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There are two most challenging aspects when you sit down to write a cover letter.

One, you have to polish up your writing skills and be a convincing storyteller even if it doesn’t come naturally to you. Two, you have to self-promote during your application, and that task can easily feel uncomfortable.

However, the experience of writing about you shouldn’t necessarily be painful to bear!

That’s why we’ve written this article to help you!

And to that end, we’ve included an easy-to-follow example to guide your writing. Download Austin Belcak’s cover letter example here on Google Drive. (To save the document, make a copy of it to make it editable.)

Writing a cover letter is an excellent opportunity to learn about what makes you stand out among other professionals.

So, what is a cover letter and why does it matter?

The cover letter is a one-page document to introduce yourself in a memorable, personal way during a job application process.

A well-written cover letter goes over information on your resume and expands this information for the reader, taking them on a guided journey of some of your greatest career and life achievements. Its purpose is to elaborate on the information contained in your resume while infusing your personality.

And unlike a resume, a cover letter lets you introduce yourself to the hiring manager, provide context for your achievements and qualifications, and explain your motivation for joining the company.

The question stands: how do you pique the interest of your future employer and hiring manager by showing your authentic self?

What structure can I use to put together my letter?

You don’t need to be overly creative with the document, or even have writing skills that challenge Maya Angelous’.

Instead, you can follow a tried-and-true format:

• In the header, include your contact information. Include links in the details so that it’s easier to get in touch with you. 
• Greet the recruiter/hiring manager and be personal in your tone.
• In the opening paragraph, grab the reader’s attention by sharing your proudest achievements.
• In the second paragraph, discuss why you’re the perfect person for the job.
• In the third paragraph, discuss why you’re a good match for the company. This means you need to research the culture of the business and identify ways you can connect it with your personal/professional values.
• Close off with a formal and courteous tone.

Before we get to the elements that make up the cover letter, let’s highlight the most prevalent mistakes to avoid:

The five most common mistakes to avoid in your letter

1.      Using more than one page

2.      Grammatical errors and typos

3.      Not addressing your cover letter to an actual person

4.      Repeating the same information found on your CV document

5.      Hiding your personality in favour of sounding “professional” (hint: don’t sound like a robot)

Now, here are ways to structure your letter:

Address the hiring manager by their name

An advantage when you submit a cover letter is the opportunity to further create a strong, more personal, connection with your recipient.

To achieve this, make sure to speak directly to a person, instead of writing “To Whom it May Concern”.

That might give off the impression that you didn’t do your research to learn about the person who’ll be processing your application.

Discuss reasons you want to work in the company and why you’re qualified for the job

In this case, it’s important to bring attention to your unique selling points (USP).

Be positive about what you have to offer and define how your skills and professional experience meet the requirements in the job description. Demonstrate why you’re the perfect candidate!

Although, self-promotion can be a tricky task. But when you approach it through the lens of highlighting why you are the perfect fit for the company you’re applying in, it becomes a little bit easier to pull off.

Connect your work experience to the company’s business needs

You need to rewrite the cover letter every time you apply for different vacancies.

Submitting generic letters for all your applications can lead recruiters to identify your lack of sincere effort in the application process.

How to sign off the letter

Finally, here are the elements of a good cover letter closing.

Summarise your strengths:

When you showcase your talents, don’t use phrases that recruiters have read many times before. Throw in unique phrases to succinctly make your case close.

Show confidence:

A cover letter closing such as, “I look forward to hearing from you,” will not move a recruiter to dial your number. Rather, you might write, “I look forward to speaking with you about how I can put my skills to work for [Name of Business].” 

Always express gratitude for other people’s time:

Thank the recruiter for considering your application. Avoid over-used phrases such as, “Yours,” “Cheers” or “Take care.” Don’t be afraid to infuse your personality into the words that you send out.

Be sure to keep your cover letter to one page and indicate any email attachments, as well as enclosures or documents the hiring manager may expect to receive related to your application.

