The Hidden Curriculum: What School Didn’t Teach You About Getting Hired- Part1

In the recent World Bank report we saw a probability of a slight increase in unemployment to 6.5%, meaning more people could be jobless, whereas in 2026 it's expected to improve to 5.5%, meaning fewer people will be without jobs.

Most university programmes are slow to adapt to the evolving industry needs, and students graduate knowing only the theory bit but lacking the practical or technical skills that employers demand.

For example, a computer graduate may never learn how to code secure applications apart from a simple system management or even how to use tools like GitHub - yet these are daily tools used in the job market or a marketing student learning how to curate content and visualise statistics on social media accounts, yet these are skills needed for the job.

The current education system focuses on one’s grades over practical skills, leading to credential inflation; more people have degrees, but fewer have experience or project portfolios to showcase, and because most students lack this information, some end up rage tearing up their certification papers or even end up depressed.

Either way, there is still so much hope, and we just need to find a hack to bridge this gap for current students and recent graduates.

Upskilling Platforms

There are so many platforms online for upskilling : a few examples are

• • LinkedIn Learning (for learning soft skills, leadership, project management)

• Coursera/edX

• Google Career Certificates are great for fields like IT Support, Data Analytics , UX Design, etc.

• Free code camp that helps one learn to code in any language

• ALX/Andela/Moringa (These are examples of Africa-focused career learning programmes.)

Take at least one course per semester to supplement the school degree.

Imagine this: taking one course per month , by the end of the year you would have 12 more ways to be employable in a year.

Did you know with a student email , one can apply to so many opportunities? For example, one common one is the free GitHub Student Developer Pack, which has over 60 courses that help one in upskilling.

Why Soft Skills Matter.

The difference between a good developer and a great one is not technical skills but communication. - Patrick McKenzie

While technical skills may help in carrying out specific tasks , soft skills help organisations make progress towards their objectives. Soft skills, often called people skills, are needed for a healthy and productive work environment.

Developing soft skills can be done through seeking feedback , taking online courses for soft skills development, adaptability , engaging in team projects to foster collaboration, embracing networking and, most importantly, mastering emotional intelligence. It could also be as simple as actively participating in group assignments or presenting demos in class.

Importance of Internships , Volunteering and Freelancing

Whether it’s writing GitHub code or scripting, design or marketing content , having something visible to show makes a graduate far more hireable.

There are so many instances where graduates complain the job description requires a certain level of experience from them. Internships , volunteering and freelancing are some of the starter packs for gaining experience.

Networking and Online Presence

Learn how to sell yourself. Someone once mentioned that the CV/resume is like a knock on the door; on the other side of the door is a stranger waiting to hear you pitch how beneficial or what kind of impact you can make for them to consider you.

Join communities doing similar things to what you do, and attend webinars.

It doesn’t hurt to ask; you can always reach out to connect with alumni or even members from the community to connect you to internships or job leads.

Showcase samples of your work on LinkedIn or a personal websites. Make some noise- you never know who is watching and cheering you on.

Interviewing

Once you land an interview, it is important to prepare adequately. Be sure to review the job description and even understand the company’s culture.

“Do not wing it.“

Craft a compelling elevator pitch about yourself for your introduction. This should be short and straight to the point. The Muse platform is a great platform to learn how to handle situational/behavioural interviews.

Having a job Interview anxiety is common, and one can overcome it by practising relaxation exercises and thinking positively, as this will empower and motivate you in the interview. Lastly, seeking support could be from mentors or talking to others who are experts in the area.

The Mental Game

In Darrin Donnelly's book , he tells of a story where Jack finds a way to navigate his self-doubts and eventually his golf games along with his mindset , which is a major stepping stone in his tournament and then to his career. Ideally, it's more about taking control of our thoughts and making them work for us instead of against us.

We have to find a way to accept rejections, as they are part of growth, especially in a tech career where there is also a long application process. Better to receive a rejection than no feedback at all, as this is a good way to track and also improve from the feedback received.

In conclusion,

Any student or any recent graduate, no matter the course studied in school, we have to go an extra mile and also learn extra skills; they could be digital skills, social media skills or even coding at the basic level. This helps one to stand out from the crowd and also have a stepping stone to the job market.