career freedom
volume 1
planning your career
a practical career guidebook to help you plan, design and manage your career life
by Loy Okezie
personal guide to career freedom
volume 1: planning your career
Copyright © 2009 Loy Okezie
This e-book is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoncommercialNo Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. This means that you can share and distribute this work, as long as you do not use it for commercial gain, and you credit the author. For more information, you can visit www.creativecommons.org
Designed and Edited by Loy Cover Image via Flickr by Laura Travels Published online by www.LoyOkezie.com
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personal guide to career freedom
volume 1: planning your career
contents
introduction ............................................................ 4
1. are you looking for a job or seeking a career? .......................5 2. does your career life have a plan, purpose or goal? ................7 3. how to define a successful career goal ...............................8 4. how to write your own career statement.............................12 5. how a personal mission statement can get you a job...............14 6. what motivates your choice of job or career? .......................16 7. how to increase your job security .....................................18 8. how to succeed in any job interview ..................................20 9. how to make the right career decisions ..............................22 10. are you an employable person?.........................................26 11. the 5p's of successful job search .......................................28 12. how youth initiatives can boost your career .........................31 13. the barriers to effective job search ...................................33 14. what if your degree can't get you a job? ..............................35 15. lessons from asking questions at job interviews .....................37 16. steps to finding a trainee placement or internship job.............39 17. how fresh graduates can structure a winning cv ....................41 18. 10 insightful questions to ask your next job interviewer...........43
what next? .............................................................. 45 the author............................................................... 46
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personal guide to career freedom
volume 1: planning your career
introduction
Do you have a career dream? Are you moving towards your career goal? Or are you at a career crossroad? What are the challenges in your career path? Is it that you don't have a career plan? Career purpose? Career passion? Personal Guide to Career Freedom [Volume 1] has been specially designed to teach you how to plan and design your career life. Some parts of the ebook were compiled from career articles I have published online in the past. This e-book is the result of several of my coaching sessions with clients from different backgrounds, but with one career purpose:
acquire career intelligence achieve career mastery and attain career freedom
to
Throughout the e-book, you will find interactive exercises that will help you really internalize and personalize your own career experiences, with series of questions and suggestions to enable you find the solutions to your career challenges. Before you start your career journey through this e-book, I'm going to ask you to leave your baggage of career worries, because where you are going, you'll only need an open mind. Take what serves you and discard what does not. Remember: This e-book is only a guide. You are the only person who can solve your career problems. So challenge yourself and take charge! Are you ready to attain career freedom? Start by planning your career.
Loy Okezie
if you would like to hire me as your career coach, kindly send an introductory email via: speak@loyokezie.com
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personal guide to career freedom
volume 1: planning your career
1. are you looking for a job or seeking a career?
A young man is being offered a job as a Marketer in a Lagos bank with a salary package of 140 000 naira and an Engineering job in an Oil firm in Port Harcourt that offers 60 000 naira. The bank branch office is located a stone's throw from his house, while the engineering firm is several kilometres away from home. This guy has an engineering background and a passion to become a professional in the field. At the same time he needs money to save and possibly go for further studies and certification programmes. On the other hand, he is uncertain if he would be able to meet the 200 million naira in 3 months target requirement as a marketer in that bank. Now the question is: Should this guy take the Engineering job and hope for a better future? Or should he go for the Banking job and save enough money for future studies? I find this situation very interesting because it raises a very important question that every job seeker should ask:
are my looking for a job or seeking a career?
To help you in answering this question, let me define a job and a career.
what is a job?
“a principal activity in your life that you do to earn a monthly income.”
what is a career?
“a particular occupation which you are trained for that generates you multiple streams of income.”
Now that you know the difference between a job and a career,
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what are you looking for in your life? a job? or a career?
If you are able to answer this question, you’ll know what you really want to do with your life, which is what to do - the first step in taking charge of your career life. The second step, how to do is what I’ll be glad to help you answer in this career guidebook. But wait a minute… Does your life have a plan, purpose or goal?
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2. does your career life have a
plan, purpose or goal?
Imagine that you woke up one morning and decided to go out without a plan, purpose or goal? You hit the streets and see people going here and there, but you kept asking yourself: Where am I going? After wandering for hours, you become tired and frustrated. Even the roads have become confusing and you wonder how you would get back home. At the end of the day, you go to bed - depressed! Perhaps you’ve not experienced the above situation in your life, but what about in your career life? Does your career life have a plan, purpose or goal? Do you have a career goal? Many people today are not sure about what career they want, thus no career goal! What about you? If you ask anyone who is a recent graduate today which company he or she would like to work with, you might get any of these replies: “Ah, MTN of course! They pay well and have more coverage and customers than any other network!” “Man, I want a career in Oceanic Bank. I admire their core values of Transparency. Equal Opportunity. Accountability. Merit. Service Excellence. I think my values can really contribute to the bank’s growth and development.” “Oh boy, my Dad is fixing me up with a job in Chevron with his connections. I don’t really care about the job. I need the oil money.” Now, which of the above responses best fits what you are likely to say when asked the same question?
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3. how to define a successful career goal
Just as a football player needs goals to become a well-sought-after worldclass player in his football career, so also you need smart and specific goals if you want to be successful in your career life. About four years ago, I asked a group of final year University students about their career goals during one of my job interview skills training sessions. Surprisingly, some of them were unsure about their career direction and could not come up with a clearly defined career goal. Before setting specific goals for your career life or path, whether you are looking for a job or you want to advance in your current job or you want to move to another career path, you should spend some time to clearly define a successful career goal. The first step to help you clearly define a successful career goal is:
discovering your purpose
Since every organization has a purpose, mission, vision and value, every individual should have also. What are your life’s purpose, mission, vision and values? Before applying for a job in MTN Nigeria or Oceanic Bank, ask yourself, what is the mission, vision, and values of MTN Nigeria or Oceanic Bank? Will my personal purpose, mission, vision and values support those of MTN Nigeria or Oceanic Bank? Now, what if you already have a job as a Marketer in Zenith Bank and you have been offered (what you might consider) a better job in terms of (remuneration package, and other job-related benefits) in Total Plc as a Field Sales and Marketing Officer. As tempting as this offer may seem, how can you make the decision to either stay at Zenith Bank or move to Total Plc? The next step to help you clearly define a successful career goal will answer this question. In order to succeed in Nigeria’s highly competitive job environment, you need the right skills to match the right jobs. Granted, we see situations where square pegs are placed in round holes. For example, a graduate of Geography working in a Bank? That’s ridiculous! But, it is what we have come to accept in our ever-changing Nigerian job environment. No wonder there are little or no professionals and experts in GIS, mapping and remote
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sensing, when other countries are using their experts in these fields in the right places. But, as a job seeker who needs the right job in relation to your career goals, you must possess the skills needed to grab the right job and further pursue a successful career. These skills are within your reach, if you simply reach out!
