Most young people battle with the prospect of choosing a career or a field of study
For many school leavers faced with the daunting prospect of choosing a field of study, a professional Human Resources practitioner this week cautioned against making rash or unconsidered decisions.
Highlighting the fact that a career must last for a lifetime, the Manager, People Development at Bank Windhoek, Filimon Ngairo said aptitude and affinity should be two guiding principles when making that all-important career choice. He also strongly advised school leavers to seek career guidance from experienced counsellors.
“Consider the things that you are good at or interested in as potential areas on which you could build a successful career. For instance, if you are naturally inclined to fashion, why not consider fashion design? If you’ve always been good at fixing things around the home, could plumbing or becoming an electrician be the next logical career move? Loved flying? How about becoming a pilot? Consider how these interests and natural abilities could become a career and go for it and always contribute to the profession,” said Ngairo.
He is not against taking a sabbatical, in youth parlance a bridge year which normally consists of a working trip overseas. “School leavers can search for a job, take a gap year and travel the world, volunteer to assist the needy or study further,” he said pointing out that many young people are uncertain about their future, not knowing which direction to take.
In financial services there are many careers but these mostly require a certain level of qualification, and definitely an inclination to work with figures. “The financial sector in general has a need for skilled and qualified professionals in the field of Risk and Compliance Management, Forensics and Internal Auditing, and Information Technology especially in the IT Security and Information Systems space,” he advised.
Young people should have a passion for what they want to do. According to Ngairo prospective students should not decide on a specific course only based on employment opportunities. While he recognises that this is an important consideration, he still emphasis the importance of passion to maintain momentum in a chosen field over many years.
For those who have not yet made up their minds but think they can handle the banking environment, Ngairo said they can apply for the Candidate Bankers Training Programme at Bank Windhoek. This training is offered free but it does not guarantee employment, only the opportunity to be considered by the bank for a full-time appointment.
