UG final year students aim at “marketing themselves”

Apr 11, 2014 News

Several final year students of the University of Guyana (UG) are beneficiaries of a two-day career coaching workshop hosted by Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited. ‘Marketing Yourself’ and ‘Understanding the Working World’ were the targeted areas.
According to Denise Hobbs, General Manager of Corporate and Management Services, the bank’s career coach programme is aimed at enabling prospective graduates to better ready themselves for the world of work.
Over 300 final year students have participated in similar workshops and this year more than 100 students registered. The workshop was held at UG’s Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus.

Participants and facilitators of the workshop.

Republic Bank first introduced the initiative in 2008 “to fill a much needed gap in the level of preparedness of new graduates to pursue their career choice,” she said.
“Critical to national development and the advancement of Guyanese is a capable and efficient workforce. Hence, we see Republic Bank as having an obligation to ensure such development by equipping the participants with the requisite level of awareness, knowledge and skills to propel their careers.”
Hobbs noted that participants of the workshop will be exposed to the “Power to Succeed” in the areas of preparing their applications, conducting job interviews, and integrating into their work environment.
She said the goal of the programme is to ensure participants leave better equipped and confident about making a difference in their respective vocational pursuits. To achieve this end, Republic Bank partnered with a team of experienced local professionals, who are both enthused and keen about the outreach.
According to Phillip Da Silva, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, there are times when many young people commence and complete university education without even considering the job they will have in the future. However, whatever a student chooses to do, he or she will be required to develop the ability at times to be entrepreneurial or to promote oneself. He advised that students must have a vision, think big and be positive.
“In terms of employment and careers, always think about what is being done now that could be done better – and, especially, how you can be that person to fix it,” he said.
Da Silva said that students could develop a career path by taking a look at the desired job and charting a course that would most likely lead to that career. Attaining the desired goal, he said, will require the development of skills, pursuing opportunities and obtaining certain experiences.
“Coaching and mentoring assistance from more experienced persons will often, if not always, help. Here is where this programme is so important. You have experienced and knowledgeable people taking time to coach and mentor you. Be sponge and absorb as much as you can,” Da Silva advised the participants.