| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by shamack: 8:51am On Jul 23, 2017 |
U mean most of the employed grad have this skill?...........and our economy is still here 3 Likes |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by meritknight: 8:52am On Jul 23, 2017 |
good one 
|
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by Nathan2016: 8:53am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Most graduate will see this and also complain.. Thats one of the reasons they don't have a job.. They all complain.... I have seen graduates leave their place of living to lagos, and other places to get a job without knowing anyone there..
I have seen graduates making money through skills, myself included..
Today world is changing, if you still believe your cert can give you a high paying job, without connection and skills, menh you are on a long thing... Lol
Go to banks.. Sit down and observe the scene... How many staffs do you see there? |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by VeeVeeMyLuv(m): 8:55am On Jul 23, 2017 |
OP whoever you are God bless you.
this is a 7-star post.
bravo! 2 Likes |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by sukkot: 8:57am On Jul 23, 2017 |
its funny because in england if you say you are going to university they look at you like you are some type of stoneage prehistoric dinosaur. I dont even have the liver to tell white boys about anything university because to them its a strange concept. like over here from the age of 16 they all go into building or plumbing or roofing or auto mechanics etc etc. thats the culture here. only a tiny amount of these white britons venture into university. meanwhile the black man is the exact opposite. all their british universities is a money making venture for foreigners 9 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by Laxy009(m): 8:59am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Wow! What a lovely write up. Kudos |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by yorex2011: 9:04am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Actuarydeji:
Your write(s) up is/are very good, but it can't work in Nigeria. You my friend are very wrong. |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by VeeVeeMyLuv(m): 9:09am On Jul 23, 2017 |
sukkot:
its funny because in england if you say you are going to university they look at you like you are some type of stoneage prehistoric dinosaur. I dont even have the liver to tell white boys about anything university because to them its a strange concept. like over here from the age of 16 they all go into building or plumbing or roofing or auto mechanics etc etc. thats the culture here. only a tiny amount of these white britons venture into university. meanwhile the black man is the exact opposite. all their british universities is a money making venture for foreigners buhahahaha heehehe  bros nor kee me with laugh o! that was hilarious savage and brutal. be nice bro. haha. chai.... |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by Royalboy007: 9:10am On Jul 23, 2017 |
I love this write-up. But most of these are not taught at the university, trying to learn them for yourself Will drift your attention from your academic pursuit and you will find yourself struggling. Hence having bad results. 1 Like |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by OnimiB: 9:10am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Oga be like se God don answer ur own prayer...Sit down jejely while u enjoy ur earns no dey poke nose on matter wen u no know much about. Na for my house employer go know se i get skill, attitude or work experience. No Job for this country simple. 3 Likes |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by sukkot: 9:14am On Jul 23, 2017 |
VeeVeeMyLuv:
buhahahaha heehehe bros nor kee me with laugh o!
that was hilarious savage and brutal. be nice bro. haha. chai....
lmao, its very true bro. I think the white man went to third world countries to drum up the idea of universities so that all the third worlders will come and spend their money in his country. meanwhile amongst his own indigenes he promotes job based building and manufacturing skills. hence why they are first world. the white man has 419 us with this whole university concept 3 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by deebsman1(m): 9:14am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Bunkum rubbish, no jobs is simply no jobs. The country is bad is simply the country is bad Beta95:
Why Majority of Nigerian University Graduates Are Unemployed
Unemployment, especially among the youths, is a challenge currently facing the country. [font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font]
Many are unemployed not because there are no jobs but because they do not possess the skills necessary for employment.
While it is true that available jobs cannot go round everyone seeking employment, the reality is that there are many vacant
positions that cannot be filled because there are no suitable candidates.
You need more than university degree to succeed in today’s work place. There is a wide gap between the skills gained through university education and the skills required in the work place.
Employers are looking beyond educational qualifications to make hiring decisions.
You also need more than your degree to be successful in self-employment.
What are employers looking for in job applicants?
A careful scrutiny of employment advertisements will reveal the four critical areas employers assess job applicants:
1. Educational Qualifications
2. Skills
3. Attitudes (Character)
4. Job-related Experience
For graduate or entry-level jobs, job-related experience is mostly de-emphasized because majority of applicants are
deemed not to have previous work experience.
During period of high un-employment, as is currently happening in the country, there are more than enough job applicants that meet the educational requirements.
Among the multitudes that meet the set educational requirements, the criteria to choose remain:
1. Skills
2. Attitudes (Character)
Skills + Attitudes = Employability Skills
What are Employability Skills?
Employability Skills are the skills and attitudes (character) that are required to;
• Gain
• Keep
• .. and become Successful
at work, whether you work for yourself or work for other people.
