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Why Your Degree Isn’t Enough to Land a Job — And What to Do About It
Graduating from university is a huge achievement, but in today’s competitive job market, a degree alone won’t secure you a position. Employers are looking for more than academic credentials; they want proven experience, strong networks, and skills that set you apart from hundreds of other graduates. Whether you’re still in school or job hunting after commencement, this article reveals the strategies, like internships, extracurriculars, and global opportunities, that can give you a real edge.
Firstly, let me congratulate you all on a job well done for graduating. The academic pursuit is no joke, and you’ve successfully made it to the end of this chapter with endless lessons and wisdom gained and your faculties hopefully in check. To those of you graduates, final year students or even those just starting in your university career, listen up carefully (it’s about to get real serious, real quick).
I pride myself on not selling you any dreams when delivering these articles; I impart the truth boldly, matter-of-factly, but compassionately. As a proud university graduate and a young professional employed full-time, I can assure you that your degree alone will not guarantee you a job, especially in this competitive corporate landscape powered by connections, proven experience, and subjective appeal.
So many of us have accepted the subconscious programming through media that a job awaits us with bated breath once we graduate by virtue of us now being ‘degreed’, as we like to say. Not only is this ideology false, but it is also illogical to think that your dream job will land on your doorstep the moment your transcript is updated to say “graduated”.
The journey to landing a job begins the moment you hit ‘submit’ on your university application. Unless you were born with a gold spoon in your mouth and/or have a connection in place already, it will require foresight, strategic planning and loads of perseverance to secure an entry-level job that you can tolerate and build experience upon exiting the bubble of university life. From your first year on campus, your plan needs to be concrete and calculated. For all intents and purposes, you have 3 or 4 years to execute well, and those tend to come by rather quickly when you’re trying to balance a respectable GPA and mundane life.
When it comes to the corporate world, employers are looking for graduates who stand out from the handful of jobs available. Going to school and getting a degree is a given; thousands have acquired that exact qualification or similar.
What makes you different? What sets you apart from your classmates? Were you the secretary of the environmental club or the president of the animation society?
Did you successfully gain experience and exposure by completing various internships throughout your programme of study?
Did you successfully manage your own business venture whilst studying? Have you spent a semester abroad immersing yourself in a different culture?
What have you done besides flip the pages of your textbooks, take notes and cram for exams?
If the answers to the above questions are unsatisfactory, the job market will be very cruel to you. NO CAP! Everyone nowadays has at least a bachelor’s degree in some field, but what makes you different? Why should YOU get the job over your equally qualified peers?
If you’re soon to be graduating from university or have recently graduated and you don’t think you’re ticking a lot of the employability boxes, listen up. If you just started university, internalise everything I said above and pay attention to what I’m about to say.
As I established in my previous article, entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Most people will earn a living by becoming employed in either the public, private or civil sectors. If you’re set on entrepreneurship and have your game plan, you may feel like this doesn’t apply to you. That’s okay. For those of us who are depending on securing a job to start our journey of social mobility, lock in!
Internships: Your Secret Weapon
Whether you’ve just graduated, are in your final year or just started your university journey, one of the best avenues to gain job experience and increase your chances of full-time employment would be to get an internship. Interns are usually the best vehicle to secure an entry-level position as a young professional, once you play your cards right and distinguish yourself. If you’re short-sighted and want to make a sizable income from the jump, I’m afraid the rest of this article may not be for you. In my first full-time internship position, I made TTD 4,000 monthly, which is a little less than USD 600.
It wasn’t any crazy amount of money, but it was absolutely satisfying. I spent about 6 months on this contract, and it never phased me because my strategy was well thought out. I gained valuable experience, distinguished myself as a diligent worker and team player and became an invaluable member of the team. In the long run, I gained a consultancy contract and a considerable pay increase, which was well worth the wait. If you just graduated and don’t have much experience, apply far and wide for internships (locally and abroad), get in and put your best foot forward. Interns have a higher chance of being recruited for entry-level positions.
Extracurriculars Build Character (And Resumes)
They say “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, and they’re right! Co-curriculars and extracurriculars are underestimated vehicles and unsung heroes that can drive you straight into your first entry-level position. Employers are looking for diversity not just in terms of demographics but also in terms of beliefs, ideals, experiences and backgrounds. Activities pursued outside the lecture halls always look fabulous on resumes, especially when you have gained valuable work experience. Volunteer work counts as professional experience as well, especially for a recent graduate with limited corporate experience. Were you always puzzled about how you rack up professional experience before you left university as a full-time student? Join a club, society or volunteer organisation and work your way through positions on the board. You’ll surely stand out in an interview.
Expand Your Net – Literally
The bigger your net, the more fish you’d have a chance at catching. Think beyond your city, state or country when applying for jobs and internships. If you’re open-minded, that’s a plus! The world is your oyster, and there are so many job opportunities on the table for those who are willing to explore and operate outside of their comfort zone.
All Work is Honest Work
Depending on your financial and family situation, the absence of a salary may not be an option for you while on the job hunt. Luckily, work is available all around you if you subtract ego from the equation. There are so many people who may have started as baristas, waiters, cashiers, sales clerks and store managers but are now sitting in C-Suite level positions in top companies. Where you start is just that, a START. Sometimes you just have to get the ball rolling rather than remaining stagnant. Stagnant energy does nothing for your future prospects. Forget the naysayers. Have a plan for yourself and never give up on it, but in the meantime, if you need to work outside of your ideal setup for a bit, do so. Money coming in is always better than none flowing at all. Some professional experience is more favourable than none.
Before I wrap this issue up, I must say that even if you do all the necessary things, the dream job isn’t guaranteed on the outset. The job market is competitive all around, and we’re competing with people just as good, better and even those who got the position without even applying and/or interviewing for it. It’s survival of the fittest. You will require patience, perseverance and unwavering faith if you’re ever going to be successful in the job market. If a “No” is your worst enemy, then I’m afraid this journey may not be for you.
If I can offer any last words of advice, I’d say to stay in motion and don’t give up. Accept the offer of experience even when all you may get is a stipend at best. Look far and wide, keep applying, but also get in where you fit in for the time being. I promise it gets better with time. You need only have the patience and grit to see the vision through to manifestation.
Even with all the right steps, the job might not come right away. But motion is everything. Stay in motion. Stay applying. Take the opportunity, even if all it pays is a stipend, and let your consistency do the heavy lifting. It gets better. You’ve got this!
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