Skills-based hiring is becoming more on the rise because employees want to see more than just your qualifications. In other words, employers are increasingly seeking to appoint candidates who don’t only possess technical qualifications but can adapt to company culture and success. With the job market getting more competitive, it is important that job seekers present potential employers with a holistic package that sets them apart from their peers.

Surprisingly, soft skills are often lacking, not much coaching is offered outside of curricula. Having skills that are outside the classroom is becoming more and more of a requirement for employees.

What are soft skills?

“Think of soft skills as your personal skills — things you do that make you a great employee outside of the technical skills that are needed for the job. They may come naturally to you, or perhaps you’ve added some classes to your list to augment these abilities”. While soft skills sometimes get practiced through group work, assignment deadlines and class interactions, shortfalls made in these areas by the students are not highlighted. As a result, students are not given guidance on how to improve these skills and apply them in different scenarios.

While students who are pursuing a college degree have a big advantage, it’s not enough. They have the ability to learn, which is a skill that employers desire. But learning in the classroom and excelling in the workplace are two different things.

To get ahead of the game, here are a few pointers graduate students should focus on developing outside of the classroom through part-time or vac work while earning their qualifications.

• Read and stay informed on world trends – Example: the impact Bitcoin will have on business operations and on your career.
• Awareness – You need to try and be socially, economically and politically aware of the development of your surroundings.
• Communication – This is a broad skill but it can vary from how you converse with colleagues and team members to how you get your point across in an email). Now that most communication is done via chats, and emails, it is imperative that you learn to interact in a team and communicate.
• Business acumen – This is the ability to understand business issues. This could include both general and organization-specific knowledge about business. This is an attractive trait particularly if you pursue a more corporate career route.
• Data Analytics – Employees in Technology may be most familiar with data analytics, however, it is becoming more important for general employees to be able to look at basic data and be able to translate that information into easy language. This will help you make strategic and educated decisions.

When you’re able to invest in skills outside of your classroom/workplace, you’re able to contribute to strengthening your personal brand.

Personal branding

The biggest advantage of building a personal brand is that you become a subject matter expert, gain more career opportunities, and may also grow in your community of followers. 

Notably, focusing on building your brand doesn’t mean that you’re on a hunt for a new job. You’re actually to use and transfer insight from your personal brand to investing in the company that you work for.

Useful questions to ask to begin mapping out a personal brand:

1. What skills am I good at?
2. How does my work differ from other professionals?
3. How does my work add value to business operations?

If you are an employee with a strong personal brand that can also establish themselves as a subject matter expert and thought leader, in turn, this lends your organization more authority and credibility. A win-win situation. This is why it is essential to understand that building your personal brand helps you expand your networks, providing you with new opportunities, helping you to keep up with industry trends, developing new skills, and more.

The concept of creating a visual image map in your mind’s eye toward achieving your goals is nothing necessarily new—ever heard of the quote “what the mind can conceive, it can achieve”. This speaks to the fact that if you can visualize achieving your goal and the steps to get there, you can bring it into reality. You need to work towards clearly understanding your career plan and the possible outcomes of the work you’re putting in, otherwise you may find yourself in situations where you attain your goals but do not understand the “why” behind the goal.

When structuring your career path, visualizing the future that you want is critical. Creating a vision of your future role, environment, and lifestyle will set you on the right path to making the right decisions.

What is visualization?

• Visualization is the process of creating a mental image of a goal you would like to achieve in the future. You use your thoughts to imagine a certain outcome, and what you will do to get it.
• Where do you see yourself within a decade? What type of job do you do? In which environment? What level of influence do you have? Do you have an impact positively on other people?
• Most importantly, ask yourself “why”. You need to know the reasons behind it.

Be detailed about your career path

Visualizing your career requires you to create a very detailed and specific image of your future. Additionally, to envision your future career, you need to outline the contents of your future lifestyle.