Many of today’s graduates lack employability skills; hence they are considered to be “unemployable”
From its definition, you need employability skills not only to get the job, but also to hold on to it as well
as work your way up the employment ladder.
You also require the skills to start and run your own successful business.
What Are The Differences Between Educational Qualifications and Employability Skills?
Educational qualifications are also called;
• Hard skills,
• Technical skills,
• Vocational skills,
• Professional skills,
• Specific skills, etc.
They include:
• Law,
• Medicine,
• Engineering,
• Carpentry,
• Fashion Designing,
• Photography,
• Marketing,
• Bead-Making, etc.
They are characterized by being;
• Teachable (can be taught),
• Testable (can be tested by examination),
• Job-specific (they cannot be transferred from one job to another)
Hard skills qualify you to apply for a job but do not guarantee you a placement.
Students and apprentices spend their study time to acquire hard skills.
Employability Skills
Employability skills are also referred to as:
• Soft skills,
• Transferrable skills,
• Life skills,
• People skills,
• Interpersonal skills etc.
They are characterized by not being;
• Teachable- cannot be taught
• Testable- cannot be tested through examination
They are, however, transferrable- can be applied in all jobs, in different industries and at different levels in the organization.
Employability skills are applicable both in professional and personal life.
Though, employability skills are not teachable or testable, their presence or absence can be felt.
They can be acquired through deliberate efforts and practice over a period of time.
Hard and soft skills can be likened to hardware and software in computer terminology.
While hardware can be seen, touched and felt, software cannot be seen, touched or felt.
Hardware cannot function without software. Software is like human blood.
Hard skills have limited usefulness without Soft skills.
Majority of university graduates lack Soft skills.
This is the reason why they are considered to be “unemployable”.
To become employable, they need to work on their Employability (Soft) Skills
It has to be noted that Vocational skills are not the same as soft skills.
Graduates are advised to acquire vocational skills to make them employable.
Bead-making, fashion designing, carpentry etc., are all hard skills.
They also require soft skills to make success out of them.
Acquisitions of vocational skills will only enable graduates have multiple sources of income but will not solve their lack of employability skills.
What are the Employability Skills Necessary For Employment?
The following are some of the employability skills sought by employers, which are considered lacking in most University graduates:
1. Effective Communication Skills
Employers are keen on hiring applicants who can express themselves both orally and in writing. This skill is important to get the job and also to do the job.
A lot of communications go on in the work place with co-workers and customers.
If you are self-employed, you need effective communication skills to sell your products or services. You need to write proposals and make presentations to prospective customers to convince them to buy your product or service.
You need effective writing skills to craft compelling CV and covering letter to be invited for job interview.
When you get interview invite, you need good oral communication skills to sell yourself.
Many applicants get disqualified at application stage as a result of poorly and badly written CV. CV with grammatical and spelling mistakes is destined for the waste paper basket.
A lot about you and your character can be deduced from your CV and covering letter even before the prospective employer meets you.
Majority of university graduates lack effective communication skills. The advent of social media has worsened the situation.
Effective communication also includes;
• Effective listening skills,
• Presentation skills,
• Questioning skills
• Avoiding barrier to communication.
For communication to be effective, it must follow the 7Cs of communication. It must be:
Clear, Correct, Complete, Concise, Considerate, Coherent and Courteous.
2 IT/Computer Skills
This is the ability to effectively use computer and its associated technologies. Most organizations employ computer to run their businesses efficiently to save cost and be more productive.
Employers expect their applicants to be comfortable with the use of the common office productivity tools such as;
• Microsoft Word,
• Microsoft PowerPoint,
• Microsoft Excel
• Business Emailing.
Computer literacy also includes ability to operate office automation devices such as;
Photocopy Machine, Multimedia Projector, Fax Machine etc.
Again, depending on the applicant’s field of study, he/she is expected to possess additional skills in the use of computer software packages and devices in their industry.
• Accounting graduates are expected to be familiar with the use of at least one of the common
accounting software packages- QuickBooks, Peachtree, Sage, etc
• Medical graduates – Telemedicine software and Vital Sign Measuring Devices
• IT/Computer Science graduates-Ability to use at least two or more modern computer programming languages
e.g HTML, JavaScript, C++, C#, PHP, etc
• Engineering graduates- Computer Aided Design (CAD) software
IT/Computer skills go beyond ability to browse the Internet and use of social networking.
Graduates who still rely on business centers to prepare their CV cannot claim to be computer literate.
3 Problem Solving Skills
This is the ability to find solution to problems.
