Interesting and accept my condolences. However it happens all over the world and it is known as the old boys network. People gain advantage due to their status in life. It is sad and it is annoying when it goes against you but it happens.

Exactly the reason why I pray day and night not to be in a position to move about writing stupid tests in Naija. I see those as bloody waste of precious time, hard earned money and treasured hope. If I can't be headhunted for a position, then it's not worth moving from my present job. Gba be man!

Allta:

Exactly the reason why I pray day and night not to be in a position to move about writing stupid tests in Naija. I see those as bloody waste of precious time, hard earned money and treasured hope. If I can't be headhunted for a position, then it's not worth moving from my present job. Gba be man!

obviously u r not in 9ja, i lie?

Thats Nigeria Factor for you,Just pray to God to Give you your own Job.I had the same experience @ FIDELITY BANK in V.I. lagos,i spent my last kobo to make it to the test and interview,after i passed the test,they refused to allow me to enter for interview,Guess what they asked, Where is your complimentary Card,who send u come here,since then,i have lost confidence in them.Its ok,life goes on

Bros, I symphatise with u. Being in Exxonmobil, I know their antics.
CAn U describe the hR guy(s) involved?

likorewonder@yahoo.com

nethacker:

obviously u r not in 9ja, i lie?

Does it matter? Whether am in Naija or not, it doesn't matter or affect how I feel about those nonsensical tests! Rubbish!!

God is on the throne to help His people that know no man

na wao!

NIGERIANS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN THE PROBLEM OF NIGERIA, SINCERELY WE ARE THE ONES THAT KILL OURSELVES. IMAGINE THE IMPRESSION THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THAT WHITE MAN, WHO WILL IN TURN SHARE THE STORY WITH HIS FRIENDS AND ADDING TO THE DENT OF NAIJA'S IMAGE!!!

GOD HELP US IN THIS COUNTRY!!!

This is Naija for U , take heart.

Here is a question and be honest. If offered a significant amount of money would you create a special list?

Say your brother or sister needed a job?

While Im sure many will reply with indignation, the fact remains, this happens all the time and it has not changed in 50 years. So, maybe the last generation would have replied to this question with the same indignation but here we are in this generation with the same problem. So, time will tell if you the new generation of Nigerians will change this practice.

So when you get into a position of power, will you abuse it? or will you finally rebrand nigeria and turn the tide against corruption. As an outsider I really do hope so. I love Nigeria, it has the potential to be great. The average Nigerian like my driver are honest and very hard working and god fearing people.

When I first came to nigeria, a good friend said to me, Nigeria will get into your blood. Of course I didnt believe him, I thought I would stay 6 months and go. Its been 2 years and being back in london on vacation, here I am sitting on a nigerian forum missing the country to which most ex pats only travel to with great concern. (No disrespect intended).

Things that happen in Naija.

You guys will be surprised to know that it's not restricted to naija alone. Stuffs like that are pretty rife in the UK public sector as well. They advertise a job and let you as an outsider attend interview for formalty sakes (sometimes to satisfy employment/recruitment law) knowing fully well that the job is going to be given to an in-house candidate.
Only difference is nigeria's one is blatant whilst ours is coded. Take the positives (you getting shortlisted and even attending the interview) from the experience and use that energy to extra motivate yourself.
Good luck and all the best

Look, people.

You're graduates; you've done your bit at the university; why should you put up with nonsense, even if it's suspicion? If you susopect foul-play, write letters, contact HR; and the foreigner, he has a name, doesn't he? Get his name. If there's some assistant, get their name; get their contacts. You probably know people who work in ExxonMobil, contact them, gather the relevant information. You didn't earn a degree in Nigeria to become timid because you're a job seeker; you must kick against cheatin/corruption when you suspect one. You could start by asking for explanations. And since you're not 100% sure, go Socratic, ask questions, it's your responsibility to do it.

.

^^
look at you talking like the allegation can be proven. You need solid proof to fight such injustice

No, you don't need "solid proof" to point out waht appears to be a discrepancy, and one for which you appear to have an in-house ally in the examiner who expressed suprise at some unsual arrangement. You politely note that you feel the arrangement was rather strange and request for an explanation. HR will wriggle out of it, but you will have added your voice. And if there's been other complaints like yours, someone will take notice.

