Godfrey keen to find opening in job market

By BRADLEY MARIORI
GODFREY Havitein has one message for the Government: Attract more investment to create jobs for young graduates like me.
Like hundreds of young people around the country who cannot find jobs which relate to their academic qualifications or trade, Godfrey Havitein has no choice but to be employed in the meantime as a security officer while looking for vacancies in the trade he is qualified in – a crane pperator.
“To those of us who have graduated and are still looking for jobs, let us not give up easily and make our lives boring and without meaning. I am currently working with a security company to support me financially while looking for a vacancy as a crane operator.
“I know it is difficult these days to find jobs. But if we push and work hard, we will eventually find a job somewhere.”
Godfrey, 21, is from Small Buka in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He and elder sister Clothilda, a nurse in Madang, are the only children of Henry and Anna Havitein.
Godfrey completed elementary education at Toben Elementary School in Buka in 2008. Then from 2010 to 2015, he did grades 3 to 8 at the Nova Primary School, then grades 9 to 12 up to 2018 at the Hutjena Secondary School.
After his Grade 12 examination, Havitein went to Lae to take up a course on crane operation with a training institute.
“I really wanted to be a crane operator and I was given the privilege to study and know the skills through the institute. This is my dream job and I will never give up on it.
“I’ve applied to four companies but didn’t get a favorable response. But I will not give up. I will continue put in applications to companies in Lae until I am given a chance.”

“ Those of us who have graduated and are still looking for jobs, let us not give up easily and make our lives boring and without meaning. I am currently working with a security company to support me financially while looking for a job.”

Godfrey is joining the long queue of young people who after graduation are looking for jobs they are qualified for.
He is currently working as a security guard in Lae to support himself financially while continuing to look for a vacancy as a crane operator.
Godfrey is living far away from home in Buka to achieve his dream which he knows will not be easy. But he refuses to give up trying.
He has noticed many young men and women giving up on looking for jobs and resorting to illegal activities to get by.
The unemployment situation for them is demoralising, disheartening and depressing – after years of studying hard in school and tertiary institution.
He also hopes that jobs held by expatriates be given to locals who are qualified to do them.
“I have seen a lot of jobs like drivers, plant operators and others done by expatriates. Locals should be given a chance to do them.
“I want the Government to look into this. We can’t be spectators in our own land. We can do things that expatriates are doing now.”
The bottom line though is that the Government must encourage more investment – local and foreign – to create jobs in the country for young people such as him.
“Young people graduating today are the future of this country and there must be opportunities made available to get us into formal employment if the Government cares about the country’s future.”
Like others, Godfrey is waiting for the opportunity.