Organizations solve problems to earn their income. Employers are looking for problem-solvers and not salary earners.
Problem-solving is in the heart of all businesses. If you want to run a successful self-employment, you must find solution to problems which others are willing to pay for.
Think of any successful business, you’ll discover that it is providing solution to human problem (need) through service or product.
Businesses are setup to meet human needs. Maslow’s theory of human needs range from physiological needs, at the lower level, to self-actualization at the highest level.
Businesses are set up to meet needs at each level of needs.
Facebook and other social networking sites are setup to meet desire for ‘love’ and ‘belongingness’ needs of humans.
Hospitals, schools, telecommunication companies etc provide services that meet the needs others are willing to pay for.
Applicants who can come up with ideas that can generate income for their organizations are those that can get employment.
4 Team-working Skills
Team-working skills are the ability to work with others in a professional manner to achieve organizational goal.
Today’s work environment requires that you work with others in a team. You must demonstrate that you can work well with others with diverse views and culture to achieve set goals.
You must exhibit positive group attitudes that reinforce your ability to forge alliance. These include:
• Willingness to share time and talents
• Readiness to compromise personal views to reach consensus
• Being humble and not arrogant
• Willingness to listen to others view
• Willingness to help others to achieve
• Being reliable and consistent always
• Willingness to contribute without being domineering
T =Together E=Everyone A=Achieve M=More;
“Together Everyone Achieve More”, emphasizes the importance of team work in the workplace.
5 Planning and Organizing Skills
Planning is the process of enumerating the tasks and resources needed to achieve a set goal.
Organizing is the process of managing and implementing the tasks and resources needed to achieve a set goal
Planning and Organizing go hand-in-hand.
Planning involves;
• Goal setting
• Enumerating tasks and resources needed to reach the goal
Organizing involves;
• Prioritizing
• Scheduling
• Implementation
Planning is important in all aspects of life to ensure achievement of desired result.
Time is one of the resources required to achieve set goals and because it is limited it has to be properly managed. Time Management is always linked with planning and organizing.
As a graduate employee, you are more than likely to be given multiple assignments at the same time and for you to meet deadlines; you must be a good time manager.
The 6Ps of planning:
Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
You must demonstrate that you can identify tasks and resources required to meet goals and prioritize tasks to achieve much in a given time. Time is money.
Time management is often specified as one of the requirements in job advertisements.
6 Initiative and Enterprise Skills
This is the ability to work with minimal supervision. Initiative is when you are able to do the right thing at the right time without being told.
Enterprise is the ability to spot opportunity when others could not and taking steps and risks to actualize its implementation.
Individuals with initiative and enterprising skills seek better ways to do things for improved effectiveness and efficiency. They are responsible for the continuous improvements in the socio-economic lives of humans over time. They come up with products and services that make life easy.
7 Numeracy Skills
Numeracy is the ability to use numbers.
Numbers are the language of business. You need numeracy skill no matter what your position or job is. Employers are interested in applicants who are comfortable with the use of numbers.
While you do not have to be a mathematician, you should be familiar with basic arithmetic operations such as:
• Addition,
• Subtraction,
• Multiplication,
• Percentages
• Interpretation of graphs,
• Understanding trends in data,
• Currency conversion,
• Discounts,
• Shapes and geometry etc.
Numbers are used on daily basis both in personal and work environments.
No matter how good your product or service is, if you cannot manage the money your business makes, you cannot go far.
People with poor numeracy skills suffer a lot of employment and business related disadvantages. They earn far less with limited opportunities than their numerate counterparts.
Innumerate people are not able to compete effectively in the work place. Employers are keen to hire numerate applicants because the will be able to contribute to their bottom-line.
8 Financial Literacy Skills
Financial literacy skills are the skills needed to manage your personal finances to guarantee life-long financial independence. They include the knowledge how:
• Money is made
• It is saved
• It is invested to multiply
• To budget and live within your means
• To take appropriate insurance (to mitigate against life’s risks)
• To use money to assist others.
Financial literacy skills are different from numeracy skills; not all numerate individuals are financially literate. Employers are keen to hire financially literate applicants because they are considered to be more productive than their illiterate counterparts.
Financially illiterate employees are always bogged down with money issues which often distract them from their jobs. They go into debts, borrow money from colleagues and take salary advance. They spend a lot of time on phone resolving money issues which makes them less productive.
9 Commercial Awareness (Business Awareness) Skills
Commercial awareness is the ability to know what makes a business or organization successful. It is one of the key employability skills employers are looking for. They want their applicants to have ‘business sense’.
