Whether you’ve never had a job before, or recently lost one, having no job is an unappealing state to be in. Being unemployed may be a huge roadblock in your path to success and financial stability, but it is not a death sentence. There are still so many different options available if you can not get a job. Do not let it pull you into depression, instead, keep a positive attitude and either keep working at it or try something else.

Also Read: 10 things to do after graduation

What to do if you cannot find a job

Below are 5 things to do if you cannot find a job:

1. Take a break 

Trying so hard and getting nowhere could wound you emotionally. Instead of braving the disappointment every time, it’s time to put your focus elsewhere. It may seem counterintuitive to do this especially when your finances are crippled. However, taking a break from job hunting may give you time to figure out where you’re going wrong. Try to think of all the possible reasons why you always fail. It could be because you don’t have enough skills, you do badly in interviews, you don’t have enough connections, or so many other reasons. If you are able to pinpoint exactly why you are failing, you could figure out ways to improve.

Taking a break could also give you some time to yourself to recuperate from the emotional letdown of always being rejected. You don’t have to go without job hunting for months on end to emotionally recharge, a few days of rest will go a long way. Take a few days off every now and then so you can spring back up with a renewed sense of determination and drive. 

You could also use this opportunity to change your mindset. Instead of sending in every application with trepidation and going into every interview with fear, you could build up confidence and approach job hunting with a positive attitude. 

2. Change your location

You may not be the problem. The reason why your job search is proving unfruitful could be due to your location. Maybe job opportunities are limited and your industry is highly competitive.

If this seems to be the problem, then it’s best you move. Make sure to make adequate research before you move to pinpoint exactly the place that will be the best for you. To be safe, avoid moving until you have found a job.

Also Read: How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

3. Evaluate yourself 

Sometimes, the reason why you’ve not gotten a job could be because you are lacking an essential skill or experience. In this case, you may either need to boost your skill set or reduce the quality of jobs you are applying for. You won’t be hired if you do not have the majority of the skills, education or job experience needed for the position you applied for, so it’s worth evaluating yourself to see if you match up with the quality of jobs you are applying for.

You could decide to earn another degree or attend a training program to be better qualified for the positions you are applying for or gain some vital experience by starting an internship or apprenticeship. If getting a job is more forefront, you could consider going for lesser qualified jobs and go up the ladder as you gain work experience. 

4. Review your resume

You may have all the skills, education and experience, but you need to sell yourself well to be able to get good jobs. Your resume is what will determine whether you will be called in for an interview or not. If your resume does not leave a strong and lasting impression, then it’s highly unlikely you’ll get the job. 

Review your resume properly. Is there any key skill you are not highlighting, or is there anything missing from it? You need to learn how to craft a resume that will pique the interest of your employer. Remember that your resume should cater to each job description, so be ready to change your resume to fit the job description of each position you are applying for. 

It’s a good idea to have someone else review your resume for you. They could pick out some typos and mistakes you may have missed. If possible, reach out to a professional to edit your resume for you before sending it out.

Also Read: 10 Things To Consider When You Need To Compose An Incredible CV

5. Become an entrepreneur 

All your failed attempts at getting a job could be telling you something. Maybe a traditional job is not the right path for you. If you’re willing to take risks, then starting your own business could be worth a shot. Consider exploring your interests and your creative passion to find something you can build on. Instead of wallowing in the frustration of being jobless, you could take charge and start your own business. You will not only uplift yourself from unemployment but others as well. 

Entrepreneurship may be great and all, but it’s not for everyone. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted, so you need to be willing to take risks and go above your limitations. 

Also Read: 10 Must-have skills for Entrepreneurs

Conclusion

On the journey to being gainfully employed, there are many obstacles. With dogged determination, you may reach your goal, but knowing when to stop and change course is very crucial to attaining financial bliss.

