Is a Degree Better Than Experience When Looking for Jobs in Nigeria

Is a Degree Better Than Experience When Looking for Jobs in Nigeria

Is a Degree Better Than Experience When Looking for Jobs in Nigeria

First and foremost, this debate is referred to as one that is as old as education itself. So many people have asked for what matters most when it comes down to seeking a job.

They want to know if their Degree will help place a foot in the door or if their work experience counts for more. Beyond acquiring a good job, people want to know if their experience or education will serve them better when it comes to staying employed, advancement in their career, and making a good living for years to come.

One thing we can help you with when it comes to this debate is that educational accomplishment and income are closely linked. This is because a higher degree will normally lead to a higher salary.

Nevertheless, an educated staff may likely fall under the lower unemployment rate gap. While a degree is vital for early in their careers, job experience and new skill acquisition add some weight as one progresses.

An Overview On Work Experience Versus Degree: Which Is Better?

The argument for Degree versus work experience varies. For some, attaining a degree simply proves that you can succeed in academia but not necessarily in the corporate world.

You may not know it but,  success in the corporate world tells potential employers more about all you have to offer.

While work experience can make you the ideal match for a specific job today, you may lack needed skills that are vital for career advancement tomorrow without a degree.

The fact is that a degree can show that you have the technical skills or knowledge that a potential employer seeks. And it can be transferred to the work environment with little on-the-job training.

For fresh graduates, your newly acquired Degree may likely serve as evidence that you have attained the skills needed for an entry-level position in your chosen field.

Potential employers are more likely to see you as an individual who can swiftly get up to speed and need little on-the-job training. Though this will cost them both money and time 

Understand that whichever work experience you have attained along the way will help you irrespective of whether it comes from an internship in your field or a random job to pay the bills.

On the other hand, if you acquired your Degree roughly fifteen or twenty years ago in a technological field, it is quite irrelevant now. This is because you will have to show prospective employers that you never stopped learning, kept up with trends in the industry, and even acquired new skills that the employer demands.

Note that furthering your education can help as taking part in relevant certificate programs can score some points.

Most people believe that more education leads to better jobs when they define having a better job in terms of the salary involved.

Bear in mind that acquiring a degree gives job applicants an edge in getting hired first of all, according to some surveys carried out. Nevertheless, there are trade-offs when it comes to acquiring a degree.

Asides from some universities, especially the private universities being expensive, the more years one spends in getting a degree, the fewer the years one has in the workforce earning cash.

 

Read Also: How to write fresh graduate Linked-In Headline and Profile

The Value Of Experience And Degree In Nigeria

There are lots of Nigerians with degrees in our country today, but they are unemployed at a very alarming rate.

Judging from the unemployment report released by the NBS, National Bureau of Statistics, unemployment among those with post-secondary school education has roughly tripled in the last three years.

This is from twelve percent in 2015 to thirty percent in 2018. The fact is that even the most qualified Nigerian workers are struggling with this unemployment issue. There are more than a thousand Ph.D. holders that barely have good jobs.

When you think that the national unemployment rate in Nigeria is at twenty-three percent, you will realize that the Nigerian with a degree is more likely to be unemployed than the average Nigerian.

In all honesty, the likelihood that you will have a job is reduced if you have finished from a university. The assurance of getting a job is no longer provided even if you have a degree.

This fact has many implications on the struggling parents who strive to see their children through school and students extending themselves to acquire a degree.

An aspect of the issue lies with the slow rate at which the Nigerian economy builds formal jobs. An example is that in 2015, roughly two hundred and fifty-one thousand formal jobs were created.

Meanwhile, prominent estimates revealed that Nigerian universities produce roughly five hundred thousand fresh graduates yearly.

Even though the Nigerian labor force increased by roughly four percent between 2010 and 2017, jobs grew at a rate of roughly 1.6percent within this time frame.

Note that, another reason why Nigeria has people with degrees yet no jobs available is that there is a mismatch between the skills workers have and the skills needed in the potential jobs available.

Most of the fresh graduates are not trained to suit employers’ demands. There is a poor alignment between what the labor market needs and the curriculum of the educational system.

There is a huge gap between theory and practice in universities, and so, it becomes tough to apply taught courses to the issues in the corporate world. An instance given is people graduating with a computer degree yet have never used a computer.

Even with the government’s interventions by creating programs like N-power and the private sector creating their programs, the livelihood of Nigerians with a degree is still threatened.

More so, skilled Nigerians have diverse jobs or even side hustles that help them maintain a proper standard of living. Though Nigerians have a flair for education, most have cited the lack of jobs as the reason for furthering their education.

Some employers in Nigeria have admitted that having a degree does not guarantee that an individual will be better at the job. Nonetheless, some companies will prefer that their potential staff have their degrees.

As for some organizations, being capable of proving that you can get a job without a degree is more than enough. There are even high-paying jobs and fast-growing careers that do not demand a degree.

These high-paying jobs include product management, computer programming, and some tech-related positions. Some other non-tech-related jobs that do not require a degree include virtual assistants, online advertising, social media roles, and payroll clerks.

Conclusion

The debate between a degree and experience when seeking jobs always ends up being inconclusive as they both go hand in hand. Some jobs do not require having a degree in our modern world, though some companies may allow you to acquire a degree while on the job.

Also, some potential employers do not require work experience before handing fresh graduates a job as they believe in the potential and carry out on-the-job training.

Some employers simply want individuals who can grow into and even beyond the job. They require people that can resolve issues for the organization and also bring value in the long run.

 

 

Conclusion

We have provided you with some of the businesses you can start as a fresh graduate. As a business-minded person, there are lots of room for you to experience your business ideas, however, it will take a unique person to be a successful entrepreneur. 

If you are looking for the ideal business to begin as a fresh graduate, you are reading the ideal article that will help your career.

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