Are you wondering how you can get a job in Nigeria with no connection or experience?
Then here is the deal:
Today I am going to reveal to you a step by step process you can follow if you want to get your dream job even if you are looking to land ngo jobs in nigeria.
According to this statistics, over 20.9million people are unemployed in Nigeria. And it is not surprising that one of the greatest problems of today’s undergraduates is the fear of not getting a job.
After all, you spent so much time in school studying hard to graduate with at least a second class upper when it seems like most government schools make getting a first-class almost impossible not because no student deserves the merit but it is almost a norm in Nigerian universities to make getting certain grades difficult.
After getting through all that, these same students are left battling with unemployment. The fact that there is a popular notion that there are no jobs doesn’t mean there are no jobs indeed. Some people still get good jobs. For some, we can agree that knowing the right people got them there but in a few instances, we see how those with outstanding results have companies queuing up and offering them a position in their company.
It is, however, obvious, that those are in the minority; the majorities who may not have attained the zenith when it comes to grades but are smart and intelligent are usually the ones at facing the brunt of unemployment.
Admittedly, sometimes, it is because all these graduates can boast of is their certificate; they have no skill or experience, even from internship or volunteering services.
Getting a white-collar job is not to be limited to your school degree; it takes a lot more to secure that executive job. So this article will show you where you may have missed it up and how to correct the error and get the job of your dreams even though the competition is stiff.
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Getting a job in Nigeria may seem as difficult as it is to find gold on the street. These are the top reasons why it is difficult for people to get a job in Nigeria.
There is an inequality, a discrepancy that may not be balanced in a very long time. The number of graduates that are mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps is so enormous that most corps members find it difficult to get a place of primary assignment. They go where they have been posted but the organization or company have to turn many away because they have too many already and to think that the corps members may expect them to pay them stipends is any reason they can’t exceed a particular number, so for many corps members, they get a raw taste of joblessness and rejection during their service year. Many of them decide to further their education and get a master’s degree and even get a Ph.D. but with all the degrees, getting a good job still seems problematic.
This is a very crucial aspect, we see how much the educational system has been watered down, unqualified teachers producing half-baked graduates, malpractices from the secondary school level and corruption when it comes to university admission, not admitting on merit. Students bribing their way from one level to the other and buying scores. So there are first-class graduates who cannot speak proper English or write a simple application letter. They cannot defend their results either.
If you are an accountant and can’t handle simple accounts and ledgers, and all you have is a beautiful CV, your resume might get you to the point of meeting the interviewer, but it will likely not get you the job.
Another reason people don’t get jobs is because of the job requirements in regards to age, an individual may be qualified for a job but he is told if he is above 25years, he should not apply. It seems like employers are increasingly looking for younger applicants that can be more zealous and they prefer to take the pain to train them rather than employ those with much experience. That is one end of the story, another end of it is this; young job seekers who are just graduating are expected to have 4-5 years experience. So the irony is those with the experience are older and those without the experience are younger and if recruiters are seeking young but experienced employees, it poses a problem.
Getting a job in Nigeria is almost an impossible task for those who have no connections to people in the helm. You find that those who know someone sitting at a high position is more likely to get the job than a qualified person who knows no one. Sometimes, bribes are demanded if you want to be guaranteed a job but many job seekers are from low-income homes and cannot afford to buy their way into a job position. If nepotism, favoritism and bribery can be addressed and employment becomes more on merit, unemployment will not be as prevalent as it is and it will encourage Nigerians to appreciate excellence. In this case, many Nigerians see pursuing excellence as a waste of time because they can see that at the end of the day, what matters knows the right people.
Job hunting just like every other thing to be achieved in life has a skill or a way it is carried out.
The fact that many people search aimlessly with no direction seems frustrating to them and they do not know any better. It is madness to keep doing the same thing and be expecting a different result.
There are several job search mistakes people make in their search for a job that disqualifies them even though they may have all the necessary qualification. Let us consider some of these mistakes, things to avoid in the job-hunting process.
The popular saying “Jack of all trades, master of none” comes to play here. It is not exactly bad to know how to do many things and even do them all at a particular time but when it comes to the issue of choosing a career path, it is important to narrow these interests into something definite. The problem here is that, when an individual is yet to know their area of interest, they do not know which job to pursue. If you have two or three skills that are similar, apply to a company that can make use of these skills you have. Don’t be indifferent about this, this focus will define further knowledge you go for, there is no point going for certificate courses that will not be instrumental to your career, you may keep taking random courses but once you find your path, this will get you better equipped.
