Ogudos Scholars News

Almost every student has a LinkedIn profile. Most of us create it because we're told we're "supposed to," so we copy and paste our CV details, upload a profile picture, and then let it gather digital dust. This is like owning a powerful car and never taking it out of first gear. Your LinkedIn profile is not a static, online version of your CV. It is a dynamic, living network and a personal branding tool. A great profile doesn't just list your accomplishments; it tells your professional story, connects you with industry insiders, and actively works to bring opportunities  to you . If you've been treating your LinkedIn like a document storage site, it's time for an upgrade. Here are five steps to transform your profile from a passive CV into a powerful career tool. 1. Craft a Headline That Sells Your Value, Not Just Your Status By default, LinkedIn makes your headline "Student at [Your University]." This is the most wasted piece of real estate on y...

For most Nigerian students and recent graduates, LinkedIn is a mystery. You're told you have to be on it, so you upload a picture, list your university, and then... what? You start sending random connection requests, hoping that one of them will magically turn into a job offer. This is the "connect and pray" strategy, and it almost never works. LinkedIn is not a passive CV website; it is an active professional networking tool. It’s a virtual room filled with recruiters, HR managers, and industry leaders. Just standing in the room silently won't get you noticed. You need a strategy to navigate the room, start conversations, and showcase your value. Here is a step-by-step guide to transform your LinkedIn profile from a dusty resume into a powerful career-building machine. 1. Your Profile is Your Billboard, Not Your Diary Before you do anything else, you must optimize your profile. This is your personal advertisement. When a recruiter lands on your page, they should know...

The graduation gown is returned, the celebratory messages have slowed down, and the reality of life after university begins to set in. You've done everything right—you earned your degree, and now you're ready to start your career. But there's a challenging phase that nobody prepares you for: the "waiting period." It's the uncertain time between your final handshake at graduation and your first handshake at a new job. For many, this period can be filled with anxiety, self-doubt, and the frustrating feeling of losing momentum. Don't let this waiting period become a "wasted period." With the right strategy, you can transform this time of uncertainty into one of the most productive phases of your life. Here is your 4-step action plan to stay sane, sharp, and get ahead. Step 1: The Decompression Phase (1-2 Weeks) First, breathe. You have just completed a grueling four or five-year academic marathon. You are mentally and physically exhausted. Pushing y...

  The air in the waiting room is cold, but your palms are sweating. You’ve submitted the perfect CV, and now you are face-to-face with an interviewer. They smile, look at your CV, and then ask a question that seems simple but is secretly a minefield. Job interviews are not just about what you know; they are a performance. The interviewer is testing your confidence, your communication skills, and your ability to think under pressure. Certain questions are specifically designed to see how you handle that pressure. For fresh graduates, three of these questions cause the most panic. Let's break down the strategy for answering them so you can walk into your next interview with confidence, not fear. 1. The Ambush Question: "So, tell me about yourself." The Trap: This is not an invitation to share your life story, your hobbies, or your family history. It is a test of your ability to communicate concisely and professionally. A rambling, unfocused answer is the fastest way to lose...

It’s the ultimate paradox for every fresh graduate. You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. You stare at a blank page, the words "Work Experience" mocking you. How can you possibly fill a CV when you've spent the last four years in lecture halls, not boardrooms? Here's the secret: you have more experience than you think. Experience isn't just a 9-to-5 job with a formal title. For a graduate, experience is a collection of skills, projects, and accomplishments that prove your potential. Your task isn't to invent a work history; it's to learn how to expertly showcase the valuable experience you already have. This guide will teach you how to reframe your journey and write a CV that makes recruiters see you as a promising candidate, not a blank slate. The Mindset Shift: You're Selling Potential, Not History First, understand what a recruiter for an entry-level role is looking for. They are not expecting a decade of corporate ...

The pressure is immense. It's the mountain of textbooks you have to read, the back-to-back lectures, the looming deadline for a term paper, and the constant, quiet anxiety about exams. In the competitive environment of a Nigerian university, it's easy to believe that the only path to success is to work harder, sleep less, and push through the exhaustion. But soon, the exhaustion starts to push back. Your focus shatters, your motivation disappears, and even simple tasks feel impossible. This isn't laziness; it's burnout. Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It's a serious condition that can sabotage your grades and your well-being. The solution isn't to just "try harder." It's to work smarter and care for your most important academic asset: your mind. Here are six practical, realistic strategies to manage student burnout. 1. Master the "Power Hour" Technique Vaguely "studying...

The student life is a constant balancing act. Balancing lectures with assignments, a social life with sleep, and, most pressingly, balancing your dreams with your bank account. The "urgent 2k" meme is popular for a reason—financial pressure is real, constant, and stressful. But what if you could move beyond just surviving and start building a stable, independent income? A good side hustle doesn't just provide extra cash; it builds your skills, your confidence, and your CV. The key is finding one that complements your studies, not competes with them. Here are five practical side hustles perfectly suited for a busy Nigerian student. 1. The Brainy Hustle: Academic Tutoring This is the classic student side hustle, and for good reason. You already have the knowledge. The What: Offer paid tutoring services to students in the year below you, or to your coursemates, in a subject where you excel. Are you a master of Organic Chemistry? A wizard at Constitutional Law? Monetize that...