Students of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyni in the Bono Region have been coached on how to navigate the world of work while at school.

The annual event by Hollard Insurance is to guide the students to improve their chances of success in future.

The Hollard streetwise finance mentoring day also focused on the opportunities available to students while in school and an appreciation of what is expected of them by the job market.

The Managing Director of Hollard Insurance, Daniel Boi Addo, said the rapid changes in the world of work are enough for students to shift their focus on just acquiring a degree. 

"What degree you get and what effort you put in, and how you prepare yourself impact your success rate on the job market," he told the students.

He said Hollard chose the topic "to help the students understand the challenges or issues they need to be aware of as they enter the world of work, and how they need to prepare themselves."

Mr Boi Addo noted that the expectations of current graduates were completely different from decades ago.

"For any person coming out of school, cognitive skills are important, creative thinking and problem-solving abilities are key on the list of employers to help solve different challenges", he said.

He, however, urged the workforce to engage academia more actively and be interested in how students are trained.

The Managing Director of Hollard Insurance expressed delight with the project of coaching students as a way of giving back to a society that helps keep their business.

“If we leave here and 10 students get an impact with what we have said today and take an active part in planning their future, our purpose would have been met, and we are happy," he noted. 

The event had a panel of leading personalities from Hollard and UENR discuss sub-topics, including essential skill sets for a better future, winning the interview-how to ace a job interview and salary negotiations, financial well-being and mental health, and embracing diversity and building relations.

A level 400 student of UENR, Mavis Enyonam Asemsro, studying Actuarial Science, described the sessions as intriguing and educative.

Of particular interest to her is the knowledge of how to be entrepreneurial as a student and knowing how to manage time to ensure a balance in academic and social lives. 

She said last year's session impacted her life and as such she will share the knowledge acquired with other people.

 “After last year's session, I defied the odds and opted to do my mandatory attachment with Hollard Insurance, and I have no regret as it has improved my finances and opened lots of opportunities for me by sticking to the guidelines”, Christiana Darko, another Actuarial Science student said.

She expressed her gratitude to Hollard Insurance for the mentoring sessions and implored her colleagues to be part of it.