Education is seen as a means to a better life. No wonder it is the dream of many families to send their children to school to acquire knowledge that will equip them for a better living. Today, it is not just getting the education that seems to matter the most, but how far one goes that will determine how fat your salary will be and what class of job is offered to you. Unfortunately the number of graduates outnumber the number of available job spaces, and millions of graduates are roaming the streets frustrated in search of employment. Sometimes even those offered employment would prefer to stay at home because the pay is nothing to write home about or they don’t get paid for months or years. To get a job in Nigeria has become like the proverbial saying that ” it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” so much so that to get a job some persons would have to know some one who knows somebody that knows some one in power or authority to give you the connection to get the job. Employment in an oil firm like Saipemhas become a big business. There are lots of marketing job agents within and outside the company up to the medical department. You pay to get a job there and you are not guaranteed because you will only work for a short period, then dropped and and you would have to pay again and again if at all you get the job again. Well let’s live that for another day. The fact is that if you meet a majority of Nigerian youths, they won’t hesitate to vent their spleen and tell how much they regret having being Nigerians. Common you don’t have to be. Nigeria is full of beautiful things with surprises. It is not rosy any where in the world else why are they deporting illegal immigrants and making it had for foreigners to move into their country to work?
Bear in mind that we are only living in the last days of this system of things as foretold by the Christ, when things will tough only for a while. So what can you as a young unemployed graduate do to at least give you a measure of happiness and satisfaction? Below are 12 suggestions. If you have any outside this leave a comment so others can benefit. But bear in mind whatsoever you do, contentment is the key to your living a satisfying and happy life.
NOTE:what will work for one person might not work out for the other, so don’t compare you with another. Do not see any job as below your status. Being a graduate gives you an edge over others in the same line.
1. PRIVATE OR HOME LESSONS
Teaching kids in their homes after school can be a good way to earn a manageable income that can keep body and soul together. There are no fixed charges but if you are good in what you do, people will look for you. Your charges should depend on the status of your clients in the society. Some families tend to take advantage of unemployed graduates and under price them or treat them unfairly. Do not let yourself be taking advantage of. Set a standard for yourself. If your services are not appreciated stop the lesson and move on to another where you are respected. However,discretion and wisdom is needed in accepting,pricing and rejecting or stopping a private home lesson(s). It will not be appropriate to accept too many lessons that you can’t handle. Take your time, so that you can pay quality attention to the kids. Any parent who cannot pay a reasonable amount to a graduate for a private lesson doesn’t need you. They should look for non – graduates. Water has level according to Fela and shoe get size, abi!
2.TEACHING IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Some private schools secure the services of non – teaching graduates to boost their staff strength especially in the sciences. Make yourself available. Don’t say you can never teach. Yes you can if you are determined. It won’t be easy at first but you could pick up after a while. Teaching will keep your brain fresh and ready for any interview you would be invited to. Besides the small cash will go a long way to sustain you.
3.BUYING AND SELLING
This is one easy thing to start up with small capital. All you need to do is to travel to a region or state where certain things are sold, buy them at a cheaper rate and sell at a reasonable profitable price. For example, people from Port Harcourttravel to Aba and Lagos to buy clothes, shoes, etc and return to sell them at wonderful rates in the oil city. Some travel from the North down South in Abia or Akwa IbomStates to buy palm oil and take them to the North where it is in high demand. The most important thing is for you to identify what people in your environment need and what you think can be sold easily and faster. People buying on credit cannot be ruled out but ensure you sell only to those who are credit worthy.
3.RECHARGE CARD/PHONE CALL CENTER
Phone call business in Nigeria is big business although it might not look that way. The profit made from selling a single recharge card might look small but don’t forget, little drops of water make a mighty ocean. If you doubt it, ask a banker. The little little kobo you make can translate to thousands of Naira. Bear in mind that millions of Nigerians make use of phones and would recharge regularly or make calls from call centers when they suddenly run out of credit or battery. Identify busy spots to set up your call center. You can employ someone to work for you if you don’t want to be their in person or you can set up multiple call centers in busy locations.
5. FARMING
