Graduate unemployment is one of the main problems confronting the country today.

One major cause of unemployment among graduates is that, as students, they wait until after graduation before they start thinking about employment. Employment requires long-term planning. It cannot be achieved overnight!!
Students need to start planning and taking steps towards their employment from their first year at the university.

There are 2 employment options open to graduates:

1. Paid Employment
2. Self Employment

Whichever option is chosen requires long-term planning. In addition to focusing on their education, there are a number of other things students need to do, while at the university, to prepare them for the world of work. Today, education alone is no more sufficient to do well at work, whether as a paid employee or as an entrepreneur.

For those who plan to go into paid employment, they need to be aware of what prospective employers expect from fresh graduates and work to meet those expectations at the point of graduation.

For those who plan to go into self-employment, they need to be aware of what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur and work to achieve them.
The employment market is getting more and more competitive with about 500,000 fresh graduates entering the market every year. So, to get a chance, individuals must plan on how to be ahead of the crowd.

Listed below are 12 specific things students are advised to do to improve their competitive advantage in the job market, whether as a paid employee or as a self employer.

1. Study Hard and Get Good Grades

Pay attention to your GPA while at the university. Reason: most reputable organizations like banks, oil companies, multi-nationals etc, expect students to graduate with a minimum of second class upper degree (2.1) in order to participate in their recruiting exercise. If you do not want to be shut out by these companies, you must start your plan from your first year at the university.

2. Don’t Hate Mathematics

Numbers are the language of business. Because of this, employers expect their candidates to be good with numbers. Aptitude test is conducted at the beginning of recruitment exercises to assess the numeracy ability of candidates. Only those who pass the test will be allowed to move to the next stage of the recruitment process.
If you want to be self-employed, you need to be good with numbers to be able to manage your business’ finances efficiently.
The digital era, which presents us with big numerical data, has also put a premium on the need for numeracy skills.
Everyone cannot be great mathematicians; however, to function well in today’s business world, you must understand the basic numeracy concepts like; addition, subtraction, multiplication, estimation, percentages, probability, and statistics, graphs, and tables, numerical operations, currency conversion, discounts, etc
Students who are poor in math during their secondary school days must find a way of making up before graduating from the university.

3. Acquire Computer/IT Skills

About 98% of today’s graduate jobs require the use and knowledge of computers[b][/b]. Employers expect fresh graduates to be equipped with basic IT skills when they come knocking at the employment door. Computer skills go beyond the ability to browse the Internet and use social networking like Facebook. Organizations use computers to become efficient and save costs. There are basic computer productivity tools that most businesses use that every graduate must be familiar with, irrespective of their course of study. At the point of graduation, they must be comfortable with the use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They must also be able to operate some office automation devices- Fax machine, Multimedia Projector, Scanner, Photocopy machine, etc.

In addition, depending on your major course of study, you must be familiar with computer productivity tools peculiar to your industry. Accounting graduates must be comfortable with the use of at least one Bookkeeping and Accounting Software, A Law graduate must be able to use at least one Legal Management Software package, an IT graduate must be able to work with at least 3 modern computer programming languages (JavaScript, HTML, Ruby, etc), an Engineering graduate must be good with CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software etc
To be computer proficient, at the point of graduation, students must use the computer as part of their day-to-day study tool. Lecturers should encourage them to complete their assignments using the computer. Graduates who still rely on business centers to prepare their CV cannot claim to be computer-proficient.

4. Build Useful Network

Your ability to secure employment, after graduation, is a combination of what you know and who you know. So, as you pursue your academic career ensure to build a useful network. The people you network with during your university days will be useful during your job search. Following are some of the ways you could build your network:

i). Join Professional Association

One way to build a network is to join the student’s section of your professional association-NBA, ICAN, NMA, NUJ, etc. Attend their workshops, seminars, and functions. This will give you the opportunity to interact and learn from practicing professionals in your field. The contacts you make here will be of great use when you are ready to work

ii). Your Alumni

Find out and contact your alumni already in the industry while you are still studying. They will be willing to mentor you and provide you with inside information to put you ahead of others when you are ready for employment. Your professors can connect you with their past students in your field. Make sure you do not ruin your contacts by asking for undue favors.

5. Acquire Work Experience

Acquiring some work experience during your school days will give you an edge over others who never worked. The work experience does not necessarily have to be in your field of study but it will be a big plus if you are able to intern in a related organization. This will enrich your CV with non-academic pursuits. Look for opportunities to gather work experience starting from your first year at the university.
You can acquire work experience through internships, volunteering, part-time and holiday jobs. You will learn a lot and acquire experience which will make you attractive to would-be employers. You will also be able to make contacts which will be useful during your job search. Ensure you get the most out of each opportunity you have to gain as much work experience possible. Don’t worry if it is paid or non-paid, you are investing in your future.

6. Learn a Vocation

Learn a vocation while pursuing your academic degree. It may or not be related to your field of study. Employers are attracted to candidates who get their ‘hands dirty’ while working on practical things. Vocational jobs will provide you with practical experience which you can bring to bear on whatever job you find yourself doing. The vocation could turn out to be your basis of starting off, when you graduate, instead of looking for the elusive white-collar job.

7. Start a Business

Start a business while you are still studying. It does not have to be in your field of study. Even if the business is not successful, you would have acquired a lot of experience which will be of immense benefit after graduation. The business could also serve as a take-off point after graduation. If you decide to go into paid employment, you will be attractive to prospective employers knowing that you have a basic understanding of how businesses operate. Make sure you have a business name registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) before graduating


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