On 24 July, the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni, Ghana (CoSFAG) delivered an interactive workshop for final year undergraduate students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The workshop sought to help students to prepare for life after school and equip them with transferable skills to enhance their chances of success in the world outside academia. The workshop included session on job searching, CV preparation and seeking and applying for scholarship opportunities.
The event was delivered in collaboration with the KNUST Career and Guidance Service Center, KNUST Counselling Center and the Association of Students of Social Work, KNUST (ASSOWK). 28 students attended the workshop.
Creating a professional profile
In sharing their motivations to deliver the workshop, CoSFAG shared that transitioning from the life of a student to the world of work can be challenging for some Ghanaian students. The nature and form of academic work means that a lot of the skills that are relevant for employment are not necessarily transferred through academic work. As graduates, many alumni feel they have valuable life and professional experiences students can learn from.
The workshop was split into four sessions, with speakers representing the different stakeholders involved in delivering the event.
In the first session, Selina Angor, a resource person from the KNUST Career and Guidance Service Center, shared basic steps in developing CVs and how to develop visible profiles for potential employers. She went on to give guidelines on how to prepare for a job interview and some tips on how to answer common interview questions.
Members of CoSFAG next took the students through their impending national service and how to make the most out of this. The session focused on developing positive attitudes towards work, embracing diversity in the workplace and managing work-life balance. CoSFAG members also presented on Commonwealth Scholarships and scholarship opportunities.
Managing challenges and set-backs
The final session was facilitated by Rabbi Darko, from the KNUST Counselling Center. He discussed how to manage setback sand disappointments students may encounter at this stage and ways to protect their mental health. This included tips on dealing with stress and anxiety.
The event wrapped with opportunities for students to meet the different facilitators and presenters and ask further questions.
