ATTACKING UNEMPLOYMENT BY SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND

INFORMED CHOICES

WHAT ARE SKILLS?

Skills are the things you learnt that enable you to perform
certain tasks. Work/Job skills are the competencies you
need to perform tasks that the job requires. Your skill is
the ladder to your future. By knowing the language of
skills you have, you can communicate them to others by
understanding, describing and discussing them.
This happens when you;
1. Write a resume
2. Read about a job opening
3. Go for a job interview
4. Talk with your boss
5. Learn new skills, OR
6. Change your career
THE PLACE OF SKILL
Gen 14:14-16 he armed his trained servants
Prov 22:29 seesth thou a man diligent in his business,
he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before
mean men
FIGURING OUT YOUR SKILLS
Being able to identify all the skills you have can open you
up to more career options. It can also help you work if
you have any skill that can be addressed.
WHAT ARE SKILLS?
A skill is the ability to do something well. We are not born
with skills, we learn them as we go along through the life

and work experiences that we have. A skill can be simple

or complex.
IDENTIFYING AREAS OF SKILL
Identifying your skills can help you plan your next steps.
It is important to identify the skills and competencies that
you have. There is no human that doesnt have a skill.
Identifying them will help you:
Decide what sort of jobs you might like to do
Decide what areas you need to focus your study or
training on.
Write your CV if you are applying for a job.

TYPES OF SKILLS
Each skill that you have will always fall into one of three
main categories, depending on its nature. These
categories are:
1. Transferable skills:
These are skills that are transferred to you when you
move from one job to another. The good thing about
these kinds of skills is that they make you a readyman. These skills are building blocks from which you
can develop many more skills like:
Adaptability
Problem solving
Ability to organize others
Good writing skills

 Ability to use initiatives

Ability to work confidently under pressure
Reliability and integrity
Ability to motivate others
Ability to recognize and meet new challenges
2. Self-management skills:
Self-management skills enable you to work well in
different type of situations with a variety of people.
3. Specialist skills:
Specialist skills usually relate to a specific job or
group of jobs.
THE PLACE OF SKILL IN A JOB APPLICATION PROCESS
The employer advertises a role, outlining the key
skills they want.
You cross check your skills against the job ad. (No
fixed CV)
You write your CV and point out how your skills align
with the job (Be truthful)
Your CV and skills prompts the employer to invite you
to an interview.
PREPARING FOR JOB INTERVIEW
Are you job ready?
Polish your Resume
Be neatly and smartly dressed (Dont wear native
wears)
Get to the venue early
Depend solely on the Holy Spirit as your guide
Avoid arguments by all means

 It is safer for your employer to decide your pay

package not you
You may be under watch, conduct yourself before
and after interviews.

INFORMED CHOICES
TEXT: Eccl 10:15
The labor of the foolish wearieth everyone of them
because he knoweth NOT how to get to the city
WHAT DOES INFORMED CHOICE MEAN?
It means a person fully understands the arguments
before making a choice. It is a choice that is based on a
full understanding of the costs and benefits of all
available options. Deut 30:19
The choice you make is a pointer to your future. God has
committed His responsibility to you.
MAKING INFORMED CHOICES
The process of choosing a career is detailed, complex and
a very important decision in a young persons life. It
starts with self knowledge in terms of interests, values,
likes, dislikes, knowing ones strengths and weaknesses,
understanding the economy and more.
The lack of career advice and inappropriate study choices
are some of the major reasons for growing unemployment
rate among graduates.
A number of graduates even exhibit signs of
hopelessness and low self-esteem which can be linked to
various issues such as, pressure from home, society and

peers to find meaningful work. In many cases, they are

not looking for employment based on their qualification
they just need any job.
WAY OUT
1. Parents should sit with their children from time to
time and help them identify their areas of interest.
Parents should NEVER insist on a particular field of
interest.
2. To boost graduate employment, universities and
other institutions of learning need to place more
emphasis on practical than analytical. Most of our
graduates are not employable.
3. The universities and colleges need to become more
involved in marketing their graduates for
employment and creating opportunities for graduates
and employers.
4. A graduate development program should be part of
the NYSC program. This program has the potential of
linking graduates to work opportunities or
internships.
5. Graduates should be curious and committed to read
and research literature which provides useful
information that can assist them in the
empowerment process.
6. Every graduate is a potential business owner;
develop synergies among yourselves. Identify people
that are going in the same direction with you and
network with them. Gen 11:6

PRAYERS

1.Lord, in this season of encounter with power, I

align with the Holy Ghost to reveal to me the
secrets I need to know concerning my destiny
in Jesus name. Jn 16:13
2.Every stumbling block, barriers, obstacles
standing on the path of my career, hear the
word of God. Your time is up in Jesus name! Is
45:1-3
3. Lord, tonight, I receive anointing for favour and
beautiful feet in the name of Jesus.