Think global

Unemployment is a global challenge. But so also is the shortage of skills as many companies and sectors are always in search of people with certain un-common but relevant skills.

In the long emerging global workplace, thinking local or having an employment plan that targets only the limited opportunities in the immediate local environment is a major limitation for new entrants and one major reason many remain unemployed or underemployed for long.

Though acquiring a degree in a foreign country or studying in a multi-cultural environment may help one in thinking global but one can still position oneself for a career in the global workplace from a local space.

One way this can be done is to maximise the use of the internet to keep abreast with global workplace, career and skills trends. By so doing, one can perceive bountiful opportunities that are emerging globally and the new skills that one needs to acquire in order to secure these opportunities wherever they are.

Think of this example. In the last two decades, Chinese companies are becoming visible across emerging economies especially in Africa. As the Chinese are currently aggressive about acquiring foreign language skills as necessary tool for their strategic commercial expansion, have you thought of learning Mandarin so that this could be a skill that could make you fit well into the current global economic arrangement. Language can open the doors that other skills can’t.

I once met a young male Senegalese with a French Nationality in the city of Paris who had been underemployed for some years after acquiring an IT degree. He invested his time and resources in studying Italian, not being content that his IT degree alone will make him achieve his career aspirations. Not long after acquiring Italian Language skills he was invited to an Interview for an IT related job in a Paris based IT consulting firm. It’s instructive that what made him the preferred candidate at the interview were not his savvy ICT skills but his ability to speak and write Italian. There are many instructive examples of how some rare skills can make one stand out or enhance one’s career. Acquiring foreign language skills have long been neglected in Nigeria’s education system but such skills can go far in preparing youths for the global workplace.

Make yourself stand out in the midst of the crowd of graduates. It may not be language skills, but other rare skills that can make one relevant across markets and climes. Loosen yourself from the stereotype of careers, skills and relevance, and seek out those extra-abilities.

     IKENNA OBI