First Class honors, Second class honors and pass students
These articles details the realities of life after campus. The relation between being an excellent student and success.
Many students have always linked higher education performance with a guarantee of success in life. From past stories, its ingrained into the mind of many students that if they get a first class honors they will be able to secure whichever job they apply for. Yes, that used to happen in the past. But times have changed. The world has become too competitive and your performance level is not merely measured by the thickness of your piled certificates.
If you are a student, spending all your time to get a first class i kindly ask you to spare a few minutes, go to the library and check jobs posted on newspapers or online Job boards like https://kenyayote.co.ke/newsletter/. I would just like to solicit some feedback from you if you get any hiring company indicating in the job requirements that getting a first class is an added advantage or need. What however cannot miss a number of years of experience. The implication here is that if a first class honors student and a second honors student go to the same interview. The chances of any one of them getting the job will be pegged on their experience and the skills they poses. Internship experience being a key factor.
I do know that this post might appear to be irrelevant to the achievers. But before you create a negative judgement, remember that you cannot ignore education in this era. Education as you have been told since your junior years is vital. The more you perform better the more your social status in the society rises and this helps boost your self esteem. But remember there is a difference between success in life and social status.
Back to my issue with first class honors mentality!!
According to the Business Daily, over 400,000 graduates leave college and university annually to search for employment . In 2013 alone the government managed to create only 134,300 new formal jobs and the figure keeps dropping. Remember every year the number of unemployed graduate keeps rising and the number of graduates multiplies due to the need for educations. This therefore means that there are millions of jobless graduates out here. The pain of looking for a job will get even more severe as the public sector plans cut employment to reduce wedge bill.
Elsewhere, the labour market has become so competitive out here. Employers are swamped with thousands of application letters in their emails. Most from students who buy degrees in the “university black market.”
Therefore, they are are less concerned about your grades and are more interested in your skills, extra-curricular activities and experience. So pay more attention on creativity. Join clubs,organizations and be innovative. Walk out of campus with an innovation and second honors and employers will come looking for you.
However, it should also be noted that first class honors student with work experience does make them POTENTIALLY better employees.
You can also read: Employment Crisis: After Campus What Next? here
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