HR PESPERCTIVE: Must-have toolkit for university graduates

AS someone who has interviewed graduates for jobs across various organizations and sectors, it breaks my heart to see some of them missing out on lifetime opportunities due to a lack of initiative while still at university.

That’s why I believe it’s crucial to share the basics that every university graduate in Zimbabwe should have before leaving university. Unfortunately, these basics are not always taught in lectures.

90 percent of what I list below can be self-taught. Presentation skills are essential. These indeed essential in today’s professional world. Whether you are a student, a job seeker, or a seasoned professional, the ability to effectively communicate ideas and engage an audience through presentations can greatly enhance your success.

Fortunately, there are numerous free courses available online that can help you improve in this area. Many graduates often struggle when asked to prepare a presentation and present it to the interview panel.

This can be a nerve-wrecking experience, but with proper preparation and practice, it can also be an opportunity to showcase your abilities. One of the key areas where graduates often struggle is the presentation format.

It’s important to structure your presentation in a logical and organised manner. Another aspect that often needs improvement is the visual aspect of presentations. Poor visuals can distract the audience and diminish the impact of your message.
When creating slides or visual aids, keep them simple, clean, and visually appealing. Use appropriate fonts, colours, and images that enhance understanding and engagement. Consider taking advantage of the many free online courses to improve your presentation skills.

Some popular platforms offering free courses include Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning. Report writing is another area where many graduates fall short. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if they even studied English. Report writing is a crucial skill that many graduates display a lack of proficiency in the English language.

These reports often lack coherence and logical structure, making it difficult for readers to comprehend the intended message. The poor grammar also hinders understanding, to the point where even a translator would face challenges in deciphering the content.

Improving report writing skills is essential for effective communication and professional success. In today’s workplace, proficiency in Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is essential.

As a university graduate, you are expected to have advanced-level skills in these applications, as they are commonly used for day-to-day tasks. However, to take your skills to the next level and work with more sophisticated tools, you can consider learning applications like Power BI. It is concerning that many graduates lack basic research skills, particularly in quantitative research.

The disaster manifests in their inability to perform basic analysis, such as calculating the mean, median, per centiles, and range from the provided data. It is alarming that graduates cannot perform even simple correlations in excel.

This highlights a significant gap in their education and training, which must be addressed to ensure that graduates are adequately prepared for work. Many do not know where to start if you assign them a simple research assignment. Learn one or two data analysis research packages. The common one for social sciences and commerce is SPSS.

You can also do basic statistical calculations in Excel. There are tutors on campus and off campus who can teach you this for a fee that is next to free. You can also learn on your own. Grooming and deportment are crucial in shaping others’ perceptions of us.

The personal presentation encompasses various elements, such as appearance, hygiene, and dressing appropriately. By prioritising bathing, brushing teeth, hair care, skincare, and dressing appropriately, we can effectively convey a positive image to others.

While employers may guide us in these areas, it is ultimately our responsibility to cultivate these skills ourselves, as they significantly impact how others perceive us. Another crucial skill that every university graduate should possess is critical thinking.

It is a skill that employers highly-value as it enables individuals to solve complex problems and adapt to new situations. Unfortunately, many graduates lack this skill as it is not explicitly taught in the traditional lecture-based education system.

Employers are looking for individuals who are dedicated, reliable, and willing to go the extra mile to achieve success. Developing a strong work ethic involves being punctual, meeting deadlines, taking initiative, and proactively seeking opportunities for growth and learning. Furthermore, university graduates need to have good interpersonal skills.

The ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with others is essential in today’s interconnected world. Employers value individuals who work well in teams and build relationships with clients and colleagues. While some individuals may naturally possess strong interpersonal skills, others may need to work on developing them through practice and self-reflection.

In conclusion, while universities provide students with valuable knowledge in their chosen fields of study, there are certain essential skills that every graduate should possess before entering the workforce. These skills include presentation, critical thinking, report writing, a strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, and a growth mindset.

Graduates must take the initiative to develop these skills through self-learning, online courses, workshops, and practical experiences. By equipping themselves with these basics, university graduates in Zimbabwe can increase their chances of success and seize the lifetime opportunities that await them.

Nguwi is an occupational psychologist, data scientist, speaker, & managing consultant- Industrial Psychology Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, a management and human resources consulting firm. https://www.thehumancapitalhub.com email: mnguwi@ipcconsultants.com or visit our website at www.ipcconsultants.com