BUILDING A CAREER PATH: FOR UNDERGRADUATES AND FRESH GRADUATES
There are a lot of people wishing to have the dream job; you know, earning 12mil a year, loads of allowances summing up to tarty billion etc. If that is why you are reading this post, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Even Davido cannot help you here. This write up is for people looking to build their career, following due process. If you are an undergraduate, this is especially for you. It may be valuable to graduates too.
Alright, let’s go…
If you are looking to land that job sometime in the future, these are some of the things you should do.
1. Internships: try to work during your summer breaks as an undergraduate. Get a job that will help you in your career field. If you can’t get one, go for any job. It may not be so easy the first time, but go for it. After you get the job, try to be the best. Come to work early enough, ask questions for the purpose of clarity, and be open-minded. Be willing to learn.
This way, you get to boost your CV; it will give you a competitive edge in the market.
If you want to start your own business in the future, it will give you an idea of how the work place should be like (structure and organisation).
Also, if you are a graduate, go for graduate internships. Do not just sit at home, do something. It does not necessarily have to be related to your field.
It is common practice amongst employers to discard CVs that have no work experience at all. Some may go ahead to pick a 2:2 (second class lower) graduate over a first class graduate, because the former has work experience. I think they believe that anyone that has worked in any capacity, can be taught to do same in another.
Another thing to consider is the interview part of any recruitment. Experts suggest that the best way to answer interview questions about your strengths and qualities is with examples. You impress your interviewer with qualities you’ve used in the work place.
2. Volunteer: what you spend (or invest) your time doing is usually a reflection of your passion. If, for example, your hubby or passion is teaching children, find a place at your free time, and do so.
Why? One quality employers’ desire in their employees, is their ability to take actions. The market is changing. They want to know that you can take the bull by its horns.
3. Get Good Grades: as an undergraduate, it is important to study hard and get good grades. They may not necessarily be important to the work you’d be doing, but they may be necessary to open doors. Top companies these days, make it a practice to limit their recruitment offers to first class and 2:1 (second class upper division) graduates. So, grades are important.
For the graduates, it is too late to change your first degree. But, preferences are also given to Masters and PhD degree holders, as well as people with professional certifications, especially if you have any experience. So, try to write professional exams and get another degree, if you can. I think it is best to acquire most of these certifications within your first five years; in later years, you may not have the time, as a result of other responsibilities.
This list is not the ‘all in all’. It may not be all you need to get your dream job or build your career. I recommend you read James Jinadu’s post on ‘Building Your LinkedIn Profile’.
If you have any other useful tip(s), feel free to add it to the comment section.
Thank you for reading.