You create a life goal plan by answering these two questions for your life:

1. What do you want to start doing?
2. What do you want to stop doing?

How to visualize the end goal of your career

1. Create a mental image

Visualize how you see yourself in extreme detail. Be so detailed that you can even include the environment of your office, the kind atmosphere, the mission and vision of the company, is it in the public or private sector? Is it a multinational corporation or a local NGO?

2. Set pragmatic goals and take actions

• You need to ask yourself what needs to happen for your goals to become a reality and thereafter, visualize the small steps you need to take to get there. In other words, break down your bigger picture into bite-size chunks. Experts on visualizing your dreams have even said that every day, you need to do something that brings you closer to your dream. Therefore, daily focus and execute on the methods to help you reach your outcomes.
• Regardless of how large or successful the actions that you take care of in the long run, by taking action, you’re proving to your subconscious mind that you’re moving in the direction of your goals, which makes achieving them seem less far-fetched.

3. Celebrate small wins

Further than that, whenever you make a milestone, motivate yourself by celebrating those wins. Have you finally completed an application? Celebrate. Got a promotion at work? Celebrate.

4. Be open to redirection

The key to reaching career goals is always being open to life’s pleasant surprises. Life has a way of surprising us and our careers are no exception, so I encourage you to have confidence in yourself and your ability to reach your career goals while maintaining an open mind about what the journey may be like in your pursuit.

The more we routinely get specific about our goals and become detailed about our ambitions, the more we’re able to trick our brains and allow ourselves to believe that our goals are attainable. As a result, we become more tenacious in our efforts to achieve our dreams.

In a saturated and competitive job market, nothing is more significant than turning towards unconventional methods to attract career opportunities.

The competition for top honours also applies inside the school environment. For example: submitting a bursary application also demands creative thinking and the ability to highlight yourself as the perfect candidate.

This requires a strong understanding of your character traits, life story, knowledge acquired and skill set. This combination will allow you to begin building a strong personal brand.

Below are a few methods that can help you along — both in the classroom and the boardroom.

Learn and work well individually

In a business environment that values independence, it’s useful to teach yourself to learn and work well on your own.

Be a self-starter.

This one habit will expand the value of your contributions to any project.

Of course, it’s also important to balance the scales by also learning to work efficiently within a group setting. To achieve any success in the workplace, it’s critical to be a strong communicator and coordinate projects with other people to achieve a common goal.

It’s all about pulling from opposite directions.

Build relationships with recruiters and potential colleagues before you even need them

One of the most underrated skills in business is building genuine human relationships.

Especially when you do it with the intent to bring commercial value to another person.

For example: before you even graduate and enter the job market, it’s useful to create connections with people who work in your field of study.

E-mail and social media platforms make this activity easier to pull off. One way of doing this is leaving positive and thoughtful comments on other people’s social media posts.

Build rapport with people and make it a daily habit.

Use LinkedIn and DM’s to amplify your job search

Make it easier for future colleagues to find and connect with you.

One fundamental step to take is to use LinkedIn more. The platform is well designed for a person who wants to refine their content creation and networking skills to advance their career.

A key realisation, though, is that it’s the same as any other social media platform – only business-focused. But don’t be intimidated by those dynamics. Instead, use it to share with your network the concepts and ideas you picked up at school.

Write about your life stories and tie them to professional insight.

The trick is to go beyond the job boards and focus groups. The unconventional, used well, can bring you great results for your career:

• Write blog articles that cover topics in your field of study.
• Send updates on LinkedIn with the link to the articles.
• This habit alone will support your ideation, writing and critical thinking skills.
• It will also boost your confidence because publishing ideas in public takes willpower.

And if your targeted people are active on social media, it’s also a good opportunity to send Direct Messages to initiate those conversations with them.

Rely on research

Develop a habit of being curious about people and working systems.

This makes it far easier to collect information from company websites, media releases, and employee-generated content and follow different people in the companies you want to work with.

Read job boards, reviews and other pieces of news about the companies you want to work with. Deep knowledge about their business operations will work in your favour when you get invited for interviews.

Ask interesting questions

It’s crucial to show up in interviews, emails or DMs with intelligent questions.