Commercial awareness skill includes ability to understand a company’s:
• Products and Services
• The industry it belongs
• Its competitors
• Its customers and suppliers
• The Political and Economic environments in which it operates
• Its Legal environment
• Its expansion plans
• Its position in the industry
Another way to demonstrate commercial awareness is the understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness, efficiency and customer care as factors affecting the success of organizations.
Your prospective organization expects you to understand the role of the position you are applying for.
While it is not possible to become commercially aware overnight, there are many ways to acquire the skill through deliberate efforts:
• Reading up about your prospective company on its website
• Listening to business programs on TV or Radio
• Through internship, part-time job or volunteering activities
• Partaking in extra-curricular activities
• Through community development activities
• Belonging to social and business associations
10 Attitudes (Character)
In addition to your educational qualifications and skills, employers are interested in personal attitudes which have direct bearing on job-performance.
You are assessed based on your level of positive attitudes. The following attributes are considered necessary for optimum job performance:
• Punctuality
• Honesty/Integrity
• Perseverance
• Flexibility/Adaptability
• Positive attitude to work
• Dedication
• Affirmative
• Tolerant
• People Skill
• Commitment
• People Skills
• Creative/Innovative
• Organized
• Responsibility/Dependability
• Well groomed
The various stages in the interview process sre designed to test the skills and the attitudes needed in each job.
It is not enough to claim in your CV or covering letter that you have those skills and attitudes but you must be prepared to provide evidence that you have put them into use and obtain the desired results.
**** 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by ibkayee(f): 9:15am On Jul 23, 2017 |
sukkot:
lmao, its very true bro. I think the white man went to third world countries to drum up the idea of universities so that all the third worlders will come and spend their money in his country. meanwhile amongst his own indigenes he promotes job based building and manufacturing skills. hence why they are first world. the white man has 419 us with this whole university concept Lmao 1 Like 1 Share |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by Gerrard59(m): 9:16am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Actuarydeji:
Your write(s) up is/are very good, but it can't work in Nigeria. How you can say it cannot work in Nigeria? This is the most comprehensive guide I've seen. Not just to get employed but also stay employed. So what can work in Nigeria? 2 Likes |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by greatiyk4u(m): 9:17am On Jul 23, 2017 |
AHCB:
If I know Saraki, I'm pretty sure all this won't apply to me if I need a job. Saraki can give you the job but can keep it for you Read deep meaning to this |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by obyrich(m): 9:23am On Jul 23, 2017 |
deepwater:
Op just stop here.
Go and understand what demand and supply means first, before insulting Nigerian graduates.
Everybody now has a formula and long list to life 
DPR application in dec 2016, exam date and center released after 7months with majority of people rejected for no reason, as in just rejected.
NLNG 2013 recruitment still on in 2017
Npower last hope for common man for this administration, one abokii governor say make LG workers apply for npower, how graduate wan do when governor do talk.?
Chevron did recruitment in 2012, but released results and said they took 60 names out of 90 from people that wrote exam in 2009, who we go ask 
ExxonMobil claimed dragnet exam of 2014 was compromised and a new date would be fixed, till today the company no write exam again, but them still dey employ.
CBN recruitment, buharis cousin employed as well as other top shots, but alas! there was no advert.
Access bank recruitment, somebody with 2million in account must stand in for you otherwise everything you have done is banza!
My people my I continue ??
You have a clear understanding of the issue on ground. What the elites are doing is reserve the few juicy jobs for their folks, loot resources meant for development and job creation to offshore havens, pay the press to consistently emphasise lack of proper education and competency as the reason for unemployment. 1 Like |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by IamaNigerianGuy(m): 9:24am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Threebear:
Most senseless post I've ever come across.
A real country does not wait for her citizens to create the right aptitude to be employable. It makes her citizens employable by fitting them in, in whichever level their skill sets permits.
People like you are the reason why our leaders keeps taking us for granted, you give them flimsy excuses. Nigeria has failed her youths and people and someone like you turn around to blame the people for not being able to secure Jobs which were not really there to begin with.
You must have drank ogorogo this morning. 1 Like |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by IamaNigerianGuy(m): 9:25am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Threebear:
Most senseless post I've ever come across.
A real country does not wait for her citizens to create the right aptitude to be employable. It makes her citizens employable by fitting them in, in whichever level their skill sets permits.
People like you are the reason why our leaders keeps taking us for granted, you give them flimsy excuses. Nigeria has failed her youths and people and someone like you turn around to blame the people for not being able to secure Jobs which were not really there to begin with.
