Imagine this scenario. Why should we employ you?, asks the hiring manager. Mmm…because I have degree, you say. Others have the same degrees too, isn’t it?, the interviewer retorts. She adds: you haven’t given me a reason to hire you over others! Having a degree and being employable are not the same.
If you think I’m going to suggest that you should prepare well for the job interview, please think again. You need to prepare for the job, not for the job interview. If you graduated today, could you offer value from Day One? If the answer is not an emphatic yes, you need to start preparing now!
Here is how you prepare. Start by asking yourself the following.
How do I stand out? What have I created so far in addition to my academic learning? What do I have to show for it? Designs? Blogs? Data? Code? A track record? How do I demonstrate the progress I have made over the years? Why do I want that specific job?
Employability is not a one-time goal — it’s a mindset you build, step by step. Your future employers are not looking for perfect students — they’re looking for self-learners who take initiative to do things and contribute from Day One. Test-taking expertise is not a skill!