identifying your skills
How can you do this? Whatever your field of study, you must have had interests that made you pursue that course of study. For example, if you are an engineering graduate, you may have been interested in a career in an oil company, an industrial outfit, a chemical company, or perhaps the mechanics of construction, repairs and maintenance of equipments and machines. So ask yourself: What was my goal of taking that course of study? Does that goal still motivate me? Do I have other interests now? If you are to take charge or be in control of your career, you must ask yourself these questions. And it is only YOU that can ANSWER these questions. Once you have identified your current interests and passion, then you can easily match your current skills with your interests and passion. However, if you lack a certain skill, then you need to get some training before you can be able to take charge of your career and therefore move to the next level in your career life. Here are a few tips to help you identify your skills: Make a list of all your talents, skills, and abilities. As you do these, keep in mind these different intelligences that account for a broader range of abilities and potential in human beings as proposed by Dr. Howard Gardner, a professor of education at Harvard University.
•
•
•
•
Linguistic Intelligence - Using words to communicate and express yourself. Are you good at writing? Speaking in public? Communicating with others? Explaining things in simple terms? Logical/Mathematical Intelligence - Mathematical abilities and logical problem solving. Are you good with numbers? Good problem solving or analytical skills? Decision making? Analyzing situations? Solving puzzles? Spatial Intelligence - Spatial intelligence not only refers to your “picture smarts,” but also includes many of the right-brained activities such as art, imagination, creativity, inventiveness, ingenuity, and cleverness. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence - Your physical skills and abilities. Includes sports, agility, dance, entertainment, physical comedy,
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• •
•
•
athleticism, strength and any skills that involve the use of your hands (like drafting, crafting, woodworking, precision work, etc.) Musical Intelligence - Your musical talents and abilities. Interpersonal Intelligence - Your ability to build relationships and deal effectively with others. Includes talents such as persuasion, selling, networking, charm, making others feel comfortable, managing a team, conflict management, teamwork, cooperation, listening, charisma, and leadership. Intra-personal Intelligence - Your ability to deal effectively with yourself and your emotions. This includes abilities such as knowing yourself, recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, self-confidence, self-control, adaptability and flexibility to change, work ethic, commitment, initiative, persistence, empathy, political awareness, integrity, honesty, time management and overall character. Ecological Intelligence - Identifying and recognizing the patterns and relationships between things. For example, the way in which we are all connected to nature and to each other. Being able to see the big picture, spotting trends, seeing the long-term consequences of our actions, recognizing the potential in people, situations and ideas.
Thus, identifying your best skills can help you define a successful career goal and see you through your career path in any field of your interest.
identifying your interests
No doubt you have some things that interest you. Look around you. What sparks your curiosity? What would you like to know more about? What subjects or topics do you find exciting? What areas of knowledge would you like to explore? What field of endeavour would you like to get training? What have you always wanted to try but never attempted? If you could be an expert in any subject, what would it be? After brainstorming about the above exercise, make a list of all your interests. Is that too difficult? It shouldn’t be if you desire a successful career. While, doing this exercise, try to focus more on your intellectual interests, because that is where your strength lies - in your intellect!
“every man
without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act”
– Claude A. Helvetius
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identifying your passions
After you have identified all your interests, simply make a list of all your passions. At this stage you can easily discover your passions from your list of interests. What do you really enjoy doing? What gets you excited? What can you spend forever doing? What do you feel strongly or passionately about? If you could work in any field whatsoever, what would you choose and why? Right them down. Commit yourself to them. Let your passions drive you into action. At this stage you are gradually defining a career goal for yourself that would lead to a successful career life. But you are not there yet. There’s one more thing to do. Finding your major definite purpose and putting it in writing in form of a statement of purpose is the last step.
Photo courtesy of Laura Travels
“the best career advice given to the young is: find out what you like get
doing best and
you for doing it”
someone to pay
- Katherine Whitehorn
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4. how to write your own career statement
It was Napoleon Hill who introduced the concept of a major definite purpose in his classic book Think and Grow Rich. Your major definite purpose represents the main or central mission of your life at this moment. Our major definite purpose is often tied to our career and our work. Although for others it could be based more on spirituality, raising a family, leaving a legacy, or working for the community.
“what a different
story people would have to tell if they would adopt a definite purpose and stand by that
purpose until it had time to become an
all-consuming purpose”
- Napoleon Hill
(The above diagram shows the four areas, namely skills, talents, passion, abilities and a ’smiley’ intersection between the four areas that reveals your major definite purpose)
I'm hoping that by now, you’ve made a list of your skills and abilities, talents and passions. Now, think of something that connects all these four elements. Your major definite purpose may be smiling right in the intersection of these four areas.
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finding your career purpose
Some people seem to be born with a major definite purpose just waiting to be unleashed. From early adolescence, sometimes even childhood, they have a “calling” for a particular field and just “know” what they want to do with their lives, whether it is music, art, business, or science. But my guess is that the majority of people out there don’t fall into this category; they don’t feel like they were “born” to do one thing in particular. Their major definite purpose is something that they have to discover. In Nigeria, perhaps the system may not support your dreams and passions and this may sometimes be frustrating. Do you feel this way?
rediscovering yourself
Sometimes you may even discover your dream career after having worked for years in a completely different field. But if you haven’t discovered your career purpose, then your first job in life is to find and define a purpose for yourself. Your job should be to “reinvent” and “rediscover” yourself several times along the way, until you find a major definite purpose that suits you. Once you’ve identified a major definite purpose, the last step is to put it in writing in the form of a personal mission statement. Having a written down statement of purpose allows you to read and review it frequently as a reminder of your career goal, purpose and mission in life.
