I Have Never Applied For a Job…Story of Rukaya Adam

Commitment and good relationships will take you places a certificate can never go. I have never had to apply for a job in my life, and I come from a very local and traditional background.  My luck is courtesy of mentorship, commitment to work and good relationships with the people I work with, says Madam Rukaya Adam (PhD) from the Northern Region of Ghana. 

Who is Rukaya Adam

Madam Rukaya Adam is a PhD student from the University of Ghana, ISSER, working full-time as lead trainer and supervisor with BSW International, a conglomerate of businesses in Israel and other parts of Europe that recently expanded to Africa. She is the Leader of the projects in Ghana. She was about to end a project when she had this opportunity through a referral. Her former boss had informed BSW International that Rukaya Adam would be the best person to help them anytime they came to Ghana. This is not the first time she has been recommended for a position. Referrals and recommendations have become routine for her, though a wish for others. Her referrals and recommendations are due to her commitment to her work, consistently delivering to expectations and having good relationships with the people she works with. 

How Did She Succeed in the NGO Sector

She believes that if you show the highest commitment to achieving organizational outcomes and respect those you work with, whether you agree or disagree with them, you will succeed in any field you choose. She emphasized that if the people you work with are fair, they will never forget your commitment whenever there are opportunities. Therefore, though she is from a humble background, her commitment to her work and good relationship with the people she worked with have given her opportunities and taken her to places her degrees or certificates can never afford to do for her. Therefore, character and attitude towards work and the people you work with matters a lot. 

Factors that Determines Her Career Path

However, she did not always know that she would end up working in the NGO sector. But her first job after graduation led her to this path. Looking back, she realized that most of her classmates at the undergraduate level have different career trajectories influenced by their first job after school. Therefore, many people’s career paths are usually determined by their first job and the sector where they had the job.  She had her first job by agreeing to support a research work her sister’s organization was conducting. She could have refused, but the fact that she was willing to do it without pay and saw it as a learning opportunity to enhance her research skills led her to her first job. Also, looking back, she remembered the nurturing and learning opportunity Dr. Lesley Casely Hayford provided her to build her employability skills, which at the time was difficult but is now very instrumental in shaping her into who she is today. She is also grateful for the mentorship and support of her two older sisters, Rafa Adam and Nima Adam. Therefore, mentorship and taking advantage of learning opportunities, whether it comes with pay or not, is something fresh graduates must prioritize to increase their chances of employability by improving and acquiring new skills, proving themselves as reliable and committed to the tasks they are given and building networks relevant to their careers. 

Also, the journey has not always been smooth for her. There were things she wished she had known earlier. Growing up in an environment where teaching and nursing were the most common professions among uneducated parents and most high school students, she wanted something different and, therefore, chose to attend university. Unfortunately, she had no information about the details and job prospects of the course she chose. She had clarity on only one thing: going to the university. However, she had no specific career path or course to study. Therefore, she did whatever her grade and high school subjects qualified her to pursue. 

Many people, including me, can relate to Rukaya’s university education experience. Therefore, sharing her experience ensures that youth, especially from marginalized communities, can access career information and feel supported. In an interview on Mahcap TV on YouTube, she detailed the skills, qualifications, and attitudes required to work and succeed in the NGO sector. She also explained the challenges and how she overcame them. She further outlined how to gain employment in the NGO sector and offered her advice and recommendations to young people looking forward to choosing their career path in the 21st century. The video can be accessed here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q7Ivsk6Srg

Lessons for Students and Recent Graduates

Madam Rukaya Adam (PhD) is a source of inspiration because of her humble background and unique career trajectory. In a time where graduates have to send hundreds of applications and are only called a few times for interviews, it is impressive to know that there is someone who never has to send out an application and gets referrals and recommendations for work because of her commitment to work.

For clarity and avoidance of doubt, this is not a story about someone with political connections or from an affluent background.  Rukaya is from a traditional and local home in the Northern Region of Ghana. Her fascinating career trajectory is a testament to the power of mentorship, commitment to work and the value of cultivating good relationships with colleagues and superiors. 

I am sharing this to inspire, inform, and support young people who need relevant industry information to help them make informed career choices and learn the critical skills and attitudes necessary to succeed in the job market. Mahcap aims to close the gap between industry and university education by bringing the youth and industry experts together on the same platform, Mahcap D’Career Show, for experience sharing and guidance. 

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Subscribe to Mahcap TV on YouTube and Mahcap websites for updates on Mahcap D’Career Show. On this platform, industry players and experts share their career experiences, skills, qualification requirements, and job demands to help the youth make informed career choices. 

By: Huzeima Mahamadu.