Life After Graduation: The Real World - Samson Ese | Daily Reality NG

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Life After Graduation: The Real World

Q: Is it okay to take a job completely unrelated to my field of study?

Absolutely yes. Most successful people are not working in their exact fields of study. Your degree gives you foundational skills that transfer across industries. Taking any legitimate job builds work experience, professional references, and income while you figure out your actual career path. Many graduates who took random first jobs later pivoted into careers they love. Work experience in any field is better than unemployment.

Q: How can I survive financially if my salary or side income isn't enough?

Cut expenses ruthlessly by moving to a cheaper area if possible, cooking all meals at home, using public transport, and eliminating non-essential subscriptions. Build multiple income streams even if small through tutoring, freelancing, or reselling. Be honest with family about your financial reality rather than pretending and going into debt. Consider temporary arrangements like living with family or roommates to reduce rent burden. Avoid debt for lifestyle expenses and only borrow for investments that generate returns.

Personal Growth & Career

📅 January 21, 2025 ⏱️ 18 min read ✍️ By Samson Ese

Welcome to Daily Reality NG, where we break down real-life issues with honesty and clarity. Today, I'm sharing something deeply personal—the raw, unfiltered truth about life after graduation in Nigeria. Not the motivational quotes or success stories you see on social media, but the actual reality that most graduates face in silence. If you're about to graduate, just graduated, or still figuring out this post-university life, this article is for you.

I'm Samson Ese, founder of Daily Reality NG. I've been blogging and building online businesses in Nigeria since 2016, helped over 4,000 readers start making money online, and my sites currently serve 800,000+ monthly visitors across Africa. But before all that, I was a confused graduate trying to make sense of life after university, just like you.

🌍 Welcome to the Real World: My Story

June 2014. I stood outside the University of Lagos auditorium, certificate in hand, wearing a borrowed suit that was slightly too big, taking photos with family members who were prouder than I felt. Everyone kept saying "Congratulations! The real journey starts now!" and I smiled, nodded, pretended I understood what they meant.

I didn't understand. Not even close.

I thought graduating meant I'd finally made it. Four years of lectures, assignments, group projects, all-nighters, and ASUU strikes were behind me. I had a Second Class Upper degree in Mass Communication. I was ready to take on the world, collect my dream job offer, and start living the life I'd been working toward.

University graduation ceremony with students in caps and gowns celebrating — Graduation day: the moment you think everything begins, but it's actually when reality hits

What happened instead was a crash course in reality so brutal, so humbling, that it took me years to recover. Within three months of graduation, I realized everything I believed about life after university was wrong. The degree I worked so hard for? Companies wanted "5 years experience" for entry-level positions. The skills I learned? Mostly theoretical, barely applicable to real jobs. The confidence I had? Shattered by rejection email after rejection email.

Let me be honest with you: life after graduation in Nigeria is nothing like what they prepare you for. Your lecturers don't tell you. Your parents don't understand (things were different in their time). Your classmates pretend everything is fine on social media while struggling privately. And you? You're left trying to figure it all out alone, wondering if something is wrong with you.

💭 The Truth Nobody Tells You

Graduation doesn't mark the end of your struggle—it marks the beginning of a completely different kind of struggle. University taught you how to pass exams. Life after graduation teaches you how to survive, adapt, and build something from nothing. And nobody hands you a syllabus for this one.

Nine years later, I've built successful online businesses, helped thousands of people, and found my path. But I wish someone had told me what to expect back then. I wish someone had been honest about the challenges, the loneliness, the confusion, and most importantly, the fact that feeling lost after graduation is completely normal.

This article is what I wish I had read in 2014. It's raw, honest, and practical. No motivational fluff. No "just believe in yourself" nonsense. Just real experiences and actionable strategies for navigating life after graduation in Nigeria.

💥 The First Shock: Nobody's Waiting for You

The first harsh reality that hits every Nigerian graduate is this: nobody is waiting for you. Not employers. Not opportunities. Not success. The world was spinning before you graduated, and it continues spinning without pausing for your arrival.

🎭 The Graduation Day Illusion

On graduation day, you feel special. Your family celebrates. Friends congratulate you. You post photos on social media and get hundreds of likes. For that one day, you're the center of attention. You matter.

Then the next week comes. The celebrations stop. The attention moves elsewhere. Your certificate sits in a folder while you wonder: "What now?"