Discovery is a key activity for different types of managers. This includes finding new challenges in the market. Great managers are curious people, always probing and driven by data to solve commercial problems.

Asking thoughtful questions is a chance to showcase your problem-solving skills.

Indeed, if you work to understand a business, you’ll inevitably come up with questions about what you’ve learned or did not understand. 

Promote your skills and thought process using side projects

It is fairly easy to assume that marketing and self-promotion during a job search (or any other period in your career) can come off as arrogant. Don’t fall for that trap!

Sharing information about your work is as important as the work itself.

When you don’t market yourself, people will never learn about your work, skill set and achievements.

And in the professional world, promoting yourself well is one of the trademarks of a valuable team member in any business.

During the search for a job and other career growth opportunities, it’s important to dig beneath the surface.

Especially when the rate of unemployment continues to rise. Plus, not all career opportunities are announced on public platforms. Employers may offer certain jobs to internal employees or hire independent recruiters to source outside candidates. 

To even begin converting your qualification into work opportunities, the first step is turning towards unconventional methods.

Learning to identify off-the-beaten-path career opportunities can be a lifelong game changer.

In this article, we unpack five strategies to start off with:

Join professional groups

You can draw out potential opportunities through alumni associations.

Fellow alumni might provide information on job openings that are not publicly listed. You can also join professional societies focused on your profession or field of study. Businesses in the industry are likely to reach out to these associations before announcing vacancies on any other platform. 

These professional bodies offer events that can help grow your network with industry colleagues or alumni who work at your favourite companies. In turn, the same connections can give advice on what you’re searching for and potentially connect you to hidden opportunities.

Contact employers directly

Instead of waiting for job openings to surface, you can show initiative by starting conversations. 

You can also use existing relationships to find relevant hiring managers and how you may contact them. 

To establish contact, you can send a prospective email or make a cold call.

When (cold) contacting a HR manager or recruiter, introduce yourself and showcase the skills, experiences and achievements that make you a perfect fit for their business. 

To pull this off well, dive into research on the company. Find out ways you can align your skill set with the company’s mission, values and operations. 

Pursue volunteer work opportunities

Another tack is finding volunteering opportunities related to your professional or personal interests. 

Finding volunteer opportunities connected to your passion can also be an efficient networking strategy. Uncovering such opportunities at organizations you want to work with can help inspire internal connections.

In turn, volunteer work can also help showcase a different side of your skills. It can also prove the inherent value you might bring on as a full-time employee.

As you nurture the relationships, you can easily show interest in new jobs and learn when there are vacancies that suit your skills. 

That’s why having warm introductions and referrals from internal employees can vastly differentiate your application from other candidates.

Use your degree and leverage your transferable skills to break into other careers

Transferable skills are ‘soft’ skills that are relevant and helpful across different areas of business. 

When making career changes, transferable skills can be used to position your previous work experience for the job you’re competing for.

No matter the job or industry you find your skill set in, transferrable skills can apply.

Transferable skills examples:

• Written & Verbal Communication 
• Public speaking
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Team building, delegation and conflict resolution 
• Project management
• Collaboration  
• Creativity
• Analytical thinking  

Learn the art of the pitch

Research; identify projects and corporate initiatives that your skills can improve for your prospects.

In an academic environment, it’s imperative to work well independently and also collaborate seamlessly with other people. That’s the first step.

The second most important quality in a strong skill set is identifying tacit work opportunities and clearly communicating how you can create economic value for your colleagues.

To that end, here’s a five-step process to land more job interviews:

1. Identify your favourite businesses
2. Chat to employees at those companies
3. Find out what problems they need solved
4. Brainstorm ideas for those problems and share them with the relevant department heads (use this add-value-first tactic as a conversation starter)
5. Rinse and repeat this process over time

Proving your economic value upfront (either through creating content, sending well researched networking emails, etc.) makes getting internal recommendations easier from your network.