You must have drank ogorogo this morning. Your points are valid and pertinent but you didn't have to denigrate the poster to get them across 1 Like |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by sukkot: 9:26am On Jul 23, 2017 |
ibkayee:
Lmao mayne am telling you, all these chinese boys who are all over africa building the rail network and building trains all over africa did not go to school to learn these skills. all of them went to a technical school in china. meanwhile black man with masters and phd in mechanical engineering cannot even build a toy train. this university is 419 joor lwkm 5 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by ojsmscom(m): 9:27am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Why not the government help by making skills the integral part of EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM in our tertiary institutions 1 Like |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by AHCB: 9:28am On Jul 23, 2017 |
greatiyk4u:
Saraki can give you the job but can keep it for you
Read deep meaning to this Why shouldn't I be able to keep it? I'm sure you know nigerians celebrate mediocrity. |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by Nobody: 9:29am On Jul 23, 2017 |
deepwater:
Op just stop here.
Go and understand what demand and supply means first, before insulting Nigerian graduates.
Everybody now has a formula and long list to life
DPR application in dec 2016, exam date and center released after 7months with majority of people rejected for no reason, as in just rejected.
NLNG 2013 recruitment still on in 2017
Npower last hope for common man for this administration, one abokii governor say make LG workers apply for npower, how graduate wan do when governor do talk.?
Chevron did recruitment in 2012, but released results and said they took 60 names out of 90 from people that wrote exam in 2009, who we go ask
ExxonMobil claimed dragnet exam of 2014 was compromised and a new date would be fixed, till today the company no write exam again, but them still dey employ.
CBN recruitment, buharis cousin employed as well as other top shots, but alas! there was no advert.
Access bank recruitment, somebody with 2million in account must stand in for you otherwise everything you have done is banza!
My people my I continue ??
Humm. God will make a way 1 Like |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by brightDdon(m): 9:30am On Jul 23, 2017 |
If only the number of worship centers can be turned into industries.
You've Just Said It All,,unemployment Will Drastically Drop,, 2 Likes |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by bamasite(m): 9:32am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Lol... true....... I discovered this a long time ago What is now amusing me is how employers think because of 'no jobs' they can pay anybody peanutsMany appointment letters these days will leave you in tears if you compare the pay to the economic realities. INSPIRATIONAL STORIES WILL NEVER MAKE YOU RICH. SEE WHY HERE 1 Like |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by Mkbryants(m): 9:32am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Threebear:
Most senseless post I've ever come across.
A real country does not wait for her citizens to create the right aptitude to be employable. It makes her citizens employable by fitting them in, in whichever level their skill sets permits.
People like you are the reason why our leaders keeps taking us for granted, you give them flimsy excuses. Nigeria has failed her youths and people and someone like you turn around to blame the people for not being able to secure Jobs which were not really there to begin with.
You must have drank ogorogo this morning. My brother na God go bless you oo... |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by Nobody: 9:32am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Beta95:
Why Majority of Nigerian University Graduates Are Unemployed
Unemployment, especially among the youths, is a challenge currently facing the country. [font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font]
Many are unemployed not because there are no jobs but because they do not possess the skills necessary for employment.
While it is true that available jobs cannot go round everyone seeking employment, the reality is that there are many vacant
positions that cannot be filled because there are no suitable candidates.
You need more than university degree to succeed in today’s work place. There is a wide gap between the skills gained through university education and the skills required in the work place.
Employers are looking beyond educational qualifications to make hiring decisions.
You also need more than your degree to be successful in self-employment.
What are employers looking for in job applicants?
A careful scrutiny of employment advertisements will reveal the four critical areas employers assess job applicants:
1. Educational Qualifications
2. Skills
3. Attitudes (Character)
4. Job-related Experience
For graduate or entry-level jobs, job-related experience is mostly de-emphasized because majority of applicants are
deemed not to have previous work experience.
During period of high un-employment, as is currently happening in the country, there are more than enough job applicants that meet the educational requirements.
Among the multitudes that meet the set educational requirements, the criteria to choose remain:
1. Skills
2. Attitudes (Character)
Skills + Attitudes = Employability Skills
What are Employability Skills?
Employability Skills are the skills and attitudes (character) that are required to;
• Gain
• Keep
• .. and become Successful
at work, whether you work for yourself or work for other people.
Many of today’s graduates lack employability skills; hence they are considered to be “unemployable”
From its definition, you need employability skills not only to get the job, but also to hold on to it as well
as work your way up the employment ladder.
You also require the skills to start and run your own successful business.
What Are The Differences Between Educational Qualifications and Employability Skills?
Educational qualifications are also called;
• Hard skills,
• Technical skills,
• Vocational skills,
• Professional skills,
• Specific skills, etc.
