GOOD ACADEMIC GRADES AND PERSONAL QUALITIES: "KEY DETERMINANTS OF LABOUR MARKET SUCCESS."
It
is so good that you have taken this audacious step! I mean, making the
decision to take your education to tertiary level and even beyond.
Getting this far was not easy, I know. No doubt, you have endured many
rainy and sunny days. You have gone through the bustle and hassle of
elementary education, basic education, secondary education; and you have
even done various examinations that range from WASSCE, NECO, UTME and
post UTME.
Now, here you are! An undergraduate hoping to be a
graduate in the nearest few years; serves his father land, and land a
‘very well paying job’ for himself. Good, you have envisioned well! But,
truth be told; all these may possibly remain a mirage, or might I
simply say ‘fantasy’, if you fail to strive for good grades and work on
your personal qualities and traits.
You need not be told that this
country has become so fiercely competitive that only those who possess
the prerequisites are making head way and getting to the peak. As a
student, graduate to be, and a potential job seeker, the prerequisites
to becoming successful in the corporate world are your good academic
grade and personal qualities.
The growth of this country’s
population has become so exponential that we now find it hard to balance
our needs with resources. By implication, Jobs that were always readily
available for graduates in the 70s and 80s, have become so scarce that
companies now take different stringent measures to streamline the number
of applicants that can apply for their openings. One of such measures
is setting ‘minimum academic grade’.
Except and unless you are
not interested in working under anyone; if you do, I sincerely urge you
to strive for good grades in your academics. Although, a high academic
grade is not an ‘end’ in itself, but it is sure a very good ‘means to an
end’. A good academic grade gives you an identity and recognition. It
endears you to employers and carves attention to you. Good academic
grade gives you competitive edge and you will need not be disturbed by
minimum grades set by employers. However, all that said, I need to
sincerely tell you that getting good grades takes sheer hard work and
self-discipline. It takes perseverance and self-determination. You must
be ready to pay the price and give all it takes. You need to set the
goal and ensure that you diligently work towards it.
Now, after
your good grade has gotten you those appointments for interview, the
next thing that could either make or mar you in the journey of landing a
good job are your personal skills and qualities. It is good that you
have good academic grade! But, beyond that, the employers want to see
what you are bringing to table. They want to see your demeanor,
communication prowess – the usage of the queen’s language, your
analytical skill, your professional etiquette, among others. Every
employee of an organization is presumed to be a brand representative of
that organization. Hence, no ‘image conscious’ organization would be
willing to have a mediocre has its representative.
In
conclusion, evaluate yourself today and try to figure out those personal
traits, if any, that can mar your success and try to do away with them.
That might require that you stop some of the things you currently do or
even avoid some of your friends. You need to try as much as possible to
cultivate those excellent qualities and also try to put-in for skills
that you know would place you in a better position in the labor market.
I pray that we will all get to the mountain top after our sojourn in our various campuses.
Beautiful day to you all.
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