The unemployed graduate in business
“Unemployment is real, it messes up with self-esteem, encourages depression, and threatens to melt your future right in front of your eyes.”
I am 28 years old, a first born in a family of 2 from Lwandle. I went to St Michael’s Hight School and proceeded to pursue BSC in food science, nutrition and technology at UNISWA, Luyengo. I graduated in 2017, after which I looked for jobs with no avail. I eventually got a job 2 years later at Happy Valley Hotel, where I was part of the chef team. Later I was moved to the front office, which had nothing to do with my academic training, but I picked up some skills which I am grateful for.
2020 happened of course, and covid. My shifts were cut short, and I would work for 2 weeks in a month. It was some form of blessing though, because it encouraged me to start my own thing, a food business which I had always wanted to do, it is just that I did not have enough time. Having the food business on the side allowed me to have some extra income to pay bills. I would get food orders here and there, which sufficed. As covid intensified, I was officially retrenched from Happy Valley. I have always had love for food, especially finger food. I learnt to make pizza as well, and people always enjoyed them. However, I do not have the necessary amenities to make pizzas up to the standard I require of myself. So, I decided to start with comfort food; platas for 1 to 10 people, creamy samp with beef or chicken stew, fried rice and chicken, creamy pasta and chicken, oxtail, burgers and other dishes. For now, the limit for platas is 40 people, because I am alone at the moment. My food is homecooked and ‘comfort’ at the same time.
I make food mainly for office people who need lunch, but under covid, it has been a bit difficult because people are working from home anyway, so it affects how many orders I get. However, I could count on the people who did not like to cook 😊. With the political 6 pm curfew going on at the moment, it has also affected my business, in that I can’t deliver dinner. Doing business is exciting because there is growth. Every month is different, with all the ups and downs. But I am motivated always because I am aware that everything that happens is a steppingstone to my better self.
From first-time customers, I usually ask for feedback because I want to do better too. My clients keep coming back for the food as well, which is a positive feedback loop. I have some issues with customers who do not want to pay the way I need and those relatives and friends who want freebies all the time. I have learned to communicate that I need cash on delivery, and if you e-wallet me, it should be before I deliver the food. Being a start-up has that challenge, and I need every cent from each sale to invest back into the business. Delaying payment does not serve me or other customers well. Some people order food and then disappear when they have to collect and pay for the food. I would have already used my resources to prepare the food, not to mention that I would have shut another client out of the daily quota intake. Such behaviours from clients are very debilitating. It is hard to establish relationships when the mode and speed of payment are contrary to what I need. Of course, some clients may e-wallet me after the 30 minutes, but it feels like I am rude for asking for the money at delivery. It is a very uncomfortable position. I plan on having the orders online, so people can pay when they place the order. That is a great option to eliminate the stickiness around payments. Place an order and send money to confirm it.
Being a young woman in business is very unprotected and can be risky. People order directly from me, so, my cell phone number is no longer private. Males call, not only to order food but to solicit other things, like inviting me to their houses to cook there instead. It is very uncomfortable; I spend energy deflecting their uninvited advances, and some end up not even ordering the food I sell, but I try to handle them professionally. It is a slippery slope because I want to have a cordial relationship with them. Sending them to hell means sending a piece of my business to hell ☹. Men should be sensitive to this…and be responsible supporters of female-owned small businesses.
“You don’t need E10 000 to start a business. Start something small. It is the everyday activity that saves you from spiralling down”
I love making food. I would have had this business even if I had not studied food science. However, I feel very offended when someone who is more favourably positioned than I am thinks the youth starting businesses will solve all their problems. We do not even have capital, we learn literally on the job, and we have challenges such as customers not paying immediately. The E10 you owe me as a start-up could make all the difference in whether I continue the business or not. It is very volatile, and people in general must have that compassion and understanding in doing business with us. Unemployment is real, it messes up with self-esteem, encourages depression, and threatens to melt your future right in front of your eyes. To the graduate, I would say you don’t need E10000 to start a business. Start something small. It is the everyday activity that saves you from spiralling down. Also, be responsive to what people want. Be flexible to go with the flow. Where you start may not be where you end up; be willing to change. The people that tell us that we must start businesses are the ones who do not hire us after we graduate, because we don’t have ‘experience’. Be aware of your privilege before you give advice…unemployed graduates are touchy, and rightly so. We need compassion, we need genuine and practical support.
