If you have the objective of promoting or improving your academic qualification during or immediately after your National Youth Service, you are an academic body. If your focus is to secure a job eventually after service NYSC is also an academic body. The year of service can be a great opportunity for you to accomplish these goals on a golden platter. This year of service can serve as a platform for academic advancement and prospective job readiness.
Most Nigerian universities will require your NYSC discharge certificate before you can run a graduate program, while other schools may admit you without NYSC discharge certificate.
My advice is; don’t wait until after your year of service to enroll in a graduate program. Nigerian universities normally issue admission forms a year in advance. That is, they issue admission forms for, say, the 2011 academic year in 2010. So you always have an extra year to plan your academic search. If you can purchase a graduate admission form during your year of service, before it’s time for actual admission, your national service is almost certainly done. It is very important that you get all the essential information from the school of your choice before purchasing the admission form.
Please do a lot of planning, especially when it comes to time, location, finances, and other commitments. Don’t wait any longer, start now. Interestingly, with the trend of globalization, most foreign institutions offer online postgraduate courses. Most of these institutions and their programs are universally recognized. It is also good to say that considering the increase in the rate of cybercrime, it is necessary to ensure the authenticity of such schools and their courses before enrolling.
However, most of them are legitimate. It is the sole responsibility of the corps member to investigate the authenticity of said institution. Don’t just see an ad on the Internet and pay for that product. Gather information about that institution before handing over your money.
Preparation is the mother of manifestation. If you don’t prepare for your academic pursuit now, you may not stand out from the crowd. You should not have the same result with the crowd. The top is reserved for the few, and the few are the ones who prepare for a particular challenge or task before facing it.
You can use the year of service to prepare for your graduate programs. It is very important to indicate that you can now start studying your postgraduate courses. Enroll in the course; get your outline and reading materials and start reading right away. Before the end of your year of service, you may have covered the work plan. Instead of wasting time doing nothing, you can prepare for your exam.
A corporation has unrestricted access to state and federal libraries throughout the country. You can take advantage of this opportunity and get a good foundation in your field. Study books and other reading materials related to your field and become a master or guru in it. There are so many things that you were not taught in school, this is your time to study and learn them.
You may also develop interest in other fields. Don’t waste your time on irrelevant activities. Instead, study to be versatile and relevant. Most people study just to pass an exam; that’s not the best Study to apply the acquired knowledge and not for exam purposes. If you study for the sake of the certificate, friend, you may not deliver. You cannot apply knowledge unless you have a deep understanding of a particular concept. Deep understanding cannot come by cramming or through the fire brigade reading approach. It comes through proper preparation. Early preparations make reading enjoyable. Don’t read like a college student looking to pass an exam, read like a graduate who wants to be a master in a particular field. If you want to be recognized as one of the best students, early preparation is non-negotiable.
An academic body is a scholar. Read all educational material presented to you. You want to be well informed. Some of them contribute significantly to their academic field. I met a member of the force who did and packaged some extraordinary investigative work. His investigative work made him a celebrity at the university he graduated from and he was offered employment immediately after the service. Other bodies have written great books, movies, advertising concepts, etc. We want to see your contributions in both national and international newspapers. Your badges are not for fantasy; can grant you access to anywhere. Don’t waste your power, use it. Gathering information for your research paper will not be much of a challenge because everyone is willing to help a corporation.
Another group of academic bodies are those who want to secure jobs immediately after service. Honestly, it’s very possible to secure a job a few months after passing out.
Every reputable organization has its own hiring process that all prospective employees must go through. Generally, the process starts with the application, aptitude test, interviews, other tests, training and induction. These processes have established guidelines.
Most of the brilliant graduates with excellent results have not obtained a job because they are unaware of the rules that govern these employment processes. Many graduates are unable to write an attractive application letter. Some of us can’t organize and write a marketable resume. The aptitude test is not like the normal school test. It’s very different. The questions are technically designed and specifically regulated. So you must be conversing with him. An interview is not just about people talking to you or just a question and answer session. Friends, it is much more than that. I attended a recruiting seminar some time ago and it was clear that my dress code, gait, hairstyle, verbal and nonverbal communication, color of clothing, etc. Everyone is important in an interview.
By the way, these recruitment processes are not taught well in our schools. Even when they are taught, it is not done comprehensively. In school, I was never taught practical skills that can lead to a successful hiring process. Nobody told me that my CV must be in line with the job opportunity. I was not well informed, until I started attending various conferences and seminars. I dare to say that I have never failed in any interview. If my application is accepted and I pass the aptitude test, surely the job is mine.
In truth, most of the ex-corps who graduated with good grades have missed many job opportunities because they are not well informed about the recruiting process. Some of them can’t write a marketable application letter or a vibrant resume. Even when their academic knowledge helps them climb through the aptitude test, their lack of interview skills will cause them to lose their jobs. Academic qualification is not the main prerequisite for employment. Gone are the days when grade levels were considered a deciding factor for employment; contemporary employers want to see your confidence, innovation, composition, fashionable clothing, competence, etc. During an interview, your academic qualification will be set aside and your personal skills and experience will be put to the test. I once faced a nine-man interview crew and never felt intimidated for a second.
Truly, you can use the year of the National Youth Service to equip yourself for the future recruitment process. Use this time to study recruiting books. Learn how to write a charming application and cover letter and an adorable resume. I saw a friend’s CV and I envied him. I copied his style and even improved on it, and he got me a good job. They couldn’t resist my innovative style.
Spend this time familiarizing yourself with various aptitude test questions and techniques. Learn interview skills, because this is where many graduates have missed out. Recruitment books and other materials are everywhere, buy them and read them. You can even set up a mock interview for yourself to boost your confidence, it will do you a lot of good. Don’t view seminars and other training programs as a waste of time and resources. Please, if you have any opportunity to attend one, do not take it for granted. They are all golden opportunities. Grab them with all your strength and might. In most of these seminars, you will learn practical steps for a successful recruiting exercise in contrast to the theoretical approach of the school.
It is also very important that you get used to the present. Listen and watch national and international news to stay up to date with the latest developments. Most corporations will never hear or watch the national grid news for their entire year of service. They prefer to watch movies all day. The lack of electricity is not an excuse. I had to buy a battery-powered radio so I could listen to the 7am and 11pm news, as well as BBC world news every day because there was no electricity. He was even more informed than most people who enjoy a constant supply of energy. I was also listening to good shows like “success power” with Sam Adeyemi.
