PostCollege Preparation

[AbdiWahab252]

I am deeply amazed at the laise a faire attitude that some Somali youth have about preparing for life after college.

Why don't they fix their resumes, get relevant work experience when they are in school rather than wait until the last semester and scramble for jobs ? Don't they realize that its too late by that time ?

I find it extremly annoying when a relative/friend asks me to help their son/daughter find a job only to find that they don't even have a decent resume or even worse, any idea/plan of their career goals ?

Kids, don't wait until Senior year or graduation to learn how to prepare resumes, coverletters or interview techniques because its too late.

[King-of-Awdal]

AW

Iam getting my second Job in my life and the reason being i didnt want to work my first year of college. Taking 18 credits a semester and working isnt easy but i did work when i was in 10th and 11th grade in high school and quit my senior year because i became a post secondary student.

[AbdiWahab252]

KOA,

Good for you. But don't wait until your senior year to start preparing a resume, looking for internships etc. I suggest start looking for good internships during your summer breaks. All these internships added up can help overcome those dreaded words: "Work experience required"

[S-D-M]

Get Internship while still in school, cause it will help you land job after college

[Executive]

Abdiwahab I couldn't agree more....

I have had a hard time motivating some of my Somali friends, sometimes they don’t realise how tough and competitive it is in the job market. They don't think they need to prove themself, they have this mentality that their qualification alone is enough. Just look at the somali cab and bus drivers in London, a lot of them have degrees.

I had a over a years working experience in accountancy, made a financial websites, treasury for the accounting and finance society and I was involved in a lot of other extracurricular activities. Yet it was a struggle finding a job I wanted but alxamdullilah.

I regret not doing a summer intern, I used to go abroad every summer. But I gained great insight into what I wanted to do after my degree by working in accountancy whilst studying.

[AbdiWahab252]

SDM,

You got it right ! Waiting until the very end puts you at a serious disadvantage. What I can't figure out is why these kids never visit the Career Office at their colleges ?

Executive,

I am glad to see that you understand the game. Its cut throat out there especially in the UK where you have to deal with higher rates of discrimination and a lot more people for the same jobs.

Good luck with everything. Have you considered taking your ACCA ? It will give you a lot of credibility and boost your marketability all over the world.

[Ahmed-Gurey]

What amazes me Abdiwahab is that I have been advising this dumb guy to put off his graduation date and look for an internship. He didn't apply for any intern during his school years and he was desperate to get out. Since he had no experience, therefore, it was not too late to declare a minor and work with the career office to land an internship or a job. I told him repeatedly, 'please it's tough out here if you don't have an experience. Having a 4 yrs degree is piece of paper that mean nothing if you don't have the network and association." Guess what, he didn't listen and decided to graduate. Now here he is wondering what the hell is wrong with the world.

I think there is a big need for Network for Professionals that extend help on our kids that are struggling with their careers.

Someone should take advantage of this need and make money out of it.

[Executive]

AbdiWahab252


Yeah, I'm registed with the ACCA. You have to complete 14 exams, 3 years work experience to become a ACCA member. But the employer covers all the costs. I got a lot of exemptions so I don't have to do all the 14 exams and I will do my first ACCA exams in December inshallah.

[AbdiWahab252]

Ahmed,

I do mentoring informally and refer people to my friends who are in different career fields. My biggest pet peeve though is the lack of preparation by some of these students. They don't do the research ahead of time so as to ask specific questions instead of general ones like, what kind of job can a Finance Degree get me ?

As for the network idea, there are different associations of Somali professionals who do some mentoring.

Executive,

Keep at it. Once you get your ACCA, you can pretty much work anywhere across the globe.

[S-D-M]

Here are tips to keep your job, if you already got one.


http://www.minyanville.com/audiovideo/679/2/23

[FAH1223]

yeah most def, AW im hitting up those ladies in Hyatsville for the upcoming school year for that internship


i also have had contacts with the treasury

[AbdiWahab252]

FAH,

Mos def, better put in your paperwork early.

[FAH1223]

FAH,

Mos def, better put in your paperwork early.

yeah im gonna work on it in the next couple days, July 15th deadline

[S-D-M]

Fah,


What are you studying in school?

[AbdiWahab252]

FAH,

Very good. If you are interested, they can also place you out of State, as far away as Denver.