₦airaland Forum

I just couldn't bear it anymore and threw in the towel in 2016 when I resigned to start my own independent consultancy.

The stress in Lagos is unbearable. It is even worse now because of the closure of Apagbon bridge. I pity those that commute to work every day in Lagos. I can't try it again!!

IbeOkehie:
Stop advising people to go abroad. USA, Canada and UK are finished. Ask Nigerians there, just ask them. They're suffering. They can't even find proper job, most of them work in petrol stations, they're cleaners and mortuary attendants. The few that do have jobs are taxed heavily and after paying so many bills, there's NOTHING left. That's why people in those countries have ZERO savings. Go and ask o, abroad is simply a living death. Ask anyone of them to bring out $500 and they will start crying.

Nigeria is the place to make it. Just pick and master a good skill and within a year you will be swimming in money. Oga abeg, no let soap enter you eye as you de swim inside river abeg.

I agreed with you. However, when you consider the pathetic situation of an unemployed graduate in Nigeria without any hope, what do advise the person?

I have nephews and relatives that have been job hunting. Giving them an opportunity to do those low grade jobs you mentioned in US would be welcomed by most of them. It's neither easy here in Nigeria.

tensazangetsu20:
Canada just announced this 3 weeks back. Check again. You can work on a tourist visa.

Oh good. I didn't know that

tensazangetsu20:
It's Canada that announced it not the usa. Besides even if it were true. If you apply for a visitors visa today, you won't get an appointment till 2025.

It's US. They announced it on the 23rd of March. Check USIC website. Canada did theirs during COVID, which is no more applicable. It has expired. You can't work in Canada with tourists visa

It's going to get worse. US just announced that those on visitor's and tourists visa can now seek for employment and interview for Jobs. If successful, you now have to change to work visa.
Anybody that has opportunity to travel to US on tourist visa should utilize this opportunity before it cast o. I have already told my unemployed nephew to apply for visitors visa and pray that it becomes successful. He has been at home for more than nine months after nysc. The unemployment situation in Nigeria is becoming an epidemic.

I respect Nigerian men struggling to put food on the table for their families.

N20K a month for a wife and two kids??

It is time to move and get back to business. I do not follow party. I follow the candidate.

I am happy that my man, Ladi Ajomale of APC, won in my area for the State House of Assembly - Isolo/Okota axis - very good guy.

I voted for LP for presidential; APC for Governorship and APC for State House of Assembly member for my area

Nigerian government and bureaucracy?? Every agency must have Boards that are practically doing nothing. Just squandering the state's scarce resources.
Anyway, I must be appointed board one agency or the other now or in the future.

Gunshots within Ire-Akari and Okota axis. I quietly turned back. Later I went back to vote. As I was coming out, thugs in Keke came and smatched the ballot boxes and papers.

Praying for Nigeria is no longer on my prayers request and intentions. Every man to his own. Try and see how to prosper yourself even in the midst of the calamity and don't forget to enjoy your life to the fullest. Leave Nigeria matter.

Meddymeddy:
Well skills can never be over emphasized but for some of us we aren't opportune to learn a skills. Now as a graduate without any formal skills what do you suggest I do like in my CV and cover letters how do I make it attracted attention since I don't have a skill?

CV is a marketing document. If you have nothing to "sell" in your CV, then as an employer, I am sorry, I have nothing to offer you. That's the bitter truth. The job market is fiercely competitive and even more competitive in an economy like Nigeria. You just have to make out time and develop your skills except if mother luck smiles on you and you get job by "connection" or recommendation.

Meddymeddy:
Boss welldone for explaining it in details, I'm also in the same shoes with OP and I would like to ask a question if you don't mind. My question is that do i have to look for companies that is related to my field or it's just a random thing??

The company must not be related to your field. But you must have developed great competency and capabilities on one specialty - a transferrable skill. I always tell people, especially, young graduates, to make out time in acquiring capabilities and expertise in one particular area.

You may have an excellent communication skills - writing and verbal; Microsoft Excel; Data Analytics; Excellent Customer Service Skills; Graphics Design; Advertising and Marketing Skills; General IT skills and Professional qualifications in accounting like ICAN or others.

The above skills are minimum expectations. For each of the skills you mentioned in your cover letter, you must state briefly how you applied it and the positive impact it had, which may be quantifiable. ie put in absolute numbers if possible.

Me, I don't wear shoes, as in normal corporate shoes at all.