Don't just whine and complain.

jay-be is of course correct it happens in the UK and other countries as well, albeit, to a lesser extent. Also, in places like the public sector, in which I have consulted a lot its much more difficult because there is specific separation of roles to help prevent this.

I think that within recruitment in nigeria they should not allow the department head to be in the first round interviews. And that the first round interviews should be conducted by people who are drawn from a pool of people at random on the day infront of the candidates. So, there are 10 potential interviewers. Lots are drawn on the day to select the actual 3 on the panel in front of the candidates.

While it wouldnt prevent "special lists" it would make it much more difficult. Again not a perfect system, and in reality there isnt one. The best solution is that everyone in nigeria takes personal responsibility to act with integrity. To report it when it happens and see it through to the end.

Education in Nigeria is still in the valley of decision. There is more to come

This thing happens all the time. Who say we no go make am?

But why is the poster now complaining? I thut he posted a previous article were he was boosting that he can see change coming to nigeria soon. These People only complain when they are the victims and rejoice to high heavens of how they can infuence the corrupt system to their favour when they are the beneficiaries.

Whether we like it not MKM (Man know Man) has come to stay in nigeria.

Nimshi:

Look, people.

You're graduates; you've done your bit at the university; why should you put up with nonsense, even if it's suspicion? If you susopect foul-play, write letters, contact HR; and the foreigner, he has a name, doesn't he? Get his name. If there's some assistant, get their name; get their contacts. You probably know people who work in ExxonMobil, contact them, gather the relevant information. You didn't earn a degree in Nigeria to become timid because you're a job seeker; you must kick against cheatin/corruption when you suspect one. You could start by asking for explanations. And since you're not 100% sure, go Socratic, ask questions, it's your responsibility to do it.

.

You make sense. But to be honest, letters, papers and long story holds no water in Naija. Shey na if dem deliver letter abi? Also we all know when a system is corrupt, there's a huge possibility the source of the rot is at the top. In other words, he/she may get the "letter" and trash it.  In issues like these, the media is the best bet. The way you deal with Nigerians like this is to EXPOSE them WITH NAMES! Put them on blast. It may not change the situation. They may or will still keep doing what they are doing, but at least they may become more sensitive in dealing with such issues knowing that people know their gimmick and think of them as rats. I can confidently tell you that even this Nairaland is more effective in spreading the message than filing bogus complaints. Do you know how many people, including those who work there,  have seen this and passed on the info to all and sundry. Leave matter ooo. Don't underestimate the power of the media and the web. All it takes is the right person in Exxon Mobil (either in Naija or abroad) coming across this post in order to start an inquiry. No company wants to lose credibility. Anyway, since the media in Naija is usually political and cannot function democratically, let us use the medium we know. NAIRALAND! 

[b]P.S: [/b]I am forwarding this link to my 2 friends in Houston. One works with Exxon Mobil and the other with Chevron and knowing the kind of people they are, I know they will "spread" the gist. Who knows, it may spread faster in Chevron as per competition levels.  
But seriously, this is kind of a small issue because almost all companies do it in Naija. But that doesn't mean we can't NOT do anything about it. I just think we need to start speaking up more. Nothing may come out of it but it's worth the try.

The practice is not good. We all have to stop this; it is high time we stopped whatever is called the Nigerian factor in all its ramifications.

I advise the poster to send it to bbc.co.uk. There is a programme called "only in Africa" It is aired around 7.45 GMT. Check BBC website for this. I am sure someone will take action. Eventhough you may not get the job, but you are helping in moving Nigeria forward.

Best of luck.

From the way you sound, it is obvious that you do not have all the facts and you are just inferring,

ExxonMobil is one of the few Companies that 'prides' itself with operating round the world ethically. No kidding, It is easy for you to add 2 & 2 and of cos everyone will agree the answer is 4. It may be your opinion of what went down that day, and am sorry you may never know exactly what happened and it may not have been as you painted it here.

