One thing that I wish I knew since I was at university is that self-employment is really an option worth to consider.
I never knew this in university, when they taught us of entrepreneurship, it was mainly how I could bring my creativity to the office, not how I can use my creative side to stand on my own. Sometimes I regret not knowing these things early, but then I am using all these regrets for good by sharing with current university students, things that I wish I knew while in uni.
I wish I had prepared myself for self-employment, and here is how I wish I had done it and how you can do so now before it becomes too late for you too.
Put self-employment as a priority
Don’t think of only how you can make yourself employable, think of how you can employ yourself. In fact, you can practice it while at university. Universities in Tanzania are pouring thousands of graduates every year. The window of getting employment is getting narrow every day.
Brainstorm business ideas
Think of ideas, passions, your strength and weakness, what problem can you solve, where do you fit and what’s your desire. Take your time to do a market research —is there a demand in what you’re trying to do? For example, you can look at the SDGs and see which among the goals you can bring a solution to.
Geg the necessary skills
Whether you want to employ yourself or being employed, you need the right skills. Your time at the university is perfect for learning multiple skills that will help you in the long run. Use this time to go beyond what is taught in class. You can learn skills that will help you forge your own job. You can look for courses online such as coding, graphic designing, photography, writing and more.
Save money
When it comes to employing yourself, the biggest obstacle for is capital. It is the problem that holds many entrepreneurs from scaling. Most of us are not good at saving but it is a necessity if we really want to venture into entrepreneurship. While everyone will be enjoying campus life and spend big, it’s time for you to start saving. You can start saving money with however amount you want. Trust me, it will help you on getting started with your business.
Find mentors
We all need someone we can look up to. The important part of your journey is to learn from those who are already doing it. You can intern in their companies or startups and gain insights on how to get started with your entrepreneurial venture. A book can also be just as good.
And that’s how I wished I had prepared myself to start my own business after uni.
This article was written by Eunice Tossy. She is a blogger at abiblegirl.com where she shares simple life tips to millennials. If you’re at university, check out her YouTube channel to learn insights on how you can ace your studies and have fun at the same time.
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