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Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? - Jobs/Vacancies (2) - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Jobs/Vacancies / Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? (11303 Views)

Many Nigerians Are Not Actually Employable Like It Or Not! / Covid-19 Pandemic Has Proved That Nigerian Graduates Are Highly Employable / Reasons Why Most Nigerian Graduates Are Not Employable (2) (3) (4)

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Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Checkmate1: 12:29pm On Feb 11, 2022
Nigerian youths are busy hating on those struggling to break the yoke of poverty.
Bloody idiots!
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by BUSHHUNTER: 12:29pm On Feb 11, 2022
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by tarantino1: 12:31pm On Feb 11, 2022
.
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by klonboi: 12:34pm On Feb 11, 2022
clockwisereport:
No, to an extent

Most of the things we were taught in school are useless as far as I am concerned. What do i do with 2 port network, karnaugh map,transistors , bode plot, nyquist stability criterion, and so many trashes they were suffering us with back then.

What was your field?
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Nilx: 12:35pm On Feb 11, 2022
65% are not. Especially all those hbd holders
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by clockwisereport: 12:38pm On Feb 11, 2022
Hmmmm
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Tobimathew: 12:39pm On Feb 11, 2022
nice write up though, but the facts is that Nigerians are not fully emoloyable,cos most intelligent graduates are not employed or employed where there skills are slightly /not needed,



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Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by HeraldAgric01(m): 12:39pm On Feb 11, 2022
While I agree you raised valid points, I will also point out the huge corruption that has over the years crept into recruitment exercise. Qualified applicants are left out after rigorous application processes cum inhumane conditions they are subjected to and jobs are given by proxy. Thereafter you start getting Nigerian graduates are unemployable blablabla.
They frustrate qualified applicants and complain about employed "misfits" hired via a shady system.
When we learn to do the right thing getting results is easy.

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Funflipper: 12:39pm On Feb 11, 2022
Born2conquer:
Speaking for myself, i doubt if we are employable.

I studied an animal health related course and i can boldly tell you that i know nothing about animals apart from the names of livestocks and maybe their gestation period.

How to treat them? No!

We had few practicals when i was in school but practical was just anothrr theory class done in the lab or on the field.

Though i am not practicing what i studied byt the truth is that, i feel i wasted my time going to school! I merely earned the certificate.


NB: If i read, i can understand what i learnt but i can't apply the knowledge on the field


I really appreciate your honesty. People like you are rare.
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by WeGoSeeSoon: 12:40pm On Feb 11, 2022
Religion and Africa be like 5&6

Religious fanaticism. You hear of candidates that tell interviewers that they cannot come to work on Fridays. Or that they have to leave early on Wednesdays for choir practice. Meanwhile, the first interviewer is a Muslim, and the second interviewer is a Christian, a church deacon. Imagine what the interviewers think of such candidates. When these candidates get the job rejection, they will be consoling themselves that they are facing persecution for their faith, not knowing that what they are facing is the consequence of stupidity.

That's all I will say on this one. In all things, apply wisdom.

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by klonboi: 12:41pm On Feb 11, 2022
clockwisereport:


Electronic Engineering

Please what made you think that the subjects you mentioned are not relevant?
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by sterlingD(m): 12:43pm On Feb 11, 2022
I would advise that based on the current scenarios playing out employers should think outside the box and come out with new methods of employment.

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by PermSec01(m): 12:44pm On Feb 11, 2022
mollie12:
Everybody knows unemployment is a big issue in this country. So many are searching for jobs long after completion of tertiary education and youth service, with few offers in sight.

We come over here to complain about the lack of job opportunities. But my experience over the past 4 months in this arena has been very interesting.

On average, hiring managers forward 3-4 job vacancies/offers to me each week, asking me for candidates I can refer to them for one job opportunity or the other.

I just moved cities and changed jobs within Nigeria, and my experience on my previous job and the new one is the same: the HR department has a LOT of open roles. They are looking for job candidates but cannot find any.

One of the HR staff keeps coming to our side of the office almost every day that they are looking for candidates to fill this role, do we know anyone to refer?

Only yesterday I was speaking with a manager on a job I'd left 2 years ago. He was complaining that he had roles to fill but didn't have candidates. I had a similar conversation with yet another ex-supervisor of mine - looking for staff for a new team he was putting together.

And it makes one wonder: so many jobs, so few qualified candidates? Or what exactly is going on?

Like I said, the last 4 months have given me a clue to what is going on.

Over the last 4 months, I have had to seek staff for short-term roles. And my experience has been lamentable. Horror stories. I could write a book on them.

The number of candidates that talk a good game but cannot deliver scrap, that promise Mount Everest but deliver an anthill - is appalling.