Here's what nobody tells you: that certificate you spent four to six years earning (depending on ASUU) is just a piece of paper to most employers. They see hundreds of certificates every week. Yours isn't special to them. Your 2:1 or First Class? Thousands of other graduates have the same. Your departmental awards? Companies don't care.

Want to know the truth? The job market doesn't owe you anything because you graduated. Companies don't have positions waiting with your name on them. Organizations aren't desperately searching for fresh graduates to save. The harsh reality is that you're entering an oversaturated market where supply (graduates) massively exceeds demand (jobs).

⚠️ Reality Check

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria produces over 500,000 graduates annually while creating less than 100,000 formal sector jobs. Do the math. That means 80 percent of graduates won't get traditional employment immediately, no matter how qualified they are. This isn't about your worth—it's simple mathematics.

📧 The Rejection Email Marathon

Remember how excited I was after graduation? That excitement lasted until I sent out my first 50 job applications. The responses? Twenty companies ignored me completely. Fifteen sent automated rejection emails. Ten asked for "3-5 years experience" for entry-level positions. Three invited me for interviews, then never followed up. Two offered internships—unpaid.

I used to check my email fifteen times a day, hoping for that one positive response. Each rejection felt personal. Each ignored application made me question my worth. I started wondering: "Is my degree useless? Am I not good enough? Did I waste four years?"

The truth is, I wasn't special in my struggle. Almost every Nigerian graduate goes through this rejection phase. Some handle it better than others, but we all feel that crushing weight of realizing the world isn't impressed by our academic achievements.

Person sitting alone looking stressed searching for jobs on laptop — The lonely reality of job hunting: sending hundreds of applications and getting mostly silence in return

👥 The "What Are You Doing Now?" Pressure

Then comes the social pressure. Family gatherings become interrogation sessions. "So, have you gotten a job yet?" "When are you starting work?" "Your mate has already been employed o." "Don't waste your certificate."

The worst part? Everyone has advice. Your uncle knows someone who knows someone who can help (they never actually help). Your mother's friend suggests you take "any job" to start. Your former classmates post their offer letters on LinkedIn, making you feel even more behind.

Let me tell you what I learned: comparing yourself to others after graduation is the fastest way to depression. That classmate who got a job at Shell? Their uncle works there. That friend who's already earning six figures? Family connection. That coursemate traveling abroad for their masters? Parents are wealthy. Very few people succeed purely on merit immediately after graduation in Nigeria. Connections, luck, timing—these matter more than most want to admit.

🎖️ NYSC: The First Taste of Reality

For most Nigerian graduates, NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) is the first extended encounter with post-graduation reality. It's supposed to be about national service and nation-building. In practice, it's a year-long lesson in survival, adaptation, and managing disappointment.

🏕️ Orientation Camp: The Wake-Up Call

Orientation camp strips away whatever illusions graduation left you with. You're waking up at 5 AM for parade, sharing cramped hostels with strangers, eating questionable food, all while military officers shout at you for wearing the wrong color socks. Your degree doesn't matter here. Your CGPA is irrelevant. Everyone is equal—equally exhausted.

But camp teaches you something valuable: how to endure uncomfortable situations you can't escape. A skill you'll desperately need in the real world.

📍 PPA Disappointments

Then comes your Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). Some people get lucky—posted to good organizations in decent locations. Most don't. You might be a Computer Science graduate posted to teach Mathematics in a rural primary school. An Accounting major assigned to a local government office where nobody actually does any real work. A Law graduate serving in an NGO that barely functions.

Your PPA rarely matches your field of study. The work is often meaningless. And that ₦33,000 monthly allowance? It barely covers transport and feeding in most states, let alone rent if you're not in the provided accommodation.

💡 Silver Lining

Here's what I learned during NYSC: the year isn't about your PPA—it's about what you build on the side. I started my first blog during service year. Other corp members started businesses, learned new skills, built networks, or saved aggressively. The smartest corps members use NYSC as a low-pressure year to plan their next move, not just wait for it to end.

🤝 The Networking Myth

Everyone tells you to "network during NYSC." In reality, most networking is superficial. You meet people, exchange contacts, add each other on LinkedIn, then never speak again after service year. Real networking happens when you actually provide value or build genuine relationships, not just collecting business cards.

That said, some people do make valuable connections during NYSC. The difference? They focus on being useful, not just "networking." They volunteer for projects nobody wants. They solve actual problems at their PPA. They collaborate on side projects with other corps members. Value attracts opportunities; mere presence doesn't.