It is an open secret that we cannot control other people’s behaviour. Nor can we influence all the outcomes of the outside world.

As a result, this means that our lives might turn out in unexpected ways. And it is okay if that happens. However, there is one thing that nothing and no person can take away from us: the ability to choose how we can perceive and respond to the situations that happen in our lives.

At the heart of our freedom also exists the power to direct positive change.

That’s why it’s important to protect any kind of personal freedom by making accountability a top priority.

Here’s how taking responsibility can look like, in a nutshell:

• Be self-reliant.
• Acknowledge your mistakes.
• Make time to self-reflect.
• Keep the promises you make to other people.
• Lead with empathy. Propose solutions that benefit other people.
• Never look for people to blame when things go unfavourably. 
• Be honest with yourself first, and living truthfully with others will follow.

The socio-economic challenges that have challenged South Africa (more so after the coronavirus epidemic’s initial spread in 2020) have been difficult to bear.

Businesses have had to close their doors. Employees from a variety of industries have been laid off. The high rate of unemployment is slowly becoming a long-standing national toothache. And the increase in the petrol price within a timeframe of three years (from 2019) has placed further pressure on the economy.

In yesteryear, the plight of the youth of 1976 was largely a political one. People lived within oppressive government systems. For example, Bantu Education forced the use of Afrikaans as lingua franca at all school levels, for all subjects. It was a system designed to segregate, maintain inequality and stifle large groups of people, especially people of colour.

Perhaps, the above-mentioned challenges might be an opportunity to take personal and collective responsibility that will help create the necessary solutions. 

It’s important that in the midst of challenges, we are able to direct attention toward the advantages that we do have. 

For this article, we have broken up the ways in which we can take accountability in our lives into three segments.

Let’s go through each one:

1. PERSONAL

Beware of running towards excuses when life goes wrong

A common tell-tale sign of an irresponsible person is that they focus their minds on finding excuses to defend themselves. 

It’s important to continuously self-check. To look at your life and your behaviour with fair eyes and see the truth. And when you find that truth, say it out loud – even if it goes against you. 

Taking accountability is an act of courage and growth. When you openly admit your mistakes, you become free from the habit of making excuses.

Dedicate time for self-reflection

The first step to taking responsibility for your thoughts and actions is becoming more self-aware.

When you analyse your behaviour, it allows you to develop a strong sense of self. You gain balance because you can stop yourself from falling into bad habits. With a clear understanding of your thoughts and actions, you’ll better understand the behavioural patterns that lie behind your actions. 

One way to build a space for self-reflection is to keep a journal. Write about your daily experiences, thoughts and ideas. 

A consistent writing habit will allow you deep insight into yourself. The more you write, the more you will have information to refer back to. Self-reflection offers you an opportunity to study your own habits and take note of the recurring patterns.

2. PROFESSIONAL

Be proactive and offer solutions to collective challenges

For example, when a classmate is struggling to understand and ace a few of the modules you’re studying, take time to offer them assistance.

Being proactive is an advantageous habit. With consistent practice, it allows you to easily connect the dots between ideas, people and information. 

However, in being accountable, you can a more proactive approach by correcting poor behaviour and making better decisions.

Armed with an accountability mindset, you can easily choose to take actions that correct poor behaviour and help you and other people make better decisions.

Openly admit your faults

When things go wrong, lean towards taking your fair share of criticism.

It’s better when the hard-to-swallow truths come from your own reflection. And even when someone else points out your flaws, you’d have built a patient ear to find something to learn from feedback instead of turning to defensive mode.  

Here’s another hack: Practice empathy. 

Oftentimes, our mistakes might affect a larger number of people, other than the ones in our immediate circle. In a professional environment, where people work within teams, it’s important to recognize the amount of pain and inconvenience our actions cause. 

3. POLITICAL

On the political and student leadership front, it’s always a wise choice to sharpen your governance skills.

For instance, the ability to build healthy relationships and lead groups of people are lifelong skills that will serve you well at school and in the workplace.

