Distinguish yourself to sell yourself: Business students urged

The Chief Executive Officer of Crystal Continental Consult and President of Crytal-Add Youth Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Mr. Daniel Addo, has urged students of the Department of Business Education in the University of Education, Winneba to distinguish themselves, know what employers are looking for, develop effective communication skills, establish professional and career life, as well as motivation and drive behind their career goals to sell themselves to prospective employers.

He echoed these words when speaking on the topic: “The University Graduate and the Job Market; Challenges and Prospects” at the Week-long celebration held by the Department of Business Education on Friday, 17th March, 2017 at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre. He again encouraged the students to do short internships during vacations at organizations to gain experience of what was taught in Class. He noted that an internship was a way of gathering convincing portfolios to convince a panel of one’s hard work at an interview. He added that in writing a Curriculum Vitae, one must endeavour to bring out the uniqueness one possess in terms of skills and that should be directly related to the position one was applying for.

In welcoming the students, the Chairman for the Seminar and the Head of Department of Business Education, Prof. Christopher Adjei Okpoti, said that the programme was designed to bring students up to the speed at which demands are changing on the job market. He entreated them to regard the seminars organized as highly important as it was considered part of the training they were undergoing in the department. He indicated that topics for presentation and discussion were carefully chosen to meet the demands of the Business world. Topics such as: “Contemporary Issues in Procurement at Corporate Level” and “The University Graduate and Job Market; Challenges and Prospects” were considered. He again challenged the students, not to be narrow minded but be broad in their academic spectrum exploring other avenues in academia and also take interest in the English language to enrich their communicative skills.

Speaking on the topic “Contemporary Issues in Procurement at Corporate Level”, the Managing Consultant for JMB Consult Ltd, a Developing Contract Framework and also a Lecturer at Pentecost University, Dr. Joshua Ofori Amanful, said the procurement profession was gradually gaining prominence; hence many institutions have instituted it in their programmes offered.

He added that possessing a degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management will make graduates have a comparative advantage over others in certain jobs such as Purchasing Managers, Purchasing Officers, Supply Officers, Warehouse Managers, Expeditors, Logistic Officers, Retail Managers among other countless similar positions.

He further reiterated the unique buying power of the government to deliver maximum value for the tax payer, and therefore the goal of the public procurement can never be achieved without training of procurement professionals.

He admonished the students to debunk the idea of indulging in corrupt practices through the profession because procurement was not a profession of stealing, and therefore must take their studies seriously and be proud of the profession they have chosen.

Some lecturers of the Department of Business Education, who graced the seminar, were Mr. Isaac Nyarko Adu, Mr. Alhassan Salifu Bawa, Mr. Samuel Gameli Gadzo, Mr. Emmanuel Anaman, Mr. B.B.B. Bingab and Dr. Mawuko Dza.