₦airaland Forum

No 3 is my best.

Dear Jarus,

Kudos for a job well done. Your blog site is one of the best I have ever seen.

I can see you are more experienced in terms of career and life pursuit. My question is: I intend going to some organisations, especially few banks to submit my CV in hard copy. How do you think I should address this issue when I get there because I know nobody/insider. Do you think I should just walk down to the customer care and tell them politely of my intention or can I get to see the HR of the bank?

Please I have had these thoughts up my mind ever since and I need a very precise and workable strategy.

God bless you as you take your time to reply.

Omobolanle O.


Dear Omobolanle,

I don’t know the exact role you want to apply for. Your qualifications could have also given me clue. Are you a graduate? Or an ND holder?

Still, the truth is, we have gone past hard copy CV era, especially for skilled jobs – those that require you to have certain level of formal education and training. For unskilled positions like cleaners and semi-skilled ones like office assistants, maybe hard copy of CV are still acceptable.

Today, most organizations either ask you to fill some forms online or ask you to email soft copies of your CV to a designated email address. I doubt dropping hard copies of CVs (except expressly called for) is fashionable again. Most of those CVs end up in guguru seller’s shop.

So if your intention is to apply for jobs that would normally be required of a graduate, then I’m not sure dropping hard copies of CVs around can help (it used to, few years back). But if it’s for some clerical or unskilled jobs (office assistants, drivers etc), maybe dropping CVs can help.

The other issue is, bank branches usually don’t have power to hire. The hiring decision is taken from the head office (or sometimes regional office). So I don’t think the man at the branch office will be able to help you with your hard CV.

My advice: subscribe to job websites and surf the internet for openings that you are qualified for. Here is an ongoing bulk teller recruitment for a bank, if you qualify: Bulk Tellers Recruitment

While banks are not likely to recruit for skilled positions through hard copy CVs, some small firms like ‘Jarus & co’ may do. So there may not be anything wrong in trying those ones, if you must circulate hard copies of your CV.

You may also try networking with insiders in companies to help pass on soft copies of your CV to the HR (CVs submitted by insiders usually carry a little hope, because the insider knows the right person to drop it with). Bank branches don’t have HR department, so the maximum the officer you meet at the branch (irrespective of department) can do for you is to help forward your CV (in soft copy, by email) to the HR department or any other top guy that can pull some weight. But while networking, be careful not to be taken advantage of, as a lady. You know what I mean.

All the best.

Jarus

http://jarushub.com/2013/05/10/how-helpful-is-dropping-hard-copies-of-my-cv-in-offices/

All these kind of stories always happen in Ibadan

Other typical Ibadan news:

Mother of 5 files divorce because husband's thing is too small

Carpentar sleeps with neighbour's wife


I wonder whether Ibadan courts no get job

Wishing him speedy recovery.

Threads like this should have learning points as well.

Can someone enlighten us on causes and symptoms of lymphoma?

Interesting...

At 30:

1. Drivers License - yes
2. Personal Cheque Book - yes
3. A Billionaire Friend - No
4. Personal Savings - yes
5. Wife - yes
6. International Passport - yes
7. Car - yes
8. Land - yes
9. HNI Club Membership - No
10. Registered Company - yes

8/10

I graduated from the department of Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), with Second Class lower (3.42/5.00), 2013. I got this as a result of my multi-tasking without proper planning as I started on a good ground; holding first class at my part 1.

I am presently in a state of dilemma because I have always wanted to be an investment banker and knowing that no IB will employ a Second Class Lower. Nevertheless, I am currently an ACCA student at the qualification stage; and also intend starting Masters in Finance (UNILAG) immediately after my NYSC service year; with a plan of enrolling for CFA during my course year as a Masters student ( perhaps some of the courses will be relevant for CFA); so I can leverage on the knowledge gained in school, tutorials and the likes.

Sir, I need you to scrutinise these plans, tell me where I have made wrong assumptions and the way forward as well as advise me.

Thank you for the good gesture, may the Lord reward you. I look forward to invaluable advice for the web/conglomerate of analysts (JAC).

PS: Those profile up there did not only inspire me but also intimidated me, sir; I must say, it instigated in me the desire to work hard/smart; sir!