Being able to get a good job does not only reflect your qualifications and skills but also other aspects like connections, a good strategy and the ability to sell yourself. If things are not working out well in your job hunting, then stop and try one (or all) from the above.

Going to college is a very stressful process. It may have been your first time leaving the comfort of your home to live elsewhere without the support of your family, so trying to acclimate to a new environment while studying and planning for your future is no easy feat. 

There are many things that you can do after graduating from the university. You may decide to head full force into the workplace by getting a full-time job, desire to rest for a while, travel or do something else entirely. Either way, the list of things you can do after graduating from college is simply endless. However, it is worth considering trying one or more of the below.

1. Go home, rest and recharge

Going home right after graduation might be exciting. This may be your first time going home to stay for such a long time in so many years. However, that excitement may quickly dwindle, as you realize that so many things have changed and your home is not as conducive as it was before. You may not have as much freedom as you did in school, and you may find yourself clashing more and more with your parents and siblings. 

Regardless, going back home is an important step after college. This gives enough time to rest and recharge especially when you don’t have to worry about rent or feeding. When you look past the constant nagging and lack of privacy, you’ll realize that it might be the last time you’d get to spend so much time with your family. Cherish your time spent at home and use the opportunity to rest, explore your interests, network, update your resume and plan for the next steps. 

Also Read: How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

2. Further education

If your career path requires specialized or higher education, the time immediately after graduation may be the best time to acquire it. At this time, you’re not completely out of tune with the student in you, and it will be much easier to fall back into student life once again. You could pursue a graduate degree or another bachelor’s degree to further your education or join a specialized program that will equip you with the technical proficiency needed for your preferred industry. 

Furthering your education may equip you with skills that will give you an edge when applying for entry-level positions.

3. Volunteer 

A good deed could take you places you never expect. You may not make money volunteering, but you could build up skills or build networks that will help further your career. After graduating, you could take time to volunteer in various places and build both soft and hard skills along the way. Helping out others could create empathy and build emotional intelligence in you. 

When trying to find opportunities, look for the ones that are relevant to your career so you could also use it as a referral in the future. It is important to keep a positive attitude and build rapport with the people you meet while volunteering as they might become important connections in the future. 

Also Read: 10 Benefits of being self-employed

4. Take a gap year

After spending years in college and finally graduating, you may need some time to fully regain your energy. If you don’t feel like doing anything major immediately after graduating, then that’s fine. You could take a gap year and fully relax through travel and exploration. Visiting new places, meeting new people and gathering new experiences could help you more than getting a job ever could. 

If you’re looking to discover your passion and interests, taking a gap year will benefit you a lot. Trying new aspects of life and immersing yourself in diverse cultures will help you gain a new perspective in life and build important skills that will help you in your career. 

5. Apply for an internship or an apprenticeship 

An internship or apprenticeship are pretty similar, they mainly differ in their duration. An apprenticeship is an arrangement where one gains work experience working directly under a superior, while an internship is a professional learning experience organized by companies where one gains practical work in relation to their field of study. Internships typically last a few months while apprenticeships could last years. 

An internship or apprenticeship could help you kickstart your career and ease your transition into the workforce. Many entry-level jobs require experience outside education, so an internship or apprenticeship could help you beef up your resume. They could also provide you with work experience and crucial networks.

An internship or apprenticeship may pay very little or not at all, however, they help you to gain valuable experience that will prepare you for a full-time role. They can also help you gain access to competitive industries and companies and can be invaluable in helping attract work opportunities. 

Also Read: 7 Things graduates wish they had known as freshers

6. Go abroad

Another option after graduating is to go abroad especially if you are eager for new experiences. Some countries abroad may give you better opportunities than your home country would.

You may decide to further your studies, start working or explore for a while before committing to anything. 

7. Start a new hobby

Your time in school may have prevented you from exploring your interests and hobbies, so immediately after graduating may be the best time to pick up a new hobby and rekindle some of your past interests.

