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.

Did you see how you were triggered because the fellow countered you points logically.


You are nothing more than a modern slave master.

N2B2:
An interesting write-up, @mollie2.

It presents a few hard-hitting questions.

Unfortunately, it also reads like a tirade typical of the average low-paying Nigerian employer with a god complex.

The rant starts from your title: "Are Nigerian graduates employable?"

Fresh graduates have little to no experience and will typically seek entry-level jobs to gain experience.



Are these hiring managers looking to fill vacant entry level positions? Because there's no shortage of young graduates out there searching for their first jobs.

Let's look at some of your points.



Yes, a can-do attitude is a mindset valued in the workplace.

However, you mention nothing about can-do attitudes here.

Instead, because you had one bad experience, you jeer at the unemployed who lament Nigeria's failed employment systems.



That's what the job requirements section of your job posting is for. No research needed.



What interviewers think of such candidates is irrelevant.

How is wanting to go to church on weekdays religious fanaticism?

You seem incensed that applicants want to maintain lives outside their workplace.

The title of this point should have been: "A lack of workplace fanaticism."



A lie cleverly intended to mask the ridiculousness of the next statement you make.

See next quote:



I said it - a typical low-paying employer, seeking "rockstar" talents to pay peanuts to.

For those reading, never let anyone convince you that you aren't worth reasonable pay, even if you have little to no experience.

Employers don't only pay for your skill; they pay for your time and effort, too.



It is called slave labor, indicative of the terrible workplace you run.

Conclusion:

This rant-like write-up is just a demand for employee subservience.

Unpaid internships, peanut-paying yet high-demanding jobs... all unreasonable demands of fresh graduates.

And unreasonable demands breed hostile workplaces.

Try again.

This time, try to put yourself in the shoes of the unemployed when you write.

you nailed him oooo...it's typical of so called low paying employers who want highly intelligent graduate do high demanding jobs and go home with little pay...they would tell you you know we just helping you they are so many of your mates still looking for a job ....and want to make you work your ass out then criticize you for just being a first class

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

This is inarguably one of the best pieces I have read on Nairaland. The OP just took the objective route and delivered 'truth' undiluted.

Pls hold the bolded words to heart. Ive had a few stints in HR and I can tell you that there is no ceiling to what you can earn. It's a function of more value bringing more earning.

Thanks you OP and I really do hope that as many people as possible have the presence of mind to read and understand this piece which if well assimilated could be their life-jacket.

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

You were suppose to at learn one or two career skills during your industrial training experience.

Very employable....pay them well and not peanuts and see be best in them.... Besides this thread is viewed all over the world. It should be taken down immediately

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.

You also displayed one of the weaknesses you wrote about in the so called fresh graduates.
You couldn't take a criticism of your submission. You hastily concluded N2B is one of your so called unemployable folks.

Be open minded, that's the pathway for growth.

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.

well some of your points are valid but such conclusion shouldn't be attributed to large number of applicants.
Fresh graduates like myself shouldn't be subjected to modern day slavery because most employers takes advantage of many due to lack of working experience and high unemployment rate in our dear country.
But, prior to the aforementioned, what nature of job do you pay #50,000 per week because I might be interested.

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 sincerely appreciate your honesty. Same thing can be said of me. I studied Chemistry...and, one night during my NYSC, I was caught up in thoughts about what I've learnt and I see that I wasted 5 years. So, I went back to school to learn something else. Although, I came out tops of the class, I'm afraid, nothing has changed. I'm in great dispair right now.

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

As much as i agree with this article.

I will still have to say that,Yes, alot of Nigerian graduate are employable and well qualified in all ramifications,the problem is alot of employees nowadays are looking for absurd requirements from fresh graduates

On most Job vacancies out there, you will see stuffs like:
6-7yrs experience and age must be between 21-26yrs
Some goes like 8yrs experience and not older than 28yrs.

Tell me how such absurd requirements makes any iota of sense

By the way i'm a fresh graduate still seeking for employment.
B.Eng Civil Engineering
Roughly 2yrs experience
Under 26yrs
Mind you: I have all the basic quality and skills needed as far as a graduate engineer is concerned

Thank you

From another angle, graduates are poorly treated in Nigeria. Most times they are not paid as at when due , despite that the pay is not commensurate to their monthly expenditures. The economy is hard,yet some companies don't pay on time, these graduates borrow to go to work sometimes even with empty stomach yet you want them to be very productive

lawrenzooo:

You were suppose to at learn one or two career skills during your industrial training experience.

Career skills, like something related to my course or something else?

I added to my writeup that i am currently doing something not related to my course of study, so i am fine.

Not just really happy that i can't really defend what I studied in school, i will be working on that soon because i will be going for a proper MSC in london soon

victooman:
you have spoken my mind,, you saw through his ranting,, the joy is that graduates are becoming smarter,, about 10 of my friends
whom we finish university in 2020 are all into business and doing well ,None is ready to slave their prime years for a job that pays peanut and demand so much from you,,
look at the way he was ranting as if all Nigerian graduates are daft,,this same people that are not employable to him are the same people when they goes outside the country ends up as hot cakes, dont worry we dont blame you ,,we blame the useless leaders that kept this country this way,, just like revolution, a time will come when most of you employers will have just u and your families to pay that peanut of a slavery you called salary, it is just a matter of time.

