The Journey of Finding Field Placement.

Thread...

I remember searching for a place for practical training here in Dar after second year of my Uni. I prepared all my necessary documents being resume, provisional results as well as attaching with a letter from my University.

I dressed well and officially and passed from one office to another submitting my request for practical training. I was shocked receiving some negative responses from some receptionists and front guards to some of offices I went.

It's not that I was not following a protocol, No I was and for some time I was ready to ask for the protocol so that I can follow them. I ended up getting nothing. Some of the offices received applications and they didn't answer.

I calmly waited for the first, second, third, fourth week, no response I received. I kept refreshing my emails and checking spam emails as well that wasn't their option either. For this was only a practical training placement, I didn't want a job or paid internship.

I just wanted a place to learn and practice my knowledge I have been studying at Uni and the letter from Uni attached clearly specified this. I can't imagine if It was a job or paid internship application!

Non payment placement wasn't not even a reason to call me for the opportunity to practice and work. I stopped circulating those early applications I did with the hope of getting one. I ended up getting none. I started asking my self, "Hivi Mimi nakosea wapi?"

If it was about good grades, I had good grades (I'm not trying to brag here, I'm just telling a story). If it was applying early, I was among the earliest applicants. But all those weren't the reason either for me to get a chance.

Searching for field placement with the hope of getting one, it was the hope that stubs. For the stubs, were all over my body. As @TheophilAvidace said in his poem. I then realised how tough the market was. "Vijana wanasema soko ni gumu".

I do appreciate two companies as they answered my emails and planned exams for me and I did some interviews but I was not a successful applicant. I admit for this I didn't prepare well for the interviews may be that was the reason.

I planned that I will travel to my home region to find any field placement as I thought may be in Dar there is a lot of competition. We did our second year last exam at Uni and for the next week practical trainings started.

Some of my friends got the field placement soon after the exam and they started their field. I asked some of them how did they end up getting field placement that easy. Someone said, "my uncle connected me here" and guess what?, it was the same office I did my early application..

...and they said they don't need any student for practical training. Some one said, "My father's friend has called me to help him with some works" and many more of such answers to how they ended up getting field placement.

You see! this is what they call CONNECTION, so it's all about who knows you and whom do you know.This is not a bad thing it's really a good thing if you look it in a positive way. You can start making your own connection as well by attending network events and the like.

(This is a topic for another day)
The next week I was about to travel to my home region as my plan I mentioned earlier in this story. During one evening before travelling I received a call from one of my friend called @johnalfred853 but I always call him by his nickname Wackenzo

Wackenzo: Ni aje kijana?

Me: Safi tu, aje?

Wackenzo: kwema tu, Hivi kijana ushapata field?

Me: Ulisikia Wapi?

Wackenzo: Sasa fanya hivi kuna opportunity nakutumia hapa, tuma email na uwe tayari kwa interview ni project fulani tutapiga na wazungu. Wanakuja wiki ijayo.

Me: Asante sana Kaka, wacha nifanye hivyo.

I submitted my applications to the Project Manager and did all the interviews and got that field placement. Guess what!,it was also a paid internship.. I was working as Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and this field placement...

...aligned to what I was studying at Uni. I remember my Uni Supervisor saying, "where and how did you get such good placement for your practical training?" Can you see? Surely our God works in different ways. I also had a connection, and My connection was @johnalfred853

Stay blessed @johnalfred853 and my Project Manager @la_artistee for accepting me in your winning team .