Hello my friend, permit me to contribute to your issue please.

I was once in your shoes in which when I finished my Youth Service in 2008 my elder brother who was working with Skye Bank tried to connect me. I was successful in their aptitude test at Matori Lagos which earned me an interview at their HQ at VI. Subsequently, I was invited for a training at Ibadan after which I would become an employee of the bank with a pay packet of not less than #180k at the time. The period coincided with economic recession in the USA of which CBN Governor, Charles Soludo, falsely claimed that Nigeria was insulated. To cut the long story short, I decided against going for the training. I rather obtained postgraduate form in Unilag; wrote entrance exam. Got my Master of Arts. The MA has opened many doors for me. Some of the guys I met at Skye Bank exam and interviews have been laid off. Two of them later came to do MPIA in the same Unilag.

Enough of my stories, please I urge you to go for that Masters Degree programme. I know very much a place outside Nigeria where your professional skills are in demand, but you cannot take advantage of this opportunity without your M.Sc. Even the job you are dying for as at this moment is full of uncertainties. My last shot to you is: Pay now and play later. Please do not limit yourself because of little #180k+. Add value to yourself now before it is too late. If you take my counsel, I guarantee you 100% that you will never regret it in the long term. I gave you this advice based on my experience. It has happened to me and I am happy I made a great decision.

Whatever you choose to do, may the undeserved kindness of Almighty Jehovah see you through.[color=#006600][/color]

234ng44uk:

You're still young. Your blood still dey hot. And most likely you have nothing worthwhile doing in Nigeria anyway. So, nothing to lose, nothing at stake for you. My response is to DanXplore and anyone out there who is gainfully employed and earning a modest salary, please stay on that job.

Your maturity speaks volumes. That man earns N400K monthly and still doesn't know what to do with it. It's such a pity

My brother.
If you like yourself, just get yourself the next available flight.

However, after your studies, do not repay Nigeria evil for good. Come back here to help develop our country.
It is bad for any one to enjoy scholarship without giving back to the society.

stinggy:

For me, I'll stick to the job here...
I'm also a Chemical Engr of not less than 6 years and the closest I've worked in this field is in a Water company as supervisor. My present job too isn't related to ChE. Truth is the jobs for us are limited! We're 7 in my dept clique back then, not even one of us works in line with what we studied and these are guys with good 2.1s

I'm on a new line in my MSc now and I'm not regretting it. I have a friend who's in the field you are right now with extremely crazy schedule but still manages to shuttle between classes and work (just as I do).

IMO, go on with your job, next year when you're more relaxed, pick a form here in Nigeria - if you still want to continue with ChE or not is your choice.
A bird at hand is always better than millions in the forest, except you'll be staying back in the UK to work after MSc and not to join the queue here - the depression that comes with not being able to secure a good job like your present one after MSc is better imagined than felt.

The Job is his best bet o. Also a Chem engr in the financial industry. most of us are not on the chem line.

Padi mi, u just bone ur boy side. how u dey?

I was in the same shoe last year and I asked myself some pertinent questions and I recommend that you do too.
1-How sustainable is your 183k job?
2-are you acquiring a lifetime skill at your current place of job?
3-think of the opportunity costs. Would you make upto 10million naira in your current place of work in the next 4 years? Ptdf scholarship is worth about 13 million average.
5-are you getting international exposure in your current place of work?
6-how old are you? Do you have the age factor on your side?
7-is that 183k job the best job in the whole world??
I would have loved to ask more but let me pause for now.

8-take advantages of study leave from your employer, he will gladly give it to you.

I was in a more difficult delima but I answered this questions.. And took a decision of which I believe I would never regret cos it was the best.

Last words...

Why settle for crumbs when you can have the whole bakery with just a little patience, and hardwork?

*Sorry for the typos, I had to do this on transit..

tolutweety:


Since you know the bolded..I would advise you weigh your decision carefully before leaving.



@DanXplore: to do the bolded, you need money. This, you might not get from just studying alone on scholarship in the UK.



