying for different jobs. I plan to start my own tutorial centre, if I dont get a good job offer.
Photos: Courtesy, file