🔍 The Brutal Truth About Job Hunting in Nigeria

If NYSC is a taste of reality, job hunting after service year is the full meal. And trust me, it's not delicious.

📄 The Application Black Hole

Job hunting in Nigeria follows a predictable, soul-crushing pattern:

You spend hours perfecting your CV and cover letter
You submit applications to fifty companies
Forty companies never respond at all
Eight send automated rejection emails
Two invite you for interviews, then ghost you
Repeat cycle with increasing desperation

The silence is the hardest part. At least rejection gives closure. But most applications disappear into a black hole. You never know if they even read your CV. You wonder if your email landed in spam. You question everything about your application strategy.

🎭 The Interview Theater

When you finally get interview invitations, prepare for theater—because that's what most Nigerian job interviews are. Companies bring in twenty candidates for one position, conduct elaborate panel interviews, make everyone present proposals, then either hire someone's relative who wasn't even interviewed, or claim "we'll get back to you" and never do.

I've sat through interviews where:

The interviewer was clearly uninterested, scrolling their phone while I spoke
They asked for a "free sample project" that clearly ended up being actual work they used
The salary discussed during interview was 40 percent lower than advertised
They demanded I start immediately as an "intern" with promises of employment later (never happened)

🎯 Real Talk

Here's what nobody tells you: most entry-level jobs in Nigeria aren't filled based on merit. Connections matter more than competence for your first role. This isn't fair, but it's reality. Once you accept this, you stop taking rejections personally and start focusing on building your own opportunities.

💼 The Experience Paradox

The cruelest joke in Nigerian job hunting: every entry-level position requires 3-5 years experience. How do you get experience if nobody will hire you without experience? It's like needing a car to get to the place where you buy cars.

Companies justify this by saying they can't afford to train graduates. They want people who can "hit the ground running." What they really want is experienced workers at entry-level salaries. It's exploitation disguised as business logic.

According to Vanguard newspaper, graduate unemployment in Nigeria now exceeds 42 percent. This isn't because graduates are unqualified—it's because the job market is fundamentally broken. The economy isn't creating enough formal sector jobs, yet we keep producing graduates at the same rate.

Stack of job application documents and resume papers on desk — The reality: hundreds of applications, countless rejections, and the exhausting search for that first opportunity

🎪 The Fake Job Scams

Desperate graduates become easy targets for scammers. Fake job postings asking you to pay for "processing fees." Pyramid schemes disguised as marketing positions. Companies that conduct training, then demand ₦50,000 - ₦200,000 before "employing" you.

I almost fell for one. A "media company" invited me for an interview, praised my qualifications, offered me a position, then said I needed to pay ₦75,000 for "onboarding materials and uniform." Thank God I didn't have the money—turned out to be a complete scam.

Any legitimate company asking you to pay money to work there is a scam. Period. Real employers pay you, not the other way around.

💰 Financial Reality: Bills Don't Stop

University bills were manageable. School fees once or twice a year. Maybe rent if you stayed off-campus. Some feeding money. That's it. Your parents probably covered most of it.

Post-graduation? The bills never stop, and nobody's paying them but you.

💸 The Monthly Financial Reality

Let me break down what life actually costs after graduation in Nigeria:

Rent: ₦200,000 - ₦600,000 annually (₦17,000 - ₦50,000 monthly breakdown) depending on location
Feeding: ₦30,000 - ₦60,000 monthly if you're cooking and eating simply
Transportation: ₦15,000 - ₦40,000 monthly depending on how far you commute
Data/Airtime: ₦5,000 - ₦10,000 monthly minimum
Electricity: ₦5,000 - ₦15,000 monthly (NEPA + generator fuel)
Toiletries/Personal Care: ₦5,000 - ₦10,000 monthly
Clothing/Emergencies: Variable, but budget at least ₦10,000 monthly

Minimum monthly survival cost: ₦90,000 - ₦150,000 if you're living modestly in a city like Lagos. And this doesn't include:

Medical expenses
Family obligations (Nigerian parents expecting contributions)
Savings (what savings?)
Social life (you basically won't have one)
Professional development (courses, certifications)

Now, here's the crushing reality: most entry-level jobs in Nigeria pay ₦50,000 - ₦80,000 monthly. Do the math. You can't survive on that salary in any major Nigerian city. It's literally impossible.

⚠️ The Survival Math

If you earn ₦60,000 monthly and your basic expenses are ₦100,000, you have a ₦40,000 monthly deficit. This means you're either dependent on family, hustling on the side, or going into debt. Most graduates are doing all three simultaneously. This isn't living—it's surviving.

👨‍👩‍👧 The Family Pressure

Then there's family. Many Nigerian parents see your graduation as the end of their financial responsibility and the beginning of yours. Suddenly, you're expected to contribute to house rent. Help pay your younger siblings' school fees. Send money home monthly. Attend every family ceremony with "something."

Never mind that you're unemployed or earning barely enough to feed yourself. The expectations don't adjust to your reality. "You're a graduate now" becomes the justification for every financial demand.

I've seen graduates take loans to meet family obligations. Send their last ₦20,000 home while having nothing for transport the next week. Lie about their financial situation to avoid disappointing parents. The guilt of not being able to help your family financially after graduation is one of the heaviest emotional burdens young Nigerians carry.

💳 The Debt Trap

When your expenses exceed your income month after month, debt becomes inevitable. You borrow from friends "just this once" (it's never just once). You use the little credit card limit banks offer. You collect salary advances. You owe your landlord. You owe your coursemate. You owe everyone.

I was there. At one point post-graduation, I owed six different people money. The stress of juggling these debts while pretending everything was fine on social media was exhausting. Every time my phone rang, I panicked thinking it was a creditor.

Here's what I learned: debt isn't shameful, but living beyond your means to maintain appearances is foolish. Cut your lifestyle to match your income, no matter how embarrassing it feels. Rice and stew every day? Fine. No new clothes for six months? Acceptable. Living in a face-me-I-face-you? Better than debt you can't repay.

👥 Relationships Change Dramatically After Graduation

One of the most painful realizations after graduation is how dramatically your relationships change. People you thought would be lifelong friends fade away. Family dynamics shift. Even romantic relationships struggle under new pressures.

👫 Friendship Reality Check

In university, friendships are easy. You see people daily. You're in the same classes, living in the same hostels, attending the same parties. Friendship happens naturally through proximity and shared experiences.

After graduation? Everyone scatters. People relocate for jobs or further studies. Those who stay in the same city are busy hustling, tired, and broke. The group chats that used to buzz daily go silent. Plans to hang out keep getting postponed because nobody has money for outings anymore.

I had a solid group of eight friends during my final year at UNILAG. Five years after graduation, I genuinely stayed in touch with only two. It wasn't intentional. Life just happened. Different paths, different struggles, different priorities. You realize most university friendships were friendships of convenience, not depth.

💭 The Hard Truth

The friends who remain after graduation are those who deliberately invest in the relationship despite distance and busyness. Everyone else was just classmates with temporary proximity. And that's okay. Quality over quantity becomes your new friendship philosophy.

💔 Relationships and Money Pressure

If you're in a romantic relationship after graduation, prepare for it to be tested. Money stress tests relationships like nothing else. When you can't afford dates, when your partner has financial expectations you can't meet, when insecurity creeps in because you're not "doing well" yet—these things strain even strong relationships.

I've seen relationships that survived four years of university fall apart within six months of graduation. Why? Financial pressure. Status anxiety. Different timelines of success. One person gets a great job while the other struggles—imbalance creates tension. Or both are struggling, and the relationship becomes another source of stress rather than support.

The relationships that survive are those where both people understand the season they're in and choose partnership over pressure. If your relationship can't survive broke season, it probably wasn't built to last anyway.

🏠 Family Dynamics Shift

Your relationship with your parents changes after graduation. You're no longer a student they support—you're an adult they expect things from. This transition is often awkward and painful for both sides.

Parents who don't understand the current job market think you're lazy because you can't find work. They compare you to their own experience ("When I graduated, I got a job immediately!") without acknowledging that Nigeria's economy was completely different in their time.

The hardest part? Feeling like a burden when you still need help. That shame when you're 25, graduate, but still asking your parents for money. That guilt when you can't contribute to the household despite living there. That frustration when they don't understand why your degree hasn't translated to immediate success.

Young person sitting alone looking contemplative and concerned — The isolation many graduates feel when friendships fade and the weight of expectations becomes overwhelming

📱 Social Media vs. Reality

Social media makes everything worse. Everyone posts their wins—new jobs, promotions, travel photos, "living my best life" captions. Nobody posts about the rejections, the financial stress, the nights crying from overwhelm.

You start comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to everyone else's highlight reel. Your classmate got a job at MTN? You feel like a failure. Your coursemate traveled to Dubai? You feel stuck. Your friend bought a car? You're still using danfo.

What you don't see: that MTN job pays terribly and they're miserable. That Dubai trip was funded by debt. That car is a liability draining money they don't have. Everyone is struggling in different ways, but social media only shows success.

I learned to limit social media after graduation because it was destroying my mental health. Constant comparison was making me depressed. I had to remind myself: my journey is my own. My timeline doesn't need to match anyone else's.

🧠 Mental Health: The Silent Struggle Nobody Talks About

Let's talk about something many Nigerian graduates suffer in silence: mental health struggles after graduation. Depression. Anxiety. Loss of purpose. Identity crisis. These aren't just buzzwords—they're real issues affecting thousands of graduates who have no idea what's happening to them.

😔 Post-Graduation Depression is Real

You spend 16-20 years in school. Your entire identity is built around being a student. Then suddenly, that identity vanishes. You're no longer a student, but you're not yet a professional. You're in limbo, undefined, floating.

Add financial stress, family pressure, job rejections, and isolation, and you have a perfect recipe for depression. Many graduates experience:

Waking up with no motivation to do anything
Feeling worthless despite their achievements
Crying randomly without clear reason
Withdrawing from social interactions
Sleeping excessively or barely sleeping at all
Losing interest in things they once enjoyed

I went through this. There were weeks when I couldn't bring myself to leave my room. Not because I was lazy—I was genuinely depressed. The weight of unmet expectations, financial stress, and uncertainty about the future crushed me.

🆘 When to Seek Help

If you've felt persistently sad, hopeless, or anxious for more than two weeks, please talk to someone. A trusted friend, family member, or professional counselor. Mental health struggles after graduation are common and nothing to be ashamed of. You're not weak—you're human dealing with an overwhelming transition.

😰 The Anxiety of Uncertainty

Anxiety after graduation often stems from uncertainty. You don't know if you'll find a job. You don't know if you'll be able to support yourself. You don't know if your degree was worth it. You don't know what to do next. This constant not-knowing creates chronic anxiety.

You wake up anxious about money. Go to bed anxious about the future. Check your phone anxiously for interview callbacks that never come. Attend family events anxiously because someone will ask about your plans.

What helped me: accepting that uncertainty is part of this phase. I couldn't control the job market. I couldn't control when opportunities would come. But I could control my daily actions—learning new skills, building side income, staying consistent with job applications. Focus on what you can control; release what you can't.

🎭 The Imposter Syndrome

Even when you finally get a job or start earning money, imposter syndrome hits hard. You feel like a fraud. Like you don't deserve the opportunity. Like they'll discover you're not actually qualified and fire you.

This is especially common for graduates who struggled to find work and then suddenly succeed. The transition from rejection to acceptance is so jarring that you can't believe it's real. You're waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I felt this way when my blog started making money. I kept thinking it was luck, a fluke, temporary. It took years to internalize that I actually earned my success through consistent effort. Your wins are not accidents—you worked for them.

⚖️ Managing Expectations vs. Reality

One of the hardest lessons after graduation is learning to reconcile your expectations with reality. Most graduates have wildly unrealistic expectations because nobody prepared them for what life actually looks like post-university.

📊 What You Expected vs. What You Got

Expected: Land a great job within 3 months of graduation
Reality: Send 200+ applications over 6-18 months before getting meaningful responses

Expected: Earn enough to be financially independent immediately
Reality: Struggle to cover basic expenses for years, often still dependent on family

Expected: Use your degree and finally do work you're passionate about
Reality: Take whatever job you can get, often completely unrelated to your field

Expected: Respect and recognition for being a graduate
Reality: Nobody cares about your degree; they care about what value you can provide

Expected: Have your life figured out by 25
Reality: Still figuring it out at 30, and that's completely normal

💡 Shifting Your Mindset

The faster you let go of who you thought you'd be after graduation and accept who you actually are right now, the faster you can start building from where you are. Your degree doesn't define your worth. Your current job (or lack of one) doesn't define your potential. Your timeline doesn't need to match anyone else's.

🎯 Redefining Success

In university, success was clear—pass your exams, get good grades, graduate. After graduation, success becomes ambiguous. Is it getting any job? Getting a good job? Making a certain amount of money? Being independent? Having work-life balance?

You need to define success for yourself based on your values and circumstances, not society's expectations. For me, success shifted from "getting employed" to "building something sustainable that gives me freedom." That mental shift changed everything.

Maybe your success is surviving your first year post-graduation without going into serious debt. Maybe it's learning a valuable skill even if you're unemployed. Maybe it's maintaining your mental health through the struggle. Small wins are still wins.

⏰ The Timeline Trap

Society creates arbitrary timelines: graduate at 22, get a job by 23, buy a car by 25, marry by 28, own a house by 30. These timelines are bullshit. They don't account for individual circumstances, economic realities, or personal choices.

I'm 32 now. Some of my mates from university are married with kids. Others are still single and focused on career. Some bought houses. Others are still renting. Some are doctors and lawyers. Others are entrepreneurs. Some are thriving. Others are still struggling. There is no universal timeline for success.

Stop measuring your progress against imaginary deadlines. Life is not a race with a fixed finish line. You're not "behind" just because someone else reached a milestone before you.

🛡️ Survival Strategies That Actually Work

Enough about the problems. Let's talk solutions. These are practical strategies that helped me and thousands of other Nigerian graduates survive and eventually thrive after graduation.

💼 Strategy 1: Stop Waiting for Perfect Jobs

The biggest mistake graduates make is waiting for their "dream job" while doing nothing. Take whatever legitimate work you can get—even if it's not in your field, even if it pays less than you hoped, even if it's "below" your degree.

Why? Because any income is better than zero income. Any work experience is better than a blank CV. Any professional environment teaches you skills university didn't. Plus, it's easier to find a better job when you already have a job.

I worked as a content writer for a small company earning ₦40,000 monthly while applying for better opportunities. That "small" job taught me skills I now use daily in my business. It paid some bills. It gave me professional references. It kept me productive instead of depressed at home.

🚀 Strategy 2: Build Side Income Immediately

Don't rely solely on employment. Start a side hustle from day one. Freelancing, tutoring, reselling, content creation, graphic design—whatever skills you have, monetize them.

Why? Because one income source is too risky in Nigeria's unstable economy. Companies fold. Salaries get delayed. You could lose your job tomorrow. Multiple income streams = financial security.

I started my blog as a side project while job hunting. It barely made money initially, but it kept me mentally engaged and eventually became my main income source. Many of my successful friends today built their current careers from side hustles they started while struggling post-graduation.

📚 Strategy 3: Invest in Skills, Not Just Job Applications

Sending 100 applications with the same mediocre CV gets the same result: rejection. Instead, spend that time learning high-value skills that make you actually employable.

Skills worth learning post-graduation:

Digital Marketing: Every business needs this; easy to learn and monetize
Data Analysis: High demand, good pay, learnable in 3-6 months
Content Writing/Copywriting: Flexible, remote-friendly, consistent demand
Graphic Design: Low barrier to entry, visual skills always needed
Basic Programming: Opens doors to tech jobs and freelancing
Video Editing: Growing demand with content creator economy

Free resources exist for all these skills. YouTube, Coursera, Google Digital Skills—you don't need money to upskill. You just need time and discipline.

Group of young professionals collaborating and learning together — Investing in skills and building community are key survival strategies for life after graduation

💰 Strategy 4: Live Below Your Means (Way Below)

Cut your expenses ruthlessly. Move to a cheaper area. Cook all your meals. Use public transport. Cancel subscriptions. Avoid lifestyle inflation. Save every kobo you can.

This sounds depressing, but it's temporary. The first 2-3 years post-graduation are about survival and foundation-building, not enjoyment. Sacrifice now so you can breathe later.

I lived in a self-contain in a rough neighborhood for two years. Ate rice and eggs most days. Walked distances to save transport money. Wore the same five outfits repeatedly. It sucked, but it kept me out of debt and allowed me to save capital for my business.

🤝 Strategy 5: Build Real Relationships, Not Just Networks

Forget transactional networking. Focus on building genuine relationships with people in fields you're interested in. Offer value before asking for favors. Be memorable for helping, not just asking.

Most of my career opportunities came from people I genuinely connected with, not people I "networked" with at events. Authentic relationships open doors that LinkedIn connections don't.

🧠 Strategy 6: Protect Your Mental Health Aggressively

Set boundaries with family pressure. Limit social media consumption. Find free or cheap stress relief—exercise, writing, meditation, whatever works. Talk to friends about your struggles instead of pretending.

Your mental health is not a luxury—it's a necessity. A depressed graduate can't job hunt effectively or build a business. Taking care of your mind is taking care of your future.

