Land your 1st job with these basic tips.

Finding a job in Uganda has been added to the list of “100 ways to die” because it is one of the hardest experiences anyone starting could ever experience. Indeed it is hard, but it's possible.

One of the things that make the struggle to secure just one job worthy is that these workplaces give you space for growth and evolvement. Meeting new people, rubbing shoulders with seniors, attending big meetings, listening to great minds cooking great ideas, your entire company is filled with admirable people. In my experience, the mere sense of belonging and value addition to noble causes is such a wonderful experience and I'd love it for every graduate to experience it.

Now, how do you get through to get an opportunity that puts you in such rooms?

Here are a few basic tips fresh graduates or anyone looking for a job should embrace to land a job in Uganda;

• Attitude; is everything you need to get started. With so much going on politically in the country, you have to make sure that your mind is not infiltrated to believe that jobs are for a specific group of people. ( this may or may not be true) but you don't have to believe it.

• Presentation; first impression is very key. From dress code, eye contact, body language, posture, etc; all these say so much about you before you even speak. Make a great first impression.

• Internship during your time of study is very crucial because it offers you a place to start to connect with people in the real world. Win over their hearts and they may retain or refer you somewhere.

• Build up your CV and Cover letter each chance you get as much as you can. Take up every gig that can. Make a research on how you can make an outstanding CV and Cover letter.

• Confidence is very key. It relates to self-belief. You ought to believe that you're capable of doing the job if you're availed of the required resources. Take a chance on yourself before anybody else does.

• Communication, the ability to be able to express yourself articulately is very important. It creates clarity of who you are and what it is you want out of every situation.

• Etiquette is simply behavior that distinguishes human beings from animals. In this context, you have to be honest, respectful, and considerate. A simple example would be to greet people that you find waiting at the job interview.

• Linked in profile, there are so many social media platforms today, and you're probably on all of them. I suggest you work on your linked-in profile as soon as possible. Linked in is the current-day virtual hangout where HR Managers and bosses do their meet and greet. You must join them and engage respectfully. Turn on notification alerts to find jobs listed within your field and location.

• Don't downplay jobs; every door that opens for you is a stepping stone to prepare you for the next. Think of it as a walkthrough to the next floor where you want to be.

• Practice your craft as much as you can. Use the internet to find ways how you can get started. Use internet resources like Brighter Monday to see how you can receive notifications for jobs.

• Take advantage of your age, this is more of a sneaky one (winks) but employers prefer to hire young inexperienced people because it's usually cheaper for them. Experienced people come with high salary expectations so take a chance and apply for that job even when you don't have that much experience but passion and determination. It works 70% of the time.

• If you're a believer, you may want to pray for God’s favor. I did, it got me this far so yeah.

Finding jobs in Uganda is literally like trying out skincare, what works for Tom, may not work for Jerry. It requires heart, resilience, determination, and God’s favor. These few tips have proved to work for some people who didn't have anyone leading them into the workplace.

If you master these, you have an 80% chance of beating someone who was spoonfed to get the job interview.

Good luck!