The Editor, Sir:

I would like to ask corporate Jamaica: How do you expect our young people to gain that two and five years' work experience that YOU demand of them when they apply to your organisation?

Let's not fool ourselves! Many organisations demand, sometimes, up to 10 years of work experience from potential employees. Now, don't get me wrong, nothing is wrong with that EXCEPT when you have a business environment, like ours in Jamaica, where the ordinary youth have a very small chance of gaining that experience.

I know they will say that the youth can volunteer their time. Fine, but how many of them will accommodate those youth who are interested? And what about the relevance of the experience to the desired occupation? Does my two years of experience as a farm worker qualify me to work as a bank teller? See what I am writing about? If you don't create the kind of environment in your organisation where the youth can get the kind of experience that you require, where do you expect them to get it from?

I am, etc.,

DENROY JOHNSON

denroy4life@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica