EDUCATION

After Higher National Diploma (HND) Certificate, What Next? 11 Things to Do After Your HND

This article is a continuation of my previous post on what comes next after National Diploma (ND) in polytechnic. If you are reading this, you are probably an HND graduate who wants to know what comes next after HND.

In this article, we will explore 11 important things you can choose to do after your HND certificate and other career opportunities for HND graduates in Nigeria.

After Higher National Diploma (HND) Certificate, What Next?

Below are the important things to do after your HND certificate:

1. NYSC.

National Youth Service Corps is the next step awaiting you after your HND program, and that’s if you are not over 30 years of age. Although some schools do not mobilize their part-time graduates for NYSC, If you are under 30, then NYSC is the next step. This program is compulsory for all graduates, and it will last for a year. I’m very sure this isn’t new to you by now, as your school must have done some orientation for you about NYSC.

During your NYSC program, you will learn a lot of things and get exposed to many career opportunities that will help you later in life.

2. Do Something While Waiting for Mobilization.

Sometimes it takes about six months to one year for you to be mobilized for NYSC, depending on how fast your school is. I’m very sure your result won’t be released or approved immediately until after a few months. During this period, make use of this opportunity to learn new skills that you have a passion for.

The reason why this is important is that there is no assurance of you securing a job immediately after your service year or graduation, and as they say, “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop,” so lay your hands on something productive. Most graduates find it difficult to learn skills after service because some of them feel too big to learn considering their certificates. Now is the right time to take your shot.

I could still remember when we graduated from school that year. A friend of mine who learned Nail Tech within a year before we were mobilized for service now has a mini shop in her home, and luckily for her, she was retained as a permanent staff member in the company where she was posted to serve.

Now she’s making double money, one with her HND certificate and the other with her skills. What about you? You might not have this same opportunity, and for you not to get frustrated after all these struggles in school, I think it would be the best decision if you could make use of this opportunity to learn some skills.

You could try learning online business, offline business, trade, or other handwork that is highly demanded. You can also learn skills that are related to your target profession.

3. Save, Save, And Save.

By now, you already have a skill, whether in online or offline business, and you are about to go for service or you are already there. The Federal government will pay you a certain amount for 12 months, and you must strive hard to make sure that you save. Do not spend the money lavishly. Although it is difficult to save money nowadays considering the cost of foodstuffs, fuel, and other commodities, which have skyrocketed.

Nevertheless, you must try to save from the allowance, and this is why I said earlier that before you go for service, you should have some backup skills, handwork, or business that you can use to sustain yourself. I was able to save up to #80,000 throughout my service year, which I invested in my online business.

Make sure you discipline yourself to save money so that by the time you pass out, you can smile and start life, but things may be difficult for you if you don’t have any savings to start life and have nobody to support you. If you don’t want to get broke after graduation, make sure you discipline yourself to save.

4. Secure A Job and Add More Skills to Your Cv.

By now, you are done with NYSC and ripe for employment opportunities. You need to make yourself valuable to employers. How? participate in numerous certificates from seminars, workshops, short courses, and other kinds of training.

What you need to do at this stage is participate in some training that is aligned with your field of study or the kind of career you want to pursue. This will convince the management of the company you applied to that you have acquired enough skills to contribute to their business.

5. Start a Business.

Everyone can’t be lucky when it comes to securing jobs in Nigeria, so if you are among the few unlucky ones, why not start your own business or render services that are aligned with your HND certificate? For instance, if you are an HND computer science graduate, you can set up a mini office for yourself and render services for people like computer applications, data processing, or teaching people about computers. Here, you need to think big and start small.

6. Build Connections.

Influence can also help you stand out among your competitors in the labor market. You need to make more friends and connect with people, especially high-ranking professionals, businessmen and women, or entrepreneurs who may have a wide range of connections and influence.

Any organization, whether private or public, values high-profile people for strong support, so if you can build a strong connection, securing a job in the labor market will be easier.

Building an active connection is not easy, but you can start by being friendly with everyone you meet, joining many organizations and social groups, and from there, you can get a wide range of friends who can help you in some ways.

7. Be Careful of What You Post on Social Media.

As a fresh graduate who is hunting for a job, you must be careful about what you post or share on your social media accounts because some companies check the social media accounts of employees as part of their screening process.

Make sure your profile appears as professional as possible. Use your real name and avoid dragging people online, posting indecent photos, or saying negative things that may hurt your chances of getting a job.

8. Study Further (Convert your HND to a Degree).

Proceeding with postgraduate studies can also increase your demand as a professional. As an HND graduate, do not rely on that certificate; make sure you study further, convert your HND to a degree through any of the universities that offer the program, or proceed to a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD). Further degrees and diploma certificates can help you a lot in terms of getting promotions, more income, and other opportunities that are aligned with your career.

9. Love and Put Effort into What You Do.

One of the steps to being productive in what you do is to put in more effort and love your work. If possible, you face a lot of pressure, lack of compensation, and other challenges from the company you work for, you will end up stressed and complaining. So you need to put more effort into performing your role well and loving whatever work you do.

By loving your work, you will be motivated to do your best and impress your boss. Avoid badmouthing your employer or the company you work with; instead, you can just report formally to your boss the concerns you notice and suggest some ideas that can help the company become better.

10. Aim Higher.

If you want to earn more, then do not settle for a lower salary with monthly pay. You could manage it for a while, but it’s not an income you should depend on for your life. Perhaps why settle for being an instructor when you can save to build your own coaching center?

Even a government job isn’t reliable, as you need to have some backup skills to keep you going, and this is why you see many civil servants investing their money so they can earn more. What does this have to tell you? Aim higher, discover your talents and potential, and find what you are passionate about, and you will live a fulfilling life.

11. Your Certificate Doesn’t Guarantee Jobs.

As an HND holder, it is important you understand that your certificate doesn’t guarantee a job; rather, your skills and other things that you can offer are one of the few things that can make you a productive graduate. So before hunting for jobs, make sure you equip yourself with a lot of skills. In case Road A is blocked, at least you can make use of Road B.

Can I do masters after my HND?

According to the stipulated procedure, you can’t do a master’s directly after your HND. You would have to do your postgraduate diploma (PGD) or apply for a BSC (Degree), which takes between 1-2 years. After this program, you can now apply for a master’s degree with your PGD or BSC certificate.

Can I go for HND to degree?

Yes, you can go for HND to degree program after your HND certificate. I personally recommend this program for all HND graduates because it is affordable and less stressful.

How do I upgrade from HND to BSC?

There are three ways to upgrade your HND certificate to a BSC: Through the HND to BSC conversion program, through direct entry, or through a postgraduate diploma (PGD).

(I) HND to BSC: The HND to BSC conversion program is a 1-2 year Program that enables HND holders to upgrade their certificate to a first degree (BSC). This program is being offered by some universities in Nigeria. Please read my previous article about everything you need to know about the HND to BSC conversion program to understand it better.

(II) Apply for Direct Entry: You can apply for direct entry after your HND program. Here, you will be admitted to 300 level, and after the program, you will be issued a degree certificate.

(III) Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): This program is specifically designed for HND holders, and it doesn’t require much stress like the 1-2 options above. This program is being offered by some accredited universities and affiliated polytechnics in Nigeria. The PGD certificate is equivalent to a BSC degree.

IN CONCLUSION:

There are a few things you can do next after obtaining your HND certificate. The first step is to go for NYSC, and after this, participate in seminar workshops or other kinds of training to have enough skills to contribute to your employer’s business. Submit your CV to companies, hunt for jobs, and most importantly, learn additional skills. Remember, more skills equal more money.

In case you are not lucky enough to secure a job, at least you can start life with the skills that you have. Also, study further and convert your HND to a first degree, a master’s degree, etc. The more qualifications you have, the higher your chance of getting your dream job. I hope this article is helpful to you. Kindly drop your comments in the box below. Thanks for reading.