Exploring your passion can help ease your mind and enable the transition into adulthood less stressful. 

8. Do some freelance work 

If you want to relax for a while before transitioning into the workforce, then that’s okay. However, you need to be able to cater for yourself before deciding on what’s next for you after graduating.

This is where freelance work will be beneficial. It will not only help you hone your skills, but also provide you with some extra cash. 

9. Start a business

You can decide to explore your creative passion and become an entrepreneur after graduating from college. Though not advisable, you can skip the hassle of working for others and become your own boss as soon as you graduate.

Working for a while before opening up your own business may be a better alternative as it will give you some experience that will help you become a better entrepreneur. 

Also Read: How to write a great business proposal

10. Get a full-time job 

You may be eager to break into the workforce and start earning a salary as soon as you graduate. If you have this mindset, make sure to spend a considerable amount of time sprucing up your resume. Take a few hours each day to scroll through job listings and consider various career paths in your field. Be active in looking for a job and make good use of your connections. 

You may not find a good job right away or you may end up getting rejected several times. No matter the case, do not let disappointment bring you down. Please keep track of the responses you receive so you can use them to improve. 

It doesn’t matter whether you offer quality service or products, if your brand sucks in having a great proposal, securing a new client will be pretty difficult. This is the reason why every business must know how to prepare a solid and winning business proposal.

Whether it’s your personally-owned business or you’re just managing a business, this post will provide you with details about how to write a great business proposal. But first…

What is a Business Proposal?

A business proposal is a formal document created by a brand and sent to prospective clients to secure a job. It’s a pitch by a brand to get a new project from their client. A business proposal enables a brand to sell its service and builds its reputation. 

However, there is a misconception between a business proposal and a business plan, the two are different. A business plan is a comprehensive strategy of how a business operates and makes profits while a business proposal on the other hand is a document that is used to win a job. It also helps to acquire new customers. 

Also Read: How to start a thriving business in Africa

Types of business proposals 

There are two main types of business proposals:

1. Solicited business proposal

A solicited business proposal is the kind of business proposal requested by prospective clients before sealing a deal together.

When a company needs to solve a problem, they request a business proposal from various brands, and they decide on the one to work with. This is why you need a winning business proposal.

2. Unsolicited business proposal

This is a kind of business proposal sent to a prospective client even though they’ve not requested it.

In this case, you only approach them with the hope of attracting their business and solving their problem. It is synonymous with cold mailing. 

Also Read: How to sell more in your business? 10 strategies to achieve it

How to write a winning business proposal

Regardless of the type of business proposal, the procedures remain the same. When writing a business proposal, three main points must be included. The first is your client’s current problem, followed by the proposed solution, and lastly pricing information. Below is a guide on how to write a winning business proposal for your business.

1. Start with a title page

A good business proposal should always start with a title page where you convey some basic information about your business. 

The following information should be on your title page: your name, your company’s name, the name of the client you are submitting the proposal to, and the date of submission. 

Ensure you incorporate professionalism when writing your title page, and make it more appealing. For example “Software development proposal. Prepared for: xxx, Created by: XXXX”

2. Table of contents

This should follow immediately after the title page. You need to make your proposal simple and unique for your clients. They need to have an insight into what your business proposal covers and this is what the table of contents does.

Also, if it would be submitted electronically, it’s important to make the table of contents clickable for easy look and navigation by your ideal clients.

3. Executive summary

The executive summary talks about the reason why you are sending the proposal, and why you think you are the best fit for the job. You need to be specific here, no long epistles. Introducing your brand with a great executive summary is very important before you can win any job.

Let them know what your business entails, the benefits of your services, and a clear idea of how you can help them. E.g “ We help landowners connect freely with their buyer……”

4. State the client’s problem or needs

The next after the executive summary is to state the client’s problem, you give a summary of the problem being encountered by your client. This will allow you to present yourself as the only solution to their existing needs.