Initially, I kept an open mind and was willing to take people on their word, and trust that they would be reliable enough to deliver. I wanted to open up opportunities for young people to earn income commensurate to their skills. I actually had a dream to through my short-term role opportunities, nurture a pipeline of promising talent that I can whole-heartedly refer to my previous colleagues and managers who come to me seeking job candidates because they have done great work I can vouch for (I don't just refer anyone because these people come to me because they know I do quality work and value quality work and will only refer quality talent to them - I have a reputation to protect).

But after quite a few false starts and hundreds of thousands of naira down the drain, I have to ask myself: are our graduates really employable?

From my experience, and those of others, here are a few ways our graduates shoot themselves in the foot and deny themselves a chance of a rewarding job opportunity or offer:

1. Lack a can-do attitude. I remember once contacting a job candidate who had applied to fill a role to do a preliminary interview. I could tell from his CV that he had almost no experience, but the job to be done was not that technical so I felt this is something someone that learns fast can do. On calling him and explaining the work to be done in detail, imagine what the fellow told me? He sighed and started grumbling and hissing "I don't think I can do this kind of work o". And this was basic research and data gathering oo, work every university graduate would have done in their final year. I just jejely left him.

I wonder why a graduate looking for work would act that way. This is a job you sent your CV for, no one forced you to send it in. The least you could do is do research on what the role entails, and convey confidence when your interviewer calls by explaining that even though you have limited experience, you can learn quickly. I guess he wasn't really looking. But these are those people will look at, and say the Nigerian system has failed job seekers.

2. Lack a growth mindset (allergic to learning and constructive feedback). I have noticed this trend with youths, particularly in the 21-28 age range. They do not know how to handle feedback on their work output well. If you tell them their work needs improvement, they act like you have slapped them in the face. And when I see this sort of reaction I just want to shake them and tell them: you are too young to be thinking your work will be perfect from scratch! That's the value of time and experience - it improves the quality of work. You work cannot be 100% at the first attempt or even the second attempt, but with refinement, feedback, work and skills get better. But these ones will go around to report you to others that you are wicked or other falsehoods, meanwhile, you are only looking out for their own progress. (Let me iterate here that I do constructive feedback - I don't shout or insult or put down people's personalities in the name of feedback because I know this is not helpful: it only destroys self-esteem. So I am referring to normal, even-toned, dispassioned feedback. And this is the feedback they take offense with. SMH)

3. Religious fanaticism. You hear of candidates that tell interviewers that they cannot come to work on Fridays. Or that they have to leave early on Wednesdays for choir practice. Meanwhile, the first interviewer is a Muslim, and the second interviewer is a Christian, a church deacon. Imagine what the interviewers think of such candidates. When these candidates get the job rejection, they will be consoling themselves that they are facing persecution for their faith, not knowing that what they are facing is the consequence of stupidity.

That's all I will say on this one. In all things, apply wisdom.

4. Entitlement mentality. I think this is an issue I will blame the motivational speakers on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for. They have sold this stupendous idea to young people that they can get a job that will earn them millions with almost zero experience. They convince them to toss aside "low-paying" jobs and demand to be paid "their worth". They lie to them that only paid internships should be pursued.

Let me clarify something here. I absolutely hate the idea of jobs that pay graduates what can barely take them home. But the unfortunate reality is that in a capitalist market, money follows value. People will pay you a high salary because they believe you will deliver a high value to their company. Not because you hold a certificate paper, because everyone holds that, and you know what they say about supply and demand. If you don't have in-demand, hot skills that are scarce, be ready to take up that peanut-paying job and that unpaid internship to learn what you need to learn to be in demand. It is called stooping to conquer.

But many job candidates don't understand the market they are in yet. So they struggle in this area.

5. Poor work ethic. This is one I can write a book on. It appears many graduates don't understand that employers employ them to ADD value. So they engage in behaviors that erode or destroy value for their employer. And wonder why no one wants to hire them.
What is value to an employer? Time and Trust.

How is the value of Time and Trust eroded?
i. By missing deadlines. This is when someone is asked to complete a task by 3 pm on Wednesday, but instead, completes it and send it by 5 pm on Friday. And does not apologize or communicate ahead of time that there will be a delay so their employer can manage the impact. Time is money - this is unacceptable behavior
ii. By being unreliable. This is connected to the above in a way. When a supervisor gives work to you, they want to be able to go elsewhere and come back assured that you will do the exact work. But sometimes, there is no communication, and after the time elapses, the work is not done. When your employer has to engage in prayer and fasting for you to deliver your work on time and in good quality, know you won't last long. You are creating too much stress.


