I’ve seen over a hundred photos of excited graduates wearing gowns littered all over social media.
Haven’t you?
I guess you have.
Or are you one of those graduates?
If yes, then I have two messages for you.
The first message is a happy one—Congratulations! Graduating from the university after years of endless assignments and difficult exams is a huge accomplishment.
Give yourself a pat on the back. You have done a good job.
My second message is somehow disturbing. Throw away that degree; otherwise, you will die poor.
“Are you really serious Bishop Nyams?”
Yes.
If you want to progress outside campus, throw it away.
“But I have a rich uncle who has promised me a job?”
Oh. That’s really nice. A job is a good thing.
But do you know that most educated people in third-world countries are struggling financially?
You can’t believe it.
Here in Kenya, the majority of the educated elites earn a salary of less than Ksh 40,000 per month. That’s gross salary—salary before tax and other deductions.
The biggest excuse for working for such unsustainable wages is the DEGREE they have.
They must wake up early to beat traffic jams to get to the workplace on time.
They have no option. They are tied by their degrees.
Another reason I advise you to throw away your degree is this. You will start thinking better than someone without a degree.
Look here.
1. A degree holder knows that the only way to earn money is by getting employed—working for someone. That’s why immediately after graduation, you will find yourself sending endless applications for any job advert you come across.
2. A degree holder can do anything to get a job. For instance, according to the Center for Work-Life Policy research, around 15% of women have slept with their bosses to get a job. https://www.businessinsider.com/sex-is-killing-the-workplace-2010-8?r=US&IR=T . Some pay up to 500k to get a government job but will not think of using the money to start a business of their own to employ others.
3. A degree holder is not prepared to work for Embasava as a driver earning Ksh 2000 per day but is very happy to work for Toyota Kenya as a clerk earning Ksh 30 000 per month.
4. A degree holder is not prepared to make Ksh60,000 monthly doing his own business but is very happy to work as a teller in a bank getting paid Ksh30,000 per month.
5. A degree holder can bribe more than 100k to get a job at Safaricom as a customer support agent but will not think of using the money to start an Mpesa agent shop by the roadside.
6. A degree holder would rather sweep the streets of Miami, Florida, than start a business here in Kenya.
See?
You will die poor because you will pride yourself in a degree and fail to think well than those who don’t have even a birth certificate to their names.
No job after graduation? How to manage your anxiety and keep going
Remember that you are not the only one going through a tough time.
Job search is always tough and draining. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are the only one struggling to find one.
And don’t scroll down your Facebook timeline to see what your former classmates have posted.
You won’t see a post saying, “look here, my schoolmates. I’m still tarmacking. I’m really anxious.”
I will show you some advice that can help you manage your anxiety and keep going.
1. Don’t go back to your rural home after graduation
It is a bad idea if you plan to stay there forever. Of course, if you are returning home after graduation, you can be comfortable and supported emotionally.
But there are harsh realities of moving back home after graduation.
Your people at home and even your surrounding will put pressure on you. They won’t tell you, “Hey, what have you come to do here.”
You will start feeling it.
Just stay or move to the city because there are several opportunities in urban cities compared to rural setups.
2. Take a break and be kind to yourself
If you are desperate for a job, don’t start sending application letters and CVs to prospective employers immediately after graduation.
While it’s okay to apply for jobs immediately after graduation, several unanswered applications after a few months of graduation might push you into depression.
Consider a short trip with some of your friends.
Traveling for a year after graduation won’t just give you a taste of the real world. But it will help you unwind and celebrate your accomplishment before searching for a job.
3. Set attainable goals
Don’t make searching for a job your full-time job. You will pressure yourself. Take 2 to 3 hours a day sending your job applications, and don’t do it every day.
You will find yourself sending applications for the same job adverts you had encountered before, and you will burn out.
Just take breaks to enjoy your free time while reminding yourself that unemployment is temporary.
Did you throw away your degree? What do you do? Do you earn six figures?
I think this is what brought you here.
To confirm whether it’s true I threw away my degree and, most importantly, to know how much I make and how I make my money.
Let me be honest with you.
I didn’t throw my degree away. I put it somewhere in a safe deposit box where I store my other important documents immediately after graduation a decade ago.
I started looking for money (instead of a job) immediately after graduation.
I am a full-time copywriter, blogger, trainer, mentor, and digital entrepreneur.
I help people make a full-time income working online from the comfort of their homes.
Honestly, I haven’t been lucky to make millions from online hustles.
But I hope to join the likes of Neil Patel and Jon Morrow in the top 10 richest internet billionaires list.
Amen