They include:
• Law,
• Medicine,
• Engineering,
• Carpentry,
• Fashion Designing,
• Photography,
• Marketing,
• Bead-Making, etc.
They are characterized by being;
• Teachable (can be taught),
• Testable (can be tested by examination),
• Job-specific (they cannot be transferred from one job to another)
Hard skills qualify you to apply for a job but do not guarantee you a placement.
Students and apprentices spend their study time to acquire hard skills.
Employability Skills
Employability skills are also referred to as:
• Soft skills,
• Transferrable skills,
• Life skills,
• People skills,
• Interpersonal skills etc.
They are characterized by not being;
• Teachable- cannot be taught
• Testable- cannot be tested through examination
They are, however, transferrable- can be applied in all jobs, in different industries and at different levels in the organization.
Employability skills are applicable both in professional and personal life.
Though, employability skills are not teachable or testable, their presence or absence can be felt.
They can be acquired through deliberate efforts and practice over a period of time.
Hard and soft skills can be likened to hardware and software in computer terminology.
While hardware can be seen, touched and felt, software cannot be seen, touched or felt.
Hardware cannot function without software. Software is like human blood.
Hard skills have limited usefulness without Soft skills.
Majority of university graduates lack Soft skills.
This is the reason why they are considered to be “unemployable”.
To become employable, they need to work on their Employability (Soft) Skills
It has to be noted that Vocational skills are not the same as soft skills.
Graduates are advised to acquire vocational skills to make them employable.
Bead-making, fashion designing, carpentry etc., are all hard skills.
They also require soft skills to make success out of them.
Acquisitions of vocational skills will only enable graduates have multiple sources of income but will not solve their lack of employability skills.
What are the Employability Skills Necessary For Employment?
The following are some of the employability skills sought by employers, which are considered lacking in most University graduates:
1. Effective Communication Skills
Employers are keen on hiring applicants who can express themselves both orally and in writing. This skill is important to get the job and also to do the job.
A lot of communications go on in the work place with co-workers and customers.
If you are self-employed, you need effective communication skills to sell your products or services. You need to write proposals and make presentations to prospective customers to convince them to buy your product or service.
You need effective writing skills to craft compelling CV and covering letter to be invited for job interview.
When you get interview invite, you need good oral communication skills to sell yourself.
Many applicants get disqualified at application stage as a result of poorly and badly written CV. CV with grammatical and spelling mistakes is destined for the waste paper basket.
A lot about you and your character can be deduced from your CV and covering letter even before the prospective employer meets you.
Majority of university graduates lack effective communication skills. The advent of social media has worsened the situation.
Effective communication also includes;
• Effective listening skills,
• Presentation skills,
• Questioning skills
• Avoiding barrier to communication.
For communication to be effective, it must follow the 7Cs of communication. It must be:
Clear, Correct, Complete, Concise, Considerate, Coherent and Courteous.
2 IT/Computer Skills
This is the ability to effectively use computer and its associated technologies. Most organizations employ computer to run their businesses efficiently to save cost and be more productive.
Employers expect their applicants to be comfortable with the use of the common office productivity tools such as;
• Microsoft Word,
• Microsoft PowerPoint,
• Microsoft Excel
• Business Emailing.
Computer literacy also includes ability to operate office automation devices such as;
Photocopy Machine, Multimedia Projector, Fax Machine etc.
Again, depending on the applicant’s field of study, he/she is expected to possess additional skills in the use of computer software packages and devices in their industry.
• Accounting graduates are expected to be familiar with the use of at least one of the common
accounting software packages- QuickBooks, Peachtree, Sage, etc
• Medical graduates – Telemedicine software and Vital Sign Measuring Devices
• IT/Computer Science graduates-Ability to use at least two or more modern computer programming languages
e.g HTML, JavaScript, C++, C#, PHP, etc
• Engineering graduates- Computer Aided Design (CAD) software
IT/Computer skills go beyond ability to browse the Internet and use of social networking.
Graduates who still rely on business centers to prepare their CV cannot claim to be computer literate.
3 Problem Solving Skills
This is the ability to find solution to problems.
Organizations solve problems to earn their income. Employers are looking for problem-solvers and not salary earners.
Problem-solving is in the heart of all businesses. If you want to run a successful self-employment, you must find solution to problems which others are willing to pay for.
Think of any successful business, you’ll discover that it is providing solution to human problem (need) through service or product.
Businesses are setup to meet human needs. Maslow’s theory of human needs range from physiological needs, at the lower level, to self-actualization at the highest level.
Businesses are set up to meet needs at each level of needs.