Summarily, Both sides of the coin has its pros and cons. I have friends who came back after their MSc and had to start with the KPMG offer, and I have a few who found a way to stay back, and a very few who flew down to the US to get offers.
So, the path for A might not necessarily be the path for B!

My candid advice (might not necessarily be the right one) -

1)I don't know so much about this PTDF thing, but if you can, reroute your schooling to the US with the scholarship.(IF YOU CAN !)
2)If you chose to accept the offer and travel to the UK; go with as much money as possible aside your scholarship. you will need it.You dont want to be stranded in another man's country.
3)If you chose to stay back with what you earn in Nigeria, It's not the worst of decisions.Sometimes, It is not always greener on the other side. Make more money where you work and refire for another scholarship and admission in other countries where the future is much guaranteed after the Masters program .


Go with your gut.
Ciao!!

No two does not apply bro.....PTDF ain't NDDC.
OP, the choice is yours.....enough advice already given.

ma friend..plss lemme ask..after d master's program overseas,r u guaranteed any job here in nigeria or abroad?or will u start hitting d job market or favor market as some wod say.
ma friend....plssss think bat it carefully.der r thousands of pple praying for a job lesser dan ur present job.Finally,u wod b d one to make ur final decision,so think carefully wt an open heart,consider d cost.

personally, anytin that will take me outta this hell hole called naija is welcome
i already have an msc wit plus 140k job here in naija n hav bn applyin for phd scolarship in europe without success for now,
dnt mind those askin u to stay bak, this country will break u n ur dreams if ur father is nt a politician

Hello my friend, permit me to contribute to your issue please.

I was once in your shoes in which when I finished my Youth Service in 2008 my elder brother who was working with Skye Bank tried to connect me. I was successful in their aptitude test at Matori Lagos which earned me an interview at their HQ at VI. Subsequently, I was invited for a training at Ibadan after which I would become an employee of the bank with a pay packet of not less than #180k at the time. The period coincided with economic recession in the USA of which CBN Governor, Charles Soludo, falsely claimed that Nigeria was insulated. To cut the long story short, I decided against going for the training. I rather obtained postgraduate form in Unilag; wrote entrance exam. Got my Master of Arts. The MA has opened many doors for me. Some of the guys I met at Skye Bank exam and interviews have been laid off. Two of them later came to do MPIA in the same Unilag.

Enough of my stories, please I urge you to go for that Masters Degree programme. I know very much a place outside Nigeria where your professional skills are in demand, but you cannot take advantage of this opportunity without your M.Sc. Even the job you are dying for as at this moment is full of uncertainties. My last shot to you is: Pay now and play later. Please do not limit yourself because of little #180k+. Add value to yourself now before it is too late. If you take my counsel, I guarantee you 100% that you will never regret it in the long term. I gave you this advice based on my experience. It has happened to me and I am happy I made a great decision.

Whatever you choose to do, may the undeserved kindness of Almighty Jehovah see you through.

bart10:

Lol...and the job is in a poultry farm selling eggs

My guy, u are not nice aswear

folamsimper:
Hello my friend, permit me to contribute to your issue please.

I was once in your shoes in which when I finished my Youth Service in 2008 my elder brother who was working with Skye Bank tried to connect me. I was successful in their aptitude test at Matori Lagos which earned me an interview at their HQ at VI. Subsequently, I was invited for a training at Ibadan after which I would become an employee of the bank with a pay packet of not less than #180k at the time. The period coincided with economic recession in the USA of which CBN Governor, Charles Soludo, falsely claimed that Nigeria was insulated. To cut the long story short, I decided against going for the training. I rather obtained postgraduate form in Unilag; wrote entrance exam. Got my Master of Arts. The MA has opened many doors for me. Some of the guys I met at Skye Bank exam and interviews have been laid off. Two of them later came to do MPIA in the same Unilag.

Enough of my stories, please I urge you to go for that Masters Degree programme. I know very much a place outside Nigeria where your professional skills are in demand, but you cannot take advantage of this opportunity without your M.Sc. Even the job you are dying for as at this moment is full of uncertainties. My last shot to you is: Pay now and play later. Please do not limit yourself because of little #180k+. Add value to yourself now before it is too late. If you take my counsel, I guarantee you 100% that you will never regret it in the long term. I gave you this advice based on my experience. It has happened to me and I am happy I made a great decision.