It’s important to do thorough research here so that you can present the perfect solution to the problem. For instance, if the proposal is for software development, ensure you know and research what they want to get out of it.

Also Read: 10 Benefits of having a blog for your business

5. Present the solution

This is where you present a plan of action for resolving the issue. You must be specific in this stage, as you did in the previous sections.

Make sure your suggested course of action is tailored to the client’s requirements so they are aware that you have written the proposal just for them. Inform them of the deliverables you’ll offer, the techniques you’ll employ, and the deadline for the job to be completed.

6. Share your qualification 

This section is solely for the client to trust that you will deliver. Share your qualifications in the proposal, and let them know the skills you possess, your years of experience, certification, relevant education, and even a case study of similar projects.

7. Schedule and benchmark

This is where you tell your clients how long the project will take. Be clear and positive, however, never promise what you know is impossible, it will make them lose their trust in your brand.

If you are offering a product, this section might not apply to you, feel free to omit it. 

Also Read:10 Lucrative home businesses for women

8. The pricing option and legal terms

The pricing option is a little bit tricky. It is very important to always refer to your “request for proposal” from the client so that you can have a grasp of how much the client is willing to spend – as you won’t want to under or over-price your products and service.

You can also provide a fee option for your clients with an optional fee table.

Another thing about this aspect is some legal terms and conditions for the project. If there’s any permit or license required, this is where you talk about it. However, you can input this in a separate section if need be.

9. Summary with a conclusion

This is the section where you give the benefit of why you should be chosen. It is a recap of the whole proposal and the way you’d serve as the best choice.

Here, you can put your contact information, for easy follow-up.

10. Space for signature

Include a space for the clients to sign and give a brief explanation of what they are agreeing to when they sign.

Conclusion

A business proposal is very important when you are offering a product or service to another firm. It helps to present you as an expert in the field.

However, drafting a good business proposal is not child’s play and is why many businesses fail to secure a deal. With the guide above, you can be sure to write a great business proposal for any project.

The NYSC Orientation Programme for Corps Members takes three weeks to complete. After Camping, Corpers are to report to their NYSC PPA.

By implication, Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) shall be traveling across the length and breadth of the country to the various NYSC Camps for the exercise.

NYSC Travel Safety Tips

1. Every successful journey starts with a travel plan. PCMs, are enjoined to make adequate travel preparation before setting out on the journey.

Therefore, you must ensure and cross-check that you’ve packed all the relevant documents that will be requested at the point of registration.

This is to guard against the danger of being asked to go back home and fetch the forgotten documents. Doing so will over-expose you to our roads fraught with so many risks.

2. Kindly research your destinations thoroughly before leaving.

3, On no account, should you board a vehicle by the roadside because of a seemingly attractive cheap fare. It is a highway to calamity. So many have fallen prey to armed robbers, kidnappers, and ritualists due to such indiscreet actions. You should board vehicles only from recognized parks.

Also Read: 10 Real Ways To Study Abroad

4. Please, be conscious of your travel time. Journeys must be arranged in such a way that you arrive at your destination latest 6 pm. Note that if it’s not possible to arrive at your destination at the aforesaid time, please, break the journey.

5. Avoid unnecessary argument/discussion bordering on politics and religion, among others. You may unwittingly cause offense. Keep your views to yourself.

6. Be courteous, but don’t trust people too quickly and don’t be loud while answering telephone calls, so as not to unknowingly divulge information that may place you on harm’s way.

7. Watch your drinking habit. Alcohol dulls your senses. Always be sober.

8. Take only what you need for the journey. Don’t overburden yourself with loads.

Also Read: Hot Ways To Move From U.S To Canada

9. Dress normal. Don’t overdress. Conversely, don’t dress shabbily, since either way, you unduly stand out.

10. Please, keep a very close watch over your personal effects. It is advisable that you carry your vital documents (certificates, International passport, etc) on you.

