Thoughts of how life was likely to be became a nightmare. Images of how I was likely to look like if I ended up in the village would roll slowly like a movie in my mind. No! I did not want to go back and try to come in again knowing how hard it had taken me to get in.

It was not pleasant out there anyway. The queues were long, winding and very slow-moving. Some queues were not even moving at all. The atmosphere was chaotic and the affected people were very disgruntled and frustrated.

I was enjoying the game and was not ready to cut short the fun. I had always wanted to do this and I was not ready to allow society to stop me when I had in fact only started.

For many nights I would toss and turn in bed in search of a plan. I struggled without success for a plan that would enable me stay in the game.

I cannot remember coming up with any formal plan but I remember resolving to stay no matter what. I remember resolving to be unconventional.

I talked to God in prayers. I talked to a lot of people and I did a lot of things. Staying in the game anyhow became my way of life. I took on projects that no one was willing to take. I broke the rules a few times but for a good cause. I asked a lot of questions and got inquisitive.

In no time I knew how to do stuffs that many of the people I had met there didn’t. I got involved and became helpful, showing respect to all and staying as humble as I humanly could. Some people did not like my adventurous drive but others like Christian Ahey, Evans Kumi and the expatriate leaders saw some good in me and took me under their wings for nurturing and directed my high energy towards important areas.

How I was able to learn to drive from scratch in a mine that had no-nonsense safety officers and a not-so-merciful expatriate Maintenance Manager, I do not know. But I know I did it and obtained a valid drivers’ license before I completed national service.

How I drafted a CV and sent it to Mawuena Dumor (now Mrs Mawuena Trebarh), the then Regional Communications Manager for Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd for her input and advise, I do not know. But I know that whiles I was still a service personnel, I booked an appointment and met with her in her office in Accra for a discussion on my career in mining and what I could do to continue to stay in the game.

How I was able to put a job description together for my bosses based on the gaps I had identified in a project I had undertaken, I do not know. But I know I did it and that job description would later become my job description when I was fully employed.

How I accepted to be an apprentice after service for a paltry GhÈ» 40 a month for four month ahead of the start of a new budget so I could be employed, I do not know. But I know that within two weeks after National Service, I had quit two jobs in Accra and opted to me an apprentice because I wanted to remain in mining.

Where there’s a will, there’s indeed a way.

I have been reflecting on this over the last few weeks as the end of the current service period draws closer.

Many of the current service personnel cannot wait to finish so they could start their own businesses and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. That’s fantastic!

But to such people, I urge you to learn how the businesses/organizations you are with now are managed. Learn the structures and the internal processes, have a feel of the accounting and financial statements and get practical explanations and understanding of how and why things are done the way they are done. These will come in handy when you eventually sit in the hot seat to manage your own company.

There are those who have connections and relatives in high places who have already cooked jobs for them before they finish their service. To these folks, I say good on you! Please do not go and disappoint because someone will do anything for the opportunity you have.

Others will proceed to grad school immediately so the thought of job-hunting after service is farfetched for now. I wish such personnel all the best in their studies but please do not be sluggish with your national service experience. Someday you will need it to connect the dots.

Then there are the ones I call the class mates of my time. Not starting businesses now, no one at high places to cook jobs for them and no funds yet for grad school. They are the ones who ‘wish’ to stay. They are the ones who do not want to go back to their villages and the thought of life after national service throws bags of butterflies in their stomachs.

My brothers and sisters, your wish to stay alone is not enough. Just because you wish to stay does not mean you will stay.

Get involved and work so much so that your absence will be felt. Identify opportunities and latch on them.

Get a CV done and get it polished every day. Show it to your boss for their input, make your intentions to stay known and communicate this non-verbally with your actions.

Do not wait to complete your service before you start splashing application letters around. These days the conventional way of doing things is fading away and job search is not an exception.

Recruiters now use the internet more than the print media so in addition to your Facebook and Instagram accounts, create a LinkedIn account and brand it professionally. It works.

It’s possible to get a job immediately after service or even before service ends but only a few people have done it through the conventional way. Remember that all progress has resulted from people who took unpopular position.

Create your own opportunities and stand out of the crowd. You can make it, yes you can!

About author

Steve is a Mechanical Engineer and currently works as the Maintenance Planning & Systems Superintendent at Perseus Mining Ghana Limited. He's passionate about shaping the minds of the next generation to make our country and the world better than we met it. He's a speaker and loves to write.