What has it been like for you after graduating from uni? How exactly do you feel about yourself and life? And what has it really been like in terms of looking for a job and generally just trying to figure out life while living in Nigeria?
The purpose of this article is to get a better view into the struggle with ‘life after school’ through the personal experiences of graduates living in Nigeria.
I lost my dad who was the sole provider for our family when I was in school and had to turn to runs for survival. Life got really terrible and I had to find a way to see myself through school. My relatives helped until it started looking like I had become an unwanted burden. I started dating this guy who had money… basically, I dated him just for the money so I could help my mom and siblings and myself through school. I thought I’d graduate and do something that would make me proud of myself but guess what? There are no jobs whatsoever and now, the only means of survival is through runs and a side business I am supporting myself with because I do not want my mom to find out… Life is just hard and it is even harder when you have to keep pretending that you are happy while living in Nigeria. Thank you for this because I really needed a way to unburden my chest.
– Felicia, 23
It has been a pattern of disappointment and depression. I’ve been getting good interview offers but the days the interviews fall on I’ll be sick or something. Then I got a job at a terrible place.
– Azar, 25
Not really been easy… and if you find any they keep asking for 5 to 10 years experience and with so little pay…
– King, 23
Honestly, it hasn’t been as easy we thought or rather as I thought. Job hunting especially without someone from the higher up referring you is really something I’d call difficult. I’ve been applying, submitting applications and all, still I’m home. I even started a business, I went into cat fish farming. That too hasn’t been easy because the economy isn’t helping matters either. Feeds are really expensive and you have to keep up with all of that to remain in the market and make sales. The buyers are complaining about the price and all….what to do? We have to make sales right? In all we have to keep putting in effort while hoping for positive results.
– Stephanie, 24
Well, I can’t really say because I took another academic program immediately. I just know I hate CV construction, constant applications and the instability of job atmospheres.
– Melvin, 26
So far it’s not been too bad. There’s been a pause in my transition from uni to NYSC because of the strike. But I was able to find a good enough job and it’s looking pretty promising. That being said living in Nigeria hasn’t been easy. Cost of living is too expensive. Adulting hits different here. Getting a job, even a good paying job…buying food stuff or fueling the gen or paying bills, would have your pay check looking like it’s nothing really.
– Dan, 24
It is just like I am re-living my post high school days again. Trying to get into the university (job hunting) with little or no knowledge of my career path, because obviously you can not rely solely on what you have been taught in school, and even if you succeed in finding a job, you have little or no experience in the field and the part with competing against more qualified candidates. At that point, you realize that you almost do not stand any chance in getting the job.
– Steve, 25
Life after school is better experienced than heard about. Nothing prepares one for the challenges ahead and independence especially if you’re from a typical Nigeria setting where you’re left alone to figure out things yourself because you’ve been trained through school so now go and be useful. Through all I feel proud about scaling through, not being weakened be the though process and watching the Universe reward my efforts. I can say first hand that job hunting is a job on it’s on. Literally I searched for jobs, attempted the menial and ugly before I got a befitting one. Right now I’m just huge on growth and harnessing my potential. My forging ahead and going through processes is enough consolation to get me by the everyday hustle and bustle of living in Nigeria while I still work out my japa process😉
– Osaze, 27
For some of us, the hard life started dawning on us when we just started uni. But for me, I realized things late. It was in my final year that it occurred to me that I needed to start figuring the “after school” life out. I would tell myself that getting a job would be so easy. Well, it is so hard! First of all, you aren’t even sure of the job role you wish to apply for. The university didn’t tell you about how whatever the lecturer told you in class had nothing to do with application for different job roles and maximizing your talent at what you’re good at. Even if you’re sure of what you wanna work as, where are the jobs? I don’t have money and I can barely take care of myself. Now, starting a business is difficult because where do I start from? What kind of services do I provide that other people aren’t providing already? My first meteor rock of depression hit me immediately I got home after my sign out at school and I asked myself this question, “what next?”.
– Vivian, 22
I’m cool right now but I didn’t really feel it until after NYSC. For a period of about 3 months I was at home, living on the money I had saved. And yeah, job hunting is quite hard. Especially when you’re not someone that wants to ask this uncle or that aunty to help out. I’m happy I finally got somewhere that I fit in sha. Still trying to figure stuff out but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved at my age.
– Seyi, 25
I miss uni. I liked Batman. Friends, minor worries like assignments, daily gossips, no subscription, bole and fish, no light, no water, where to chill or hangout , TGIFs. This level feels like compulsory growth. Shell shocked most of the time. I like Bruce now. A new level of alienation. Everyone is down so you can’t be down too so that they’re encouraged. Job searching is difficult because previous levels required a standard to be accepted. This level is just fluid. The idea of a boss/employer, dos and don’t, pretending to care about it. Mehn I feel like an app or someone’s code. Maybe old age would be worst. After all we are constantly embracing entropy. (This is incoherent I know. 😔) (fun fact- I enjoy the process though) life is a trip.
– Phil, 26
First off, being born and raised in Nigeria means life is already leading you 1-0, your parents aren’t rich, 2-0. Then add to that, you’re growing to be an adult in these times, 3-0. You get the picture I’m painting now, ASUU strike and COVID kept us at home for a full year in 2020 (my original graduation year) but I’ve finally graduated in 2021 and we’d somehow escaped this new ASUU strike. it’s not our problem now, so things ought to get better from now init? Right? No! You id*ot! Remember you were being led 3-0 before, then you had your parents funding you, no pressure to ‘make it’ be it internal or societal, now add that, it becomes 4-0. I studied Electrical Electronics Engineering and majored in Communication Engineering and I barely know what in God’s green earth I did in school, I just wrote exams for 5 years and graduated, luckily, I learnt graphic design during the aforementioned collaboration of ASUU strike and COVID. So I had a safety net, so 4-1 right? Nope! The graphic design had been over saturated by the time I learnt. Anyway long story short I’ve applied to loads of firms as a graphic designer, I don’t even get rejection letters, na straight air them dey send back. I’m currently serving now and luckily I got a job at a firm I worked for during my industrial training in university (it’s a shite job but it’s a paying job init? ) with a high possibility of being retained so 4-1 properly. I’m also taking courses on product design, hopefully that path works out. So we are at 4-1.5. sorry for plenty yarns.
– Ike, 25
Hmm, life has not been very promising after school especially as a young graduate. While in school, I had an idea of how I wanted my life to be only to finish school after series of strikes just to find out there is now an age limit( employable age bracket of 27 and below) to getting employed. Making most jobs I am qualified for become the opposite just because of age. And looking for jobs in the government sector is like looking for a needle in the ocean. One has to look for whatever his hands can do just to have a means of living. Just like your topic, in Nigeria, whether ready or not, you will be an adult someday and responsibilities won’t wait if you are ready or not especially as a graduate. Too much expectation will be demanded of you not minding what the country is like. Thanks, I would like to stop here.
– Nick, 28
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