6. Refusal to self-develop. In the world we are living in, the biggest disservice you can do to yourself is to end your personal learning and development with a BSc or BA. Even if you cannot afford a Master's program, there are so many free online courses that allow one to take up relevant digital skills (mind you, digital skills go beyond software programming, so there are skills for you if you absolutely hate the idea of coding).

And even asides from digital skills, there are so many other things to learn to become workplace-ready (employable). You need to learn business writing, proper verbal and written communication skills, telephone and email etiquette, emotional intelligence, team and collaboration skills. And all of these are available - for FREE! - on this internet. Same internet all of us are using. So it is always disappointing when I encounter a job seeker who has been searching for years but in all this time of searching, did not set apart time to ensure they have the workplace skills to succeed.


After all my plenty story, I'm still hoping we do have employable Nigerian graduates out there. Those that know better than to fall into the above-listed traps. What do you think? Share in the comments

plz, I'd like to request a mentoring space with you.... How can I reach you online
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by clockwisereport: 12:45pm On Feb 11, 2022
klonboi:


Please what made you think that the subjects you mentioned are not relevant?

I never said they are not relevant. I said they are useless to me and most of the people I know. We will never apply those things we learnt in school until we die. So, why waste out time studying it?

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by shobroy10(m): 12:46pm On Feb 11, 2022
mollie12:
Everybody knows unemployment is a big issue in this country. So many are searching for jobs long after completion of tertiary education and youth service, with few offers in sight.

We come over here to complain about the lack of job opportunities. But my experience over the past 4 months in this arena has been very interesting.

On average, hiring managers forward 3-4 job vacancies/offers to me each week, asking me for candidates I can refer to them for one job opportunity or the other.

I just moved cities and changed jobs within Nigeria, and my experience on my previous job and the new one is the same: the HR department has a LOT of open roles. They are looking for job candidates but cannot find any.

One of the HR staff keeps coming to our side of the office almost every day that they are looking for candidates to fill this role, do we know anyone to refer?

Only yesterday I was speaking with a manager on a job I'd left 2 years ago. He was complaining that he had roles to fill but didn't have candidates. I had a similar conversation with yet another ex-supervisor of mine - looking for staff for a new team he was putting together.

And it makes one wonder: so many jobs, so few qualified candidates? Or what exactly is going on?

Like I said, the last 4 months have given me a clue to what is going on.

Over the last 4 months, I have had to seek staff for short-term roles. And my experience has been lamentable. Horror stories. I could write a book on them.

The number of candidates that talk a good game but cannot deliver scrap, that promise Mount Everest but deliver an anthill - is appalling.

Initially, I kept an open mind and was willing to take people on their word, and trust that they would be reliable enough to deliver. I wanted to open up opportunities for young people to earn income commensurate to their skills. I actually had a dream to through my short-term role opportunities, nurture a pipeline of promising talent that I can whole-heartedly refer to my previous colleagues and managers who come to me seeking job candidates because they have done great work I can vouch for (I don't just refer anyone because these people come to me because they know I do quality work and value quality work and will only refer quality talent to them - I have a reputation to protect).

But after quite a few false starts and hundreds of thousands of naira down the drain, I have to ask myself: are our graduates really employable?

From my experience, and those of others, here are a few ways our graduates shoot themselves in the foot and deny themselves a chance of a rewarding job opportunity or offer:

1. Lack a can-do attitude. I remember once contacting a job candidate who had applied to fill a role to do a preliminary interview. I could tell from his CV that he had almost no experience, but the job to be done was not that technical so I felt this is something someone that learns fast can do. On calling him and explaining the work to be done in detail, imagine what the fellow told me? He sighed and started grumbling and hissing "I don't think I can do this kind of work o". And this was basic research and data gathering oo, work every university graduate would have done in their final year. I just jejely left him.

I wonder why a graduate looking for work would act that way. This is a job you sent your CV for, no one forced you to send it in. The least you could do is do research on what the role entails, and convey confidence when your interviewer calls by explaining that even though you have limited experience, you can learn quickly. I guess he wasn't really looking. But these are those people will look at, and say the Nigerian system has failed job seekers.