Photo courtesy of enjoi_yourpanda5
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5. how your personal mission statement
can get you a job
Every company has a mission and vision. Every project has a goal and purpose. Every individual should have a personal mission or statement of purpose in order to succeed in life and career path. Do you have a PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT? Some Nigerian jobseekers may think that having a personal mission statement would not work in the Nigerian system and context. That may be true, but that would be like saying that hard work and determined effort doesn’t work on the long run. If you have been looking for a job or struggling with your career, and wondering you have not found the right career path or purpose, it’s probably because you don't have a personal mission statement.
“it is
never too late to be what you might have been” - George Eliot
what is a personal mission statement?
A personal mission statement (PMS for short) is a brief statement of what you want to accomplish on a particular field and who you want to become in the process over a period of time. It is your road map for success in life and career. Now, here are two sample statement of purpose format that would guide you to creating your own personal mission statement and help you in your path to career and job freedom and fulfillment. sample 1: To live each day with …(choose one to three values or principles)… so that …(what living by these values will give you). I will do this by …(specific behaviors you will use to live by these values).
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sample 2: To … (what you want to achieve, do or become) … so that … (reasons why it is important). I will do this by … (specific behaviors or actions you can use to get there). Feel free to work with any of these formats to create your unique personal mission statement. But remember: your personal mission statement will continue to change and evolve as you gain insights about yourself and your career life. Once you’ve created a unique personal mission statement, do the following:
• • • • •
Make it a part of your everyday life. Use it in your search for jobs and careers. Talk about it at job interviews. Stress how it can benefit the company. Let it make you stand out from the crowd.
Photo credits: mobybandy
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6. what motivates your choice of job or career?
True, making a decision regarding your career direction can be very challenging, especially when faced with two job offers that have good potentials, but seem confusing. Because of the nature of Nigeria’s job environment, where a job offer is viewed as a lottery win, most job seekers (especially those who have been looking for a job for years), naturally tend to apply or accept job offers based on the financial benefits attached to that job offer. True or false? For example, if you were offered a 150k naira/per month bank job in Lagos, and you happen to have studied Psychology and because you may not earn that much if you were to pursue a career in psychology (that’s if you find jobs in that field) you are more likely to accept the bank job for many more reasons.
“motivation is a fire from within. if someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly”
- Stephen R. Covey
Some might call that ‘the Nigerian mentality’ of doing things, that is, a situation whereby you think about the short-term benefits of a particular project, without thinking into the future, hence, the long-term benefits of the project - which may include your career development. Sometimes, job seekers might say: “Abeg forget karia developument jare, nah im go put food for my table?”
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As a job seeker or career person, you are likely motivated by certain things in relation to your choice of job or career in Nigeria. Here are some common factors for you to consider: • • • • • • • • • • • Financial rewards Job Security Working conditions Opportunities for growth Opportunities for development Creativity of the job Collective/Independent working Interest in the job Travel Opportunities Further training Friendly Job environment Long-term benefits
These are just a few suggestions that can help you with your choice of a job or career. You can work out what matters to you based on this list and rank them in order of importance. So start thinking of what motivates you in a job or career now. Let that motivation drive you to your choice of a job or a career.
Photo credits: Usabin
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7. how to increase your job security
Do you feel insecure in your job or career? Many workers all around the world are faced with this job situation. In the United States, a total of 152,000 jobs were lost in January and February 2009 according to the US Labor Department. In Nigeria, job loss fears have increased over time in the banking, telecoms and oil & gas sectors (amongst other sectors), due to the financial economic recession and the unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Indeed, many have lost their jobs! In today’s Nigerian economic environment, other factors such as company downsizing, company mergers or acquisitions, etc have meant that many Nigerian workers have faced, or may soon face, the unexpected loss of their jobs. In an environment where there are relatively no jobs and the few jobs available are well contested for by many job candidates, workers need to critically assess their job security.
how secure is your job?
You need to keep asking yourself everyday: “How secure is my job?” As companies seek young graduates and recruit candidates with the most valuable skills for their business, workers would want to constantly assess their assets to the company to better secure their jobs. While you can’t do anything to change the economic recession (leave that to the financial risk management experts) or the overall economy and other factors that lead to increased levels of job insecurity, there are things you can do to cope with job insecurity.
“always have an answer to the question:
"what would I do if I lost my job tomorrow?”
– Robert T. Kiyosaki
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take an inventory You need to always take stock of your skills, interests, values, and personality. There are certain skills that you might not have, which may be necessary for your job area. Don’t waste any time - acquire those skills. Avoid limiting your skills to a specific job title or role. For example, if you are a banker, get some IT skills. If you are an engineer, get managerial skills. assume responsibility Some organisations in Nigeria don’t have the culture of training and development. In this case, you need to train yourself - take courses, programmes and training on areas that would add value to the company and your career. You are doing this for yourself. Look for other areas you can utilize the skills and experience you have. Consider the possibility of moving to another industry or company where your skills will be more appreciated and you feel relatively secure. improve on yourself Self-improvement is a very important key to job security. The more you learn, the more you become a problem-solver. The more you offer solutions, the more you are adding value. Find new ways to do difficult tasks and your company will see how much of an asset you are. Seek career counseling, if possible. be proactive and proficient Strive to increase your productivity and efficiency in your job. Employers would keep workers who do their job well, when its time for downsizing. If you work in an organisation where there are more preference for expatriates than local workers, you goal should be to remain focused in your job and be result-oriented. always stay positive Despite the job insecurity in Nigeria, you shouldn’t allow negativity to affect your productivity. The stress and anxiety of feeling insecure in your job can affect your performance in your job amidst news and trends in your industry or company. Don’t allow those feelings of insecurity weigh you down. Strive to be positive about your career and establish relationships that would help you stay positive.
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8. how to succeed in any job interview
Getting a job may be easier than you think. It involves a real understanding of the whole interview process. In the Nigerian job market, many people worry so much about the likely interview questions they would face on the interview day that they fail to realise that the employer or interviewer would be as nervous and worried as they are. I know that feeling of doubt that prevents job candidates from going through the job interview process with ease. I experienced it too those years of job hunting and I know what you are possibly going through right now. But how can you turn those negative emotions into positive motions during a job interview? Here are a few tips to help you take charge of the situation during your next job interview.
get background information about the company
I know that you know this already, but I’d like to emphasize the importance of having background knowledge of the company or industry you want to work with. This will surely help you in answering the questions that relate to the company and industry.
prepare insightful questions for the company
In any job interview you attend, make sure you prepare your own questions for the interviewer or employer. You should ask questions that draw attention to the competitive environment within the industry; major obstacles that the company is facing that is preventing it from accomplishing its goals; the overall executive management style of leadership.
rehearse your presentation
Most job seekers just don’t bother about preparing their presentations before they go for job interviews. They don’t realise what a 30-minute rehearsal of the job interview questions can do for their chances of getting the job. So make it a goal to always rehearse your presentations with a friend or family member.
