Get a degree. From the moment we are capable of comprehending the value in education this is the mantra that we are taught to obey. Degrees, they are like the master key to unlocking the doors of future success. According to a first-year university survey by the Canadian University Survey Consortium in 2016, 44 per cent of students chose to attend higher education because they believed it would help them prepare for more advanced jobs and careers. Once upon a time, university would have done just that. After all, a degree was all you needed; just three to four years of hard work and dedication to achieve that stamp of approval guaranteeing you a place in society. Our society is changing though, and with it, its standards.
Finding work in your related field after graduation has become less of a hardship, and more of an impossibility. Now-a-days, employers want more than just students with the proper education and the right motivation, they want experience. But not just any kind of experience, no, they want professional, on the job, two to three years experience minimum. For some fields, such as medical, where there are ample opportunities for volunteer and university placement, that isn’t much of an issue. But for others, it can be an almost impossible obstacle to overcome. In today’s market, to graduate without any volunteer or work placement experience in your relative field is like not even having a degree in the first place. So then what can you do? What is there to do?
You get creative.
While it is true we graduates are entering an ever-evolving work market, we are also entering a world with the kinds of opportunities never before imagined, and each field has its place. For developing writers, artists, and animators, there is an entire world of self-publishing opportunities available to help hone your craft and gain experience. For writers: join a newspaper, school, or freelance, start a blog, self publish a creative work, volunteer. For artists and animators: create your own website and design your own brand of art. Utilize websites like YouTube to your own advantage.
As students, we can’t just walk out of university expecting our employers to take our word when we say we know what we are doing; we have to prove it to them. Don’t just waste your four years studying, but develop a portfolio of your development. Take the time to invest not only in your schooling, but also in yourself and your experiences. Take the time to travel, study abroad, sign up for an overseas volunteer experience and gain some real workable knowledge. Volunteering is not just for medical students and charities. Organizations such as GoEco cater to a variety of experiences such as education, wildlife, humanities, medical, and internships across the globe. You just need to invest the time into finding the one that suits you best.    Â
The fact is having a degree is no longer good enough. You are one of a thousand applicants gunning for the same position. So do yourself a favour, and use your time at university to make yourself the best option they could pick.