2. Lack a growth mindset (allergic to learning and constructive feedback). I have noticed this trend with youths, particularly in the 21-28 age range. They do not know how to handle feedback on their work output well. If you tell them their work needs improvement, they act like you have slapped them in the face. And when I see this sort of reaction I just want to shake them and tell them: you are too young to be thinking your work will be perfect from scratch! That's the value of time and experience - it improves the quality of work. You work cannot be 100% at the first attempt or even the second attempt, but with refinement, feedback, work and skills get better. But these ones will go around to report you to others that you are wicked or other falsehoods, meanwhile, you are only looking out for their own progress. (Let me iterate here that I do constructive feedback - I don't shout or insult or put down people's personalities in the name of feedback because I know this is not helpful: it only destroys self-esteem. So I am referring to normal, even-toned, dispassioned feedback. And this is the feedback they take offense with. SMH)

3. Religious fanaticism. You hear of candidates that tell interviewers that they cannot come to work on Fridays. Or that they have to leave early on Wednesdays for choir practice. Meanwhile, the first interviewer is a Muslim, and the second interviewer is a Christian, a church deacon. Imagine what the interviewers think of such candidates. When these candidates get the job rejection, they will be consoling themselves that they are facing persecution for their faith, not knowing that what they are facing is the consequence of stupidity.

That's all I will say on this one. In all things, apply wisdom.

4. Entitlement mentality. I think this is an issue I will blame the motivational speakers on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for. They have sold this stupendous idea to young people that they can get a job that will earn them millions with almost zero experience. They convince them to toss aside "low-paying" jobs and demand to be paid "their worth". They lie to them that only paid internships should be pursued.

Let me clarify something here. I absolutely hate the idea of jobs that pay graduates what can barely take them home. But the unfortunate reality is that in a capitalist market, money follows value. People will pay you a high salary because they believe you will deliver a high value to their company. Not because you hold a certificate paper, because everyone holds that, and you know what they say about supply and demand. If you don't have in-demand, hot skills that are scarce, be ready to take up that peanut-paying job and that unpaid internship to learn what you need to learn to be in demand. It is called stooping to conquer.

But many job candidates don't understand the market they are in yet. So they struggle in this area.

5. Poor work ethic. This is one I can write a book on. It appears many graduates don't understand that employers employ them to ADD value. So they engage in behaviors that erode or destroy value for their employer. And wonder why no one wants to hire them.
What is value to an employer? Time and Trust.

How is the value of Time and Trust eroded?
i. By missing deadlines. This is when someone is asked to complete a task by 3 pm on Wednesday, but instead, completes it and send it by 5 pm on Friday. And does not apologize or communicate ahead of time that there will be a delay so their employer can manage the impact. Time is money - this is unacceptable behavior
ii. By being unreliable. This is connected to the above in a way. When a supervisor gives work to you, they want to be able to go elsewhere and come back assured that you will do the exact work. But sometimes, there is no communication, and after the time elapses, the work is not done. When your employer has to engage in prayer and fasting for you to deliver your work on time and in good quality, know you won't last long. You are creating too much stress.


6. Refusal to self-develop. In the world we are living in, the biggest disservice you can do to yourself is to end your personal learning and development with a BSc or BA. Even if you cannot afford a Master's program, there are so many free online courses that allow one to take up relevant digital skills (mind you, digital skills go beyond software programming, so there are skills for you if you absolutely hate the idea of coding).

And even asides from digital skills, there are so many other things to learn to become workplace-ready (employable). You need to learn business writing, proper verbal and written communication skills, telephone and email etiquette, emotional intelligence, team and collaboration skills. And all of these are available - for FREE! - on this internet. Same internet all of us are using. So it is always disappointing when I encounter a job seeker who has been searching for years but in all this time of searching, did not set apart time to ensure they have the workplace skills to succeed.


After all my plenty story, I'm still hoping we do have employable Nigerian graduates out there. Those that know better than to fall into the above-listed traps. What do you think? Share in the comments



Nigerian graduates are employable because you and your pals searching for candidates are also nigerians and u started from somewhere and in your private corner u seem to be employable from your view so as others the only thing is just that the opportunities that was given to u are not provided to those young graduates. If u have opportunities available am a graduate with little to no experience and am ready to give it my all and between I study geography.

2 Likes

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by sammirano: 12:47pm On Feb 11, 2022
Unemployed folks no go gree grin

Op I think the major issue in Nig. Is few available jobs. Which makes employers end up sometimes with lucky candidates. The system is so bad, a chemical engineer is a teller in a bank.

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by OMYKROIN: 12:48pm On Feb 11, 2022
mollie12:
Everybody knows unemployment is a big issue in this country. So many are searching for jobs long after completion of tertiary education and youth service, with few offers in sight.

We come over here to complain about the lack of job opportunities. But my experience over the past 4 months in this arena has been very interesting.

On average, hiring managers forward 3-4 job vacancies/offers to me each week, asking me for candidates I can refer to them for one job opportunity or the other.

I just moved cities and changed jobs within Nigeria, and my experience on my previous job and the new one is the same: the HR department has a LOT of open roles. They are looking for job candidates but cannot find any.

