A post once trended on the internet about an email that was sent to a tech team about a problem, ending with “can somebody look into this?”. When an instruction such as this has been assigned to be done by everybody, everybody was sure that anybody would do it because anybody could have done it but no one is doing it. While it was everybody’s job, everybody thought that anybody could do it, but nobody realized that everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that everybody blamed somebody when nobody did what anybody could have done. This scenario applies to most undergraduates who are getting ahead of themselves and that taking initiative isn’t enough to grow and prepare one for the work environment. These categories of students, often having the ‘I cant’ attitude, have justified themselves that they can grow slowly at their own pace and meet expected results. That perception leaves them significantly disconnected with the knowledge of inadequate preparation.” While the market expectations for any graduate on the rise are having a semblance of skills and experience to take initiative, respond to pressure, to multi-task, and be energetic and passionate with a history of successful performance to function that will grow a company. It also requires graduates to have a working culture that supports organization’s goals and objectives inside and outside the company. With the number of required skills on the rise in the workplace, undergraduates need to have a sense of initiative. That is, doing something that needs to be done without being told. Employers are looking for people who don’t stand around and wait for instructions. They want people with the right attitude, people who are willing to learn new skills and step up. In the workplace, people who do not take initiative are sometimes perceived to be fearful and lack confidence. Yes, it is everybody’s responsibility to take initiative, to be responsible and responsive to the common concerns in the school and the workplace. Taking initiative, gives us a sense of accountability for whom we lead, what we’re in charge of or what we want to become. Take initiative and do something differently.

long vacations should not be a time to relax and take international trips only. It should be a period for students to develop the skills needed to have a productive work life, as there is never a bad time to learn something new and gain a significant advantage ahead of your peers. Here are some skills to help you boost your potential and get started.  Video production/Graphics design/Creative Content Video production/Graphics design is becoming an increasingly popular medium for all things related to business. Customers love watching videos, as well as having beautiful flyers for their marketing purpose, so being able to produce high-quality content is a valuable skill. Coding If you are keen on IT skills, Coding and Programmeming are tools that are becoming increasingly relevant and important. Studying in this field can give you a greater understanding of how technology works. It also gives you the chance to work on all kinds of projects, whether for personal or professional advancement. Analytical reasoning Emerging fields such as web analytics and big data are growing at a rapid pace. Data is now one of the most valuable commodities for businesses and companies across the globe as well as for decision-making. As such, individuals who can analyse data and give insights into its meaning will find they’re in high demand. Artificial intelligence Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a reality. Robots and AI can supplement and augment the way we work and live our lives. Those with an understanding of machine learning, big data, and other associated topics will find plenty of opportunities in the future. UX design User experience design is a field that focuses on how users interact with a product or service. Whether focused on apps, websites, or machines, UX design relates to the ease of use for the user. It takes into account aspects of design, market research, psychology, technology, and business amongst others. Affiliate marketing Social media and influencers are starting to replace traditional advertising. Whether it’s social selling, leveraging industry experts, or promoting other companies’ products, affiliate marketing is one of the hot new skills that businesses are on the lookout for. Business analysis Business analysts are the problem-solvers of modern organizations. As companies generate more and more data, there is a need for people who can identify the business needs that arise from such data. If you’re wondering what to learn during the lockdown, taking a course in a field such as big data analytics could be seriously beneficial.

The undergraduate journey does not necessarily follow one imagined direction. A student of Industrial Design may develop an interest in creative content development and take up jobs in public relations for a career. While the university expected that students, early in their undergraduate journey, learn new skills and review their work progress, employers expect students to be equipped with the necessary skills and attitude to be ready to enter a career while they build work experience with corporate organizations evident in their student’s portfolios. Students’ portfolios are not expected to be fully polished as per work experience. What an employer is interested in at the level of graduation is potential and not work experiences. Having a student’s portfolio will help to showcase the journey that an applicant has been on, from having initial ideas to creating something. Students’ portfolios should make sense in the context of a journey that one has undertaken so far. Because the university is designed to help students develop specific skills towards an area of specialization, it will not give a full understanding of that skill because the potential to learn new skills are inborn in the students’ mind. It’s therefore important for students to look around and understand the work that is socially relevant to their discipline early in their academics. For example, Students looking to further careers in areas like Arts, Creative Content Development, Graphics Designs, Website Development, Software Engineering, Architecture, Digital and Social Media Analyst etc. should be able to build a portfolio for employers and potential partners to see in terms of presentation – a process of revealing oneself as a practitioner. Portfolios are important documents in one’s life and has helped many people reach the desired outcome. One of the importance of including the range of works that you have done is to show that you are open-minded and that your practice is evolving. Hence, it becomes important for every student to start building their portfolios early, even if they are not happy about their achievements in school. A simple student’s portfolio should include everything, from their involvement at the start of their academic journey – the thought process such as honours, awards, academic accomplishments, completed tasks, artworks, lab reports, volunteer activities and physical projects. In light of the above, Skyline University Nigeria is playing a vital role in helping students identify criteria for selecting and creating portfolios. This role will enable them to learn how to combine achievements and commentary in their portfolio to craft an effective argument or statement about their learning and to develop in them the ability to describe specific features of their areas of specialization.

