SOBIC Microfinance Job: A Balanced Perspective

SOBIC AT A GLANCE
SOBIC and Company, a Microfinance Institution started out in August 2008 with a single branch with just one staff member, but today the Company has grown to a network of 50 branches with over 400 members of staff in 12 years of her existence.

At SOBIC and Company there is a career path; three members of the management team started out as Credit Officers- the first cadre in any microfinance institution. They include the Assistant General Manager, Administration; Assistant General Manager, Operations; and Head, Internal Control Department. Many others 0have become Senior Area Managers, Area Managers and Unit Managers in the Company.

Recently, a Credit Officer was promoted to the position of a Branch Manager within six months of joining SOBIC because of his outstanding performance and zero tolerance for default; he was not the first to be promoted in such a short period and will definitely not be the last.
How come there are hues and cries about recruitment/staff management in the Company?

MIXED PERSPECTIVES
For those that have succeeded on the job or are earning more than their salary in incentives, SOBIC is a great place to work. But for those that encountered one challenge or the other, the story will be different. For example, some left the company because of failure to adhere to rules and regulations, while some were relieved because of fraud related issues, what do you expect people like these to say about a company?

Meanwhile, some had genuine grievances relating to delay in payment of entitlement in the past and the management has addressed this to ensure seamless exit from the Company. Some applicants have delay in posting because of their choice of location, some due to delay in documentation, yet many others have been posted without issues.

COMPANY’S POLICY
Companies are run on policies that address the nature of their businesses, risks and working conditions, SOBIC is not an exception. We have credit policies that stipulate our risk appetite and have also put in place on the job training to equip members of staff, especially operators on how to handle their portfolio without default or with portfolio at risk of 2 percent maximum.

NO RECRUITMENT AGENTS, BEWARE!
SOBIC does not have recruiting agents; recruitment is done by the Human Resource Unit of the Company. Applicants should therefore desist from paying anyone for employment at SOBIC. Rather, we have embraced technology in recruitment, thus our aptitude test is conducted online and sometimes we employ video conferencing app for interviews.

CONCLUSION
There is still room for more capable, diligent and God-fearing hands to work with SOBIC and Company as we cruise on in the expansion drive to make SOBIC the best in Nigeria and beyond.