One of the HR staff keeps coming to our side of the office almost every day that they are looking for candidates to fill this role, do we know anyone to refer?

Only yesterday I was speaking with a manager on a job I'd left 2 years ago. He was complaining that he had roles to fill but didn't have candidates. I had a similar conversation with yet another ex-supervisor of mine - looking for staff for a new team he was putting together.

And it makes one wonder: so many jobs, so few qualified candidates? Or what exactly is going on?

Like I said, the last 4 months have given me a clue to what is going on.

Over the last 4 months, I have had to seek staff for short-term roles. And my experience has been lamentable. Horror stories. I could write a book on them.

The number of candidates that talk a good game but cannot deliver scrap, that promise Mount Everest but deliver an anthill - is appalling.

Initially, I kept an open mind and was willing to take people on their word, and trust that they would be reliable enough to deliver. I wanted to open up opportunities for young people to earn income commensurate to their skills. I actually had a dream to through my short-term role opportunities, nurture a pipeline of promising talent that I can whole-heartedly refer to my previous colleagues and managers who come to me seeking job candidates because they have done great work I can vouch for (I don't just refer anyone because these people come to me because they know I do quality work and value quality work and will only refer quality talent to them - I have a reputation to protect).

But after quite a few false starts and hundreds of thousands of naira down the drain, I have to ask myself: are our graduates really employable?

From my experience, and those of others, here are a few ways our graduates shoot themselves in the foot and deny themselves a chance of a rewarding job opportunity or offer:

1. Lack a can-do attitude. I remember once contacting a job candidate who had applied to fill a role to do a preliminary interview. I could tell from his CV that he had almost no experience, but the job to be done was not that technical so I felt this is something someone that learns fast can do. On calling him and explaining the work to be done in detail, imagine what the fellow told me? He sighed and started grumbling and hissing "I don't think I can do this kind of work o". And this was basic research and data gathering oo, work every university graduate would have done in their final year. I just jejely left him.

I wonder why a graduate looking for work would act that way. This is a job you sent your CV for, no one forced you to send it in. The least you could do is do research on what the role entails, and convey confidence when your interviewer calls by explaining that even though you have limited experience, you can learn quickly. I guess he wasn't really looking. But these are those people will look at, and say the Nigerian system has failed job seekers.

2. Lack a growth mindset (allergic to learning and constructive feedback). I have noticed this trend with youths, particularly in the 21-28 age range. They do not know how to handle feedback on their work output well. If you tell them their work needs improvement, they act like you have slapped them in the face. And when I see this sort of reaction I just want to shake them and tell them: you are too young to be thinking your work will be perfect from scratch! That's the value of time and experience - it improves the quality of work. You work cannot be 100% at the first attempt or even the second attempt, but with refinement, feedback, work and skills get better. But these ones will go around to report you to others that you are wicked or other falsehoods, meanwhile, you are only looking out for their own progress. (Let me iterate here that I do constructive feedback - I don't shout or insult or put down people's personalities in the name of feedback because I know this is not helpful: it only destroys self-esteem. So I am referring to normal, even-toned, dispassioned feedback. And this is the feedback they take offense with. SMH)

3. Religious fanaticism. You hear of candidates that tell interviewers that they cannot come to work on Fridays. Or that they have to leave early on Wednesdays for choir practice. Meanwhile, the first interviewer is a Muslim, and the second interviewer is a Christian, a church deacon. Imagine what the interviewers think of such candidates. When these candidates get the job rejection, they will be consoling themselves that they are facing persecution for their faith, not knowing that what they are facing is the consequence of stupidity.

That's all I will say on this one. In all things, apply wisdom.

4. Entitlement mentality. I think this is an issue I will blame the motivational speakers on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for. They have sold this stupendous idea to young people that they can get a job that will earn them millions with almost zero experience. They convince them to toss aside "low-paying" jobs and demand to be paid "their worth". They lie to them that only paid internships should be pursued.

Let me clarify something here. I absolutely hate the idea of jobs that pay graduates what can barely take them home. But the unfortunate reality is that in a capitalist market, money follows value. People will pay you a high salary because they believe you will deliver a high value to their company. Not because you hold a certificate paper, because everyone holds that, and you know what they say about supply and demand. If you don't have in-demand, hot skills that are scarce, be ready to take up that peanut-paying job and that unpaid internship to learn what you need to learn to be in demand. It is called stooping to conquer.

But many job candidates don't understand the market they are in yet. So they struggle in this area.