Facebook and other social networking sites are setup to meet desire for ‘love’ and ‘belongingness’ needs of humans.
Hospitals, schools, telecommunication companies etc provide services that meet the needs others are willing to pay for.
Applicants who can come up with ideas that can generate income for their organizations are those that can get employment.
4 Team-working Skills
Team-working skills are the ability to work with others in a professional manner to achieve organizational goal.
Today’s work environment requires that you work with others in a team. You must demonstrate that you can work well with others with diverse views and culture to achieve set goals.
You must exhibit positive group attitudes that reinforce your ability to forge alliance. These include:
• Willingness to share time and talents
• Readiness to compromise personal views to reach consensus
• Being humble and not arrogant
• Willingness to listen to others view
• Willingness to help others to achieve
• Being reliable and consistent always
• Willingness to contribute without being domineering
T =Together E=Everyone A=Achieve M=More;
“Together Everyone Achieve More”, emphasizes the importance of team work in the workplace.
5 Planning and Organizing Skills
Planning is the process of enumerating the tasks and resources needed to achieve a set goal.
Organizing is the process of managing and implementing the tasks and resources needed to achieve a set goal
Planning and Organizing go hand-in-hand.
Planning involves;
• Goal setting
• Enumerating tasks and resources needed to reach the goal
Organizing involves;
• Prioritizing
• Scheduling
• Implementation
Planning is important in all aspects of life to ensure achievement of desired result.
Time is one of the resources required to achieve set goals and because it is limited it has to be properly managed. Time Management is always linked with planning and organizing.
As a graduate employee, you are more than likely to be given multiple assignments at the same time and for you to meet deadlines; you must be a good time manager.
The 6Ps of planning:
Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
You must demonstrate that you can identify tasks and resources required to meet goals and prioritize tasks to achieve much in a given time. Time is money.
Time management is often specified as one of the requirements in job advertisements.
6 Initiative and Enterprise Skills
This is the ability to work with minimal supervision. Initiative is when you are able to do the right thing at the right time without being told.
Enterprise is the ability to spot opportunity when others could not and taking steps and risks to actualize its implementation.
Individuals with initiative and enterprising skills seek better ways to do things for improved effectiveness and efficiency. They are responsible for the continuous improvements in the socio-economic lives of humans over time. They come up with products and services that make life easy.
7 Numeracy Skills
Numeracy is the ability to use numbers.
Numbers are the language of business. You need numeracy skill no matter what your position or job is. Employers are interested in applicants who are comfortable with the use of numbers.
While you do not have to be a mathematician, you should be familiar with basic arithmetic operations such as:
• Addition,
• Subtraction,
• Multiplication,
• Percentages
• Interpretation of graphs,
• Understanding trends in data,
• Currency conversion,
• Discounts,
• Shapes and geometry etc.
Numbers are used on daily basis both in personal and work environments.
No matter how good your product or service is, if you cannot manage the money your business makes, you cannot go far.
People with poor numeracy skills suffer a lot of employment and business related disadvantages. They earn far less with limited opportunities than their numerate counterparts.
Innumerate people are not able to compete effectively in the work place. Employers are keen to hire numerate applicants because the will be able to contribute to their bottom-line.
8 Financial Literacy Skills
Financial literacy skills are the skills needed to manage your personal finances to guarantee life-long financial independence. They include the knowledge how:
• Money is made
• It is saved
• It is invested to multiply
• To budget and live within your means
• To take appropriate insurance (to mitigate against life’s risks)
• To use money to assist others.
Financial literacy skills are different from numeracy skills; not all numerate individuals are financially literate. Employers are keen to hire financially literate applicants because they are considered to be more productive than their illiterate counterparts.
Financially illiterate employees are always bogged down with money issues which often distract them from their jobs. They go into debts, borrow money from colleagues and take salary advance. They spend a lot of time on phone resolving money issues which makes them less productive.
9 Commercial Awareness (Business Awareness) Skills
Commercial awareness is the ability to know what makes a business or organization successful. It is one of the key employability skills employers are looking for. They want their applicants to have ‘business sense’.
Commercial awareness skill includes ability to understand a company’s:
• Products and Services
• The industry it belongs
• Its competitors
• Its customers and suppliers
• The Political and Economic environments in which it operates
• Its Legal environment
• Its expansion plans
• Its position in the industry
Another way to demonstrate commercial awareness is the understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness, efficiency and customer care as factors affecting the success of organizations.
Your prospective organization expects you to understand the role of the position you are applying for.
