Youth unemployment has reached alarming levels, presenting a significant challenge today.
This statement was made at the Khuluma Eswatini’s GradConnect seminar last Friday, whose objective was to support recent graduates’ transition from tertiary training into the world of work by providing guidance and opportunities for ongoing professional development.
Keynote speaker Gcebile Dlamini drove home the point that youth unemployment rates were alarmingly nearly three times higher than those of adults. She referenced reputable studies revealing that over 30 per cent of young graduates were left unemployed just one year after graduation in many countries.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15-24 surged from 12.8 per cent in 2018 to a staggering 14.8 per cent in 2021. According to the International Labour Organisation’s 2024 report, more than 73 million young people across the globe were currently unemployed. Dlamini pinpointed critical factors contributing to this crisis, including economic slowdown, automation and a disconnect between available skills and job requirements.
Quoting the esteemed speaker and entrepreneur Vusi Thembekwayo, she passionately stated, “Career success is not handed to you, you must demand it, earn it and build it step-by-step. With courage, clarity and consistent action, you shape your path.”
During the seminar, Dlamini inspired recent graduates to see themselves as a powerful brand. She urged them to lay a solid foundation for their future. She outlined essential elements for personal brand development: diligence, discipline, self-motivation, soft skills and emotional intelligence.
Dlamini urged graduates to enhance their brand by eliminating distractions, honouring commitments, being punctual, fulfilling promises, staying self-aware and presenting their best selves at every opportunity.
She emphasised that discipline is key. Exercising self-control, delaying gratification, avoiding procrastination, and rejecting distractions are all vital steps toward success. “In high-stress and uncertain situations, the ability to show restraint will certainly set you apart,” she explained.
Recognising that graduates will likely encounter multiple rejections and muted responses, Dlamini stressed the importance of resilience and maintaining motivation, even in the face of silence from employers.
In the interim, she encouraged them to invest their time in skills training through free online courses available across different online platforms like LinkedIn.
Keep knocking on different doors and never lose sight of your long-term career vision,” she urged, reminding them that perseverance will pave the way for their success.
Dlamini emphasised that soft skills are crucial, describing them as a “superpower” to be mastered. Khuluma chairman Mandla Luphondvo defined soft skills as “psychosocial competencies essential for workplace success and competitiveness.” He highlighted their necessity in the job market.
Dlamini listed these important soft skills: communication, problem-solving, networking, teamwork, adaptability, time management, leadership, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, creativity, innovation, negotiation and conflict resolution. She noted that lacking these soft skills can hinder job acquisition or retention.
Mdura’s Nuggets:
Sales and preparation
Mduduzi ‘Mdura’ Dlamini, host of Khuluma Eswatini’s inaugural seminar, demonstrated his expertise beyond humour.
The University of Eswatini social science graduate covered a broad range of topics in both his jokes and inspiring career nuggets. He covered topics like career pivoting, the importance of professional preparation and additionally provided what sounded like a beginner’s course in sales and marketing. Some of the priceless nuggets he shared are as follows:
People don’t buy your product, but your story
Mdura recounted an incident in which a friend requested her assistance in selling a festival ticket, as the original owner was unable to attend due to the unexpected illness of their child. In his well-crafted social media post, which landed like a winning sales pitch, he wrote: “I don’t generally do this. However, today, I am selling a ticket for a friend of mine who had planned to participate in this festival, but unexpectedly, her child got ill.”
Upon hearing his story, his social media connections offered to buy the ticket at a premium, though many others were also selling similar and conservatively priced tickets to the same festival.
“The difference,” he said, “was that people were moved by the story, even offering to buy the ticket at a higher price.” He noted that this was because the story of the lady in unfortunate circumstances resonated with them. In conclusion, people buy and believe a story that resonates with them. Salespeople need to craft a compelling story that connects with potential customers to sell a product or service.
Great opportunities require great preparation
Mdura never considered a career in comedy until he was idle and found himself watching comedy. His view was that while the people he watched made others laugh, he could provide more humour than some of the people he watched. From this point, he started writing his jokes in a mathematics exercise book.
This process took him five years. During this time, he had not actively looked for an opportunity to present his jokes until the former Member of Parliament, Macford Sibandze, created a platform where he competed but did not emerge at the top of the heap.
He said that competition was an opportunity, one that he had prepared for over five years.
Mdura joked that he has material ready for London but will wait to use it there. He emphasised that opportunities, like his rise to fame, require extensive preparation, noting that he compiled jokes for five years.
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