5. Poor work ethic. This is one I can write a book on. It appears many graduates don't understand that employers employ them to ADD value. So they engage in behaviors that erode or destroy value for their employer. And wonder why no one wants to hire them.
What is value to an employer? Time and Trust.

How is the value of Time and Trust eroded?
i. By missing deadlines. This is when someone is asked to complete a task by 3 pm on Wednesday, but instead, completes it and send it by 5 pm on Friday. And does not apologize or communicate ahead of time that there will be a delay so their employer can manage the impact. Time is money - this is unacceptable behavior
ii. By being unreliable. This is connected to the above in a way. When a supervisor gives work to you, they want to be able to go elsewhere and come back assured that you will do the exact work. But sometimes, there is no communication, and after the time elapses, the work is not done. When your employer has to engage in prayer and fasting for you to deliver your work on time and in good quality, know you won't last long. You are creating too much stress.


6. Refusal to self-develop. In the world we are living in, the biggest disservice you can do to yourself is to end your personal learning and development with a BSc or BA. Even if you cannot afford a Master's program, there are so many free online courses that allow one to take up relevant digital skills (mind you, digital skills go beyond software programming, so there are skills for you if you absolutely hate the idea of coding).

And even asides from digital skills, there are so many other things to learn to become workplace-ready (employable). You need to learn business writing, proper verbal and written communication skills, telephone and email etiquette, emotional intelligence, team and collaboration skills. And all of these are available - for FREE! - on this internet. Same internet all of us are using. So it is always disappointing when I encounter a job seeker who has been searching for years but in all this time of searching, did not set apart time to ensure they have the workplace skills to succeed.


After all my plenty story, I'm still hoping we do have employable Nigerian graduates out there. Those that know better than to fall into the above-listed traps. What do you think? Share in the comments


There is this my friend who got an invite for his final interview and this is with the MD of the organisation as he already have been interviewed by the HOD, HR, and head of HR.

Please do you have any idea to what he might be facing.
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Nobody: 12:49pm On Feb 11, 2022
This op is a liar. Probably a paid agent.
Nigeria education is bullshit but Nigerians are creative and determined

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Jmarjr(m): 12:53pm On Feb 11, 2022
[quote author=mollie12 post=110129069]Everybody knows unemployment is a big issue in this country. So many are searching for jobs long after completion of tertiary education and youth service, with few offers in sight.

We come over here to complain about the lack of job opportunities. But my experience over the past 4 months in this arena has been very interesting.

On average, hiring managers forward 3-4 job vacancies/offers to me each week, asking me for candidates I can refer to them for one job opportunity or the other.

I just moved cities and changed jobs within Nigeria, and my experience on my previous job and the new one is the same: the HR department has a LOT of open roles. They are looking for job candidates but cannot find any.

One of the HR staff keeps coming to our side of the office almost every day that they are looking for candidates to fill this role, do we know anyone to refer?

Only yesterday I was speaking with a manager on a job I'd left 2 years ago. He was complaining that he had roles to fill but didn't have candidates. I had a similar conversation with yet another ex-supervisor of mine - looking for staff for a new team he was putting together.

And it makes one wonder: so many jobs, so few qualified candidates? Or what exactly is going on?

Like I said, the last 4 months have given me a clue to what is going on.

Over the last 4 months, I have had to seek staff for short-term roles. And my experience has been lamentable. Horror stories. I could write a book on them.

The number of candidates that talk a good game but cannot deliver scrap, that promise Mount Everest but deliver an anthill - is appalling.

Initially, I kept an open mind and was willing to take people on their word, and trust that they would be reliable enough to deliver. I wanted to open up opportunities for young people to earn income commensurate to their skills. I actually had a dream to through my short-term role opportunities, nurture a pipeline of promising talent that I can whole-heartedly refer to my previous colleagues and managers who come to me seeking job candidates because they have done great work I can vouch for (I don't just refer anyone because these people come to me because they know I do quality work and value quality work and will only refer quality talent to them - I have a reputation to protect).

But after quite a few false starts and hundreds of thousands of naira down the drain, I have to ask myself: are our graduates really employable?

From my experience, and those of others, here are a few ways our graduates shoot themselves in the foot and deny themselves a chance of a rewarding job opportunity or offer:

1. Lack a can-do attitude. I remember once contacting a job candidate who had applied to fill a role to do a preliminary interview. I could tell from his CV that he had almost no experience, but the job to be done was not that technical so I felt this is something someone that learns fast can do. On calling him and explaining the work to be done in detail, imagine what the fellow told me? He sighed and started grumbling and hissing "I don't think I can do this kind of work o". And this was basic research and data gathering oo, work every university graduate would have done in their final year. I just jejely left him.

