For decades, recruiters have often stated that Nigerian graduates lack the necessary skills for employability. While this perception is not entirely accurate, since some graduates do possess industry-relevant skills, you must avoid falling into the category of job seekers who are seen as unprepared. Developing industry-ready skills is essential in today’s competitive job market. As a fresh graduate, you are not expected to be an expert, but having insight into the important skills required in your industry, along with practical technical abilities, will give you a significant advantage.
What Does “Industry-Ready” Mean?
Being industry-ready means that you have mastered the foundational knowledge of your coursework or field of study and have also developed key skills that employers value. Industries typically look for skills such as:
- Technical competence
- Problem-solving abilities
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Adaptability
As a newcomer, you bring a fresh perspective, especially regarding emerging technologies shaping your industry, something even experienced workers may lack.
Building Technical Skills
To be industry-ready, start by mastering the core and fundamental concepts in your field. While your education provides the same foundation as your peers, what will differentiate you in the labor market is the extra skills you acquire beyond the classroom.
How can you gain these additional skills? Consider:
- Taking online courses
- Registering for bootcamps
- Exploring platforms like MATLAB for specialized courses
- Watching tutorial videos on YouTube
- Building practical projects to demonstrate your skills
- Participating in unpaid internships
- Making a smart choice for your SIWES/Internship: Choose companies or organizations where you can gain hands-on experience, even if it’s outside your comfort zone. Don’t settle for just filling papers.
- Volunteering
Do not wait until you enter the workforce to learn technical skills, they are often prerequisites for employment.
Developing Transferable (Soft) Skills
Technical skills alone are insufficient. Employers highly value transferable skills such as:
- Communication: writing clearly, presenting effectively, and explaining complex ideas simply
- Collaboration: working well in teams, resolving conflicts, and demonstrating leadership
- Time management, project planning, and critical thinking
These soft skills complement your technical abilities and are vital to becoming truly industry-ready.
Leveraging Industry Connections and Networking
Building professional relationships and networking are also important career strategies. For an in-depth discussion, see our related post: Networking for Engineers: How to Build Relationships and Advance Your Career.
Showcasing Your Skills
Possessing skills is one thing; showcasing them is another. Prepare an effective CV or resume that highlights your relevant work and achievements. Additionally, create a digital portfolio to provide tangible evidence of your expertise. For guidance, read our article: How Fresh Graduates Can Create a Winning Resume Without Work Experience. You can also watch our step-by-step YouTube guide on how to build a standout LinkedIn portfolio here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHULFpobf5s
By committing to continuous learning and actively developing both technical and transferable skills, you position yourself as a competitive candidate ready to thrive in the science and engineering job market. Start investing in your industry-ready skills today to unlock greater career opportunities tomorrow.