Kudos to your friends for seizing the opportunity presented by unemployment.

This however doesn't nullify the OPs' well thought out write-up.

Employment in the private sector is primarily driven along performance lines. As a result, your career antecedence or lack therof will come to your aid.

Businesses prefer to hire experienced hands who will hit the ground running and draw in results immediately. Eventually they will consider internships where they can train new hires and inculcate their work culture into them.

We all have biases which largely reflect our inclinations......as employees or employers. However nature is perfect and so are the rewards we get for our inputs.

Elsueno:


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

"If I lie to the world, i can't lie to myself"
I can also work as a consultant, consultant is more of supervision and blowing big grammers.

Feed formulation? The feed ration is everywhere and i can even draft it out for you now which will contain the basic nutrients needed by animals.

But i can't lie to myself bro! As an animal scientist, we should be able to do the real deal and not what every jack and rose can do just by reading few lines

Make una keep quiet abeg. Hire your recruitment needs to outsourcing coys to get you manpower. No come here dey yarn dust.

You are so on point with this write up.

Many companies face these problem.

It is sad. Most young people are all chasing the dream of getting money through "shortcuts", they don't want to put in the effort to reap the result.

Another issue is our educational system, "e don bend" from Primary to University level, They can't even defend their certificates. Shameful!

But we still have the "few" doing excellently well, if any company jam them, make Dem hold them close and pay them their worth



Radio playing Adekunle Gold "Work" as I am typing this

N2B2:
An interesting write-up, @mollie2.

It presents a few hard-hitting questions.

Unfortunately, it also reads like a tirade typical of the average low-paying Nigerian employer with a god complex.

The rant starts from your title: "Are Nigerian graduates employable?"

Fresh graduates have little to no experience and will typically seek entry-level jobs to gain experience.



Are these hiring managers looking to fill vacant entry level positions? Because there's no shortage of young graduates out there searching for their first jobs.

Let's look at some of your points.



Yes, a can-do attitude is a mindset valued in the workplace.

However, you mention nothing about can-do attitudes here.

Instead, because you had one bad experience, you jeer at the unemployed who lament Nigeria's failed employment systems.



That's what the job requirements section of your job posting is for. No research needed.



What interviewers think of such candidates is irrelevant.

How is wanting to go to church on weekdays religious fanaticism?

You seem incensed that applicants want to maintain lives outside their workplace.

The title of this point should have been: "A lack of workplace fanaticism."



A lie cleverly intended to mask the ridiculousness of the next statement you make.

See next quote:



I said it - a typical low-paying employer, seeking "rockstar" talents to pay peanuts to.

For those reading, never let anyone convince you that you aren't worth reasonable pay, even if you have little to no experience.

Employers don't only pay for your skill; they pay for your time and effort, too.



It is called slave labor, indicative of the terrible workplace you run.

Conclusion:

This rant-like write-up is just a demand for employee subservience.

Unpaid internships, peanut-paying yet high-demanding jobs... all unreasonable demands of fresh graduates.

And unreasonable demands breed hostile workplaces.

Try again.

This time, try to put yourself in the shoes of the unemployed when you write.

I agree with your criticism. Half way into reading, I had trouble deciding if the original post was trying to answer it's initial question or a self-promotion monologue.

Samson0599:
From another angle, graduates are poorly treated in Nigeria. Most times they are not paid as at when due , despite that the pay is not commensurate to their monthly expenditures. The economy is hard,yet some companies don't pay on time, these graduates borrow to go to work sometimes even with empty stomach yet you want them to be very productive

Poor performing graduates will always be poorly paid. It's the law.

Performing graduates on the other hand will always attract a reward commensurate with their input to the system. It's the law.

I'm not a graduate but I can tell you that most of your point is valid only to few youth. Now i had many experience Job experience but no certificate to back. Going back to school is any uphill task furthermore, I can fill an positions from Director downwards to Supervisiory level. Again with no certificate.

Born2conquer:

"If I lie to the world, i can't lie to myself"
I can also work as a consultant, consultant is more of supervision and blowing big grammers.

Feed formulation? The feed ration is everywhere and i can even draft it out for you now which will contain the basic nutrients needed by animals.

But i can't lie to myself bro! As an animal scientist, we should be able to do the real deal and not what every jack and rose can do just by reading few lines

Your sincerity knows no bounds. I am happy for you as this self recondition is the bedrock of a major take-off for you sooner than later.

kdfinest:

well some of your points are valid but such conclusion shouldn't be attributed to large number of applicants.
Fresh graduates like myself shouldn't be subjected to modern day slavery because most employers takes advantage of many due to lack of working experience and high unemployment rate in our dear country.
But, prior to the aforementioned, what nature of job do you pay #50,000 per week because I might be interested.

That guy dey Bobo una.

How many companies in Nigeria pay per week?

He had to put that in just to feel good about himself. I'm not saying #200k per month is farfetched even for an entry level position but I'm damn sure that nigga doesn't pay such. He's just making mouth.

