I just want to write this article as a source of inspiration esp. to graduates whose parents cant afford over 2.5M naira to send them to do their Msc abroad.

From my experience in Nigeria I have found that medium scales companies dont rely on your certificates. all they want is someone that can do the
job. someone that can help them complete the project.

I read engineering in school; i found that during my first yr after NYSC; that when ever an opportunity shows up; the employer has 2 things to ask:-

(1) if u re a fresh graduate; can we see ur Msc certificate ( mostly Oversea Msc)
(2) if u re not a fresh graduate; how many yr work experience do you have? what & what projects have u done b4? finally are u sure u can do this job?

Based on the above question; I came to a conclusion that:-

since my parents cant send me Oversea for my Mscs; cant i go for the second option

So here begins my career testimony:-

After deciding to go for the second option; which is to become experienced/ skilled person; the first step that I took was to streamlined my passion to
one area of my engineering profession. I found out almost all the new engineers over there are JACK OF ALL TRADE; they can do all things mentality...; thats not
the mind set of the professionals.

The second step; I took was to look for a MENTOR. I prayerfully search for one. it took me alot of time; to locate one but I make sure I locate one.
You see; jst as a son will suffer without the guidance from his father; so are many fresh graduate suffering today.

My Mentor was the one that taught me on how to write a CV that no employer in my field can resist.
He taught me also of the importance of SKILL acquisition etc etc...

The third step: Based on my Mentors advice; I enrolled in an engineering skill training program based in Lagos; after the training; men my eyes were opened. i could see why I was unemployable before. I could see why many millions of graduates are roaming the streets.

Do you know that after the training program or skill acquisition program; i saw a vacancy with a small scale firm; they were looking for 2 engineers.
over a hundred of us submitted CVs but few were called for the interview; and I happened to be among the few.

All the questions I was asked centered around those skills which I have gotten from that training school.

That was how I landed my first job in Lagos on Dec. 2006.

repeating the same process; from getting more experienced mentors to sending myself on advance courses; by God grace I have worked in more 6 companies till date.
I am currently in my 7th company ( a billion dollar worth firm) as a senior engineer.

LESSONS:-

(1) The fact that you cant go to overseas for your Msc; doesnt mean you cant work in the multi-nationals
(2) Just try and locate your passion; streamline yourself to a profession that you want to be come an expert in
(3) locate a mentor in that profession that you have choose
(4) Please Please GO FOR SKILL ACQUISITION; send your self on training programs/ courses. some are cheap like min. 20-50k naira. this is the most important


Thanks for reading hope this inspire someone. please dont mind my spellings. I am not an english student oo...

cheers

HI,

I LIKE YOUR TAUGHT,PLEASE ASSIT ME WITH ACCOUNTING SKILL,I STUDIED ACCOUNTING BUT AM NOT YET CHARTED

@chiudo

Please I dont knw much abt accounting o... but i heard abt some soft skills like pearch tree; SAP etc.

I will advice u to choose which area u want to bcom an expert on first.
do u want to b a banker; cashier; investment broker; Private equity analyst; corporate accountant etc
after that u can now go and look for a mentor in the area that u have chosen...

the mentor should able to take u 4rm there.

PLEASE NOTE:-

DONT EVER BEG UR MENTOR FOR MONEY!!!!

hope this help

Thats a nice one @dfav.

Thats why we encourage people to get skills.

Are you a Graduate (both fresh & old) or final year student in the following courses:-

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY

And you want to increase your chances of getting professional job via increasing your technical skills...

For more information Please visit:-

http://www.subsurfacedevelopment.com/


...Jobs are hard to get so said the average Nigerian job seeker...

From these sites:-

http://ceres-recruitment.com/Jobs_Details.aspx?RequirementId=323292
http://www.gulfjobsmarket.com/senior-reservoir-engineer-advisor-job

I got to know that Jobs are available in the oil & gas industry... but the greatest challenge is not that there are no jobs
But
Are you technically skilled to do the job; do you meet the technical requirements...

Thats why you need to personally develop yourself; your skills... so:-

Are you a Graduate (both fresh & old) or final year student in the following courses:-


PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY



And you want to increase your chances of getting professional jobs via increasing your technical skills.....


For more information please visit:-

http://www.subsurfacedevelopment.com/

@dfav.
I must commend you for this eye opener article. Nigeria education system is not helping matters because they have failed in there core responsibility, to turn out graduate that has technical skills to profer solutions to industries problem, what we have is graduate who walk about with certificate but has no technical know how. I know Nigeria will get it right one day.

@subsurface
Thanks for those links, i will check them out being a graduate of Mining Engineering with keen interest in oil and gas sector.

@poster
That's just the fact. i always knew the skill is the most important factor in this ever competitive market. i just missed a very good opportunity with a mutli national engineering firm 'cuz i don't have the skills required, that was like an eye opener that i needed to be proactive. Am a fresh gaduate of civil engrng and will be starting my autoCAD, p&id, autoplant training by monday. i will like to know the engineering training school you attended in lagos, it will be of great help to me in my quest to acquire skills.

>Peace

op, e for good if u and others mention some of those "hot courses/certs/skills"

@dfav, thanks for sharing the article. I actually concur with what you've said. I'm a chemical eng'g graduate, through with the nysc programme.
I've streamlined my passion to pipeline eng'g. I've attended a training programme on Piping eng'g and design and I've learnt the main software used.
Though I've not gotten a mentor yet but I'm connect with people via social and professional sites e.g. Linkedin.
I'm currently searching for a job, even if it's on contract basis. I intend going for more trainings pending the time I will get a job.

@dfav Please wot's d name of d engineering skill training school you attended?. Also what area of engineering do you specialise in?

Insanity: @poster
That's just the fact. i always knew the skill is the most important factor in this ever competitive market. i just missed a very good opportunity with a mutli national engineering firm 'cuz i don't have the skills required, that was like an eye opener that i needed to be proactive. Am a fresh gaduate of civil engrng and will be starting my autoCAD, p&id, autoplant training by monday. i will like to know the engineering training school you attended in lagos, it will be of great help to me in my quest to acquire skills.

>Peace

Where exactly do you want to start the training? I'm interested in it. Kindly drop ur email address. Thanks

Nice write up and very inspiring.since most of our university kant add training skils to the curiculum we have to do dat outsid d university.Am a graduate of physics(electronics),have being trying to get where to upgrade my learning,being a bit difficult.would love to venture into telecoms and mast instalatn.cost of d training is also an issue,i hear though nt confirm dat they cost like 80k to 100k for telcoms training dat much,hope to get sumtin lower

pls can u assist me on Business Admin skill

Try to get a very good result for your Bsc. Be good good enough to defend it. That is enough to get a decent job as a fresh grad. Having professional certs can help further.

chiudo: HI,

I LIKE YOUR TAUGHT,PLEASE ASSIT ME WITH ACCOUNTING SKILL,I STUDIED ACCOUNTING BUT AM NOT YET CHARTED

Just a suggestion, you can PM Jarus(My lovely nairaland brother.... I love am die). I am very confident of him, he has core knowledge of this. I think he could help. No mind ma write-up na fone cause am ooo. Thanks

bro just read this post of ur & i found it very inspiring
thanks