Whatever you choose to do, may the undeserved kindness of Almighty Jehovah see you through.

double amen to that

Bro, abeg go do your masters abroad.. Give me that your job link make I dey manage the place. Till I go come meet you for that place. I dey your back

penzino:


The Job is his best bet o. Also a Chem engr in the financial industry. most of us are not on the chem line.

Padi mi, u just bone ur boy side. how u dey?

Bone ke? Ko jo
U wey I suppose dey accuse sef. I'm fine btw. How work and madam?

if u ve plans of becoming an academic lecturer you cant but just go for the masters

dont forget in life u lose one and gain one...

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Pidgin2:


Your maturity speaks volumes. That man earns N400K monthly and still doesn't know what to do with it. It's such a pity

Okay, you know the man and the amount he earns. You also happen to know that he doesn't know what to do with money in this Buhari's Nigeria. That's okay.

DanXplore:
Please, i could use some career advice from great nairalanders. Please tag monikers that you think would be of great help, as i am at a crucial point in my career.

I am a graduate of chemcal engineering but for 2years now, have not gotten any engineering related job. The only job i got was at KPMG (audit), which i resigned after 3 months due to some personal reasons. I am currently an Area Sales Rep with a poultry feed production company that pays 183k per month (net take home after tax and other necessary deductions), though i could use up to 20 to 25k to fuel my car monthly.
Now, i just got a PTDF scholarship offer to study Advanced process integration and design in UK but not really sure if it is worth ditching my current job for it.

I am not very confident about securing a job once i finish msc because only a handful of opportunities come for chemical engineers. more also,UK rarely retains Nigerians.

Please what are your advices, especially from those who have done Msc in Uk.

I need your advices, i dont want to make a costly mistake.

bro I'll advise u to honor the scholarship.
what if you're sacked after at your place of work after rejecting the offer?
what if your salary is downsized?
maters degree is somehow expensive to acquire and your just been given for almost free.
Holding UK masters degree gives you an upper hand in securing a job.
You'll also be exposed to more better offer studying in the UK.
Do not miss this opportunity.

TEYA:

Pdf scholarship is a full scholarship, with pdf you cannot be stranded. I got it once and after I came back I stayed for years without a decent job. I feel pained each time I remember that experience. But we have different experiences in life. I advice DanXplore to take the scholarship, but start making plans for life after Msc RIGHT NOW! I joke not. I suffered because I was so optimistic about getting a job once I completed my programme but the recession disappointed me in 2009 when I finished my programme.

Good advice from another scholar. Please listen to people who have first hand experience on this matter. There's nothing bad in going to study in the UK. But if you're going there with the hope of getting a better job when you return to Nigeria or making money as a student or immigrating there? Then think again, UK is not for any of that, especially not for someone who already have a modest job in Nigeria.

MaziOmenuko:
Go and do your Msc. 183k is not too fantastic of an offer; morever, there are chances that if you liaise with your HR manager very well, you may have your job back when you return from UK (its called study leave, many organizations do it, you go for 18months - 2 yrs without pay although there's no guarantee but theres a big chance that you will have your job back).

An msc in process design (either advanced or not ) is a wonderful major. I know your greatest fear now is securing a job after your program. If you can land a 183k job with a first degree, trust me, you can land more and better offers with your new CV which will include an Msc and few years job experience. Nigeria is recovering from recession, within the next few months, there will be offers and your likes has better opportunity.

And hey, I'm a chemical engr, would soon start Msc process Engr, UNILAG part time so I get to keep my job and do my Msc (don't change your mind now)

Wow! Mazi is a chemical engineer! Would love to read from you and learn from your experiences of the field.