I wonder why a graduate looking for work would act that way. This is a job you sent your CV for, no one forced you to send it in. The least you could do is do research on what the role entails, and convey confidence when your interviewer calls by explaining that even though you have limited experience, you can learn quickly. I guess he wasn't really looking. But these are those people will look at, and say the Nigerian system has failed job seekers.

2. Lack a growth mindset (allergic to learning and constructive feedback). I have noticed this trend with youths, particularly in the 21-28 age range. They do not know how to handle feedback on their work output well. If you tell them their work needs improvement, they act like you have slapped them in the face. And when I see this sort of reaction I just want to shake them and tell them: you are too young to be thinking your work will be perfect from scratch! That's the value of time and experience - it improves the quality of work. You work cannot be 100% at the first attempt or even the second attempt, but with refinement, feedback, work and skills get better. But these ones will go around to report you to others that you are wicked or other falsehoods, meanwhile, you are only looking out for their own progress. (Let me iterate here that I do constructive feedback - I don't shout or insult or put down people's personalities in the name of feedback because I know this is not helpful: it only destroys self-esteem. So I am referring to normal, even-toned, dispassioned feedback. And this is the feedback they take offense with. SM
cao i send you a PM sir? Need to ask you something
Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by N2B2: 12:54pm On Feb 11, 2022
mollie12:


Nothing more to add. I'm sure you are one of the target unemployable folks this post set out to address.

With each rebuttal, you have corroborated my initial point. Looking for excuses to remain lazy and not make the needed changes to become employable.

Of course, you have nothing more to add, not to this rant — as you've been unceremoniously shamed — or to growth of entry-level employees who know their worth.

My payout rate was NGN50,000 per week (that comes to NGN200k per month) for fresh graduates because I wanted to give young people a chance.

Facing criticism for your rant — instead of the praise you expected — you've resorted to e-bragging.

Have you forgotten you said: ... One of the HR staff keeps coming to our side of the office almost every day that they are looking for candidates to fill this role...

Are you an employee who pays other employees? Lol! You can't even lie well.

My payout rate was... because I wanted to give young people a chance.

Nah. Your workplace is not a charity, and neither you nor your boss are saints.

Your boss is paying graduates for the time & effort they spend for the business.

But with submissions like yours, I now see why most employers of labor insist on paying peanuts.

Another lie.

The money has gotten to your head, so you now look down on those with little to no experience.

That's why you advocate for peanut salaried and unpaid internships.

Since people don't want to take corrections and learn how to improve themselves and their value.

A stark contrast from a post you made in April 2019 decrying the very thing you're now ignorantly doing.

Here's what you said:

It was highly nauseating and ignorant to lump hundreds of students (so you've encountered some hypocrites, how many and what proportion of the total percentage of the school population? Up to 5%?) under the hypocrite tag.

You can't know that many people well enough to jump to that conclusion, and you smear the reputation of those that are not aligned that way to others.

Shame on you!

7 Likes

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Elsueno: 12:55pm On Feb 11, 2022
When u do MSc, that's when u would have an idea how research & data collection work can be extremely annoying. In BSc, alot of things might be overlooked....but for post graduate levels especially in 9ja, the more perfect ur work, the more they look for flaws to crucify u. This kind of attitude puts most people off on any research related works in the future. Unless u are an academicians....just jejely do ur BSc & some professional courses, if u fancy MSc, do professional MSc......leave academic MSc for lecturers & researchers

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by mrdharkchild(m): 12:57pm On Feb 11, 2022
Be waiting for a public acceptance of your philosophy.

I speak for myself, even without skills, big yes.

Many learn on he job.
Companies still train.

Una too de stress una self and put yourself under unnecessary pressure.

3 Likes

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Cti28(m): 12:59pm On Feb 11, 2022
clockwisereport:


I never said they are not relevant. I said they are useless to me and most of the people I know. We will never apply those things we learnt in school until we die. So, why waste out time studying it?
You are right. After studying Physics, the only place I could apply what I studied (as far as Nigeria is concerned) is the classroom. And I will end up teaching them velocity, speed, displacement.......

The few research institute in the country are docile, and working in such institute, will make one more docile.

2 Likes

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by IamRegal: 12:59pm On Feb 11, 2022
I agree with you to some extent, but this is not the full picture.

The question is are Nigerian schools designed to make graduates employable.

From wasting students time on courses that are not related to their field.

Theories where practical is needed. How many elect elect lecturers can fully wire a house.

Most graduates did self development.

Nigerian graduates are resilient and determined.

At the end, are they compensated with a good job, most times no.

Let me ask, calculate the amount you have spent in school from nursery to uni. Then calculate your salary.

