The Morning After POP

The day after Passing Out Parade (POP) is one of the scariest days of a Nigerian graduate’s life. The 33k allawee is gone. The cheap khaki is useless. You are now officially in the labor market.

If you don’t want to fall into post-NYSC depression, you must do these things immediately:

  • Revamp Your CV: Your CV should no longer just say “Student.” Highlight the skills and achievements from your NYSC PPA.
  • Start Applying Broadly: Treat job hunting as a full-time job. Send out applications daily.
  • Upskill: If you are not getting interviews, your skills are not matching the market. Learn data analysis, digital marketing, or project management.
  • Network Aggressively: Reach out to old classmates who got retained at their PPAs. Connect with recruiters on LinkedIn.

Don’t Wait for the Perfect Job

A lot of graduates sit at home waiting for Shell or GTBank to call them. That is a dangerous game. Take the 70k entry-level role at that small firm while you keep applying for the bigger ones. It is easier to get a job when you already have a job.

As an HR guy, I’ve seen CVs with 3-year gaps because the candidate “was waiting for a good offer.” Don’t do that. Get busy, build experience, and keep moving.