Young man, you better leave that job and utilize this opportunity. It's a golden opportunity to have foreign masters degree in your chosen line of career.
From UK, on completion, you can move to another country through different immigration process with your masters degree.
This job you've just got is a peanut compared to this PTDF scholarship. The scholarship gives you the opportunity to network with people from different background, and when you go for job interviews it's a plus on your side. Your orientation about life will change. Don't waste this opportunity. Even if you work this 183k job for one year, you will not save up to 1.2m for the year. The scholarship and the visa is your leeway to different countries. I did one training outside the country and came back to naija, no job, but I had to intensify my job search, and anytime I went for an interview, the training always cleared the way for me by God's grace because employers are always looking for employees with different orientation and exposure.
The best way to earn big pay abroad is be legit abroad. And one of the easiest ways is through school. Once you are in UK, try and save some cash plus your reimbursement from PTDF, then on finishing your masters, apply for another masters degree in Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Netherland or US. Try and pay the tuition fee, and when you get to these countries, you will see the other scholarships and after study, they have post graduate work permit, take it and apply legit jobs with your MSCs, and believe me, you will earn more than the person working in chevron, total Nigeria. People who work legitimately with their degrees gotten from that country always earn big pay.
We are suffering in naija here, what people are earning in naija here is peanut. Even people working in IOCs in naija here

Abeg my brother, keep your job. I know someone who left his banking job for masters in the UK, 8yrs down the line, he is still jobless. His wife foots his bills. It's not been easy. He was highly placed in the banking sector before he left for masters. Stories abound like this one.
Even if you want to remain in the UK after your masters program, you have to be hiding or get married for papers and the wahala continues.
On the other hand, if you can get an official leave of absence or study leave from your firm that might help but private organizations usually don't do such.

Go for the masters. It is worth it!!

tempest01:
If the admission was to Canada or US, I would say you should go immediately without thinking twice.

The thing with this admission to UK is that if you leave, it is almost certain that you are coming back after a year and six months as there is no visa you can use to delay your coming back while searching for a job in the UK. You must have a job with a company that can sponsor a tier 2 visa and is ready to sponsor you.

If you can get a study leave without pay, I would advice you do. Since it's a scholarship, there is no financial burden on you. The course would make you a better person and also Widen your horizon though it is not a guarantee for a better job in this present Nigeria.


If I was in your shoes, I would go for the masters. After the masters, think of going to canada or Australia with the express entry program. Don't look at the ptdf money as much, look for a part time job there and have savings. Write the ielts exams and try and get good grades towards the end of your stay in the UK. With that, I see you moving forward.

I strongly advise this also. Nice one Tempest01

This is a very bad advice. As I speak to you, I have two friends in the UK who have finished their masters more than two years ago and are still jobless. Their only saving grace, is they both married British citizens so they have right of abode,and being females, their hubbys take care of them and they don't have much pressure from home. They complain all the time because there is that much your hubby can do for you.
Migrating to other countries after masters isn't easy at all. You may still need to come back home before migrating. My examples are even too far. My neighbor came back 9months ago after masters in the UK, till this very minute, she is still jobless.

Akexstinger:
Young man, you better leave that job and utilize this opportunity. It's a golden opportunity to have foreign masters degree in your chosen line of career.
From UK, on completion, you can move to another country through different immigration process with your masters degree.
This job you've just got is a peanut compared to this PTDF scholarship. The scholarship gives you the opportunity to network with people from different background, and when you go for job interviews it's a plus on your side. Your orientation about life will change. Don't waste this opportunity. Even if you work this 183k job for one year, you will not save up to 1.2m for the year. The scholarship and the visa is your leeway to different countries. I did one training outside the country and came back to naija, no job, but I had to intensify my job search, and anytime I went for an interview, the training always cleared the way for me by God's grace because employers are always looking for employees with different orientation and exposure.
The best way to earn big pay abroad is be legit abroad. And one of the easiest ways is through school. Once you are in UK, try and save some cash plus your reimbursement from PTDF, then on finishing your masters, apply for another masters degree in Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Netherland or US. Try and pay the tuition fee, and when you get to these countries, you will see the other scholarships and after study, they have post graduate work permit, take it and apply legit jobs with your MSCs, and believe me, you will earn more than the person working in chevron, total Nigeria. People who work legitimately with their degrees gotten from that country always earn big pay.
We are suffering in naija here, what people are earning in naija here is peanut. Even people working in IOCs in naija here

