8 HELPFUL TIPS IN OVERCOMING THE BURDEN OF STUDYING ‘NON-MARKETABLE’ COURSES

A lot of graduates as well as undergraduates are concerned about the ‘marketability’ of their course of study or discipline. The internet is awash with analyses and articles on degrees with low employment prospects or low monetary rewards. Many (especially those with little or no ‘connections’ with influential persons) are in a quandary over what lies ahead after graduating in a course deemed ‘unmarketable’ in the labour market. It is not uncommon for students and graduates alike to ask ‘ What is the fate of a graduate in my discipline in the job market?’ ‘ Must I end up teaching?’ Some did not have the priviledge of studying what they really wanted as their alma mater offered them another course and they were unwilling to stay another year idling at home. The situation is worsened if those ‘non-marketable’ courses do not provide opportunities for self-employment.

The reality is that all courses are respectable but some courses appear to be more in demand than others, even in Nigeria. This may not be unconnected with the fact that our Nigeria’s economy is still developing and is largely driven by the oil & gas, construction, services and financial sectors. Thus, there seems to be more vacancies or open slots for disciplines such as medicine, engineering, accounting, etc. when compared with some other disciplines. Even so, there are still many graduates of ‘marketable’ courses searching frantically for jobs, much less graduates of ‘non-marketable’ courses. No specific ‘unmarketable’ discipline will be mentioned throughout this piece to ensure objectivity.

Here are 8 ways that can help you deal with the effects of studying such courses:

1. It begins with you. You have to make up your mind to be successful after graduation. You are as good as graduates of any other degree. Determination and positive thinking are the first steps to a successful life and career. Some people abandon all hope when faced with challenges, become despondent and resign to fate. They blame their ‘non-marketable degrees’, the economy, parents and guardians, their grade, and other factors except themselves. A few others face up to the challenges and make up their mind to overcome the obstacles before them. You need to choose which side of the divide you want to be. Determination and steadfastness will bring out the very best in you, and will make you want to continually improve. Success starts with resolute decision.

2. Clearly define your career goals. Graduation from the institution is an opportunity for you to clarify your career desires. It is also a period when you make a decision whether you want to work for an organization or start your own business. It presents the best opportunity to decide whether you want to continue along your ‘non-marketable’ or ‘non-rewarding’ academic degree or you want to change path. Happiness is as important as money in a career. No degree is ‘non-marketable’ in itself. You may just need to find the right ‘market’ for your degree. I have seen graduates who have stuck to their ‘non-marketable’ degrees and were able to achieve their desired goal in their chosen field. I have also seen many others that have made successful career switches. Clarify your career aspirations and consider various realistic career options. You need all the information you can get to do this. Take time to get career guidance from mentors and experienced professionals. Clearly defined and realistic career objectives will help enable you know which trainings, experiences and skills you need to acquire. It will also assist you in knowing the relevant people you need to get in touch with. It will enable you channel your limited resources into efforts towards achieving your goals, rather than waste time and resources on irrelevant or unrealistic pursuits.

3. Polish your CV & cover letter, work on your aptitude test writing and interview skills. Studying a ‘non-marketable’ course means that you won’t often see many vacancies that require your discipline. This invariably means that you will apply for fewer vacancies than those that studied relatively in-demand courses. You therefore have to make good use of the relatively little but significant opportunities you have. Ensure that your CV and cover letters are top notch, tailor-made for the application and impressive. Work hard on your aptitude test writing art and the interview skills. Your NYSC period gives you ample time to practice and practice and practice! Many find it hard to scale through the aptitude test stage. Many, especially those that studied non-science courses find the mathematics / quantitative section in these tests particularly difficult. Give no room for incompetence or gaps on your part. Cover all loopholes as early as possible. Seek help if necessary. Someone I know got offers from three reputable companies in Nigeria within one year of graduation. He read a course generally accepted as ‘non-marketable’. His secret? He was young, and was simply good at passing aptitude tests and interviews!

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4. Get valuable internship or volunteer experiences and target transferable skills. Volunteer and internship experiences can boost your career profile remarkably. I have seen this work for graduates many times. I have seen people offered postgraduate scholarships and jobs simply because they interned for big corporations. Many others have gotten career uplift through volunteer jobs or activities. Many organizations (including where I work) accept graduate internship opportunities. It’s important I say here that it doesn’t have to a big organization. You can learn both hard and soft skills in small firms as well. Participation in volunteer activities such as community service, religious activities, social activities, etc. also offers opportunities to acquire skills and meet people.