This is an interesting area that many unemployed graduates can find solace and cash. There are differentforms of farming you can get involved in. Rearing birds is one of the cheapest, easiest and fastest. It takes three months for broilers to be ready for sale. And demand is high. Visit bird suppliers for professional advice. It would also be a good idea to get an empty land where the owners are not set to develop. You either lease the land or offer to be the caretaker which is a better option. My mum and brother have been doing this and raising reasonable income aside the fact that the family enjoys seasonal crops from time to time. All you need to do is plant crops such as okro, maize, melon, yam, etc, as the seasons come. If you cannot do the farming yourself pay others to assist.
6.TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS
Do not feel ashamed of being a taxi or Keke driver. I wouldn’t advice you on Okada except that you have concluded arrangement for your funeral. Go to a driving school or get a friend who owns a car to take you on driving lessons and thereafter secure a drivers license and off you go. Get someone to hire his cab to you and you can make returns on a daily basis. Make savings through a bank or welfare association. This will help you to raise capital to purchase your own fairly used car or tricycle ( Keke) for the biz. Some people get cabs or Keke on hire purchase basis. I know of people who make returns of four thousand naira daily and yet go home with much more than that.
7. BLOGGING
A blog is a discussion or information site on the internet. For example NaijaSpleen is a blog and there are numerous blogs on specific subjects ranging from politics, education, fashion to news and magazines, Naijaspleen is a magazine blog. For you to be good blogger you must read other peoples blogs and make up your mind on what you want to blog on. Through Google search, you can find out all you need to know about blogging especially, how to get started. So how do you make money from blogging? I have not started making cash because i am new to blogging. I am blogging to satisfy my urge for writing but i do know money can be made from adverts and covering events just as the newspapers and magazines do. If you are interested , start by reading from so many blogs and decide what you want to blog on. Concentrate on the quality of your post and this will attract viewership. Want to get started?
8.WORKING AS AN AGENT
If you are a graduate with a patient spirit, you can be an agent in different sectors of need. You can be a land/house agent, advert agent for radio and television stations, newspapers and magazine firms, etc. Agents are paid commissions on jobs they attract. I was an advert agent for Love Fm Port Harcourt. It wasn’t easy but it paid off after much effort.
9.SAND SUPPLY
This is an area you don’t need capital to start. Find someone who is building a house or that has a blockmolding industry to get you to supply sand for them. If you are honest, you’ll get patronage and lots of cash too.
10.SHOWBIZ
See through yourself, if you have talents in the entertainment business such as acting, singing, comedy,dancing or organizing shows. Make yourself available to numerous auditions and talent hunt shows. If you are discovered, boom you go. You can also collaborate with television stations in your area to organize monthly children shows. A friend of mine does exactly that and he is not fairing badly.
11.CROCHETING AND BEAD MAKING
Women are passionate about their grooming and dressing. To make their grooming complete, they add up beads or knitted materials. They adorn themselves with beautiful accessories that go with their clothes, shoes and bags. So you can learn how to make this things at home, supply them to beauty shops, etc, and make your cool cash.
12.SELLING DOGS
Dog business is not an easy one, i must confess but it does bring money . . . real good money.If you can afford the stress that goes with rearing high breed dogs like Rottweilers, German Shepherds(Alsatian), Caucasians, etc , go ahead. Some security companies can hire trained dogs from you too.
CONCLUSION: BE INNOVATIVE AND PROACTIVE
What ever you do or want to do, you have to think outside the box. Think different from the pack. Bring out innovations that make you stand out from the crowd. Most importantly be proactive!!!

Culled from www.naijaspleen.com

Thanks for the infor right now am using Okada to work but will soon drop it.

Any Nigerian graduate who is blaming the economy or the nation or the government for his joblessness is a failed mind.
Nigeria is not a failed country. Her graduates are the failed minds.
Why will a graduate be looking for a salaried job in today's Nigeria?
There are thousands of jobs everywhere begging to be picked up but these failed minds are not looking in that direction.
They are not looking because they are stuck with the mentality of the 1950's where their grannies had jobs before they graduated.
The government will not get you a job.In fact the government is sacking its own workers.
If with all your years in school and your degree, you cannot create a job for yourself, then your years in school is a waste;your education is useless and your mind has failed.

Many a graduate feels that if they dont work office work they have failed. What they faik.ti realize is that many who have office work their take home pay does not take them home.

Among other things said by others u can start from where you are to provide service or better still leave where you are to places that will be more comducive.

Learn a trade! So the story of.a guy who left friends and hid his head in.a different location for two years learnt tailoring. When he was done he began to inleash his creative and innovative self and today he makes cloth for big names


I feel traped in salary work but am calling on.my.entrepreneural self in.multiple streams of income