At the drop of the last paper of their final exams, Nigerian undergraduates heave a sigh of relief. They tend to think the worst is over and they are pumped up with enthusiasm for the future. Some who are not within the country return home with copious optimism but having little or no knowledge about the Nigerian job market and potential careers for them. Life, however, does not thrive only on what one has learnt within the four corners of school. It is important that you are properly prepared for every possibility before jumping into the labor world. Here are 4 things you should bear in mind.
1. Instead of comparing yourself with others, forge your path. You have just graduated, you have so many dreams to achieve, your goals and vision seem so feasible, and because you have so much positive energy, you are possessed with the strong urge to achieve them all immediately. You then find yourself comparing your strides with those of friends. You could be filled with self-loathing when most of them seem to be ahead: they are already in Law school, graduate school or have a great job while you are still at home bored with revising and sending out applications and CVs, and easing the tensions by watching reruns of Jenifa Dairies.
While it is fairly common to justify your worth immediately after graduation, you need to keep in mind that life is not a race. Give yourself time; quit comparing yourself with others because your paths are not designed to go in the same way as others. Instead, carefully take your time to forge your path.
2. Your degree alone does not guarantee a job, equip yourself. Yes, you worked your heart out at the university, studied every night, attained excellent grades and graduated Magna Cum Laude. However, these achievements in school, no matter how laudable, do not entitle you to a six figure job, with full benefits and a corner office.
You need to get your head out of the sand and realize that your mental ability and hands-on skills are what sets you apart in the real world. Forget the degree! Take personal responsibility and equip yourself with the courage to shape your future with your own hands.
3. Experience is worth more than the pay. To forge your path and equip yourself, you will need to gain experience. Though money is important, it is wise if you are not fixated only on how much you will earn. Take the idle time to gain the best possible experience that can equip you for opportunities to make all the money you need in the future.
Instead of staying idle while waiting for a job with the huge pay which may never come in today’s Nigeria, take up internships and unpaid jobs in skill or course related fields. This enables you not only to gain valuable experience and marketable skills, but also offers an opportunity to build a network of contacts.
4. Your social media page has a huge influence on the opportunities that come to you. While you have free reign over your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts, it is time to be cautious the kind of stuff you share online. A prospective employer or representative of a company you have applied to might want to know the kind of person you are via your social profile. Create a social media profile that reflects your skills and ambitions, and provides a link to your resume for potential recruiters.
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