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Having them pretend to be the employer and you the job seeker is called role-playing. Let them ask you the likely questions and you attempt to answer them. This practice will give you some confidence and remove some of your doubts and fears during the interview process.
believe that the job interviewer is nervous
This is one of the confidence boosters during a job interview. If you could just see the interviewer (or group of interviewers) in front of you as nervous as you may be, you would be relaxed and take charge of the job interview process. Yeah, that’s right! Realise that the interviewer would aim to intimidate you, putting up a ‘front’, or ‘fronting’, and that’s your opportunity to prove that you can handle their ‘fronts’. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should put up fronts too, rather, be cool, calm and confident.
view the job interview as a meeting
The more you think of the job interview as a meeting to discuss the company’s overall objectives and how you can play a role in its success, the more at ease you’ll be. Most people feel the job interview is a question and answer session, where the interviewer asks the questions and they (job seekers) answer the questions. It is much more than that. The sooner you think of the job interview as a ‘meeting’ with perhaps your future colleagues or bosses, as the case may be, the better your chances of making a good impression and getting the job. So view your role in the discussion as very important for the company’s success and your role will not be undermined or overlooked. If you do what you have to do, you’ll be surprised at the results. So go surprise yourself in your next job interview.
“you can tell whether a man is his
clever by
answers and you can tell whether a man is wise by his questions”
- Naguib Mahfouz
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9. how to make the right career decisions
You are looking for a job in Intercontinental bank in Lagos but you have now been offered employment at NNPC in Abuja. Will you leave your possibly high-paying bank job which doesn’t give you much time for a lesser paid oil contract job, which will offer you a chance to work overseas? Yeah, most Nigerian graduates and job seekers are looking for directions in their career path. Are you one of these? Are you at a ‘career crossroad’? Do you expect to change careers three or more times during your entire working life? Are you undecided about a job or career and need the right directions towards your career path?
advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours”
“if one - Henry David Thoreau
step 1: know your values
Your personal values are the emotional anchors of whatever you decide to do. Ask yourself: What’s really important to me? Money? Opportunities? Happiness? Family? If you’re planning to start a career in a Nigerian bank where you expect to be highly paid, will that job or career give you other things that you desire in life? If you’ve been writing several job tests and attending interviews, without success, is it time to consider moving to another career?
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step 2: identify your skills and talents
A skill is something you’ve learned to do. A talent is something you’ve been born with or you seem naturally inclined to do. You should be able to differentiate between the two, because you may be skilled at something but don’t enjoy doing that thing - because it’s just not your thing. If you don’t have a particular skill or if you don’t like a certain field of study, how do you think you can get a job or pursue a career in that area? How can a business administration graduate who doesn’t and has never liked mathematics expect to do well in a GMAT test that requires Math? Or how can someone who doesn't do well in calculations, study for a science-related career. So focus on your talents and hone your skills - I mean 110% - then you’ll be able to make better career choices.
step 3: identify your passions
Passions are what you really enjoy doing or what gets you excited. So what area of study gets you excited? Think about what you love to do or something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the opportunity to do. Then, if you make a career choice in any field, ask yourself: why do I want to pursue this career or that job? Your answer should help you determine what your passion is.
step 4: get experience
People say: “Experience is the BEST teacher”. Do you believe that? I do. Relatively do. Especially when it comes to career matters. If you’re new to the job market or if you are considering a career change, get out and talk to people who are actually doing it - those who have experience. Volunteer or get trained in a field related to the kind of job or career you’re looking for, in order to gain relevant experience. That way, you’ll be able to test out whether it fits your career values and passions. But here comes the problem: If you aren’t getting paid to do that volunteer job, you’ll likely not stay at the job (or lose focus), because your passion for that job is in conflict with your value system, which may be money-driven.
step 5: be a generalist, but specialise
In today’s technology-driven world, almost all information is important in order to become widely literate, especially in your choice of career or job interest. For instance, in order to pass a job test or an interview you need to know as much as possible to be able to impress interviewer(s) or employer(s). They want to know if you are adequately qualified (not necessarily your grade - 2.1 or 2.2) for the job - and if you have read wide
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enough about the industry, company, etc you will have the clear advantage of laying your answers before them and letting them worry about how much they’ll pay you for your skill, knowledge and experience. So learn as much as you can about what interests you, but focus more on the jobs and careers you’re considering - and particularly where the industry or profession you are considering is heading. These are the likely areas that the employer wants you to prove in order to show that you understand the industry enough for you to work with the company.
step 6: take experience before money
Here, you need to analyze your values again. What drives or motivates you for a job or career? A good way of sizing up several job opportunities is to ask yourself: “Which position will offer me the best chance of becoming excellent at what I do?” Likely, that position may not be the one that pays the highest initial salary.
step 7: aim for jobs or careers with a 110% commitment level
In some Nigerian companies today where employers lay off workers at the snap of their fingers, you are more likely to remain in that company if your performance is above average. There’s no room for complacency! So to avoid this career struggle, aim for jobs and careers where you can give up to 110%, so that when the company is faced with the decision to downsize, your name will not be on the list as a result of your outstanding performance for the company.
step 8: build your lifestyle around your future job or career
Whatever you decide to do, just be passionate about it. If you are a job seeker or professional, let your career choice reflect on your attitude and way of life towards that job or career. Live, sleep, drink, eat and communicate like someone who wants to be seen or related to that particular career. Do you remember that Coca-cola advertisement? Think Football. Drink Football. Eat Football. Sleep Football. Obviously, those you have a career in football have their whole lifestyle around that particular sport, wouldn’t you agree? How can a guy who doesn’t act corporate get a job in a bank? Or how can a lady who easily gets angry handle customers?
step 9: invest in your job and career
Every employer expects you to prove what your benefits are to the company, and since they tend towards immediate returns on each Naira, they will invest in you only when they can see an immediate or relatively
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quick expensive benefit, or when they see extraordinary potential in you. Why do you think they ask: Why should we employ you? Thus, dedicate yourself to being the BEST that you can be, so that your LIGHT will shine before your employers.
step 10: be willing to adapt
If you have been struggling with your career or it has been difficult to find a job in your career choice, don’t let the discouragements worry you. Maybe, it’s time to adapt. Be willing to change and adapt to new conditions and opportunities. Adapt. Adapt. Adapt. Illustration: Mr.& Mrs. Ant The Ants are one of the most intelligent creatures on earth. The Ants learn to adapt in whatever situation or condition they find themselves. The Ants know where they want to go and are willing to turn around and change their course in order to get there. Visit the Ants today!
