Landing your first job as an undergraduate - These tips will help you

For some undergraduates, securing a job may be a top priority, especially if they need to support themselves financially or gain work experience in their field of interest. However, for others, finding a job may not be as urgent, and they may choose to focus on their studies or extracurricular activities instead. Regardless of where an undergraduate falls on this spectrum, they may eventually still have to find employment and these tips will come in handy.

Write a resume

Writing a resume as an undergraduate with little or no experience may come off as unnecessary but it is useful if you really want a job. Since this is the case, you should write your cv and include the following content:

• Education

• Skills

• Volunteer experience

• Extracurricular activities 

• Related coursework

Your education is likely your most significant qualification, so, go all out with it. Highlight your degree, course of study, and GPA (if it is encouraging). If you have done any project work, volunteered, or organized an event relative to your field, you can also feature them in your resume. Talk about your strengths, what you can do, and the knowledge you have. You can also list out your achievements if there are any. 

Attend Hackathons and coding competitions

If you're interested in a career in technology, attending hackathons and coding competitions can help you gain useful skills and experience. Look for competitions that are focused on the technologies and industries you're interested in. When you attend, participate actively, synergize, and if possible, build a project. These events provide you with a shot to work on real-world problems and develop solutions using technology.

Volunteer

Several people see "volunteering" as something that allows you to work for free; While it may seem absurd to work for free, offering to do it can be a way to gain apt knowledge and create a relationship with a potential employer. If you offer to work for a short period, such as a week or two, to reveal your skills and work ethic. This can lead to a paid job offer or a beneficial reference for future job opportunities. 

Create an online portfolio

"What can you do?" or "What have you done?" is a valid question you need to ask yourself when looking for a job. Employers want to give you a job but they are particular about what you can offer and the different projects you have tried your hands on. While you may not have any or enough working experience as an undergraduate, it can be impressive to know that you have utilized your skills, worked on some projects, and you have them in a file. If you have a link to where your projects are saved, plug them into every one of your social media bio; you never can tell who would find you for a job opportunity.

Establish contacts 

While you are looking to get hired as an undergraduate, remember that it is important to show genuine interest in other people's experiences and perspectives. This can only happen when you build relationships, connections and meet with new people. One of the tools that work perfectly for making connections is "social media '', where you get to see people talk about job openings randomly, and several people who have grabbed the chance have been hired.

Check through your other social media timelines and connect with the right people who can provide you with what you are looking for. 

Also, If you know someone who works in your desired industry or for a company you're interested in, ask for an introduction. They may be able to connect you with someone who can help you get a job.

Show up at events/workshops

Workshops, seminars, and conferences are usually planned to offer attendees a chance to learn about new trends, techniques, and technologies in their field. Many workshops, seminars, and meetings take place in Lagos regularly, wrapping a wide range of topics and industries. Some of the popular events in Lagos include the Lagos International Trade Fair, the Social Media Week Lagos, the Lagos Startup Week, the Lagos Fashion Week, and the Lagos Digital Summit, among others. During events like these, there is an opportunity to meet with people who can have something to offer you and this can only happen when you make yourself available.  

While it looks like you don't have to do too much to get a job as an undergraduate, you still have to put in some work. Actively seek out opportunities, tune your application materials to fit the job requirements, and do not forget that it is important to always have "something to offer." A proactive approach to securing a job is what gets you the job; every effort you make surely counts and leads you one step towards your new job.