Unemployment and under employment is a serious concern in Kashmir. This is what the statistics of National Sample Survey Office (NSS) and Labour surveys reiterate from time to time. We have N number of people piling up degrees and not landing in jobs commensurate with their qualifications. To set the tone of this article, let me clarify that unemployment does NOT mean mere absence of a government job. It is hilarious when I come across businessmen or staff in private establishments innocently say they are unemployed, probably thinking they are not in government service. Kihin haz Mozheur Chchus karan, gorment nokri chcam ne kinh, this is the usual lament when inquired about their employment status! Their tone is more heartfelt and remorseful than that of a burglar confessing his crime.
Any gainful economic activity is employment and that includes, yes even paid domestic workers (though it got acknowledged as work relatively recently). A common observation is that these sales persons and support staff mostly have graduate and post graduate degrees. In the absence of a robust private sector/ MNCs/ Corporates in Kashmir, people erroneously tend to think of employment as synonymous with a government job, which is not a valid assumption. Again, a person cannot call himself unemployed if he is not actively seeking a job. An unemployed person necessarily has to continue his job search and not remain passive in this regard. Our gross enrollments in higher education are more than the national average. This high supply of educated labour force logically cannot be absorbed wholly in government service. A such, the competition for limited jobs arises. So, the situation is as under
Education: Check
Employability: ??
We have people with multiple qualifications and hence are educated, but are they employable? Simply put, as an employer, what will make me decide to choose a particular job seeker over another? That would be decided by assessing the candidate’s employability. Employability can be understood as the ability to gain initial employment, sustain it and also obtaining new employment in the event of a job change. Mere possession of qualifications is not going to ensure that. A job seeker should have career management skills that include proper job search and strategic presentation of self for competitive advantage.
In all the interviews I have been in so far as a panelist, I have observed that our educated youth show lack of soft skills. They might have a proper knowledge base, but they are unable to articulate effectively. One might have wonderful ideas, but in a work set up it is nothing unless shared and implemented with team effort. I have observed that companies want to recruit, but complain of not getting suitable candidates, in spite of having qualified ones. It is unfortunate that basic interview etiquette is compromised with in terms of attire, body language, CV and soft skills. Some resort to ostentatious and flowery language in the wake up impressing the interviewer and exactly the opposite happens. Whatever happened to the time tested and accepted principle of simplicity and brevity? What is sad in all this is that, potentially good candidates who cannot present themselves properly are dropped. It should be noted that even people wanting to take up finance for self-employment have to go through interview screenings and as such, also need to work on their soft skills.
Picture this:
A person coming for an interview in a Pheran (the Kashmiri woolen cloak for winters), unkempt hair, without a CV in his hand looking at the floor not even being able to utter his name to the interviewer. But his cell phone remembers to utter a Bollywood jingle as he had obviously not bothered to switch it off.
Now Picture this:
A lady dressed in immaculate attire with elaborate eye and nail art. When asked to introduce herself, she goes on and on about her story of self-glory, till she is requested to stop!
Yes, I have seen both the cases, and they were distracting to say the least. One should not come across as overt, in nervousness or even in confidence.
Problem identified, let us discuss the solution here. We need to have a labour force with increased self-awareness. The moment job seekers know what they need to work on, they are actually addressing the gaps. The strengths need to be capitalized on and the weaknesses mitigated. The opportunities should be recognized and the threats minimized.
Is there a place that would help in this process? Oh yes, there is.
The Employment and Counselling centres are government establishments extending career services to the youth for free. The services are open to individuals as well as educational institutions like schools, colleges and university campuses. The educational institutions should also acknowledge their responsibilities of developing well rounded personalities and refer them to these career centres. There is one such centre available in all the districts. We can even have exposure visits of students to these centres as part of learning. The voluntary sectors and various youth groups working on livelihood, youth entitlements, personality development etc. can also be roped in to extend these services to the community.
Today’s world is all about visibility, digitization, updation and presentation. The fittest will survive. A collaborative effort between institutions providing educational and career services, is utmost important to enhance the employability of our youth. We need to capitalize the bubbling energies of our youth and give them the proper expressions to show case their potential. Of course, this cannot be done alone. Together we can and we will make a difference so that we develop most wanted (oops) I mean the most employable youth!