Our educational system is tailored to produce more certificate holders than solution providers. As a student in Nigeria, you spend over 70% of your schooling years learning theories, this may be a hypothesis but it’s not far from the truth. Quite a number of courses offered in our higher institutions are focused on solving abstract problems and not real life problems. As a result we have too many people with certificates but jobless or underemployed.

Certificate don’t make people outstanding, skill does. The more skills you have, the better your options in the labour market. The level of skills you have will greatly affect your career pace and your earning potential.

So many graduates know a lot about the courses they studied but only a handful know how to create value with the knowledge and make money off it. This is because our schools don’t teach us how to apply our knowledge to real life situations. We can only learn this crucial lesson through self education.

Most powerful economies are run by people with skills (with or without certificates). To make significant contributions to our country and enjoy the dividends of Nigerian economy you need to level up your skills level. Make skills acquisition a lifetime goal.


Here’s six necessary skills every graduate should learn:

1. Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is the set of competencies required for full participation in a knowledge society. It includes knowledge, skills, and behaviors involving the effective use of digital devices such as smartphones ,
tablets , laptops and desktop PCs for purposes of communication, expression, collaboration and advocacy. While digital literacy initially focused on digital skills and stand-alone computers, the focus has shifted from stand-alone to network devices including the Internet and social media.

This is number one on the list simply because the acquisition of other skills is significantly dependent on it. We are in a digital age, and for most organizations – computer literacy is not optional but necessary. Without this skills your chances of getting a good job is limited.

2. Research Skills

Your ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information if necessary, and identify key issues that need to be addressed are critically important.

Since every potential employer, regardless of the profession, is seeking employees who can help them to solve problems the more that you can showcase your abilities in this area will certainly catch their attention.

3. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are not only required at executive levels, they are critical for success at all levels. Leadership skills include strategic thinking, ability to make thoughtful decisions about organization’s objectives, effective communication, etc.

According to MindTools Leaders help themselves and others to do the right things. They set direction, build an inspiring vision, and create something new. Leadership is about mapping out where you need to go to “win” as a team or an organization; and it is dynamic, exciting, and inspiring.

4. Communication Skills

Communication is an inevitable skill required for success in all walks of life. This is the ability to effectively and efficiently express your ideas or views to another person. With clear communication you can get your message to a prospective employer impressively. Here’s an article on
Improving Communication Skills in Your Work and Personal Relationships (link is click able on the article). See full article link below.

5. Salesmanship

Salesmanship is defined as the level of skill you have in convincing people to buy or in persuading people to do something. Starting from your resume down to interview, this skill is important. You have to sell yourself well at each stage of the recruitment exercise to get any prominent job.

You need to do all you can to improve on your salesmanship, you can read these tips on how to improve your salesmanship.

Read the full article here: https://sproutby.com/top-6-employability-skills-shortage-among-nigerian-graduates/

What other skills would you like to add to the list?
Please share your thoughts on this post with me.

Nice post, I'm very much inspire

Magjoel:
Nice post, I'm very much inspire

Thanks for your comment.

OK

its nice

Make I go learn

Digital Skills...for this naija wen most graduates nah G-men.

storry

On point...u can't go to any company in Nigeria owned or managed by Asians (INDIA or CHINA) and tell them u have Masters degree...bros u must come do am make dem see with their eyes first b4 u get that job...

OP IS ON POINT

What about IT skills??

If you don't have, Even 30k can help you learn a complex skill...

Web Design

Web Development

Mobile App Development

CCNA

If you don't have these and complain about "No Jobs", you are doing yourself...

Crap, u can have some of those skills and still stay at home for long.

Number 1: checked
Number 2: checked
Number 3: checked
Number 4: checked
Number 5: checked

I kinda have all the skills here, meaning say I go hammer be that

malele:
Crap, u can have some of those skills and still stay at home for long.

you may even have none of those and still be NNPC boss in Nigeria base on logisticslogistics.

I be artiste..nothing concern me..

Ok

You forgot the greatest employability skills in Nigerian labour market- CONNECTION. Knowing the right people will get you far ahead than those who only know books.

Darkseid:
Number 1: checked
Number 2: checked
Number 3: checked
Number 4: checked
Number 5: checked

I kinda have all the skills here, meaning say I go hammer be that

I have these skills too. I had attended a CV clinic and the panel (made up of HRs) recommended my CV to be persuasive with all needed details and information highest.Yet, I haven't had any call from all the numerous application.
However, I am highly expectant and will hit it soon.

BiafranBushBoy:
What about IT skills??

If you don't have, Even 30k can help you learn a complex skill...

Web Design

Web Development

Mobile App Development

CCNA

If you don't have these and complain about "No Jobs", you are doing yourself...

It falls under Digital tal Literacy. Happy Sunday!

lanre316:
You forgot the greatest employability skills in Nigerian labour market- CONNECTION. Knowing the right people will get you far ahead than those who only know books.

Connection no doubt is important, but there are throngs of companies in Nigeria that recruit base on merit.

GCsomething:


I have these skills too. I had attended a CV clinic and the panel (made up of HRs) recommended my CV to be persuasive with all needed details and information highest.Yet, I haven't had any call from all the numerous application.
However, I am highly expectant and will hit it soon.

Sure, you will by God's grace. While you wait for a call from a prominent employer, you can check out this article I wrote about organizing and packing what you have (like skills and experiences) to deliver value to people and make money off it: https://sproutby.com/a-simple-plan-for-making-economic-recession-work-for-you/
Please, let me know your thoughts on this. See you at the top soon.

GCsomething:


I have these skills too. I had attended a CV clinic and the panel (made up of HRs) recommended my CV to be persuasive with all needed details and information highest.Yet, I haven't had any call from all the numerous application.
However, I am highly expectant and will hit it soon.

I pray it works out for you.

@op..

Most of them, the unemployed/underemployed youths would not read or practices these points..

Tomorrow they will say na Buhari recession..

meanwhile they are busy wasting their mb on Tonto, otobo, bbnaija, premiership etc and gossips

Graduates need all the skills in the world to appear employable including nysc discharge certificates n not more than 26years old with at least 3 years cognitive experience.
Nigeria politicians need just any certificates be it nepa bill, hospital bill, ssce, with F9 parallel. Joke of a nation.

Hmmm.





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Astonishingly, you forgot analytical skills to tackle job tests. Why have leadership skills and you cannot pass SHL or TalentQ?

Klington:
Graduates need all the skills in the world to appear employable including nysc discharge certificates n not more than 26years old with at least 3 years cognitive experience.
Nigeria politicians need just any certificates be it nepa bill, hospital bill, ssce, with F9 parallel. Joke of a nation.

I have always wondered what the obsession is with ' not above 26yrs of age'. As if your brain starts to nose dive after 26!

hero2000:


I have always wondered what the obsession is with ' not above 26yrs of age'. As if your brain starts to nose dive after 26!

...... 9ja factor

Inspirationever:
Connection no doubt is important, but there are throngs of companies in Nigeria that recruit base on merit.

For those throngs of companies, there are thronger companies in Nigeria that one would never get opportunity to work in without connection. It's good to build oneself, it's also good to understand Nigerian peculiar situation of labour market and utilise every resource available.