13 April 2017
It is increasingly being recognized that merely possessing a university degree is no longer a guarantor of a good job and a high salary.
With the proliferation of degrees and the rapid expansion of the education sector, having a university level qualification has become ubiquitous and no longer signals to employers that one stands out from one’s peers.
In order to increase one’s employability, it is therefore necessary to focus on areas apart from academic qualifications in order to differentiate oneself.
Students have to gain a deep appreciation of the industry they intend to have a career in. They should seek out specialized knowledge and experience outside textbooks. This means taking up internships and work attachments.
Gaining work experience is also a valuable end in itself even if in an unrelated field. Performance in holiday or part time jobs help one gain maturity and experience in dealing with people and work culture outside the classroom setting.
There is also a need to network with as many people from different backgrounds as possible. People not only open doors that would otherwise be closed, but they also provide ideas, and even inspiration. A broad network of friends including working professionals can be an enormous source of leverage.