Transferable skills are skills that can be useful in several career lines. Change is constant but some skills remain relevant. The corporate and business world is constantly evolving and it is only those that are amenable to change and are flexible that will survive. Job functions in corporate organizations are increasingly being contracted out to third party firms due to continuous restructuring of business firms to maintain efficiency and maximize profit. Charles Darwin once said on his theory of evolution “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” This is perfectly true about the human resource requirements in organizations today. A ‘marketable’ course today may become irrelevant in the future, or in another environment. But skills will remain marketable. Target those skills. Another advantage is that skill acquisition can set the stage for you to become self-employed in the nearest future.

5. Invest in further training. This is even more useful if you decide to make a career change. Most ‘non-marketable’ courses are usually associated with a few other related disciplines which are ‘sellable’. The easy way is to pursue a postgraduate degree in such related but ‘marketable’ courses. Many institutions, especially the foreign one, allow for such realignment. This will expand your career horizon. Even graduates with ‘marketable’ degree also make such changes. Another alternative is to take professional courses in career areas of interest. Many have made successful career adjustments to accounting, safety, stock broking, business management, project management, IT, security management, etc. by getting relevant professional certification. They abound in various industries.

You can decide to further your studies in your ‘non-marketable’ degree if you are convinced about your career desires. Studying abroad is a very viable option as there may be more market for your discipline outside your locality. It can potentially expose you to global standards and opportunities available for you. Furthermore, you can a build a global network of professionals and friends.

6. Distinguish yourself – Be outstandingly different. Employers hardly reject an outstanding personality. And it doesn’t take so much to be outstanding. Set milestones for yourself and achieve it. Take a critical look at your important hobbies and strengths. Your strength may be public speaking, writing, computer skills, blogging, etc. A colleague of mine wrote and launched a book during her service year. Another was so good in MS Excel that he got certified by Microsoft before the age of 24. A friend was able to raise N 1 million in his church for a youth programme. A young graduate had written over 20 articles in national dailies before graduation. The examples are countless. You don’t have to put yourself under immense pressure to do something remarkable. Just focus on your strengths and hobbies you often ignore and put them to use often. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Excellence can never be hidden. You will be surprised what you will achieve by consistently doing so.

7. Be employable – Studying a ‘non-marketable’ major especially in Nigeria may mean that you will most likely be applying for jobs that are not related to your degree. Employers are generally on the lookout for your ability to solve problems, work in teams, communicate, learn and adapt fast, handle pressure, accept responsibility, understand issues and analyze critically, prioritize competing demands, use the computer, lead and make decisions. There is an growing preference for smart graduates with employable qualities over graduates with particular skilled expertise. This is because you can learn most jobs with the right qualities and attitude. As a matter of fact, most experienced employees started by first learning on the job. I also learnt on the job as my first job required a particular technical knowledge which I did not have due to my academic background. But I was able convince the interviewers during the recruitment stage that I had perfect qualities they desire in the organization and I could learn fast on the job. Pay less attention to your course of study – focus on your enhancing your employability instead. Quickly identify your weaknesses and work on the significant ones that can potentially hamper your success.

and finally….

8. Build relationships and network– It is not enough to acquire new skills, trainings, volunteer experiences, certifications or knowledge. It is simply not sufficient for you to improve your employability. You need to sell yourself. No one else will market you like yourself. Set networking goal for yourself – join relevant professional bodies, community groups, etc. Attend seminars, events and conferences. Get out, meet people and nurture relationships. Improve your interpersonal skills. Have a strong online presence. Meeting people is important in sourcing for a job. Even if it doesn’t get a job immediately, it will expose you and enrich your personality. People can help in different ways. Some just need all the motivation and guidance they can get. Some need a place where they can hook up and look for jobs. Be nice to everyone you meet and offer an helping hand as much as you can. This is not only because you may never know how much influence some may have, but also because nature has a way of helping those who assist others. You may experience some disappointments from people, but that shouldn’t discourage you anyway. It’s a journey, and not an end.

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In conclusion, overcoming job related challenges involves determination, hard work, patience and ‘luck’. The element of ‘luck’ is never absent. I got a fair share of ‘luck’ or ‘favour’ in the labour market too. Every graduate, irrespective of academic discipline still needs a drop of luck. Diligence combined with persistent prayer will eventually open doors of success!