OP, pls call me IMMEDIATELY. I was once in this quandry. I can advice you. I cant type here, but try to put a call across or beep my line & I'll call you: 08149777036

julietm123:
Abeg my brother, keep your job. I know someone who left his banking job for masters in the UK, 8yrs down the line, he is still jobless. His wife foots his bills. It's not been easy. He was highly placed in the banking sector before he left for masters. Stories abound like this one.
Even if you want to remain in the UK after your masters program, you have to be hiding or get married for papers and the wahala continues.
On the other hand, if you can get an official leave of absence or study leave from your firm that might help but private organizations usually don't do such.

Did you forget that this is a scholarship worth more than 15m and you want to forgo it for a 183k a month job? Is the job guaranteed to be there forever? Can it still meet his needs in the next 5 years? Did you think about his chance of getting a better opportunity after his studies or returning to the job he left? Everybody's case can't be like your friend's.
I left my banking job for the same PTDF scholarship and I was better off afterwards.

OP,
Go for the Masters. The future will sort itself out.

One thing you need to ask yourself is this: when I am above 30 years and unable to get access to such opportunities any longer, will my 183,00 salary do me any good at that time? That is if the company has not found someone that can do the job you are doing for a cheaper salary.

On another note, a ptdf scholarship would be like free money you can't just trow away. In the end the choice is yours to make. If you decide to take the offer, you're better off not coming returning to Nigeria. Forget this "coming out of recession" talk. The mediocrity, corruption and nepotism would make getting a new job in Nigeria extremely difficult.
The options you must consider.
1. As others have mentioned, asking your employer for study leave (without pay obviously, although you can push your luck for a "with pay" study leave)
2. If option 1 fails and you still want to travel, start talking to Nigerians with some experience on how you can remain in UK after study. Trust me, that part is tricky and require well calibrated efforts the first day tou step into UK, except you want to leave everything to chance. Good news is that Nigerians are not that bad. Talk to people and they would offer you invaluable advice within the law.
Best of luck

All these advices. OK oh. Have you lived in the UK before? Well, this opportunity I think he should miss. Leaving a183k job for masters program in the UK doesn't make sense at this time. He may be lucky Sha. The situation has changed a lot especially with this brexit. I don't even think foreign students are allowed to work anymore.he isn't a British citizen so he must surely come back. Except maybe he has something to fall back on.

sunddy:

bro I'll advise u to honor the scholarship.
what if you're sacked after at your place of work after rejecting the offer?
what if your salary is downsized?
maters degree is somehow expensive to acquire and your just been given for almost free.
Holding UK masters degree gives you an upper hand in securing a job.
You'll also be exposed to more better offer studying in the UK.
Do not miss this opportunity.

firstly I would say congratulations on your selection for the PTDF scholarship. please my candid advise is to proceed on your academic pursuit, it only makes you more marketable..
I plan to trail on that path soonest, I am currently a serving corper and with high hopes of grabbing the scholarship next year. please can you furnish me with your email address. would love to communicate with you...... thanks in anticipation.

[quote author=DanXplore post=60237853]Please, i could use some career advice from great nairalanders. Please tag monikers that you think would be of great help, as i am at a crucial point in my career.

I am a graduate of chemcal engineering but for 2years now, have not gotten any engineering related job. The only job i got was at KPMG (audit), which i resigned after 3 months due to some personal reasons. I am currently an Area Sales Rep with a poultry feed production company that pays 183k per month (net take home after tax and other necessary deductions), though i could use up to 20 to 25k to fuel my car monthly.
Now, i just got a PTDF scholarship offer to study Advanced process integration and design in UK but not really sure if it is worth ditching my current job for it.

I am not very confident about securing a job once i finish msc because only a handful of opportunities come for chemical engineers. more also,UK rarely retains Nigerians.

Please what are your advices, especially from those who have done Msc in Uk.

I need your advices, i dont want to make a costly mistake.

Its actually a good thing you got the chance to do MSC abroad.....but brov you really need to think twice before you leap. A salary of 183 no be joke o! There are online programs you could to to enhance your skills......