Don’t think about pay when choosing university course

My article last week about how excelling requires more than a degree in ‘popular’ courses elicited lots of response.

A lot of respondents agreed with me in principle. But even more people asked ‘the big question’: What would be the advice to an 18-year old who sat his KCSE exams and is contemplating career choices?

READ: Excelling requires more than a degree in ‘popular’ courses

To answer that question, I will work from the known to the unknown.

A few years ago, tech entrepreneur Daniel Gulati sat down with 30 professionals between the ages of 28 and 58 and asked each of them what they regretted most about their careers. The group was made up of an investment banker, a failing self-employed photographer, a millionaire entrepreneur, and a Fortune 500 CEO.

Across all age groups — and despite success level — they all shared five themes in common on top career regrets. Importantly, the effects of bad career decisions and disconfirmed expectancies were felt equally across the age groups. And do you know what the group’s top career regret was?

“I wish I hadn’t taken the job for the money.”

By far, the biggest regret of all came from those who opted into high-paying but ultimately dissatisfying careers. Classic research proves that compensation is a “hygiene” factor, not a true motivator. What was surprising, though, were the feelings of helplessness these individuals were facing.

Lamented one investment banker: “I dream of quitting every day, but I have too many commitments.” Another consultant said: “I’d love to leave the stress behind, but I don’t think I’d be good at anything else.” Clearly, whoever called them golden handcuffs wasn’t joking.

Adam, one of my avid readers, reminded me of something in the US called a GAP year. Kids fresh out of high school take a year to do apprenticeship in the field they think they want to specialise. Some are so good that they get the job even before joining a university or college and work as they study after the GAP year. Others see the realities of the field and choose another path.

More often than not, college students commit themselves to one area of study, realise it’s not for them, and then swap to a completely different major. A GAP year enables you to realise what you love before you start studying. This helps you to cut down on coursework, tuition bills and stress.

The other option you can take up is apprenticeship. As an apprentice, there will always be someone to show you how things are done. If you have questions about techniques, terminology or anything related to the industry that you fancy, you can ask your manager. Asking questions, taking on more responsibility and trying new things will help you to get better in life.

People like Paul Muite were apprentices to lawyers. Maina Kageni and Swaleh Mdoe did their mass communication courses after they got their jobs at TV and radio stations. I doubt if anyone with a First Class degree in Mass Communications can force them out of their jobs.

Once you have completed your apprenticeship, you’ll have a world of options open to you. You may be able to carry on working in the same place, or look for a similar job in a different company. Having industry experience is important when getting your first job, so being able to show that you’ve got that plus qualifications will give you a huge advantage over other applicants.

Another thing I will always recommend for KSCE graduate to do is to travel. If you’ve travelled the wider world in all its complexity and glory, you’ll understand there are bigger issues for humanity than a failed date night or lost game of pool.

Nicholas Kristof, a Rhodes Scholar, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and star columnist for the New York Times has this to say about GAP years: “The bottom line is that you’ll almost certainly learn more from a GAP year than you will in any single year in college.” Education, at its core, is about accumulating intimate knowledge of the world. Go ahead and get one.

Mr Waswa is a management and HR specialist and managing director of Outdoors Africa. E-mail: [email protected].