Many concepts that are associated with the word political are instantly treated with suspicion. However, when used wisely, the decision to develop your political awareness can be the start of positive change in your life.

Political skills can be defined as the competence that helps people build valuable social networks, lobby and influence others, demonstrate great social etiquette, pay attention to detail and be sincere in dealings with other people.

If there’s anything we can take away, let it be this idea: when we avoid blame and never acknowledge our mistakes, we miss out on countless opportunities to grow.

As we all know Youth Day commemorates the 1976 Soweto youth uprising. Young people that work hard to be independent of the oppressive Bantu Education and unequal education. While we honour and commemorate the youth of 1976 that contributed to the struggle for the liberation of South Africa, introspectively, what does that liberation and independence mean for the youth of 2022? How do we pursue opportunities and a livelihood that takes advantage of independence?

As a result of our freedom and opportunities, our goals and thought process do not have to be dependent on others, there are some ways to become more self-reliant. While it may be easy to depend on others for their opinions and help, it can become unhealthy if it causes you to lose sight of your individuality and being self-motivated. However, it’s important to note that it’s never a bad idea to ask for help as long as we’re not solely dependent on friends and family.

 Being a self-reliant young person can be scary but it’s completely worth it. According to Positive Psychology, the following three terms encapsulate what it means to be self-reliant:

1. Thinking independently
2. Embracing your individuality
3. Striving towards your own goals, bravely

Why is it important to become self-reliant?

• You can solve problems and make decisions by yourself
• Being self-reliant forces you to become more informed because you learn not to make others a first resort
• This involves self-acceptance, a very powerful thing to acquire
• It gives you a sense of direction

Here are some tips on how to become more independent and self-reliant

1. Work on your self-esteem

Oftentimes, the biggest deterrent to trusting ourselves and always feeling the need to have others validate our every decision is lacking confidence. Now you’ll find that a fraction of people are just naturally confident, while most of us, if not all of us have to put in the work at being confident, which is completely okay. You can empower yourself by increasing your self-esteem.

2. Assume Responsibility

Let’s be honest, taking responsibility for your life is not fun. But taking responsibility for your life is satisfying. You’ll gain quiet confidence in yourself as you take control of your own life. You’ll feel empowered. Instead of feeling like life is simply happening to you, you’ll begin to feel like the captain of your destiny and master of your soul.

3. Making your own decisions

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” -Theodore Roosevelt. From childhood, we learn to always look for guidance before making decisions that some of us never really relinquish being coddled even in adulthood. Have confidence in your capabilities and it becomes a lot easier to find security within.

4. Know the difference between asking for guidance and asking for permission

This requires you to trust yourself. Being emotionally confident means, you know the decisions to make and you trust yourself that you’re making the right decision. Because sometimes when you ask others for permission, you could already be seeking the answer that you hope they will give.

5. Practice assertiveness

Assertiveness is an expression that your opinion and stance hold the same weight as those of other people. Maintaining your stance, even if it might not be the most popular one, is a good sign of emotional independence.

6. Define and have your own values

Society’s values may not be aligned with our own deep-rooted beliefs. If society values one thing, and it’s not congruent with our own, we can sometimes cheat our values to fit in. 

Let’s face it. There is a peculiar mixture of excitement and anxiety when you have to leave your hometown – or travel daily – for university.

It’s totally understandable. The lifestyle of a high school student can be a fun experience for the most part. For one, there are fewer responsibilities to handle to make sure that you graduate successfully.

In high school, there might be a guardian who oversees your academic needs and helps you keep focus. In university, you are the guardian that you need to rely on.

You might experience the following mindsets when you set out to tertiary school:

• Excitement
• Self-doubt
• Freedom
• Fear of the unknown

Another element to focus on when you attend university is that there might be changes in your relationships. This means that the people in your life might interact with you differently as you undergo the transformations brought on by university life.

Well… it’s largely because you’re in the process of becoming a different person. You are an adult taking charge of your life!

