What Next?

By Pastor Ituah Ighodalo

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to come speak to a couple of young people who had just graduated from the university and sometimes in January, we held a job fair for young unemployed people. From my interactions on these occasions, it was obvious that there is a lot of pent up frustration on the part of our young people especially if they had not been properly mentored on what to look out for and what to expect. I want to use this avenue to encourage our young people on life after school.

Now that you have finished school, what next? The allowances and pocket money will stop coming in or reduce drastically. You will be expected to find a job or start doing something – making yourself useful. Even if you are to proceed for a postgraduate degree or a professional qualification, the level of support from parents, guardians or family will not be like when you were still in school.

The first question is what resources are available to you to proceed for the next line of action. Do you or your parents have the resources to finance a postgraduate or professional qualification programme without you working? Can your first degree guarantee you a job as some degrees are more easily employable than others? Do you have any added skills, vocation or experience that can aid your employment search? If you are interested in starting our own business or trade, do you have the requisite skills set and finance or would it better for you to undergo some apprenticeship training?  

Before you embark on any line of action, do a reality check so as not to be solely disappointed. Talk to mentors, attend job or employment seminars and be reasonable about your expectations, which most times can be far from reality.

Your Expectations

-                     Thinking you can get a great job by just having a degree. Some of the most valuable lessons are learned outside the classroom. Employers are looking for students who did more than just sit through four years of classes. What about your soft skills? This includes such abilities as effective communication, creativity, analytical thinking, diplomacy, flexibility, change-readiness, and problem solving, leadership, team building, and listening skills.

-                     Thinking your first job defines your career. College graduates often buy into the “perfect first job” myth. They think they need to be in the right place at the right time right after graduation. That isn’t true. Skills and lessons are transferable, especially the ones you learn during your first job out of college. Those lessons will get you all kinds of places— including your dream job.

-                      Thinking you’ll be in a better financial place than your parents—immediately. Many college graduates are incredibly sheltered. Some don’t even know what their parents do; they think the money just shows up. When you begin your career, you’ll have to work hard. You’ll have to put in time and pay your dues. Don’t expect to live the same lifestyle that took your parents 20 years to achieve.

The Reality

Due to the dire economic situation, the days of having a car, a house and many other added material benefits being offered you right after graduation are long gone. Job security is also unlike the days of our parents when you looked forward to pensions and gratuity after working for 20, 30 or 40 years for the same organisation. Demand and supply also do not match in the job market as there are now far more qualified people than vacancies. Employers now look for something extra – special skills, soft skills, working experience (internship) while in school, etc. Considering also that many job vacancies nowadays are more open to graduates from various disciplines and not just those from that particular sector, the competition is more intense. The selection criteria have been raised a step higher, cutting off most graduates since they require post-NYSC experience. The jobs that do not require experience have too many people trying to occupy few available positions.   

BusinessWeek reported, "More than 200 million people globally are out of work, a record high, as almost two-thirds of advanced economies and half of developing countries are experiencing a slowdown in employment growth.’ According to The Federal Bureau of Statistic, ‘over 40 million Nigerian youths are unemployed’.

Aligning Your Hope/Expectations With Reality

-                  Start small and grow big in whatever you find yourself and wherever you find yourself. Don’t be in a rush to make it big.
-     Rather than waiting for that elusive million naira job, start with one that can enable you gain experience and learn fast. Be open minded about opportunities that come your way.
-     Be focused on your chosen path rather than being a jack of all trades
-   Find your natural habitat – that thing or area that excites you the most even if it does not offer immediate monetary rewards. Develop and deploy your talent.
-   Don't think you’ll succeed only because you went to the right college or studied the right course. Success comes from all walks of life. It might require some work, but you can succeed in all different kinds of environments.
-   Make a decision to be an asset rather than a liability  
-   Find and follow your passion. So many people are struggling on a job they are ill suited for. One of the greatest of all success secrets is for you to decide what you enjoy doing and find a way to make a good living doing it.
-    Improve yourself continuously, gain mastery of whatever your field is and know your onions
-    View work as a chance to grow by creating opportunities to demonstrate your skills.
-   Work at your highest potential every day to move toward the position or goal you are striving for. This will give you a sustainable competitive advantage in the future