The bits graduates must swallow

When I was growing up, the philosophy on school was simple and pretty straight forward. In fact, there was a song that put the line very straight. It went something like, 'Go to school get good grades, and all will be okay'.

Much has changed since then and this old belief has indeed been overtaken by time and events. Something that many are taking forever to adapt to is the fact that there are no more jobs in the country to be taken up by graduates after school. Stuff is turning on it's head and it is the graduates that are now required to create new jobs. A few are rising to the challenge and reaping big.

But, unfortunately, most choose to stick to their old beliefs they held as they schooled all the way from primary through to university and other tertiary institutions.

Some are even going through school just for the sake of good grades and end up coming out with no practically applicable skills that are in high demand by employers.

With an overwhelmingly high population of graduates, many of them unemployed, it's getting even harder each day for our graduates to land any meaningful employment. While many resolve to get back to school and take a masters course or even second degrees, others stay home frustrated and wasting their life cursing all the days they spent in school or as they may say, the days they wasted.

Getting second degrees or masters still does not guarantee employment either.

Our education system was developed at a time when there was need for skilled employees to work in the fast developing industries in the country. It churned out and endless stream of job-seekers and worked well for a while until it reached the time when jobs being created could not keep up with the demand. Everyone out there is qualified for a job and it's not about 'technical know how' anymore; it's about 'technical know who', if you know what that means.

The shift
The catch is that the job opportunities available or being created are far too few to keep up with the growing number of job-seekers.

But look around you, there are loads of business opportunities everywhere. All you have to do is think and reason deeply, align your needs to your abilities and be dedicated to succeed.

I believe you know quite a number of people in the country who are immensely successful despite never stepping inside any university with some even being primary eight drop-outs.

Yeah, dear graduate, you have the papers. But have you the skill? If you do, then put that into practice and formulate a business idea. Financial institutions and even the government are usually more than eager to fund viable businesses and before long, you will be on your way to greater heights.

The hard grained notion of, 'When I grow up, I want to be a ....' should not stick to you right to your post-graduate days. Grab what's available and continue to your dream, later.

Live your life!