Now let’s explore how you can best prepare yourself for this exciting stage of your life:

Give yourself the space to adjust to adulthood

Adulthood comes along with new responsibilities.

As a tertiary student, you’ll have to adopt life skills such as taking care of a home space, discipline, performing assignments to the teacher’s or employer’s standard and much more.

Newfound independence presents a good opportunity for self-development. It’s a perfect time to learn to make money, organize and execute a daily schedule, and keep appointments.

Managing adult responsibilities can be intimidating and tiresome. But it is an indispensable life skill that you need to create the life you want.

Manage the expectations of family and friends

When you venture into activities that promise to deliver personal (and eventually, financial) growth, it is easy to be hard on yourself. It is equally easy for your loved to place pressure and expectations on you.

How can you handle this challenge?

• Talk to your parents often about your studies. Discuss your studies with loved ones. Discuss your subjects, the workload, the pressure and how your work is evaluated. It’s helpful when the people in your support system know the important details around your studies. Making transparency a top priority will help your life even after graduation; your loved ones will learn to support you to achieve top grades without unnecessary pressure. Instead, they will learn to adjust their expectations and offer you the necessary support.

• Set realistic goals and communicate them. Talking openly about your tertiary life will lead to an improved ability to discuss delicate topics like finance. And when you graduate, there might be expectations from the people in your life to lend a financial hand to them. When not identified and communicated openly, such expectations can pile pressure on you. Or worse, they can totally undermine your relationships.

Also, healthy support systems inspire accountability and can empower you to break away from unproductive habits and achieve your goals.

Anticipate your life after graduation

The transitioning from being a student into a full-on professional contains unique challenges.

In one moment, your confidence might be at its highest, and in another you might be anxious as you attempt to determine the next move.

It’s totally normal. It’s called Adulting. And it can be confusing and overwhelming.

That’s the reason it is important to seek out and talk to people who are ahead of you in their own journey. People who once decided to walk the same path that you are currently on can give you a fresh perspective.

Keep growing your support system. It’s also the professional network that will carry you in times of professional need.

Competing in the job market today often requires tertiary education and other skills that are valuable outside of the school environment.

Verbal communication, digital literacy and time management are only three of the key skills employers look for in entry-level candidates.

For example, it’s important in the professional world to have a driver’s license when you submit job applications.

In this article, we explore the impact that a driver’s license can have on your employability. Plus, we discuss the importance of financial literacy as you enter life after class.

The importance of having a driver’s license after you graduate

• More job prospects

Many job opportunities require a driver’s license in order to be eligible for them. Hiring a candidate who can perform their duties and transport themselves to meetings saves the need for a designated driver.

A driver’s license will help you compete for the jobs you apply for.

With that said, remember that there are companies that will require you to own a vehicle.

• Mobility

Public transport presents great financial benefits, especially for people who need the time to build their careers after graduation. However, the biggest downside to this benefit is that public transport systems can be unreliable.

That’s how a driver’s license easily becomes an asset in your life.

When you are mobile, you can travel to social gatherings/networking events. You can attend evening classes, travel for practical training outside school, and be punctual for exams and job interviews.

• Dealing with emergency situations quicker

Think about this for a moment. What if something terrible happened in your space?

It might seem a little insensitive to ask that question. However, our lives are unpredictable and the ability to (legally) drive a vehicle can determine whether you are able to help someone else in crisis situations or not.

While we’re at it… here are three personal finance mistakes to avoid after graduation

• Don’t be a negative credit risk

When poor financial habits and consumption are not kept in check, they can often lead to crippling debt.

Establish a good credit record and purchase assets that are likely to appreciate in value. Effective debt management can help graduates have financial credibility when it is time to take out necessary loans or mortgage.

Establish clear timelines and a plan to reduce your debts. Develop a proactive attitude when you handle your school, car, credit card, home loans and more.

• Never pay the bills late

In the challenging economic environment that we live in, making ends meet can be downright tough.

