Five mistakes after Class 12 that can hurt a career, and how students can avoid them

Finishing school marks the end of one phase of life. Stepping out of the strict discipline of school into the colourful world of college, young people often feel they are completely free. They begin this new journey with big dreams: some want to become doctors, some engineers, and others want to make a mark in the corporate world. But without proper guidance, many students unknowingly make mistakes that they pay for throughout their lives.

Today, a college degree alone does not guarantee a job of one's choice. Companies no longer look only at bookish knowledge. They look for practical skills, experience and the right attitude. Students often spend the first few years of college merely having fun or without setting any direction. When the degree finally arrives, they realise that they lack the skills needed to survive in the job market. Here are five mistakes after Class 12 that can put a career at risk.

The first mistake is to rely only on the degree and not build skills. Most students do this. They believe companies will start offering packages worth lakhs of rupees as soon as they have the degree in hand. The reality is quite the opposite. Today's corporate world looks only at skills. If students have not learnt practical training in their field, coding, communication or digital skills, the degree will serve only to adorn a wall. Students should therefore keep upgrading their skills through online courses, internships and projects alongside their college studies.

The second mistake is to follow the crowd and choose a career without any real liking for it. Students often see which course their friends or neighbours are joining and, without making any enquiries, join the same crowd. Some go into engineering, others choose BCA or BBA, whether or not they are interested. When a path is chosen without interest or passion, the same studies begin to feel like a burden after some time and students cannot give their 100 per cent. A career path should be chosen only after recognising one's abilities, preferences and future demand; otherwise, half-hearted interest will mean never becoming an expert in that field.

The third mistake is to ignore networking and internships. In the early years of college, many students feel there is plenty of time for studies. They keep putting off internships and networking until the final year. This proves to be a big blunder. Good jobs today come through LinkedIn networking and references. If students have not connected with professionals during college, have not attended seminars and have not gained industry experience through internships, they will have to struggle a great deal even as freshers after getting the degree. Experience always outweighs bookish knowledge.

The fourth mistake is poor time management and a fear of failure. School and college life are worlds apart. In school, teachers constantly remind students of everything, but in college one has to set one's own discipline. Many young people waste most of their time watching reels on social media or in idle talk. They also panic over minor failures, or when an error comes up while coding. Consistent effort and the right use of time are the real key to success. Learning a little every day and improving oneself is what makes one stand apart from the crowd.

The fifth mistake is not working on communication skills and personality. However great a technical expert one may be, all that knowledge goes to waste if one cannot present one's views properly at an interview. Most students do not focus on improving their English, body language or manner of speaking. Excellent communication skills are essential for teamwork and client handling in the corporate world. Students should therefore start polishing their personality from their college days, take part in public speaking and make themselves confident professionals.