But if na sneakers or trainers, mehn, on daily basis. I wear them to church, workouts, strolling. I have ones that fits in with suites or corporate casual jackets.

emmaodet:
A tourist is like a woman. The more quality men she dates, the harder to impress her.
The more a man travels and sees other parts of the world, the harder it will be for his govt or politicians to satisfy him. - Odet 2023
This is the reason politicians prefer to keep the masses poor because it gives them less headache compared to a well traveled citizen.
An exposed and we'll travelled citizen is a pain in the ass. A big headache no politician wants.
Just do a 10km road for 4 years tenure while you embezzle billions and your unexposed citizens will clap for you and tell you have really worked compared to the past politician but a well traveled person will ask what is this piece of shit?

Very apt!

Let me help with the format I used in the mid 2000s

Just pay attention.......

Going to offices to submit CVs now is outdated. The security guys will use you to shine. You do not have to do that at this modern age.

Search online for the name of the MD of your targeted companies, the company address and write a good cover letter, stating your competencies and capabilities and what you think you can offer the company. You must have researched about the company anyway

Post the letter using NIPOST or any of the cheap courier companies. The letter will be delivered straight to the MD's table. If he reads it and finds it interesting, he would order the HR to call you immediately. Some MDs likes people with boldness. For you to have made effort to get his name, researched about the company and addressed your letter personally to him, he may want to give you a chance for an interview.

Do not address the letter to the HR. Read my post above very well... Write to the MD. If you write to the HR, typical of Nigerian HRs, the person will just trash your CV and may not get it to the MD or any of the hiring manager. If you do not know the name of the MD, use the sample below:

The Managing Director
Atlantic Petroleum and Exploration Limited
22 Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue
Victoria Island, Lagos

Another format, go to Ikoyi, VI and part of Lekki Phase one, check for all those coded companies without sign post. Lay siege for any of the staff or driver coming out from the building, engage one to help you submit CV or ask if you could get details of the HR or MD. Some of these coded companies in VI, Ikoyi and Lekki without sign post are multi billion naira companies. It is only when you enter the compound and see the kind SUVs parked that you would know how far. The building hardly pass one story building, but the buildings are usually cozy and serene with touch of class.

Get the addresses of the buildings you feels may be harboring a company. Confirm from security or passersby the name of the company. The security guys at the company may not want to disclose the name of the company to you. As I earlier said, some of these uniformed security men could be overzealous and they know how to use job seekers shine. Ask passers by or any Keke or public driver or people hanging around if they know the name of the company.

Seeking for job in this country requires street smartness. I got calls from MDs for chat and interviews with some of the CVs and applications I submitted using the stated format above. My first job located at Idowu Taylor, VI, was through this means - submission of unsolicited hard copy application and CV. I remembered, I just left ICAN office where I went to submit a document and saw one company like that without any name. I inquired about the name and sent a well written cover letter and resume to the MD. Emphasis on cover letter because that is where you tell your story

Good luck!

Honestly, our standards are terribly low in this country. You wouldn't know the extent of rots and under development till you travel to other parts of the world

I have already planned a personal vacation outside Nigeria next year. South Africa or Kenya is on my mind. I have already identified places to visit and chill for two weeks.

Life needs to be enjoyed.

Acesexcell:
Hmmm.....and it seems Buhari and Emefiele has left this country. Their inability to issue statement over this whole thing is something else. That's why all this cone headed governors kept on dishing out directive here and there.

They are still shock at BAT's victory. They didn't see it coming and are now at a loss on what to do with that their policy.

Buhari, sometimes could be indecisive and uninterested in serious matters. He may not like some one or something and would still be hesitant to take action.

I am sure he never liked Tinubu and didn't want him to succeed him. Yet, he didn't know the decisive actions to take within his party to stop him. He was busy doing "hide and seek". The governor's are aware of how weak he is and seized the moment.

Tinubu being a seasoned politician didn't give him any room to arm-twist him. Buhari is still in shock how Tinubu and the governors fought him. He and Emiefele are now confused on how to go about the currency crunch issue in the country.

Nigerians ought to be getting constant updates from their government on what they are doing about the current monetary crisis. But Buhari is dumb and seems lost. He now seems more detached from Nigerians. He is just waiting to go on May 29 and let the new government find solution to the current crisis.

It cannot be from trekking. Trekking is good for health

This morning, with my joggers, sneakers and face cap, I walked from Cele bridge in Okota to Ojuelegba and came back as part of my routine Saturday morning walk-out.

Rest in peace my brother.

Hoelujohn:
Scam. Transformers wey Dem never install. They can remove it anytime especially if he looses

I agree - see format

Once he looses, the owner of the transformer will come and pick them up. He just paid the owner a token to bring them there

A politician did this to us while in the University. He donated transformer without connecting it. Immediately the result was announced and he lost, same day at night, a hiab truck came and pick up the transformer.