However, continuously late and missed payments will cost more money and taint your credit record. A decent record, on the other hand, can give you lower interest rates on loans, lower insurance premiums, and open up prospects when you need to rent.

To achieve consistency, think about setting up automated payments for regular expenses like car payments, student loans, cell phone fees, etc.

• Don’t forget to set long-term goals

Accounting for your long-term expenses is crucial to building a stable financial life.

Planning and attention to detail are fundamental when you want to track different goals at the same time. For example, pay off student loans and save for a home.

The process involves proper planning in advance. And in this situation, you’ll have to create a debt payment plan or search for a house that you can afford.

Final thoughts

Obtaining tertiary education just might not be enough on its own to achieve your goals.

It’s also important to learn to take care of yourself in different capacities to become the person you’ve set out to be.

In addition to the education… a driver’s license and financial knowledge will increase your edge!

Taking responsibility for your life is the first step to achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life. It requires you to step up! Pay attention to tiny academic details and life generally; learn to ask for guidance, and manage your schedule like a champ!

You can think of this process as a tradeoff that will help you adopt a life of excellence.

In this article, we unpack the process through which you can become a better student.

Let’s take a walk through these essentials:

Be detail oriented

Not all modules carry the same weight.

One of the major changes at university level is that marking is performed differently compared to high school. For example, if you were to score below 49% for an exam, you cannot pass the said module. Any result below the D symbol at university level is considered a failure.

In high school, in order to obtain an A symbol, you need to get 80%+ for a subject. At university, you need a minimum of 75%.

In the event that you don’t pass an examination but fall within the bracket of a near pass (45% +), you’ll likely be eligible to sit for a supplementary exam.

Note: There might be additional factors that influence your qualification for the supp. examination. It’s imperative to learn about your school’s grading process.

Find out the kinds of courses available to you

Learn the difference between electives, core and compulsory subjects.

Let’s briefly go through each:

1. Core subjects are compulsory study in order to obtain a degree. These courses are significant to academic degrees. However, in some instances they might not necessarily be foundational to your major course.

2. Elective subjects are different to both the core and compulsory courses. It is the only adjustable part of your curriculum. You can pick the electives from a number of optional subjects.

3. Compulsory subjects are fundamental to your preferred field of study. For example, an accounting student would possibly have to attend classes such as Organizational Theory and the Basic Principles of Marketing. This is because the subjects represent an important portion in the study of commercial enterprises. In such complex cases, your academic advisor can help you discover which courses within your major are mandatory and help you plan accordingly.

Additionally, a study plan will list all the courses that you need to study to advance through your course.

Seek academic guidance early and often

Don’t struggle in silence

It’s important to speak up and seek help so that you navigate your school and get the best out of the learning experience.

When you need a soundboard, a fresh perspective, then an academic advisor can assist. They are trained to help you:

• Choose and structure your coursework
• Initiate your on-campus processes
• Manage time effectively
• Plan and achieve your academic goals
• Attending relevant workshops and events that will help you grow

And in order to prepare for your first meeting with your academic advisor, you can ask questions about:  

• Course registration
• Financial resources
• Strategies to study effectively
• The different major subjects and related careers
• How to get involved in various student organizations
• How to build and maintain professional relationships

Manage your time and projects like a pro!

“Punctuality is the best aphrodisiac.” – Louis Litt (from a television show called Suits).

Good time and project management skills are valuable to teachers and employers alike.

Never miss important dates and times. Here are a few ideas that may help, below:

• Use a calendar or a planner of sorts to keep track of deadlines, appointments, and other responsibilities.
• Break tasks into small and manageable parts. This simple strategy can help make a large project easier to digest and complete.
• Develop a timeline for the milestones that you need to achieve. Weigh them out and then decide which tasks are top priorities and get to work.

There’s no getting around it. The life of a student can be quite demanding to manage. That’s why it’s important to balance out the schoolwork with the other commitments in your life. Be a well-rounded person while on the journey to graduation and world domination.

Think of it this way. The time spent getting tertiary education is also a training session to sharpen your life skills.