If you are like most Nigerian students, I bet you are wondering what the world outside the four walls of the university holds, especially knowing fully well the nature of unemployment in the country. Nigeria’s unemployment rate as at the second quarter of 2020 is 27.1% indicating that about 21,764,614 (21.7 million) Nigerians remain unemployed. So, it’s clear now that going to school is not a blueprint for career success. Unfortunately, most Nigerian youths are slow to adapt to the current dystopic trend. They still fold their hands while in school and hope they graduate to find a good white-collar job beckoning on them. Many ends up disillusioned at the bump of reality. How then should a student prepare him/herself in an advantaged position in the sight of this dreadful state? Firstly, if you are still in school, work hard to get a good result. Many jobs require a minimum of second-class upper result to qualify you to apply, so don’t pay heed to those who say “school na scam” However, if you don’t have good grades, this does not mean that you’ve got no luck, things are still good for you. So, you are studying hard, what are the things I have to do
Learn a skill
This can never be over emphasized; skill acquisition has proven its relevance in recent years and this relevance has been heightened even more by the strike of the current pandemic. Many people, including prior full-time workers, students and more, have resorted to their skills and handiwork to be able to sustain their selves in the period of the lock down. A skill is a distinguishing mental asset that an individual own. Spend time developing a skill, it is worth it, especially as you will have less pressure while you are in school as opposed to learning a skill after school and hoping to sustain yourself with it. You can select any handiwork you have passion for or learn a soft skill. There are many websites that provide free course on soft skills ranging from web design, digital marketing, graphics design, video editing, and many more. Websites like Solo learn, code academy and W3 schools are good and free resource to learn computer programming. Currently, you can learn a beginner level but solid skill in digital marketing from google. There are many free courses on EDX, skill share, coursera, alison and youtube. Spend time learning and develop interest in learning as it is the trend onwards.
Make money while schooling
Remember we talked on the importance of having a skill? Now lets talk the good stuffs that come with owning a skill. You can register on websites like fivver, upwork and the rest to get proposals from service finders looking to hire a freelancer with your skills. The downside to these websites is that they are not Nigeria friendly. You can get paid through your paypal account, but there is always the complication of how to withdraw funds from your paypal account. For this reason, I will recommend 9jaupwork.com. this website is fully Nigerian and easy to navigate. It boasts of 12000 monthly service finders. You can sign up as a service provider and input the category that you want to offer service under. You can even register to do assignments and project work for people. So sign up and begin to make some money freelancing. All this is to speak less of the wonderful services that 9jaupwork.com offers. Another great advice for you is that you should take risk. While in school, you have less pressure on you. Leverage on that! Try out new things, don’t be scared of cryptocurrency trading or holding (comment bellow to get a complete guide on how to begin with cryptocurrency. Stay away from ponzi schemes and every other get-rich-over-night-stuffs.
Gather experience
If you think you have to finish NYSC before applying for jobs, then you are mistaking. Its not too early to start gathering experience! Search for internship roles, trainee positions and assistant jobs at start ups and small organizations. When you get step into the labour market, you may be surprise to see recruiters requesting for humongous experience years. Now you see where your internship experience comes in! You can work part-time at an uncle’s organization, school or any position you can access. Note, you may not be paid or paid little stipends, but it is worth it. Find such job positions on websites like , 9jaupwork.com, hotnigeriajobs.com. your freelance jobs can also be added to your personal profile section on your CV
Entrepreneurship
If you have a small business, then work hard and groom it. Anticipate our complete guide for small business and start-ups.

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