From fresh grad to Entrepreneur, create your own job after college

CEBU, Philippines - It’s the month of March and soon schools will be having their commencement exercises ushering in a new batch of fresh graduates to the real world.

After leaving the halls of the university, these graduates will be faced with two options: to apply for a job in an established company or take the risk of starting one’s own small business.

For those who are facing dim job opportunities after graduation, heading towards the entrepreneurial path is definitely a wise and good option to take.

Starting a business has offered a lot of advantages, good working experience and fulfillment to entrepreneurs and aspiring ones as it allows them to choose the industry that they love and develop their own goals, according to a Cebuano entrepreneur.

66-year-old Rico S. Salma, who is also teaching business management and entrepreneurship at a university in Cebu City, said going into business is a great venture while an individual is still searching for an employment in a company.

In fact, some people choose this path as they desire to become their own boss allowing them to be successful and productive in what they’re doing than waiting for a company to accept their application, he added.

“But there are some who are just contented of just being employees,” Salma said. “Even entrepreneurship and business administration graduates end up as clerks. That’s because they are afraid to take the risk.”

Salma said the fear of trying to face the challenge of running a business is what’s stopping anyone to enter the industry stressing that, “Going to a business means you must be a risk taker. It takes also confidence ug salig sa kaugalingon in being a manager of your own business.”

It is a big challenge particularly for graduates of business-related degree programs to get out of their comfort zones and dare to build success as a self-made entrepreneur.

Salma, who also owns John Dominic Taxi and tricycle service, said that any graduate from any degree program can make the right choice and determine their future in self-employment.

Although he said it is reality that some people adapt the “ningas cogon” attitude which suggests that a person is only good at the start of an endeavor. “If the business is not doing good, they easily give up. That’s not a good attitude. It’s not a guarantee you can make money diha-diha. It will just come--persevere and be patient.”

Salma mentioned some of the business trends or ideas that young graduates can engage in:

1. Food Service. There are a lot of options on what kind of

food-oriented small business to start. Food is a basic need and it always guarantees an active trade. Making home-made products is a good way to start. However, it is always advisable to choose the one you love and something you have enough knowledge on.

This is the easiest and most affordable venture as it only requires a low start-up capital. An individual has all the freedom to build a food stall in the neighborhood. A person may also rent a space to start an eatery which, Salma said, should be situated in a place easily accessed by people.

2. Business Networking. It is a low-cost product marketing business done through recruiting members for a group to increase sales opportunities. And employed members would also recruit more people to expand connections. Salma advised those people planning to do networking to choose the right and known product.

3. Direct Selling. This is usually common among women but, the truth is, anyone can actually do direct sales business. A number of companies offer products--food supplements, cookware, cosmetics, shoes, clothes, real estate, etc.--that are good for marketing.

      Salma noted that it doesn’t really take a large capital to be in this business but it’s important to choose the right products to sell.

4. Vending. Many vending machines offer various consumable products such as snack foods, coffee, water, softdrinks and personal hygiene. Purified Water Vending Machine or popularly known as “Automatic Tubig Machines (ATM)” is the most thriving as these can be set up in many places. For instance, barangay Ermita resident Bernadita Rivera, who owns one, can withdraw a minimum of P300 a day, an amount which she said, is already big enough.

5. Tutorial Service. It takes some guts to believe in your capability to teach and impart knowledge. Having just finished a degree means that you can be an expert at a certain subject. The things that a student has studied for about 4 years in college can be well used to earn an income. A graduate who knows a required subject can teach local elementary and high school students as a sideline business. (FREEMAN)