It is a good company to work for, please do not be biased, try again, when you get there, you will agree with me,

might be those two goons attended an earlier test that supersedes the one attended by the poster.

make the next move. that is not the end of the road now!

@OP
You did not pass the test. Simple. Why d grudge? A lot of you are empty barrels. You go around claiming you passed tests when in actuallity you failed.
Imagine people scoring 75% in tests thinking they passed. There are other people that scored 98% my friend.
ExxonMobil is the largest oil company in the world and also one of the largest companies in the world. They used to be number one based on revenue until recently.
They have every right to recruit the best of the best. You are not what they want. PERIOD.
Everybody can not work for EXXON.
My neighbour just started working for them. He is a first class graduate. He said 3 of the other 4 people selected along with him are also first class grad engineers. There was only one 2:1 amongst them.
The test is not the only thing they use in weeding you out. It is the total package. A lot of Nigerian graduates can not communicate properly. If your communication skills are found wanting, EXXONMOBIL is not the place for you.
Accept your failure with pride and stop bickering. Work better next time.

@Phuck_NL
Bros that was too harsh now, where your spirit of sportsmanship

@Phuck_NL

I dont blame people like you. Its people like you that think a first class is a good candidate! While i agree to the fact that academic excellence is good, it does not buttress the fact that fair playing field should not be given to all.

Am not a first class candidate but i know my onions in my field of specialisation. if not my CV would not have attracted Mobil HR.
Further to this, we had not gotten to the interview stage yet for them to determine our levels of reasoning and experience.
When you say we are empty barrels, i just pity your sense of reasoning.

I think if one is to be fair to himself, one should be able to ascertain one's performance after a test.

So Phuck_NL or whatever you call yourself, just try and think before pouncing on the keyboards of your system when next you want to say something on Nairaland!

We need to understand the issue the poster is raising here or else we misfire in our comment. The issue is not about his grade but that there was no transparency in the process of recruiting, so much that the white guy complained about the sudden appearance of two new candidates. We all agree that Exxon Mobil is one of the best places to work but getting there should not be through fraudulent means or nepotism.

It is quite disgusting that we are not seeing anything wrong in the process of disqualifying the young man.

Poster, i advise you get your facts right, be truthful with no sentiments and send this ugly experience, in no more than 300 words to the BBC site i mentioned. We must redress this ugly thing called Nigerian factor. The BBC email address is: network.africa@bbc.co.uk.

Let us stand for integrity at all times.

Cheers.

I am afraid phuck_NL seems to be exxonmobil PR officer. Otherwise, how can one explain his position? May I say that I have a very very close friend who sat for this apt test and attended the interview under discussion here.

NL make una look at this:

Yes - six candidates wrote the first test, then suddenly two (who could easily be said to be resembling brothers) were later ushered in by another exxonmobil staff (who kept talking to them in their native dialect), even provided them pencils & erasers. On seeing the suspicion shown by two of the first set of candidates, he offered to go get extra pencils & eraser but never brought any neither did he show up again.

The Interview- four scaled through to the interview stage & one of those tow guys was among them. in fact, the first to be interviewed. There is the suspicion that two came forward even when the arrangement to push the older brother to the interview stage had been concluded
Now the questions begging for answers are:
1) was the whole arrangement made to be all for the guy that (presumably) made it to the interview stage, having painted it real with the inclusion of the other three candidates?
2) are there no rules in exxonmobil as regards conduct of aptitude tests? one could easily conclude that the second test  arranged was to accommodate the two late comers.
3) why is it taking HR this long to 'get back' to the three candidates (they still communicate but the other guy deliberately kept to himself) even though the whole process was to have been concluded on the interview day and the successful candidate known?
4) why was the white man that conducted the test kept out of the know about the late comers until he had to protest openly in the test hall when he saw them if there was no attempt to defraud.

I must say we are all guilty as charged. Everything -and I mean Everything!- that you get in life is related to who you do or do not know. this is one of the basic truths of life. Think about it. Pls

Naija factor everywhere. It is naija that is spoiling Naija. Any multinational where you see Naija people in power, there must be runs going on.

@phuk_NL, from the way you speak, you're giving the impression you have superior intelligence. The poster said he passes, but you are saying he failed. Where you there?