Tech4Agri has been around for some time (finally back to blogging in 2017!) And it has occurred to us that we do not see enough Caribbean youth in the international agricultural sphere, which is full of many opportunities for development.
Why is that?
Are agriyouth unaware of these opportunities? Have you thought about your future career? What are you doing now to get ready for the world of work or to change your working environment?
If you don’t have answer then please do check out these 7 things that you can do to help figure out your path.
If you do have an answer take look below as we offer help to boost your career experience.
1) Network – You definitely need to get yourself known. We’re not saying that you go to every networking session. However pick one or two, prepare your business card, and be ready to engage and meet new people in your field.
Always be ready to answer the question of what do you do for a living and for fun! Yes you read correctly. Good employers/team members take a genuine interest in your life outside of work.
2) Find your niche – For many here in the Caribbean there just are not that many opportunties…or are there? Think about what you are studying or what qualifications you have. Tell me what other fields can you work in outside of agriculture using the qualifications you have now?
For example Tech4Agri practices mobile and agri journalism. However Journalism work can be done in any sector or industry. Does your qualification have this wide-scale applicability?
To be clear we are NOT saying leave the agri sector. However consider shifting within the sector to a different niche or segment. You can also consider becoming involved in a strongly related field such as climate change, rural development or forestry.
3) Consider a mentor – Be wise in your decision on this front. Find one who is willing to work with you and respects your opinion. A mentor should genuinely wish for your betterment.
This is something that you feel before you see.
Taking a mentor’s advice or not is up to you. As agriyouth you decide your future therefore it is either you take the advice or not.
Youth and our senior counterparts can work together. Best of all you do not need to have only one mentor…go wild with as many you want! Remember such an engagement is a relationship and has to be built.
4) Sign up! – If you ever come across an article or video or picture that you like with focus in your field, then we highly advise you back track it and find its source. Then, sign up for emails, newsletters and notifications from that source.
This way when new information is available you have immediate access. The downside to this is the flood of emails coming in to your inbox. Truly these emailsthis can be overhwelming! Even so it lowers how often you have to go out into the entirety of google, in search for relevant knowledge.
5) Take a FREE course – Many of you should be aware of this. Free courses are everywhere. You can even pay to have yourself certified by the organisation as this is usually the business model for these sorts of things.
Coursera and FutureLearn are two good sources. Take entire courses for free and at the end, you decide if you wish to pay a course fee receive a qualification or not.
The important thing here to note is that they are free and you can quickly UP your knowledge particularly on modern topics.
6) Change the stats quo! – Agriyouth have literally been suffering. We face constant, chronic problems over and over. Let’s change this situation. Let’s have the youth voice speak loudly and clearly in whatever environment you maybe.
Make yourself present at open discussions that concern you as a young person in the agricultural field and share your opinion. If there is no discussion that leads to solutions to the problems agriyouth face, then you start the conversation and push for solutions.
The best example of this action is YPARD, who has ensure the youth voice is everywhere among development circles and policy dialogue all over the world. Did you know its network is over 10 years old?
7) Be as hands on as possible. – Learning by doing is a sure fire way to understanding anything to its core.
No matter your field or niche make sure you take on practical exposure, as much as possible, as this represents the real working world that you must live in.
Ensure what ever you do there is a practical aspect to it.
Stay Dedicated!
Worth the read!!