One thing you must know is that, if you don’t take the job search itself as a job, you may not be able to achieve the goal in mind. This preparation entails you listing out the names of the companies you are applying for, get your resume tailored to suit each company. Do not be too casual about it, as you send your resume, tick the companies you have covered, check how to follow them up, write down details about each one you have researched on so that you don’t mix them up. It is the preparation that makes you ensure that you are not sending out wrong resumes. If you are using one resume for all companies, remember to edit the name you are addressing the cover letter to, ensure you go through and edit properly before sending out. Leaving an obvious error in your resume will not speak well of you
If you are not confident about your ability to deliver, how do you convince the employers that you are the best candidate for the job? This is different from arrogance but having the necessary self-confidence. It is important not to act desperate; watch your attitude, don’t make them feel they are doing you a favor. It should be a mutual feeling because you are rendering a service to get paid and not just coming to get gifted money.
One mistake job seekers make is to assume that companies will always publicly publish any job opening. There are some companies that will not put up the advert on any site but will be hiring. Even if they are not hiring immediately, your application would be considered foremost in case of a job opening, which is why you should follow up, do not become a nuisance but still be sure to check once in a while. If you are lucky, with a well-written cover letter and resume, you just might be called in for an Interview. So be smart enough to go a step further, take the leap even to companies that may not be hiring.
Another mistake job seekers make is to neglect their contacts and not take advantage of their network. Contacts consist of people who can help; friends, family, and professionals in the field you are applying for. When you are not willing to ask questions and receive help, this will lead to more complications. The contacts you make from the prospective company will give you insight into knowing what the company is about, what it is that they are looking for in a candidate and this will help you tailor your cover letter to suit their need. So be wise and make good use of the contacts you have.
Most jobs are corporate jobs and they need smart and professional people who are serious-minded. Even if a company is yet to meet you, when they see your email and see something like sexydude27uk@gmail.com, that will give a wrong impression about you. Your email should preferably have your name and surname for easy feedback. Also while searching for a job, be careful what you put on your social media; do not upload whatever will give you a negative self-image. Companies go the extra mile these days to check up on people’s profile, they believe the kinds of things on a person’s profile will give them an idea on the real person behind the corporate wears. So, ensure you are always as civil as possible.
If you are desirous of finding your dream job in Nigeria, then you need to know where to start looking for these jobs. While a lot of site posts job, there are only a few that we can recommend to you because of the high quality of jobs you can find on these sites. They include:
The job or career path you choose for yourself is not necessarily based on the course of study in school, especially in Nigeria.
Many have gotten jobs based on their skills where their course of study couldn’t fit in. you find a Physicist in Nigeria who understands French and Spanish languages working in a bank and translating for foreign customers. You may say being a science student, he is out of place in a financial institution but learning those languages over the years through whatever source was the beginning of him getting the job.
So you can start as early as the discovery of what you want to do with your life, when you identify your passion and begin to develop it, getting a job in that line even if you are still a student is possible. So seek to discover yourself and develop your skills, it will come in handy when you are ready to start applying for jobs.
Do not keep distributing the first draft of the resume you have because it is assumed that the more one grows, the more experience is gathered that should be included in your resume. All the certificate courses you just took, the new skill added that would be useful in the line of work you seek; all should be added to the profile on ground. This shows your resourcefulness and on your part, it shows your seriousness.
What this means is that, the better you get, the more growth you record, you may not want to continue in a career path and because you have developed yourself in so many ways, you can choose to divert to another aspect of you. Check out how well you have done based on your last career planning, if you think what you are doing is not working as much as you want, you can come up with a new strategy. That is the reason for the regular planning, so you can know if you need to apply for a new job since the current job is not giving you the vibe you need.
Refusal to set a goal is a sure way to fall into all sorts of distractions. If you have no destination in mind, you may meet yourself in a job you do not like. Many are feeling stifled because they were just so eager to be on a company’s payroll that they accept everything poured on them but how much longer till they realize it goes beyond the pay, they need job satisfaction. To avoid a similar case, plan your career, what do you see yourself doing at each point in your life and career? Where would you like to work? Write out these things clearly in black and white so you can read and remind yourself.
There are so many certificate courses that are available online in several institutions which will be an added advantage to help boost your CV and your worth. Do not assume you know it all, do not pass out any new opportunities, go for it and improve yourself daily. The internet is available, you may search for possible training opportunities, the where and how to go about it even if no opportunity seems to be coming your way. Do not also be afraid to learn from those who are ahead of you. You could also volunteer to work for free; the beauty of this is that you acquire knowledge as you are helping out.
There are several things to look out for before preparing your CV, no two CV’s are the same because our experiences are unique to us.