Dear Future Alumni, The Alumni Association of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN), through the Students service department/future alumni relations office, via the flag or Programmemes of your study, will host various Programmemes to ensure strong relations with and among alumni. Among these Programmemes, you will find the annual reunion already being highlighted in the University’s plan. Earlier in the year 2018, the commencement of academic journey at Skyline University Nigeria came to the limelight, anchored on a tripod – knowledge, skills and value-based education. In the year 2022, the University is expected to graduate her first set, hence the introduction and commencement of the alumni Programmemes for the institution’s graduates. The word ‘alumni’ for an imminent graduate is usually considered with a lot of questions. Questions relating to the alumni association of graduates, former students, or the importance and benefits of becoming an alumnus. In Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, alumni of universities, colleges, secondary, and clubs, often form groups with alumni from the same organization or institution. Because Skyline University Nigeria is in its fifth year, of celebrating academic excellence, there is a need to share some prospects of becoming alumni. The Skyline Experience means much more than your years on campus. It is just as exciting, inspiring and enriching after graduation, and the connection lasts a lifetime. Upon your graduation, all undergraduate and graduate students will automatically become members of the Alumni Association of Skyline University Nigeria. The benefits of this association are so many and there are no dues payable at becoming a member. One of the benefits you will enjoy upon membership is the automatic incorporation into the career network of Skyline University Nigeria. Powered by the University’s Corporate Affairs Department, the career network will serve as a career contact and can be a resource to alumni who are interested in learning more about the workplace industry, current job openings, businesses, consulting and career paths. It will also feature students who have volunteered to assist each other through career advice and networking. Whether you are an experienced professional or a recent graduate, you will find this association to be a rewarding way to connect. There will be almost 100 discussion groups online for you to join. This platform will provide an online forum in which alumni can communicate with each other on a variety of different topics including classes, regions, professions, businesses, marriage, religion, and clubs amongst other interests.

College life is full of distractions. Apart from the people in your space, who will distract you from achieving your dreams, the University can quickly become overwhelming when you’re trying to maintain a good grade. Amidst these distractions, there are plenty of ways students can take to leap toward achieving their careers. Below are things to consider to get into the game. Take a look at where your passion lies Your passions could be in a lot of different places. The gym? The office? The campus? Family? The computer? The television? A business? Entrepreneurship, etc. Whatever it is, People tend to act upon those things that have meaning to them. The more urgent a particular cause is to you, the more likely you are to act upon it. Prioritize Your selected passion After the selection process, write down the things that are most important to you and then rank them by order of passion. The things that matter most to you are likely your passions and will provide clues to your career purpose. You have to make sure that all aspects of your selected interest appeal to you. In order to do this, you need to really think about what your dream job would be. Is it to become self-employed? To have a particular job title? A healthy work-life balance or a decent business? Make a comparison and consider other factors Compare your career options against your list of prioritized skills. You should consider factors beyond personal preferences. What is the current demand for this field? If the demand is low or entry is difficult, are you comfortable with the risk? What qualifications are required to enter the field? Will it require additional education or training? How will selecting this option affect you and others in your life? Gather advice from friends, colleagues, and family members, then consider potential outcomes and barriers for each of your final options. Make a choice and set smart goals How many paths you choose depends upon your situation and comfort level. If you’re early in your planning, then identifying multiple options may be best. You may want several paths to increase the number of potential opportunities. Conversely, narrowing to one or two options may better focus your job search after graduating from the university. For example, it will be better to have a wider experience in content development and general knowledge of graphics design than to have general knowledge of almost anything you can find. Have an action plan Now that you’ve identified your career options, develop an action plan to implement this decision. Identify specific, time-bound goals and steps to accomplish your plan. Set short-term goals (to be achieved in one year or less) and long-term goals (to be achieved in one to five years). Make sure the goal is specific, and measurable with clear criteria to determine progress and accomplishment. Finally, it is important to be realistic about expectations and timelines. Write down specific action steps to take to achieve your goals and help yourself stay organized. Check them off as you complete them, but feel free to amend your career action plan as needed because your goals and priorities may change.