4 Things You Need To Do After Graduation
By Selipha Kihagi
The number of people graduating from colleges and Universities across Nigeria keeps growing year after year. This then increases the number of jobless Nigerians as the job market continues to become saturated. And with the shaky economy, getting a job in 2016 will become even harder.
But the point of a new year is the opportunity to do things differently, to look at what worked and what failed terribly, to assess current options and lay down a path that is guaranteed to work.
For you to achieve this, you need to identify the underlying problem – in this case, trying to find a job without experience. After graduation, most people believe that the next step is ‘tarmacking’; going from company to company to drop CVs for a job. They also believe it’s time to apply to those open jobs on career websites. The truth though is that only few will be successful through this path.
To avoid joining the list of unhappy job seekers this 2016, here are some steps to follow.
Your Best Next Steps After Graduation
1. Find a volunteer opportunity
This point cannot be emphasized enough. As a fresh job seeker, you need to forget diving into job hunting as soon as you graduate, unless of course you took up jobs during your Degree or Diploma course and have the experience. Employers and recruiters want candidates who have a clue of what the actual job entails, they do not want to start on training after hiring you.
So, opt to start with volunteer work. People say and believe that it’s hard to find these opportunities but that is because you are searching online or in publications. You will not find anything here. Remember volunteer jobs are unpaid so very few are going to use money to advertise these opportunities. Identify the company or organization you want to volunteer at and walk in to ask for opportunities. Alternatively, write directly to the organizations asking for an opportunity to volunteer your services in the department you specialized.
2. Join a professional group
If you are in Accounting, find accountant groups on all the platforms and join one that is active. The same goes for other professions as well. These groups will address the underlying issues that affect a particular profession and alert you of job openings as well as networking events near you.
The groups also provide an opportunity for you to query group members about any issue you are dealing with, to which you receive various responses. This will help you grow into your career the right way and give you an idea of what to expect and which industry works better.
3. Choose a mentor
To get from point A to B in an area you have no clue about, you will need direction. In your career journey, direction can be aided by a mentor; that go-to-person when you feel stuck or don’t know whether to go back for a Masters or take up a new job. Mentors help you make decisions as they provide you with outcomes for each option you are weighing.
If you are not sure whether to go right or left, mentors give you a perspective of what is at the end of each direction and leave you to decide. Knowing when you need help is what isolates you for success.
4. Lay out a strategy for your job hunt
As mentioned in point number one, diving into the job hunt process by going gate to gate and door to door until someone considers you only works for a few. To get a job after graduation, you will need a strategy and that strategy is starting with volunteer and internships to gain experience. Don’t agree to become the average job seeker sending in applications without a plan.
Once you have started gaining experience, map out the job market and research widely on what works. LinkedIn is a great source for jobs as you can contact recruiters and employers directly. Create a profile and stay relevant to your industry. Review your strategy after one month and from feedback given, capitalize on what is working.
Being a fresh graduate in Nigeria is the hardest level to find jobs, but with gained experience and a strategy, you can have a permanent job before the end of the year.
