If you’ve just joined university, here’s something you need to understand right from the start: forget about the idea that someone owes you a job.

That uncle who promised to “get you a job after school” is most likely just hyping you up without any real plan. The truth is, the job market doesn’t work like that. No one owes you a job.

The first thing you need to realize when you join university is that it’s not just about academics—it’s a social setting.

The people you meet there might become crucial connections later on in life. In fact, many businesses we see today were started in college dorm rooms by people who used the relationships they built at university. So, take advantage of this social environment.

Learn new skills. We live in a time where everything you want to know is available at your fingertips. YouTube, for example, is like a university on its own.

Learn web design, video editing, social media management, digital marketing—skills that are actually relevant in today’s economy. The more skills you acquire, the better your chances of succeeding, even before you graduate.

Many students enter university with the mindset that they’ll land a perfect job in a corner office.

But the reality is different. Most graduates are struggling to find employment. Some even go back to school to learn practical crafts like carpentry or construction just to stay afloat.

So instead of chasing that dream job that might not exist, focus on learning skills that will make you marketable and independent.

If you take on this mindset early, you’ll be ahead of the game by the time you leave university.