There are several formats available online these days but you must tailor them to suit you. So you should get general information on what you want to include in it, school attended, past work experiences, what you can offer. You can use this guide to learn how to write a perfect CV or simply use any of the CV templates included in this article.
Job interviewing skill is a necessary skill you should have if you plan on getting your desired jobs without connection or stress.
However, passing a job interview goes beyond luck. You need to be totally prepared. Luckily we have good resources that can help you prepare so you pass any job interview you are going for. Check how this interview guide we created just for you.
Basic Key points to Know When Going for a Job Interview:
If you are wondering, what are the common jobs in Nigeria right now, then I have prepared a list for you to check out below:
If you are looking to land a job in Nigeria, then it is not uncommon for you to have questions especially if you are new to the job search journey. No doubt, searching for a job in Nigeria comes with its challenges, it is good you understand what the job market is like before venturing into it.
In this section, we are going to answer some questions that job seekers in Nigeria have asked about how to get a job in Nigeria.
Yes, it is 100% possible to get a job in Nigeria. Well, I understand that the level of unemployment in Nigeria is high, and the competition for the few available jobs is stiff. Notwithstanding having the right knowledge, and job search tools (CV, cover letter, etc.) You can land a rewarding job in Nigeria.
Hundreds of job vacancies are posted every day in Nigeria, and thousands of job candidates are getting employed every day also. Nigerian employers look to hire job candidates with the right skills and experience. Once you have all these covered, rest assured that you will land a good-paying job in Nigeria in no time.
When it comes to finding where to get a job in Nigeria, you have to be careful and strategic to avoid falling into the arms of fraudulent and unscrupulous people pretending to be recruiters. Many job seekers have been duped and misled by fraudsters who claim to be employers.
The best place to get a job in Nigeria is through the internet. Searching for a job on the internet makes the process easier, but you have to be careful as there are many scam jobs on the internet. It is good you learn how to detect fake/scam jobs.
If you are confused about where to find jobs in Nigeria, I would advise you to search and apply for jobs on myjobmag.com. Why?
MyJobMag publishes the latest verified job vacancies in Nigeria. This means:
The most common jobs in Nigeria usually varies with the state and location. While some jobs roles are common in some states in Nigeria, others are not so common. Many people in Nigeria believe that teaching jobs are the most common jobs in Nigeria (although there is sufficient research to back this claim).
According to MyJobMag's research and the number of jobs posted in a particular job role in different states in Nigeria, sales/marketing jobs are the most common jobs in Nigeria. Almost every company has a sales/marketing team or employees.
The secret to getting a job immediately in Nigeria is simply getting the right knowledge. The truth is that there is no switch you are going to flip that will immediately take you away from your job search straight to working in a company. It is a conscious process that you have to invest time and learn to get the most out of it.
If you want to get a job immediately, then I would encourage you to take the following steps:
a. Discover your career path (know the kind of jobs that you want to get).
b. Acquire the necessary skills and certifications.
c. Start building your experience around the field or job role. You can start building your experience by taking volunteering jobs and internship opportunities even while you are still in school.
d. Learn how to write a good CV. Watch our full video guide on how to write a good CV.
e. Learn how to write a convincing cover letter.
f. Search and apply for jobs that you are most suited for.
g. Practice common job interview questions and answers.
These tips will surely help you get a job quickly in Nigeria. If you want to start working in the office environment immediately, then volunteering and internship is the way for you to go.
Searching for a job generally comes with its challenges, but many people have been able to get jobs in Nigeria fast. Whether or not your job search will be hard depends on how much effort you are willing to invest in the process.
When it comes to getting a job in Nigeria, your attitude towards the process will determine if your job search will be easy or hard.
The jobs that you can do in Nigeria depends on your: abilities, education, skills, certifications, and experience. The Nigerian job market is wide, and there are many job fields, so you have to choose the job field you want to play in. If you have no idea, you can take a look at your skills, interests and see the job field that works best for you.
Well, the definition of a good salary in Nigeria varies with the standard of life that you want to live. You can determine what a good salary is from your expenses and the income that you get at the end of the month.
Considering the economic situation of the country, a person can live an average life with a salary of at least N100, 000. Although, many people in Nigeria earn below N100, 000 per month. Take a look at the top 25 highest paying salaries in Nigeria.
How long it will for a person to land a job after graduation in Nigeria depends on a variety of factors as I mentioned earlier. The more knowledge you have about the things you need to do to land a job, the faster it is for you to get one.
Based on MyJobMag's research on how people find jobs, it takes a person an average of 9 months to land a job after graduation.
Summing It Up
Getting a job in Nigeria is easy if you follow the steps we outline above. What is important is to know what you want. What has your experience been so far with job hunting in Nigeria? Tell us in the comment below.
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