I was thinking of adding this as a comment, but I think it will be more appropriate to msg you, if you feel like it you can post this, or ignore this if you do not want this on your wall.
Many people these days are concerned with earning enough to get by. One of the most used words is "investment". There are some who say that they will invest money for you, others say that they will tell you how to invest money. The end result that they give is you getting a financial gain. I, too, would like to ask you to make an investment. However the investment I am asking you to make requires time, money and dedication. I would like you to invest in yourself BEFORE looking for a job.
Let me explain. The majority of people who are looking for a job these days are young and educated. However they lack specific niche based tutoring. For example, a person who has done Masters in computer science would like a job. Now this person knows a lot about computers, and has an idea about programming. But he was taught a lot of different things while in university, and his teaching was not focused on one thing. So he will try to get his hands on every little job that is out there. This is the worst thing that you can do with yourself.
If you are a literate person, who has a degree, even if you are bachelor. And you are looking for a job, NEVER rush into things. Rather invest in yourself. Let us continue with the example of a person who has a degree in CS. He will try to find a job in web designing, he will try to find a job in app designing, he will try to find a job in back end development, front end development, hell he will develop wordpress themes if he is given the opportunity.
However, he would not be doing what he likes. He will be stuck in a job that he does not like. So how does one remedy this? the only solution is to invest some time and money in getting yourself ready for the job. The steps are quote simple.
1) Identify what you like doing. This is also called "identifying your niche". This is crucial. If you are doing what you like/love you will do it better, you will have less stress. Even if the workload is monumental, you will not be stressed. Ever wonder why the people like Bill gates and MArk Zuckerberg are always looking happy? While a person doing 7 hour shift in a software house is deadbate by the time he gets home? THESE guys actually LOVE what they do. You never get tired watching a good movie, so for these guys thier work is like a movie. So identify that one thing that you like doing, that which is like a movie to you, It can be anything. NEVER by shy and NEVEr tell yourself that what you like doing "Does not matter". In my example the person may like designing websites, or perhaps he like to make apps.
2) Identify the best possible way to become an expert in what you do. Now if you are making apps, one of the best ways to do so is by using a language called Javascript. So in order to be an expert in App design you must be an expert in Java script. There are many ways to learn Java script, but if you are holding a degree, then teach yourself. Use the internet. Getting spoonfed information in a classroom is for underage newbies. After graduation, teach yourself. It exposes you to real situations that you will face when you are working. Use the internet, especially if you are going to learn about anything connected to computers or tech. In my example the person trying to learn Javascript will most probably frequent websites such as stackoverflow and github. When you learn online, you must make sure that you become part of a number of communities. Online forums exist to make collaboration easier. So learn through them and with them.
3) Make the best effort. Yes the "best" effort, not the hardest effort. The best effort is when you get from point A to point B with the least amount of energy. your goal is to learn something, so make sure you are not wasting time and energy. There can be a lot of distractions. For example
a) You spend your time online watching stuff on youtube etc. This is your life you are watching going to waste. Every single minute you are online, must be spent getting ahead.
b) Do not spend more than TWO and Half hours online or studying. Divide your study into five parts. Pick a topic, study it for 30 minutes. TAKE a 5 minute break. Study for 30 more minutes. Do it four times then rest. Think about what you learned.
c) Do not lose yourself in the online world. Meet other people, real people, the best way is to just go for a bunch of interviews. Many young people who are looking for jobs, especially IT jobs complete thier university education and are thrust into offices. Some of them, who are quite brilliant in what they do, lack people skills. The reason is that while in university, they hung out with friends, then they went straight to jobs. Hanging out does not develop people skills. When you are working in an office, you need to know your limits and your position.
d)Last but not the Least, rather the most important. Never get your expectations high. People will feed you crap about "aim high". Not a single person in the world who succeeded ever "aimed high". Google were ready to sell to Amazon for a mere million dollars. Facebook was never designed to be the behemoth it is now. However LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN expectations and real life risk/reward trade off. Expectation is when you start work and you think "Ok, I am going to earn $50", the risk/reward trade off is that when you have actually worked 8 hours and created something, you value your product at $50 because you know its market value. So ALWAYS value products, NEVER value efforts.
4) The last step in investing in yourself is to create your image. These days many people will rush into applications and job seeking without realizing that a polished images goes a long way. Take for example a comparison of two people with same qualifications. On one CV it says Maters in this and that, and project was this and that. Then no more. On the other CV it says education is XYZ, final project was XYZ and then there are like 10 different real life projects that this guy has done in the past 6-9 months. Who do you think is going to get hired? I would personally hire the guy with the ton of projects to be honest. Even if his marks are not that good. So POLISH your image. It is very easy to do so btw. Go to various charities and offer to do free projects. Whatever niche you like and are studying in, there will be work available. In my example of a tech guy, he can work for a charity to create a simple funding app. You tap what you want to pay the charity and your payment goes to thier micro finance account. It is freakingly easy to make, but it gets your CV beefed up. Apart from charities you can head over to freelance websites and create your account. Put in all of your details and do one project per month. It gives a potential employer peace of mind that this guy knows what hes doing. Polishing your image also includes polishing your physical image. These days people who self teach or stay at home to work get obese, and develop slovenly habits. Believe me when I say this, everyone is turned off by unhealthy people. If two guys of same qualifications come to get a job, the healthy and fit one is sure to get the job. So keep fit, do not overdose on junk food and make sure you are fit. (A bit of personal advice is to get a couple of suits tailored for you. Do not buy off the shelf. A well tailored suit exudes an air of competence.)
So there you have it friends. My humble advice. When you are done with your education, dont rush into it, spend some time investing in yourself. The payback will be monumental in the long run.
