A few years ago, I asked a fresh graduate in our office to draft a staff memo.

She blinked, completely lost.

This was not just any graduate, she had finished from one of Ghana’s top public universities. Yet, she didn’t know how to write a simple memo. What struck me more was that it never occurred to her to Google “how to write a memo” or even look for a sample online to guide her.

Even if she had done it badly, that would have been a starting point. But the blank stare told me everything I needed to know.

she was waiting to be taught how to write a memo from scratch.

It was in that moment that I genuinely began to question: How was she hired in the first place?

And beyond that why are many graduates entering the workforce so unprepared?

Job Readiness

Job readiness is more than just having a degree. It’s about possessing the technical, communication, and workplace skills required to succeed in a role. It includes the ability to take initiative, adapt to new systems, communicate clearly, and think critically in a fast-paced environment.

In Ghana, we often equate education with employability, but they are not the same. According to a 2023 report by the Ghana Statistical Service, youth unemployment stands at 27.8%, and even among the employed, many are underemployed or mismatched in roles they aren’t fully prepared for.

This gap between school and work is not new but it’s growing wider.

Why Job Readiness Matters

Today’s employers are looking for more than paper qualifications. They want self-starters, people who can figure things out, ask the right questions, and use online tools to close knowledge gaps.

In the case of the young lady I mentioned earlier, the real issue wasn’t that she didn’t know how to write a memo. It was that she made no effort to find out how.

That kind of passiveness doesn’t fly in a competitive job market.

Job seekers especially fresh graduates need to take full ownership of their personal development and employability. Your degree gets you into the room, but your skills and mindset determine whether you stay.

How Can Graduates Prepare Themselves?

1. Research Industry Expectations

Before stepping into any job, spend time researching your chosen industry. Learn its structure, required skills, common tools, and terminologies. If you’re entering marketing, know what a content calendar is.

If it’s tech, get familiar with product roadmaps and GitHub. Don’t wait to be taught everything on the job.

2. Learn Digital Communication Tools

Modern workplaces are digital-first. Learn how to use communication platforms like Slack, project tools like Notion, Trello, or Asana, and video tools like Zoom.

These aren’t just software they’re how teams collaborate across departments and borders. Most of them have free versions and tutorials online.

3. Align with Company Culture and Goals

Understand what your boss values and align with it. If your manager values timeliness, make it your priority. If the company is customer-obsessed, bring that energy to your client interactions. Being job ready is also about emotional intelligence knowing what matters to the people who hired you.

4. Learn Fast and Be Curious

Employers don’t expect perfection, especially from fresh graduates. But they do expect you to learn quickly. Curiosity is your superpower. Ask questions. Watch how others do things. Read more. Google is free use it daily.

5. Take Initiative

Don’t wait to be told everything. If you’ve been given a task you don’t fully understand, look for ways to figure it out. Start somewhere. Even a rough draft shows initiative and gives your boss something to guide you with.

Final Thoughts

Our universities are producing graduates in large numbers, but many are entering the job market with little preparation for the realities of corporate life. Job readiness is not something an employer should have to build from scratch it should be part of every graduate’s mindset from school.

You don’t need to know everything. But you must be willing to learn, adapt, and take initiative. That is how you stand out in a crowded, competitive, and sometimes unforgiving job market.

The future belongs to the prepared.