“the
roads we take are more important than the goals we announce; decisions determine destiny”
- Frederick Speakman
Photo Credits: Oluseyi
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10. are you an employable person?
If you have been unemployed in Nigeria for years now, or you are a recent graduate but haven’t found a job, or you are one of the 7 out of 10 Nigerian graduates that are unemployable, hopefully this article would provide you with successful tips to becoming an “employable person”. Ok! The education system in Nigeria did not prepare you enough for the job market. Perhaps, you didn’t benefit from proper career counseling and guidance and you have made the wrong career choices. Below are four success strategies to help you become an employable person.
re-fine
Could it be that your job search techniques need to be refined? Most jobseekers look for jobs in every place - banks, oil companies, etc without success. While this is not a bad strategy, it may make you lose your focus on the key job areas where you can readily find jobs. Or perhaps, you may be looking for jobs in an area that is highly competitive such as the banking industry in Nigeria. So why not focus 80% of your job search efforts on areas where you are certain of getting a job given your skills, experience, etc Then, use the remaining 20% to look in areas where you are less likely to find a job, due to the high demand for jobs in that area.
re-structure
If you have been using the same CV design, layout, etc since you started looking for a job, perhaps you need to re-structure your CV. How well you structure it to suit a particular industry or job would determine your success in getting an interview or a job offer. Understand that each job position you apply for is unique and each company or industry has its uniqueness. You need to understand the job description of each position, the culture of each company and the nature of each job industry you are applying to. Make sure you use the relevant qualifications, skills, experiences, etc for the different job positions in the different companies and industries that you apply for. If you need guidance on CV and cover letter design, feel free to email me.
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re-define
Perhaps you need to redefine yourself and your career purpose. If you are at a crossroad in your career, seek the help of a career expert. Your career purpose is the driving force of your career prospects. If you can clearly define your career purpose, you’ll be take control of your career life.
re-brand
Your chances of getting a job in today’s highly competitive job environment depend on your ability to rebrand yourself. As fresh graduates out of school are the likely favoured job candidates, your goal should be to present yourself as a candidate who is "in touch" or "in tune" with the industry trends, company news and information, etc. So read company reports and other useful information that would give you an edge above other candidates at the job interviews.
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11. the 5p’s of successful job search
You’ve probably heard of the 4P’s of Marketing - Product, Price, Promotion, Place, and People (the new P of the Marketing Mix) - variables that are under a firm’s control that can affect the level of demand for the firm’s products. In today’s competitive job environment, there are equally variables that are under your control as a jobseeker that can determine your success or failure in getting a job. Thus, I have developed what I call the 5p’s of successful job search to help you become more effective in searching and finding the right jobs in Nigeria. You can call them the 5 recipes for success in job search.
plan
This is the foundation of your success in any endeavour, whether you want to build a house, take a vacation, get married, start a project, etc - you must design a plan. Here are a few tips on how to use planning for your job search. Start by researching your career field. Find out the job opportunities around your career path. Know the qualifications, skills, training, etc needed for that job position. Research about the companies that offer the job opportunities that you are looking for. Focus on areas that are less competitive. Develop a career plan. After you have done your research, start working on your CV or resume and cover letter. Define your career objectives. Write your career summary. Write your career profile. Do these for different job positions in different companies or organizations. Some people find a job before they prepare a CV. Start early. When you’ve found a job that you wish to apply for, you can then structure your CV to suit the job position or job industry. Commit yourself to your plan. Some people have a problem with sticking to their plans and goals. I use to have that problem, but I’ve improved in recent years. You might have developed a career plan, but later you find out that you don’t want to pursue that career direction. That means that you did not plan well for your career. Or you just heard that a particular company (not in your career plan) is currently recruiting and you apply for a job position ill-prepared without planning. The result is usually failure. So strive to stick to your plan and it will work for you.
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prepare
After you have designed an effective plan for your job search, start preparing for the job test and oral interview. This might sound ridiculous, but your preparation is the key to your success in finding the right job. Now, I know that this might sound like a University lecturer’s advice: READ, PRACTICE, PREPARE. However, studies have shown that the most prepared students pass examinations while the ill-prepared ones fail. So in order to avoid ‘crash program’ before your job test and oral interview, start preparing now, even if you’ve not sent out one job application. When you’ve been short-listed for an interview, make sure you research the company and employer in such a way that the interviewer would think you’re a special agent with a secret service. Just kidding! Prepare your answers to job interview questions well in advance and prepare your questions for the interviewer (Note: If you don’t ask the interviewer insightful questions, he/she would think that you are not a challenging person, so how can you work in a challenging environment?) Lastly, practice your presentations in front of a friend or family member, and let them give you appraisals.
people
Yes, you need people. How many? As many as you can meet and talk to. Speak about your job search to people who might help. Here are a few tips: Talk with your friends, family and relatives who are either into the system or who know people in the system. Visit career sites where you can find useful information as well as people in your situation. Attend career events in Nigeria such as seminars, conferences, etc where you can meet professionals who are in the industry where you are looking for a job. Perhaps they might know people in your industry that they can refer you to. Get their contacts and start calling or emailing them. Always carry your file or folder containing your CVs and other documents you need. Network with people in social networking sites such as Facebook. They can be very useful for your job search efforts, only if you use them well. Connect with professionals in business networking sites such as LinkedIn. You can find Nigerian recruiters, business professionals, HR practitioners in sites like these.