11. Don’t put valuables in your back pocket for that’s always the pickpocket’s first point of call. It’s safer to use your front pocket.

12. Keep your family and trusted friends updated on your itinerary.

The Director General wishes you travel mercies, as you proceed to the respective camps in obedience to the clarion call to serve the Nation for one calendar year.

University can fly by, and when you’re caught up in all the excitement and deadlines, it’s easy to make some common mistakes and take student life for granted.

To make sure you’re making the most of your uni experience, we’ve rounded up a group of nostalgic graduates to hear what they wish they’d known when they were freshers.

Before we continue, Read: 15 Stupid Mistakes That Are Killing Your GPA

so let’s take a minute to remember those things we wished we knew upon entering the university for the first time, so those still there can learn from it and not make the same mistake.

The most important things to know about university

1. Year one is the easiest it’s ever going to get

Thee lecturers are easy, the courses are simple and exams are mostly going to be objectives, but as you proceed, it gets tough and harder and if you are failing at year one, you probably should drop out. 

Lacking a basic grounding of first-year knowledge will make it much trickier to get good grades in second year, and your tutor will be less likely to help you out if they’re concerned you haven’t been making the effort already.

Read: Four things that you didn’t know you could get from your university

2. University attendance is important even in first year

At uni, no one’s going to chase after you if you decide not to show up to class or hand in your coursework.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking this is a blessing. It takes some serious self-discipline to drag yourself to those 7am lectures when you could easily just stay in bed.

But, when you’re paying such high tuition fees to be there, you’d be a fool to waste it – especially when you consider 12 Signs Your Village People Don’t Want You To School.

Read: 8 Signs You Bought Gala With Your School Fees

3. Do work experience when you’re at university

Unfortunately, these days most employers expect more on your CV than just your degree.

Building an arsenal of relevant work experience, and getting involved in extracurricular activities before you graduate will massively help you leapfrog your application to the top of the pile. check the list of our 10 Best Small Business Ideas To Start At Nigeria University

Getting some work experience is also really helpful if you’re not quite sure what you want to do career-wise, as you’re able to test the water in a few different industries and roles to see what you enjoy (and what you don’t).

Make sure you get cracking with work experience as early on as possible, as you’ll have less time in your final year when you’ve got the dreaded dissertation to deal with.

Read: 5 Prices Of Business And Academic Success

4. Never Take Group courses to heart

Any course that has about 6 to 7 departments taking them are probably not worth most of your time, instead focus on your department course, they are more serious and assignments and test count, unlike the crowded courses.

Read: How To Study For Long Hours At Night Without Sleeping Off

5. Stay on good terms with your housemates

Surviving shared living can be tough, and it’s natural that things might get a bit tense every now and then.

But try not to fall out over things that will seem irrelevant in a few months time. Having dirty dishes stacked up in the sink is an annoying but inevitable part of uni life, so try not to get too worked up about it.

If flatmates are being difficult, you could think about setting up a cleaning rota or bringing everyone together to have a chat about it over a cuppa. Just make sure you don’t let it escalate, as you’ll regret losing friendships over a bit of washing up.

Read: How to handle problem housemates

6.  Going To School Is Not For Reading Alone

Forget what your parents told you and focus more about finding yourself in Uni because not everyone is a bookworm and the university actually provides opportunities for everyone depending on your interests.

Read: 8 Steps To Know What You Really Want In Life

7. Think about what you want to do after university

You might not have a clue what you want to do after uni – and that’s completely fine. But it’s worth at least having a think about your options and coming up with a general plan as something to aim for.

Having an end goal in sight will help a lot on days when you’re lacking motivation and drive as a student – it reminds you that the hard work really is worth it.

Whether it’s taking time out to travel the world, setting up your own business or doing an internship, it’s important to see the bigger picture as graduation will come round much sooner than you think.

Read: How To Customize The Picture Of Your Future