🎯 Finding Your Purpose Beyond the Degree

Here's a liberating truth: your degree doesn't determine your destiny. Many of the most successful people I know aren't working in the fields they studied. Their university major became irrelevant once they discovered what they're actually passionate about and good at.

🔄 The Career Pivot

I studied Mass Communication. I'm not a journalist, broadcaster, or PR professional. I'm an entrepreneur who writes about real-life issues and helps people make money online. My degree gave me writing and communication skills, but my actual career came from exploring interests outside my field of study.

Many graduates feel trapped by their degrees. "I studied Accounting, so I must be an accountant." "I studied Law, so I have to practice law." This thinking limits you. Your degree is a foundation, not a prison. You're allowed to pivot.

💡 Discovering What Actually Fulfills You

University rarely helps you discover your true calling. You chose your course at 16-17 years old based on limited life experience. Now you're older, wiser, more self-aware. You're allowed to discover that your passion lies elsewhere.

How to find your path:

Experiment: Try different side projects. Freelance in various fields. Test what energizes vs. drains you.
Notice patterns: What activities make time fly? What do people consistently praise you for? What would you do for free?
Follow curiosity: What topics do you research without being asked? What problems do you naturally want to solve?
Ignore prestige: Forget what sounds impressive. Focus on what feels right for YOU.

Purpose isn't found—it's built through experimentation, failure, and self-awareness. Give yourself permission to explore.

🌱 Growth Over Perfection

You don't need to have everything figured out right now. Your twenties are for exploration, not perfection. Try things. Fail. Learn. Adjust. Repeat.

I'm nine years post-graduation and still figuring things out. Still learning. Still evolving. The difference now? I'm comfortable with not having all the answers. I trust the process.

📚 Lessons I Wish I Knew on Graduation Day

If I could go back to June 2014 and talk to my newly graduated self, here's what I'd say:

1. Your Timeline is Yours Alone

Stop comparing. Your classmate who got a banking job isn't happier than you—they're just on a different path. Your friend who went for masters isn't more successful—they're just choosing a different route. Focus on your race, not everyone else's.

2. Rejection is Redirection

Every job I didn't get led me to opportunities I wouldn't have explored otherwise. That company that rejected me? I later discovered they had terrible work culture. That position I desperately wanted? Would have kept me stuck in a career I'd have hated. Trust that closed doors protect you sometimes.

3. Skills Trump Degrees

Your certificate gets you the interview. Your skills get you the job. Your results keep you employed. Invest more time building marketable skills than polishing your CV.

4. Side Hustles Save Lives

Every successful person I know has multiple income streams. Start building yours from day one. That "small" side hustle you're embarrassed about? It might become your main thing.

5. It's Okay to Not Be Okay

Struggling after graduation doesn't mean you're a failure. Feeling lost doesn't mean something's wrong with you. Taking longer to "figure it out" doesn't make you less capable. This transition is genuinely difficult for everyone—some people just hide it better.

6. Your Network is Your Net Worth

But not in the shallow, transactional way. Build genuine relationships. Help people without expecting immediate returns. Be memorable for your character, not just your credentials. Real connections compound over years.

7. Invest in Yourself First

Before worrying about meeting everyone's expectations, invest in your own growth. Learn skills. Build businesses. Develop yourself. A stronger you can help more people later.

8. The Struggle is Temporary

When you're in the thick of post-graduation hell, it feels permanent. It's not. The first 2-3 years are the hardest. Things genuinely do get easier as you gain experience, build skills, and find your footing.

✅ Key Takeaways

Life after graduation in Nigeria is fundamentally different from what university prepares you for—expect a jarring transition that tests your resilience, adaptability, and mental health in ways academic challenges never did.
The job market reality is harsh: over 500,000 graduates compete for less than 100,000 formal sector jobs annually. This means 80 percent won't get traditional employment immediately, regardless of qualifications or CGPA.
Your degree is a foundation, not a guarantee. Employers care more about practical skills, relevant experience, and value you can provide than your academic achievements or certificate class.
Financial survival requires earning at least ₦90,000-₦150,000 monthly in major cities, yet most entry-level jobs pay ₦50,000-₦80,000. This gap makes side hustles essential, not optional.
Mental health challenges after graduation—depression, anxiety, identity crisis—are extremely common but rarely discussed. Feeling lost, overwhelmed, or directionless doesn't mean you're failing; it means you're human navigating an overwhelming transition.
Relationships transform dramatically post-graduation. Most university friendships fade naturally through distance and different life paths. The ones that survive are those where both people deliberately invest despite changed circumstances.
Your timeline doesn't need to match anyone else's. Social media shows everyone's highlights while hiding their struggles. Comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to others' curated success stories is the fastest path to depression.
The fastest path to employability and income is building marketable skills (digital marketing, programming, content creation, data analysis) rather than just sending hundreds of generic job applications.
Living significantly below your means for the first 2-3 years post-graduation creates financial breathing room and allows you to save capital for future investments or business ventures.
Your degree doesn't determine your destiny. Many successful people pivot completely away from their fields of study once they discover their true interests and strengths. You're allowed to explore beyond what you studied.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it typically take Nigerian graduates to find their first job?