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passion
You have to bring passion into your job search efforts. There are ways that you can be passionate about what you want, right? For instance, to provide sexual pleasure to someone, you need passion. Again, to get sexual pleasure from someone, you need passion. Think about all the other things that you want in life…you need to be passionate to get them. So pursue your job search with passion and let that passion drive you crazy - not literally though!:-) Focus on the jobs that you have passion, strength, enthusiasm and commitment to do. Whatever you do, avoid being desperate in front of your interviewer. But show enthusiasm for the job and the company. Give them the impression that you have worked so hard to get here, and you need the job position more than the other job candidates. Be fired up and aim to fire them up by using your positive energy, enthusiasm and passion!
patience
Now you’ve planned, prepared and performed, but you haven’t succeeded in finding a job. The whole job process would help you learn patience, if you don’t have that quality. Yes, it can be frustrating! However, patience is a real virtue! Yeah, easy to say, but many people have been waiting for years to find a job, and if you ask them, what has kept them through those years, they’ll answer in one word: PATIENCE. Although it’s not easy, strive to be patient with your job search efforts and stick to your career plan and goals. Some have waited enough, and have settled for anything that comes their way. That’s sad, because they might not be doing what they really want, or earning the kind of salary that they want. But for some, they feel it gives them the opportunity to learn other things before they move on to their original career plan. Whatever you feel will work for you, consider it. Someday, you’ll find the right job that suits your career needs.
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12. how youth initiatives can boost your career
Most people hardly devote their time and attention to youth groups, forums, associations, initiatives, and organisations founded for youth and career development in Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education in Nigeria and elsewhere. Little do they know that their role and participation in some of these initiatives can boost their chances of getting a job or starting a career, as they would have developed leadership abilities and other skills needed to succeed in Nigeria’s work environment. During my years at the University, I co-founded a student group named Managers Leisure which helped to develop the minds of students and youths within the community towards career development. We organised seminars, workshops and conferences that attracted quite a good number of speakers. Personally, I learned the rudiments of team work and leadership and also gained some other skills and experiences that have helped me in my career.
teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers” - Pat Riley
“great
Interestingly, there are a good number of youth initiatives in Nigeria, NGOs and International Student Organisations such as TakingITGlobal, and AIESEC, depending on your interests, which you can get involved with, volunteering your time, efforts and skill with the goal of boosting your future career and job prospects.
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Below are a few tips on how you can boost your career and job prospects with youth initiative roles: • • • • • • • • • • Invest your time and resources in youth initiatives related to your career Work as a team with other youths in building the initiative Organise events that promote youth participation Network with the Nigerian media for event coverage Strive for leadership roles in the youth initiative Endeavour to improve your communication and writing skills Attempt to make speeches in your events or be a moderator Work with other youth initiatives as partners or collaborators Start local chapters in other parts of the country Build a network of sponsors and partners
The truth is, when you get involved with these organisations, you are gaining hands-on management experience that will help you in your future job or career. Remember to include your experiences in your CVs and cover letters, as well as during your job interviews. Your employer would be glad that you have had these experiences even though they were volunteer experiences, thus increasing your chances for your job application and selection.
Photo credits: Comsec
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13. the barriers to effective job search
Many Nigerian jobseekers wonder why their job or career search efforts have not been successful as they hoped. If you are reading this and you wonder why you haven’t been effective in your job search, you might be encountering some ‘mental’ barriers to effective job search.
barrier 1: procrastination
act of putting off doing something To be effective in your job search, you need to start early to plan for your career future. Most people wait until they are out of the University, or have finished their NYSC before they start taking the necessary steps of job hunting. Here are a few tips to help you avoid this situation: • • • • • • Identify your career goals while at the University or during your NYSC Start doing the necessary research on your career focus Define your career objectives in relation to your career path Get the extra skills and training that you need for your future career Start making contacts with people already in your career path Prepare your resume or CV and a cover letter early and update it regularly
barrier 2: complain
expressive feeling of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment Complains arise due to the frustrations of not getting a job. Some people would complain that there are no jobs, or that the employers are too biased, or that the job market is too competitive, or that the salary is meagre. Perhaps that the government is not fair or that the system is not encouraging. Blah, blah, blah. Unfortunately, while you are busy complaining, you won’t see the job or career opportunities that may pass you by. So, try not to complain about your situation. Rather, be focused on your job search efforts and goals in whatever situation.
obstacles you face are… mental barriers which can be broken by adopting a more positive approach”
“the - Clarence Blasier
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barrier 3: worry
feeling of anxiety, frustration and distress Worry is another barrier to effective job search. After many years of job hunting - writing many job tests, attending many interviews, etc - you may start feeling that you’re too old and would not be accepted in the system, since many employers are looking for young graduates. Worrying will not solve the problem. Here are some tips:
• • •
Search for jobs in less competitive areas Consider changing your career direction Re-evaluate your goals and passions
barrier 4: complacency
feeling of self-satisfaction Okay, you have sent out two or three job applications, and you relax and wait for the results, feeling that you’ve done enough and perhaps you’ve conquered the world. Or you just wrote a job test or attended a job interview and you just relax and wait for an invitation letter or a call. That’s complacency! As a jobseeker, your goal should be to seek as many job opportunities as possible and never stop until you succeed with one. So make finding jobs an unpaid full time job for yourself. Be crazy about finding jobs in the Nigerian Daily newspapers. Visit online job sites to find the latest jobs. Register with genuine recruitment agencies in Nigeria. Be proactive, versatile and passionate.
barrier 5: mediocrity
state of being or feeling average and ordinary Mediocrity can prevent you from competing with others for a particular job position because you graduated with a lower grade or because you feel that your degree can’t get you a job. This state of the mind can affect your career life in such a way that you can settle for whatever job you find. Instead challenge yourself to find jobs despite your status, ethnic, age, sex and disability. Have a routine of job searching, networking and preparing for possible job offers. Finally, be assured that these five different barriers to effective job search can be surmounted with hard work and conscientious efforts on your part.
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14. what if your degree can’t get you a job?
Most graduates in Nigeria who studied courses that are not in high demand for in the job market may sometimes feel out of place in the Nigerian competitive job industry. Degree programmes such as Political Science, Psychology, History, Food Technology, Geography, Library and Information Science, Urban and Regional Planning, etc are practically not in high demand in Nigeria, whereas in other parts of the world, you can find good jobs if you’re a graduate of one of these. Most people accepted to study for these courses partly because they didn’t have a choice (due to cut-off marks imposed by the admission system in Nigeria), or perhaps they simply didn’t have the forethought or foresight into their future career due to a lack of proper career counseling and guidance in Nigeria. If you find yourself in this situation where your degree or diploma can’t get you a job in Nigeria, here are a few suggestions on what to do. Take a short course. Look for short business or IT-related courses, or even other courses in your field. Start a sandwich programme. Make sure that the course or programme has a relatively high employment demand. Register for a professional exam. Find a professional exam that suits your needs in a field where you have 75% knowledge of the subject area and that you can find a job with. Read the course modules before choosing a professional course to take. Acquire relevant skills. Skills can get you jobs easily anywhere in the world. Develop the right skills needed to find a job. Focus on less competitive jobs. Search for jobs in areas that are less crowded and competitive. Focus your efforts in job industries that don’t lay so much emphasis on factors such as (degrees, grades, age, etc). Consider taking up a teaching job. Teaching jobs are everywhere, in schools, private classes, training institutes, etc Consider teaching your field of study while searching for other jobs you want.