While it is not possible to become commercially aware overnight, there are many ways to acquire the skill through deliberate efforts:
• Reading up about your prospective company on its website
• Listening to business programs on TV or Radio
• Through internship, part-time job or volunteering activities
• Partaking in extra-curricular activities
• Through community development activities
• Belonging to social and business associations
10 Attitudes (Character)
In addition to your educational qualifications and skills, employers are interested in personal attitudes which have direct bearing on job-performance.
You are assessed based on your level of positive attitudes. The following attributes are considered necessary for optimum job performance:
• Punctuality
• Honesty/Integrity
• Perseverance
• Flexibility/Adaptability
• Positive attitude to work
• Dedication
• Affirmative
• Tolerant
• People Skill
• Commitment
• People Skills
• Creative/Innovative
• Organized
• Responsibility/Dependability
• Well groomed
The various stages in the interview process sre designed to test the skills and the attitudes needed in each job.
It is not enough to claim in your CV or covering letter that you have those skills and attitudes but you must be prepared to provide evidence that you have put them into use and obtain the desired results.
**** Plus did anyone read this |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by sunnyeinstein(m): 9:36am On Jul 23, 2017 |
deepwater:
Op just stop here.
Go and understand what demand and supply means first, before insulting Nigerian graduates.
Everybody now has a formula and long list to life
DPR application in dec 2016, exam date and center released after 7months with majority of people rejected for no reason, as in just rejected.
NLNG 2013 recruitment still on in 2017
Npower last hope for common man for this administration, one abokii governor say make LG workers apply for npower, how graduate wan do when governor do talk.?
Chevron did recruitment in 2012, but released results and said they took 60 names out of 90 from people that wrote exam in 2009, who we go ask
ExxonMobil claimed dragnet exam of 2014 was compromised and a new date would be fixed, till today the company no write exam again, but them still dey employ.
CBN recruitment, buharis cousin employed as well as other top shots, but alas! there was no advert.
Access bank recruitment, somebody with 2million in account must stand in for you otherwise everything you have done is banza!
My people my I continue ??
Na u make sense pass. If many fair job opportunities dey out there, people lyk dis op wont be puttin all this trash on internet... next now u will hear he has a seminar for job applicant where they can learn how to write cv best or hw to become more employable while requesting for 5k seminar fee. Bumch of scammers n thieves in this country |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by esohjayy(m): 9:38am On Jul 23, 2017 |
All the things way you write, abi na copy u copy am sef op, na story. For this naija wa we day, just know 1 big man shikina 1 Like |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by greatwin100: 9:39am On Jul 23, 2017 |
I have seen graduate that possess the required skills to meet any goal,yet they are unemployed or under employed. Op,I love your write-up, it is more than That.Nigeria currently generate and distribute less than 5000MVA of electricity,without stable power your manufacturing, industrial and other sectors will go down,as a result the few company's here are relocating and more are afraid to come because of high cost of production,added to it is the security situation in Nigeria. We are exporting jobs to other countries, promoting capital flight and damaging local content.for example Singapore is not an oil producing country, but they have more than 12 refineries,guess who are their customers,Africans.just,imagine our four refineries are working optimally. Do you know the amount of direct and indirect jobs it will provide,talk more of our textile industries.let's first improve our power(energy),investors will come,fight corruption and Nigeria will b a better place.let me shock you,after the civil war the investment in oba akran in Lagos ,was bigger than the investment in the whole of west africa. What do see there now,beer parlour and event centre.A Graduate that wants loan to start up an enterprise, even with a bankable proposal,no financial institution will give u loan......to be continued 2 Likes |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by rosalieene(f): 9:42am On Jul 23, 2017 |
We have heard all this over and over again |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by ivolt: 9:42am On Jul 23, 2017 |
Threebear:
Most senseless post I've ever come across.
A real country does not wait for her citizens to create the right aptitude to be employable. It makes her citizens employable by fitting them in, in whichever level their skill sets permits.
People like you are the reason why our leaders keeps taking us for granted, you give them flimsy excuses. Nigeria has failed her youths and people and someone like you turn around to blame the people for not being able to secure Jobs which were not really there to begin with.
You must have drank ogorogo this morning. You know nothing about how a country is run. Your "real country" does not exist! |
| Re: Why Majority Of Nigerian University Graduates Are Un-employed by ibkayee(f): 9:45am On Jul 23, 2017 |
sukkot:
mayne am telling you, all these chine
se boys who are all over africa building the rail network and building trains all over africa did not go to school to learn these skills. all of them went to a technical school in china. meanwhile black man with masters and phd in mechanical engineering cannot even build a toy train. this university is 419 joor lwkm Lool! Most of these universities favour theory over practice, academic preparation is still important but a combination of a degree and experience would be ideal 1 Like |
