POOR CV'S CONTRIBUTING TO YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT.

By Masauso Mkwayaya

Last week on Saturday 26 September 2015, the Intercontinental Hotel‘s ballroom in Lusaka was filled with cheerful young women who looked to be between the ages of 17 and early 30’s.

The young ladies who sat in their colorful clothing with smiles all over their faces throughout the time that this writer was there , were brought together by Kupe’s Young Women’s Network .

The Organization brought them together to share skills on how to write a presentable and profession Curriculum Vitae (CV).  

And a  Lusaka based Business coach who was guest speaker at the event says the poor standard and quality of Curriculum Vitae's (CV's) from young people, to prospective employers is a huge contributing factor to the high levels of youth unemployment that Zambia is currently faced with.

 PRISCILLA BANDA a holder of a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Director of an International Non-Governmental Organization, said majority of the unemployed but educated young people are missing rare chances of getting employed, because most of them are failing to represent themselves in a professional and attractive manner through their CV's.

“A CV should be written in a way that fully but professionally represents an individual's professional academic and personal well-being, it's the only thing that prospective employers see and have as terms of reference when people apply for jobs, they can’t see you, they only see you CV’s, so it should be spectacular.” She said.

Miss Banda said as a professional recruitment consultant she would shun a poorly written CV from a Degree holder to a well written CV from a person with lower academic qualifications.

“What stands out is well written and well-presented CV, even if you are Degree holder, if you can’t write a good CV, even people with lower qualifications but with well written CV’s will attract me “She added.

 And Kupe's Young Women's Network Founder, Norena Chiteba who was clad in a colorful bluish dress said young women should be empowered with skills that will not disadvantage them to achieve and acquire anything in society including jobs.

“Young Women should be equipped with skills and knowledge that will enable them to get and acquire whatever they set their minds to in society, I have organized this workshop to help a few girls, we have so far empowered over 70 girls from across Lusaka.”  Said Miss Chiteba.

 And KAMILA BANDA a young, jovial and confident looking Lusaka based young women who participated in the one day workshop says she might have missed opportunities to be employed in the past, because she did not know how to represent herself in a professional manner on her CV.

“I have written a number of Job applications and my CV has bounced back on a number of times, but I am confident I will make my mark after I apply the skills I have leant today”She said.

The Zambian Youthful Thought agrees with Miss Banda’s sentiments in totality, in a world where unconventional writing and reading habits have engulfed the young population, professional and official writings that young people engage in usually get the hardest blow because they are of poor quality.

Some of the writings by young people even on their social sites like facebook are utterly disgraceful and embarrassing because some of them have acquired tertiary education.

Young people should therefore be encouraged to engage in deliberate reading and writing habits so that they prepare themselves   as achievers who will serve Zambia from all its challenges. Young people should realize that today’s reader is tomorrow’s leaders.

Photo's courtesy of Kupe's Young Women Facebook page.