For many fresh graduates in Nigeria, a very common question they get from people around them is “How is life after school?” This question often reflects curiosity about their transition into the workforce, career prospects, and personal experiences. The post-graduation experience is different for fresh graduates in Nigeria. While some may be comfortable discussing it because they have a couple of things figured out, others may find the topic too sensitive because they are currently experiencing difficulties getting a job or handling personal issues.
However, it’s not always perfect right after school. You need to find a job, adjust to new responsibilities, and manage financial independence. If you are currently struggling to keep your head above the waters, we curated a number of life hacks that you should try. Keep reading.
Fresh Graduate? You should do these!
A fresh graduate is a person who has just graduated from the University, polytechnic, or college of education. If you think you are a fresh graduate and fear is slightly creeping in because you don’t know what to do with this phase of your life, see what we think you should do:
Learn a skill
Before or after graduation, it is important to learn a skill. Having a skill can enhance your employability, open you up to career opportunities, and make you a valuable asset in the job market. It could be a technical skill or a soft skill and you can even turn a hobby into a career. If you love to write, you can explore the technical writing or content writing field. Also, if you love making videos or talking to people about one thing or the other, content creation can be a good path to tread. Just think of a field where you can thrive and learn a skill that can offer going forward. It is easy to find a job if you have a valuable skill to offer.
Read more Books
Not everyone loves to read but books are good. While you are trying to figure things out as a fresh graduate, buy some books that are relevant to your interests and goals. Make sure that whatever books you are buying will be ones that can help you gain clarity and give you more knowledge. These books can be motivational, fiction, or self-help books; anything at all that will provide guidance and a sense of direction during your period of waiting.
Be honest with yourself
No one knows you more than you know yourself. So, whatever step you will be taking or decisions you will be making, be sure that you are being true to yourself. Don’t fall for what people think you should be doing, instead, do what you think is right for you to do. Understand your values, interests, strengths, and weaknesses as they can influence your decisions and lead to greater fulfillment and authenticity in your life journey. It’s quite easy to want to join a particular bandwagon after graduation because you think it can work for you. Whatever path you will be swerving towards, do a deeper self-reflection and be sure that you are still being yourself.
Choose growth over comfort
You need to learn to leave your comfort zone as much as possible if you want to grow. So, while it may seem that you enjoy where you currently are, stepping outside of your comfort zone can lead to new experiences, challenges, and opportunities for personal and professional development. It is tempting to always want to be comfortable but doing stuff outside of it helps you to be more courageous and pick a rewarding choice.
Sometimes, say No
A lot of ideas might look like things you should explore but, the ability to walk away and say no helps you to stay focused while finding your feet. If you are looking to manage your time, resources, and commitments effectively, you must learn to say No sometimes. Not every opportunity and idea will align with your goals and priorities; because of this, you have to decline them and pick only the projects or ideas that truly matter to you. If you do this more often, you are protecting your boundaries and chasing only meaningful plans.
Ask Questions
When you graduate from school, it’s a new phase for you – somewhere you’ve never been. Hence, it is important to ask questions to gain clarity. Don’t always assume when you can easily ask questions. The essence of asking questions is to find guidance and understand unfamiliar situations so that you don’t make mistakes or be behind. Just like you can move to a new place and ask how things are done around there, the same applies to being a fresh graduate. Asking questions helps you to navigate the uncertainties of the new phase.
Volunteer
For most people who are yet to find themselves a fix after school, one of the best decisions you can take is to volunteer, especially with community programs. If there is an event that resonates with your interest, find ways to be a part of the program. If you are a health science graduate, volunteer to work with NGOs that are particular about the health sector. Also, if you have good public speaking skills, you can ask to speak to students of a secondary school. Even in your waiting period, it means that you are building up yourself for what is to come.
Go out to meet new people
The idea of going out to meet new people may not be fascinating to everyone. Introverts may not see this to be a thing they should do. However, meeting new people has proven to be effective and can help you walk through your new phase with confidence, knowing that you are not alone. Also, it can be a good way to land opportunities and learn about new stuff. While building connections with people can be beneficial to your personal life, it can also help you grow professionally.