ASPIREX:


Poor performing graduates will always be poorly paid. It's the law.

Performing graduates on the other hand will always attract a reward commensurate with their input to the system. It's the law.

This is so wrong!

In fact, in Nigeria, the reverse is the case.

This is only true in few private firms.

HeraldAgric01:
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.

Curruption in the recruitment process is a rarity in the organised private sector.

This is more of a public sector dilemma.

Nice truths bro, some loopholes though.
Simple truth is fresh graduates or most graduates generally, have little or no work experience. Sometimes the little sef, are gotten from their IT programmes in school and not all depts offer IT programmes. Now most of the jobs available, say90%, are not entry level positions and then these employers are not willing to take such gambles with the graduates. The NYSC that was meant to help bridge this gap now carry most of us and dump in schools. The few that get into companies or firms are now exploited and subjected to inhumane condescending treatments for very little inconsiderate pay with false promises (which in reality are subtle threats) of retaining us.

ASPIREX:


Poor performing graduates will always be poorly paid. It's the law.

Performing graduates on the other hand will always attract a reward commensurate with their input to the system. It's the law.

I doubt you are Nigeria, most graduates are underemployed

airsaylongcome:
OP
Is all this the same reason why the US is experiencing a shortage of staff and THE GREAT RESIGNATION?

Loads of unfilled roles in the US too, is this as a result of "motivational speakers" or religious fanaticism?

How Do u mean most US citizens are resigning from their jobs? Why

N2B2:
An interesting write-up, @mollie2.

It presents a few hard-hitting questions.

Unfortunately, it also reads like a tirade typical of the average low-paying Nigerian employer with a god complex.

The rant starts from your title: "Are Nigerian graduates employable?"

Fresh graduates have little to no experience and will typically seek entry-level jobs to gain experience.



Are these hiring managers looking to fill vacant entry level positions? Because there's no shortage of young graduates out there searching for their first jobs.

Let's look at some of your points.



Yes, a can-do attitude is a mindset valued in the workplace.

However, you mention nothing about can-do attitudes here.

Instead, because you had one bad experience, you jeer at the unemployed who lament Nigeria's failed employment systems.



That's what the job requirements section of your job posting is for. No research needed.



What interviewers think of such candidates is irrelevant.

How is wanting to go to church on weekdays religious fanaticism?

You seem incensed that applicants want to maintain lives outside their workplace.

The title of this point should have been: "A lack of workplace fanaticism."



A lie cleverly intended to mask the ridiculousness of the next statement you make.

See next quote:



I said it - a typical low-paying employer, seeking "rockstar" talents to pay peanuts to.

For those reading, never let anyone convince you that you aren't worth reasonable pay, even if you have little to no experience.

Employers don't only pay for your skill; they pay for your time and effort, too.



It is called slave labor, indicative of the terrible workplace you run.

Conclusion:

This rant-like write-up is just a demand for employee subservience.

Unpaid internships, peanut-paying yet high-demanding jobs... all unreasonable demands of fresh graduates.

And unreasonable demands breed hostile workplaces.

Try again.

This time, try to put yourself in the shoes of the unemployed when you write.

You have said it all. Leave him to be ranting.
The same graduates termed unemployable are immediately employed out of the shores of Nigeria.
Primary reasons why qualified candidates are looking for remote role.

FA13:

You have said it all. Leave him to be ranting.
The same graduates termed unemployable are immediately employed out of the shores of Nigeria.
Primary reasons why qualified candidates are looking for remote role.

What are they employed as outside these shores? Pls tell us.

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

Oga, your rants does not hold true.
N2B2 is mostly right in his criticism of your conjectures.

You guys should stop looking for slave workers.

That is the reason why most skilled people are looking for remote roles rather than suffering themselves for peanuts.

Samson0599:

I doubt you are Nigeria, most graduates are underemployed

I am very Nigerian and I agree with you completely that most Nigerians are underemployed. But trust me if your are good in what you do it's just a question of time you will be catapulted to where you try belong remuneration wise. That's why we have a whole industry called 'poaching'.

Senomii:

How Do u mean most US citizens are resigning from their jobs? Why

Yes. They are. The Great Resignation started after the pandemic mostly.
Reasons include wage stagnation amid rising cost of living, economic freedom provided by COVID-19 stimulus payments, longlasting job dissatisfaction, and safety concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tobimathew:
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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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.

...


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

You write up is impressive.
The behavior of the few now shuts doors for the many.
I was surprised to hear of job opening with no candidates to fill them.

From your write up it would seem the problem still persists and your passion to find a viable solution is alive.
I would like to ask that you put out a mail or way to reach you for the few who truly are ready and willing to walk the walk.


Truthfully from my side of the line( awaiting employment) I can say that it would seem that the few jobs available require 'leg' to get.
With certifications as tall as the sky( isn't it money it takes to get into such trainings) and then the years of experience ask for ( the people doing this jobs, didnt they learn it)
I really don't mind doing an unpaid internship.
What ever it takes.
I would be willing to learn, and would love feedback so as to build up my confidence and competence.
Thank you.