“the majority of men
meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of
those which fail” - Napoleon Hill
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Learn a foreign language. Learning a new language can be challenging, but rewarding. You can learn as many languages as you can, but focus your energies and efforts on languages that would assist you in getting a job or starting a career in Nigeria. Languages such as French, Spanish, Arabic, and other Nigerian languages can help. Start a blog. A blog is an online diary-type website that features articles and comments on a particular topic and subject. Start writing your thoughts as well as local and world news on your field of study on a weblog. Blogger.com is a good start. Improve on yourself. Self-improvement is a good way of finding a job or starting a career. Read self-help books and blogs on goals, happiness, wealth, productivity, relationships, etc. Attend personal development, motivation, etc seminars. Practice what you feel would work for you (not because it has worked for other people). Have a positive outlook about life. Pursue a hobby. Hobbies can be turned into passions; passions into profits. Look for something that you like to do and start doing it. Be creative. Some hobbies like painting, crafting, designing, writing, etc can be rewarding in Nigeria. Start a project. Choose a project related to your field that you can successfully work on and start working. Find project-minded people to work with. Develop creative ideas that can help you build a career, make money and create jobs for people.
“it is
never too late to be what you might have been” - George Eliot
You can succeed in your career and job life, if you look out for opportunities in all areas of life. Try not to limit yourself. Believe you can do what you plan to do. Achieve what you want to do.
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15. lessons from asking questions
at job interviews
I have received several feedbacks from career-minded people who feel that asking an interviewer certain questions during a job interview may seem as if you are being too forward. Others have suggested that Nigerian employers may tend to be unresponsive to such questions. What do you think? The truth is: Employers are actually looking for candidates who can put forward challenging questions about the job position, the company, and the industry. In one of my interview experiences in the past, I used such questions and was successful. Although my experience may not be similar to yours, but I'll like to share it here, so you can perhaps learn lessons from asking questions at job interviews. Back in 2004, I was applying for a trainee marketing consultant job in a management consulting firm in Abuja. The role was to successfully market the company’s professional training programmes and events to professionals in the banking industry. This meant that the right candidates for the job position must possess inter-personal skills, communicative skills, marketing skills, presentation skills as well as qualities such as confidence and the ability to work under pressure. I had read a lot about how to be successful in job interviews and even though I wasn’t sure that asking a Nigerian employer such questions might seem that I was too forward, I decided to give it a try. Here’s what I did back then… I carefully reviewed all the questions that I was able to research about. I analyzed each question and chose the ones that related to the job position and my skills and experience for the job. Then, I started to prepare for the interview with these questions in mind. I had a friend rehearse my presentation with me and worked on my body language, posture and voice. Note that your body language speaks about your suitability for the job position. Since I didn’t know what to expect from the interviewer, I concentrated my efforts on what impression I’ll give at the interview. I must say that, the interviewer was not expecting those questions from someone applying for a trainee position. When I got the job offer, the letter specifically highlighted that my confidence and poise were the qualities the company was looking for from the right candidates.
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I’ve decided to include my experience to point out the areas where most Nigerian jobseekers sometimes overlook that may deny them a job offer. Now think: If the interviewer back then didn’t expect me to ask those questions (perhaps because I was applying for a trainee position), how much more would today’s interviewers expect from you, when you apply for top positions in top companies and organizations. If you are interested in increasing your chances of getting a job offer, then you need to try any possible strategy that would work to your advantage.
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16. steps to finding a
trainee placement or internship job
If you are still an undergraduate student at any Nigerian University and you intend to pursue an internship programme or an industrial trainee placement (popularly known as IT) or enroll as an intern or trainee in any field or industry in Nigeria, this article is just right for you. Or perhaps you are a graduate student and would like to learn tips to help you find a good post-NYSC job placement in any industry or company in Nigeria. Or you are just interested in finding an internship job in Nigeria to improve your current skills and acquire more skills. Here are seven success steps to help you find an IT placement or internship job.
step 1: decide
You have to decide what type of job you are interested in and which industry you want to work in depending on your field of study and your career goals. For example, a petroleum engineering student in Nigeria would need an industrial placement in an oil company such as Shell Nigeria, ExxonMobile, etc in order to get the required training. Thus, your qualifications must match the position’s requirements.
step 2: search
Depending on your field of study, search for industries in Nigeria that offer internship jobs. Instead of waiting until the end of the semester before you start your search, you should start searching from the beginning of the academic calendar year you are supposed to go for your IT attachment. That way, you would have enough time to explore the job requirements, apply for the training and focus on other areas of your academic work.
step 3: check
While searching on your own, check if your academic adviser can assist you with job placements related to your study. An academic adviser or lecturer always has ideas and contacts in the employment world that he or she can refer you to.
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step 4: contact
If your school has a career advice centre, you can contact them to find out what resources are available for you in your search for an IT placement. Some Nigerian Universities employ career counselors to assist students in finding internships or in finding jobs.
step 5: visit
You can also visit the websites of companies that you are interested in working for. Search their “Employment Opportunities” page or “Careers” page. Sometimes, industrial placements are made public online.
step 6: browse
Browse through Nigerian newspapers and industry magazines for possible industrial training placements or internship programmes. If you find any that interests you, contact the company and find out more about the position.
step 7: attend
Attend a career or job fair in Nigeria. Several job fairs are being held in Lagos, for instance, and many job seekers have benefited from this event. Hopefully, colleges and universities in Nigeria would start organising career fairs for job seekers, if they’ve not already started doing so. At the job fair, talk with different companies about possible internships and future jobs in their organizations.