Saeed Ur Rehman
I was thinking of adding this as a comment, but I think it will be more appropriate to msg you, if you feel like it you can post this, or ignore this if you do not want this on your wall.
Many people these days are concerned with earning enough to get by. One of the most used words is "investment". There are some who say that they will invest money for you, others say that they will tell you how to invest money. The end result that they give is you getting a financial gain. I, too, would like to ask you to make an investment. However the investment I am asking you to make requires time, money and dedication. I would like you to invest in yourself BEFORE looking for a job.
Let me explain. The majority of people who are looking for a job these days are young and educated. However they lack specific niche based tutoring. For example, a person who has done Masters in computer science would like a job. Now this person knows a lot about computers, and has an idea about programming. But he was taught a lot of different things while in university, and his teaching was not focused on one thing. So he will try to get his hands on every little job that is out there. This is the worst thing that you can do with yourself.
If you are a literate person, who has a degree, even if you are bachelor. And you are looking for a job, NEVER rush into things. Rather invest in yourself. Let us continue with the example of a person who has a degree in CS. He will try to find a job in web designing, he will try to find a job in app designing, he will try to find a job in back end development, front end development, hell he will develop wordpress themes if he is given the opportunity.
However, he would not be doing what he likes. He will be stuck in a job that he does not like. So how does one remedy this? the only solution is to invest some time and money in getting yourself ready for the job. The steps are quote simple.
1) Identify what you like doing. This is also called "identifying your niche". This is crucial. If you are doing what you like/love you will do it better, you will have less stress. Even if the workload is monumental, you will not be stressed. Ever wonder why the people like Bill gates and MArk Zuckerberg are always looking happy? While a person doing 7 hour shift in a software house is deadbate by the time he gets home? THESE guys actually LOVE what they do. You never get tired watching a good movie, so for these guys thier work is like a movie. So identify that one thing that you like doing, that which is like a movie to you, It can be anything. NEVER by shy and NEVEr tell yourself that what you like doing "Does not matter". In my example the person may like designing websites, or perhaps he like to make apps.
2) Identify the best possible way to become an expert in what you do. Now if you are making apps, one of the best ways to do so is by using a language called Javascript. So in order to be an expert in App design you must be an expert in Java script. There are many ways to learn Java script, but if you are holding a degree, then teach yourself. Use the internet. Getting spoonfed information in a classroom is for underage newbies. After graduation, teach yourself. It exposes you to real situations that you will face when you are working. Use the internet, especially if you are going to learn about anything connected to computers or tech. In my example the person trying to learn Javascript will most probably frequent websites such as stackoverflow and github. When you learn online, you must make sure that you become part of a number of communities. Online forums exist to make collaboration easier. So learn through them and with them.
3) Make the best effort. Yes the "best" effort, not the hardest effort. The best effort is when you get from point A to point B with the least amount of energy. your goal is to learn something, so make sure you are not wasting time and energy. There can be a lot of distractions. For example
a) You spend your time online watching stuff on youtube etc. This is your life you are watching going to waste. Every single minute you are online, must be spent getting ahead.
b) Do not spend more than TWO and Half hours online or studying. Divide your study into five parts. Pick a topic, study it for 30 minutes. TAKE a 5 minute break. Study for 30 more minutes. Do it four times then rest. Think about what you learned.
c) Do not lose yourself in the online world. Meet other people, real people, the best way is to just go for a bunch of interviews. Many young people who are looking for jobs, especially IT jobs complete thier university education and are thrust into offices. Some of them, who are quite brilliant in what they do, lack people skills. The reason is that while in university, they hung out with friends, then they went straight to jobs. Hanging out does not develop people skills. When you are working in an office, you need to know your limits and your position.
d)Last but not the Least, rather the most important. Never get your expectations high. People will feed you crap about "aim high". Not a single person in the world who succeeded ever "aimed high". Google were ready to sell to Amazon for a mere million dollars. Facebook was never designed to be the behemoth it is now. However LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN expectations and real life risk/reward trade off. Expectation is when you start work and you think "Ok, I am going to earn $50", the risk/reward trade off is that when you have actually worked 8 hours and created something, you value your product at $50 because you know its market value. So ALWAYS value products, NEVER value efforts.
4) The last step in investing in yourself is to create your image. These days many people will rush into applications and job seeking without realizing that a polished images goes a long way. Take for example a comparison of two people with same qualifications. On one CV it says Maters in this and that, and project was this and that. Then no more. On the other CV it says education is XYZ, final project was XYZ and then there are like 10 different real life projects that this guy has done in the past 6-9 months. Who do you think is going to get hired? I would personally hire the guy with the ton of projects to be honest. Even if his marks are not that good. So POLISH your image. It is very easy to do so btw. Go to various charities and offer to do free projects. Whatever niche you like and are studying in, there will be work available. In my example of a tech guy, he can work for a charity to create a simple funding app. You tap what you want to pay the charity and your payment goes to thier micro finance account. It is freakingly easy to make, but it gets your CV beefed up. Apart from charities you can head over to freelance websites and create your account. Put in all of your details and do one project per month. It gives a potential employer peace of mind that this guy knows what he's doing. Polishing your image also includes polishing your physical image. These days people who self teach or stay at home to work get obese, and develop slovenly habits. Believe me when I say this, everyone is turned off by unhealthy people. If two guys of same qualifications come to get a job, the healthy and fit one is sure to get the job. So keep fit, do not overdose on junk food and make sure you are fit. (A bit of personal advice is to get a couple of suits tailored for you. Do not buy off the shelf. A well tailored suit exudes an air of competence.)
So there you have it friends. My humble advice. When you are done with your education, don't rush into it, spend some time investing in yourself. The payback will be monumental in the long run.
Saeed Ur Rehman
