THE NIGERIA GRADUATE AND EXPERIENCE SEEKING EMPLOYERS.
Over the years,graduates from the Nigeria institutions of higher learning have had some major problems to contend with. Some of these problems ranges from unemployment and employers seeking for experienced individuals for the few available employment opportunities either in the public or private sector. This challenge can not be said to be over emphasized as this had led to alot of young graduates loosing out on many employment opportunities as they don't posses the required experience as stipulated in the recruitment guidelines.

The only opportunity available for undergraduate to gain first-hand experience on their feild of endeavour is during their Industrial Training (SIWES) in school. This programme is designed to help undergraduates complement the theories they have learnt in school with a level of practicals. Remember,this programme at most last for six (6) months. In as much as the six months is an enough time for an undergraduate to learn much as regards his/her discipline, employers won't take that as an enough experience for a graduate to be employed.

An employer of labour in Nigeria on the average will be requesting for an individual with at least five (5) years working experience before employment. With this, then the question of where will the young graduates get these experience comes to mind. Every employer wants an experienced applicants who will come to add value to his or her organization. The fact that young graduates are not experienced doesn't mean they can't be productive.



Every year, hundreds of thousands if not millions of young graduates are released to the already saturated labour market and for employers to absorb them to their organizations,lack of experience comes as a hurdle for them. "Learning on the job" can be adopted by employers to give opportunity to young graduates to gain the experience while they are engaged with such organization.

Conclusively, undergraduates should try as much as they can to volunteer for organizations in their field of discipline. This will make them to have an edge when they finally graduate. Importantly also,employers of labour should understand that experience only comes when an individual is engaged. How can a young graduate have five years experience without been engaged?
On this note,I call on employers of labour to engage young graduates in their organizations as that's the way they can get the required experience.