Photo Credits: sendroiu
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17. how fresh graduates can
structure a winning cv
Whatever your field of study, you can structure your CV in such a way that your qualifications, skills, and professional experiences are best suited for any job you wish to apply for. Below are 5 tips on how fresh graduates can structure a winning CV.
tip 1: personalize your career goal
Your career goal defines YOU as a person. It says what you want to become, how you intend to achieve this, and what qualities you have to achieve this. So ask yourself: What does the interviewer or employer need to know about me that would benefit the company? Here, you need to have researched the company and the job position in order to be able to define a career goal that relates to that of the company’s and the job expectations. Also, your career goal should be stated in such a way that it reflects your career purpose or path.
tip 2: summarize your qualifications
Your qualifications are another vital part of your CV. They tell whether you are qualified for the job or not. In order to show your qualifications, you need to list them in a descending order of period of year and level of qualifications. Also, you need to create segments or categories of your qualifications. Below is a format: • • Educational. List and summarize your schools attended, qualifications obtained and years of graduation. Professional. List and summarize your professional institutions attended, qualifications and years of graduation. Professional bodies and certifications such as ICAN and ACA will be relevant here.
tip 3: priortize your experiences
Your experiences play a key role in the job selection process. Even though your employer knows that the job position being applied for is for fresh graduates, who may or may not have a job experience, they would expect you to have some experience in a work-related environment, where you’ve demonstrated your skills in effective communication, teamwork, leadership and more.
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Here are a few tips:
•
• •
Summarize your NYSC experience. Highlight the areas of your work as a youth corper that are related to the job position you are applying for. Also, include the essential job qualities that you learned from the experience. Analyze your IT job placement, if any, as above. Recognize your organizational experiences. Highlight any areas of your student professional activities that are related to the job. This includes student associations, initiatives, organizations, clubs, etc
tip 4: recognize your skills
Your skills are the tools you need to do the job effectively. Make sure you include as many skills as possible, relevant to the job position. Some key skills include Analytical, Communicative, Writing, Persuasive, Creative, Networking and Leadership skills. Note: If possible, include how you demonstrated each of these skills in your little work experience.
tip 5: organize your cv
Your CV should have all it takes to get you the job. Most CVs are not considered because they lack organization and clarity. Focus on the good organization of your CV by paying attention to font sizes, characters, spaces, margins, etc. Remember: Your CV is doing the marketing for you, so if it lacks good presentation and organization, you shouldn’t expect to be invited for an interview. If you are invited, go for it!
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18. 10 insightful questions
to ask your next job interviewer
If you are wondering why you don’t seem to succeed in job interviews, perhaps the problem could be that you haven’t shown that you are a challenging person with questions that may dazzle the interviewer or employer. If you have been given an opportunity to present yourself at the interview, your goal should be to ‘wow’ your would-be employer by your intellectual and insightful questions to the interviewer. I'll now present to you ten powerful questions for you to use and get yourself a job offer. 1. What are the growth and advancement opportunities that this job position and the company would offer? With this question, you are telling the interviewer that you are looking forward to a long-term professional career with the company, not just for a paycheck. 2. Are there opportunities for continuing education and professional training? Here, you show that you are willing to learn new skills and possibly adapt to new challenges and initiatives that would improve your performance on the job. 3. What are the major obstacles preventing the company from achieving its goals? In this question, you are showing a real interest in the company’s well-being and possibly indicating that your skills and experience could help make the company achieve its goals. 4. How do you feel I could add value to the company? Obviously you were shortlisted out of hundreds, possibly thousands of other candidates. Thus, this question gives you the opportunity to find out why you were shortlisted and more chances to bring your qualities to the spotlight. 5. What would be my first project if I’m hired? This gives the impression that you are already seeing yourself a part of the company. Also, it shows that you have the mental attitude to work from day one, thus allowing you to start planning for the project even before you are expected to commence your job, if you were hired.
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6. Who will evaluate me if I’m hired? This question might help you understand the hierarchy of management in the company as well as the departmental structure where you are expected to work. Most importantly, you will be able to discern what level of management personnel you are expected to report to. 7. What is the nature of the competition in the industry? Although you’ve done your own personal research about the industry, this question might give you insights into other areas of the industry that you don’t have information about. You might also learn about the company’s position in the job industry. 8. Why did you choose to work with this company? This could give you other reasons to consider working for the company. It’s like asking the interviewer: Why would you advice me to work for this company? Thus, finding out a current employee’s reasons for choosing to work at the company can give you some insight into some of the strengths and opportunities within the organization. 9. When will a decision be made on the successful candidate? Although some interviewers/employers may tell you that the decision will be made soon, without giving an exact time period, asking this question helps you to know how you can plan your interview follow-up activities such as sending a ‘thank you’ card or email, making a call, etc. 10. Who should I contact as a follow-up to this interview? This is perhaps the best way for you to wrap up the interview. With this question, you are not only keeping the door open for further communication, but you are also giving the impression that you have a positive outlook about the interview and a possible job offer.
“you can tell whether a man is his
clever by
answers and you can tell whether a man is wise by his questions”
- Naguib Mahfouz
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what next?
It is my hope that you have benefited tremendously from this career guidebook. Some of the ideas and insights found in this e-book have been published on the Internet at www.loyokezie.com, but because I wanted more people to have access, I decided to publish this e-book in PDF format for FREE. Thank you for downloading and reading this career guidebook. Kindly send me your feedback by visiting www.loyokezie.com/ebooks Remember, this e-book is only a guide. You are the only person who can solve your career problems. And until we meet, Pursue career freedom!
if you would like to hire me as your career coach, kindly send an introductory email via: speak@loyokezie.com
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the author
is a much-sought-after career mastery coach whose clients include graduates and undergraduates, jobseekers and professionals as well as hundreds of career-minded youths who desire career excellence. His career as a personal and organizational effectiveness coach started since 2003 when he helped co-found a youth initiative for career development while studying at the University of Abuja. This initiative helped to inspire and incite the minds of youths towards their career development through trainings, talk-shows, workshops, seminars and conferences. He has a background in Business with over four years experience in marketing consulting and strategic development, having worked with management consulting firms in Lagos and Abuja. He has worked as a career and recruitment consultant for a UK-based recruitment consulting firm, and has successfully trained hundreds of people to become effective in their personal and career lives. Born in Lagos; educated in Le Havre, he currently lives in Lekki Bay Area, New Lagos where he runs a new media communications agency that helps small businesses and huge companies to build their brand awareness and engage with their customers more effectively. You can connect with him via Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.
Loy Okezie
If you would like to invite Loy to speak to or train your organisation, kindly send an email to speak@loyokezie.com
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