As an employer, are there plans in place to equip your staffs, maybe training every 6 month or something.

While the company is your idea, the staffs keeps it running, several companies make good income and pay very low amount to staffs, this will reduce their drive to give their best. You want them to work for you with their life.

Since this graduates go on to well, out side the country then the graduates are not the problem.

3 Likes

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Elsueno: 1:02pm On Feb 11, 2022
Born2conquer:
Speaking for myself, i doubt if we are employable.

I studied an animal health related course and i can boldly tell you that i know nothing about animals apart from the names of livestocks and maybe their gestation period.

How to treat them? No!

We had few practicals when i was in school but practical was just anothrr theory class done in the lab or on the field.

Though i am not practicing what i studied byt the truth is that, i feel i wasted my time going to school! I merely earned the certificate.


NB: If i read, i can understand what i learnt but i can't apply the knowledge on the field

U just no dey listen for class, a Friend of mine did same Animal Science course at a federal university....He is a currently a consultant for poultry & livestocks farm around his state..He advices on hygiene, food formulation etc...He even formulate his own livestock Feed & people rush to buy.....He is doing very well

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by BigDawsNet: 1:03pm On Feb 11, 2022
Issues with Computer Science graduate

Large number of CS grad can't even design a project on spreadsheet talkless of coding

Pls guys ... Especially potential computer Science graduate and the recent grad ..try and learn all this basic skills online ...

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Karleb(m): 1:03pm On Feb 11, 2022
You are just an HR trying to be nice.

Let me ask you, the people that are carrying the country's economy, are they Ghanaian graduates?

I can counter all what you wrote their word for word but I don't have time.


You mentioned unpaid internship? I swear, I dey vex!

How do you expect an intern to come to work, feed, help the company grow and not get paid? ...and some of you use interns like slaves but your maid at home is earning decent salary.


Let's just cut the crap! The hiring process in this country is so broken and you people are too blind to see it.

6 Likes

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Mrquote: 1:03pm On Feb 11, 2022
When the system fails, instead to tackle the issue we all end up making an excuse for it. Instead of the government to end all this 2030 plan and start planning right now we still doing things by federal character. One thing is sure the government is the biggest employer of labour in this country until major companies start coming in then federal character we make it look as if the education system has failed. Nigeria graduates I laugh, are you forgetting that they are the same graduate when they cross overseas to study.

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Compuro: 1:04pm On Feb 11, 2022
mollie12:


Nothing more to add. I'm sure you are one of the target unemployable folks this post set out to address.
With each rebuttal, you have corroborated my initial point. Looking for excuses to remain lazy and not make the needed changes to become employable.

And by the way - on your points on me paying peanuts. Lol. You missed where I said I lost hundreds of thousands of naira on low-value hires.

My payout rate was NGN50,000 per week (that comes to NGN200k per month) for fresh graduates because I wanted to give young people a chance. That's more than 6x the national minimum wage. But with submissions like yours, I now see why most employers of labor insist on paying peanuts. Since people don't want to take corrections and learn how to improve themselves and their value.




God bless you. Kinds of people i love. Respect

1 Like

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by tcharrisson(m): 1:04pm On Feb 11, 2022
mollie12:


Nothing more to add. I'm sure you are one of the target unemployable folks this post set out to address.
With each rebuttal, you have corroborated my initial point. Looking for excuses to remain lazy and not make the needed changes to become employable.

And by the way - on your points on me paying peanuts. Lol. You missed where I said I lost hundreds of thousands of naira on low-value hires.

My payout rate was NGN50,000 per week (that comes to NGN200k per month) for fresh graduates because I wanted to give young people a chance. That's more than 6x the national minimum wage. But with submissions like yours, I now see why most employers of labor insist on paying peanuts. Since people don't want to take corrections and learn how to improve themselves and their value.


While you have made some really valid points, we have to admit that the critic also made some valid points too. He may have not presented his points to your satisfaction, but that doesn't invalidate his points too..
I know this, because I have seen things from the two different perceptions myself..
No country has the perfect employable graduates when compared to the standard of their education.
I am sure if you threw open the vacancies and good compensations, the best brains will apply and you will have many options to pick from..
While referrals may be good, it limits the options of the employer..
There are over 50m Nigerian graduate and you can't write them off because of few experience..
And please as an employer, do take note that feedback goes both ways..
Thanks for the piece, it was quite insightful..

2 Likes

Re: Are Nigerian Graduates Employable? by Poleski: 1:05pm On Feb 11, 2022
Most Nigerian graduates are unemployable because they're poorly educated. They "sorted" their way through school and thus can't defend their paper qualifications. Some of them are incapable of filling out job application forms!

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