The reality varies widely, but most Nigerian graduates spend 6-18 months actively job hunting before landing their first formal employment. Some find work within 3 months through connections, while others take 2+ years despite strong qualifications. The average is around 12 months. However, this timeline shouldn't discourage you from building side income or learning new skills while searching—many successful people never got traditional employment and built alternative career paths instead.

Is it okay to take a job completely unrelated to my field of study?

Absolutely yes. Most successful people aren't working in their exact fields of study. Your degree gives you foundational skills (critical thinking, communication, problem-solving) that transfer across industries. Taking any legitimate job builds work experience, professional references, and income while you figure out your actual career path. Many graduates who took "random" first jobs later pivoted into careers they love. Work experience in any field is better than unemployment.

How do I handle family pressure about getting a job when I'm genuinely trying?

Have an honest conversation with your family about current economic realities—show them statistics about graduate unemployment rates if needed. Set clear boundaries about how often you discuss your job search. Focus conversations on what you're actively doing (skills you're learning, applications sent, side income you're building) rather than just the lack of results. Remember that most family pressure comes from concern, not malice. They want you to succeed but may not understand how different the job market is now from their time.

Should I go for my masters immediately or get work experience first?

Get work experience first unless you have full sponsorship for masters with no financial burden. Most Nigerian employers value practical experience over additional degrees for entry-level roles. Plus, working first helps you understand what specialization would actually benefit your career rather than choosing randomly. Masters is most valuable when you're clear about your career direction and can afford it without crippling debt. The exception: if you're going into academia or research where advanced degrees are mandatory.

How do I know if I should keep job hunting or focus on starting my own business?

Do both simultaneously if possible. Job hunt while building a side business or freelancing. This gives you multiple potential paths to income. Consider focusing primarily on business/freelancing if: you've been job hunting for 12+ months with no success, you have a skill you can monetize immediately, you have some savings to survive while building, or you genuinely prefer entrepreneurship over employment. But don't make it either/or—many successful entrepreneurs started their businesses while employed elsewhere.

What should I do if I'm depressed about my situation after graduation?

First, understand that post-graduation depression is extremely common and nothing to be ashamed of. Talk to someone you trust about what you're experiencing. Consider speaking with a counselor if feelings persist beyond two weeks—many universities offer free or affordable mental health services to recent graduates. Focus on small daily wins rather than the big picture. Exercise, maintain a routine, limit social media, and engage in activities that give you purpose. Most importantly, remember that your current struggle is temporary and doesn't define your future potential.

How can I survive financially if my salary or side income isn't enough?

Cut expenses ruthlessly: move to a cheaper area if possible, cook all meals at home, use public transport, eliminate non-essential subscriptions. Build multiple income streams even if small—tutoring, freelancing, reselling. Be honest with family about your financial reality rather than pretending and going into debt. Consider temporary arrangements like living with family or roommates to reduce rent burden. Most importantly, avoid debt for lifestyle expenses—only borrow for investments that generate returns. The first 2-3 years require extreme frugality, but it's temporary.

When does life after graduation actually get easier?

For most people, life significantly improves 2-3 years post-graduation once you have work experience, developed marketable skills, built some savings, and found your footing. The first year is typically the hardest, the second year shows improvement, and by year three most graduates have found some stability. However, timelines vary—some people hit their stride earlier, others take longer. The key is consistent effort in building skills and income streams rather than just waiting for things to magically improve.

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Samson Ese - Founder of Daily Reality NG

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About Samson Ese

Founder of Daily Reality NG

Helping everyday Nigerians navigate life, business, and digital opportunities since 2016. I've helped over 4,000 readers start making money online, and my sites currently serve 800,000+ monthly visitors across Africa. I graduated from the University of Lagos in 2014 and experienced every struggle discussed in this article before finding my path.

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