Nawao!! So I am older than this guy?

The same way that I am older than the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

They ought to have postponed the presidential election when they knew that they were not really ready with their ICT to transmit live results. I have no problems with postponement as long as it is for the overall good. My former boss will always advise one to postpone his presentation or pitch if he is not ready than to rush and present rubbish. You will always be remembered of the rubbish you presented.

I know the guy very well. He had his office at the popular New Market Road Onitsha

I met him when I wanted to enroll for my ICAN and to write the professional examination of the Chartered Institute of Strategic Management or ISM. He was then the president of the Institute in Anambra and Coordinator for the entire SE. Very talented guy and his knowledge of local business environment is second to none. He was part of those that encouraged me to sit for ICAN. I had my first degree in Engineering.

First: Ensure that your gadgets are top-notch. Your data and video quality of your phone or laptop should be superb
Second: Have your jotter and pen to take note - that shows you to be a listening person and one who takes note
Third: Do not interrupt any of the interviewer when he or she is talking. Wait till he or she is done for you to respond. Manage your impulse very well.
Fourth: Learn very well how to introduce yourself with emphasis on your current role and achievements.
Fifth: Make your answers short, simple and action-packed. Use more of action words in your explanation.
[b]Sixth: [/b]Do not fail to ask intelligent questions at the end of the interview. Your question should center on current challenges facing the industry where the company is operating. Your question should have something to do with current happenings or what you recently read,

Good luck!

Hunger don hold this one. He couldn't secure any better offer since leaving Nigeria. It is like leaving leaving SHELL and getting hired by a Filing Station.

And here in Lagos, INEC are still at their distribution and sorting center. No voting yet and hundreds of people have gathered since 7am in my pulling unit.

APC have gone beyond ballot snatching in this election. Snatching ballot boxes is now outdated in the rigging sector. Everything now stealth, with great execution.
There is a confirmation now trending that the Labor party logo is not on the national and state house of assembly ballot papers for the election in Lagos State alone. I wonder how that error could have by passed INEC if there was no insider, working in tandem with corrupt party leaders.

Honestly, the insecurity in the country is hindering the growth of tourism in the country. See how the place is empty despite the natural beauty that it radiates.

All these vague promises of delivering humongous votes to candidates, how does it work? Do they go about collecting votes and then deliver it to their preferred candidate//

studyless123:
About 8 years ago. I lost a dear friend due to the recklessness of a doctor. That event taught me a lot about the US. The practice is common and nothing new, from racketeering in prestigious institutions to fake practitioners. Over 250k people die as a result of medical recklessness and at a time a third leading cause of death in the US. It is an endemic problem.

There are people that genuinely obtained their medical qualifications but are still careless and reckless in practice. Some may have forged theirs and still remain cerebral and professional in practice. Though I dont support forgeries and fraud in whatever form.We have lots of qualified medical personnel in Nigeria that are reckless. The issue of professionalism and skill set is innate. It is something that comes naturally with a person.

The microfinance Bank job may be an opportunity for her to break into corporate Nigeria. If the position offered is in finance, treasury, IT, internal control, admin or operations, she should take the bank job.

The problem with teaching in Nigeria is that it is easy to get "lost" and become unemployable in corporate world because of lack of basic professional working skills. For a career minded person, the microfinance job is the best fit, irrespective of the pay and the potential stress she may pass through. But the job would help her to build,acquire and accumulate some capabilities that would help her in later years while looking for other opportunities.

Bayelsa, with all the oil money, the state has nothing to show.

Sylva is interested in the State's treasury.

I am not justifying the use of fake prerequisite for sitting the board exam. The truth is that these people are brilliant to have passed the board exam. Most of them may have majored in sciences, arts and social sciences that are not nursing. But because of the desire to qualify as a nurse, they forged a nursing diploma, which is a requirement for sitting for the board exam.

I can relate it to passing ICAN in Nigeria. I didn't study accounting in school. But I sat for the accounting board exam, which is ICAN and passed. Some that studied accounting have not yet passed the accounting board exam which is ICAN. In this case, the requirements for the accounting board exam is a degree from any discipline.

However, fraud and forgeries are not acceptable anywhere. If getting nursing diploma is a requirement before sitting for board exam, let it be. If you want to sit for the exam, then go back to school and obtain a nursing diploma.

Obi has not been strategic with his campaign. He should stop wasting resources where he is considered strong. His running mate should have drawn up a road map on how to win over undecided voters in the north and penetrate deeper into areas he is considered unpopular.

I just want to make a common sense.