See responses here:
http://jarushub.com/2013/05/08/with-my-22-how-can-i-break-into-investment-banking-industry/

By Sola Fagorusi


"God will never forgive my teachers who taught me that the word ‘artiste’ refers to a female artist. Today, I had to pay hugely for arguing blindly with friends…. Crying, not for how much I spent, but for the shame…."

– Emeka Nwosu E.

When around 10pm yesterday, I chanced on Emeka’s status post on Facebook, I called a friend, read out the status and we shared a decent laugh while trying to imagine what exactly may have happened in Emeka’s case. My friend was magnanimous enough to also share similar errors. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is dead but living enchantingly is his expression and 1986 track – Teacher don’t teach me nonsense. As for Emeka, it was apparent his teachers whom he poured vituperations on had taught him rubbish!

My generation is one of the last that witnessed a sane post-primary public educational system. Sane here is used comparatively. The public education system had its last fall around the year 2000 and it has since not been helped back on its feet 13 years after. This week’s news from the desk of Professor Dibu Ojerinde, the man who calls the shot from the Suleja Road, Bwari Head Office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is enough to rouse any sincere government into a day or two of unfathomable mourning.

Nothing, in my judgement is worse than one seeing his or her future being frittered away under preventable circumstances. It’s like a father watching all his children pouched skilfully by death. But this is debatably the case with Nigeria. There is a fast decent of the educational system into a calamity of catholic dimension and the major stakeholder – government, seems disconcerted.

The Professor of Test and Measurement and former Registrar of National Examination Council, NECO had informed all in summary that about 1.6 million people applied for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination with only 10 scoring above 300 marks out of the possible 400 and about 127,000 scored less than 200 marks. The last West African Examination Council organised General Certificate Examination, GCE is no different with only about 38% obtaining credit in 5 subjects, Mathematics and English inclusive.

Whoever says we are sitting on a keg of gun power may not be telling us the truth. The real situation is that we have a fully loaded and properly serviced gun on our heads with our hands fidgety on the trigger. What kind of nation pays lips service to education, if not one ready to sell its future for a pot of porridge? The effect of the Universal Basic Education remains to be seen despite the billions pumped into it.

It’s instructive that the generation of leaders we have today are all products of the public school system. The biographies, autobiographies and memoirs of the Odimegwu Ojukwus, Ayo Rosijis, Nuhu Ribadus, Chinua Achebes, Ajibola Iges and Akinwande Soyinkas are replete with accounts of how rich the public education system was. School then was a melting pot for different cultures and ideas. Back in my secondary school days, I cannot remember knowing that my classmates were from different parts of the country or that one’s father was richer or poorer than the other. There was no social caste in the learning process. Sadly, the better part of the period I reference was under military leadership.

The massive failure we currently witness in national examination would be child’s play if this is not arrested with deeply pragmatic measures. I recall the quality of teachers that were available then. My biology teacher, Wole Oniyide of blessed memory stood out. He taught us beyond biology. He taught us how to live. I remember my dedicated and elderly chemistry teacher, Mrs Maduka and one of my English teachers, Mr. Biodun – the one we call ‘Paddin’ Scallywag and Nincompoop as those were his words on erring students. Deaconess Adebule, T.O, our no nonsense principal is not one you forget in a hurry.

Education, the sound type is the only hope the child of the poor man has to a good life. It’s the least the government can give all. The current system where teachers in public school are those who have tried every other option but failed and opted for teaching will take us nowhere. A system where teachers are poorly remunerated and paid late is not in the interest of the students.

A society that cares less about school infrastructure and welfare of students but is ready to build mansions and feed annually with a billion naira would never likely have a bright future. A society where quality education is now available almost only in private schools and expensive ones at that is not ready to be called a developed country. One look at the curriculum, teachings and methods of some private schools and you will know the interest is solely money making.

While observing the compulsory National Youth Service Corps programme in a government establishment in the North; in company of a friend, I administered a private home tutorial service and our method was to recruit other capable corps members on request for our clientele. I recall an instance. We had coached a student for the General Certificate Examination. She saw the result and could not interpret all. She promptly sent me a text. ‘Sir, I have seen my result, what is B? This was about 9 years after the examination body had reviewed A2 and A3 grades to B2 and B3 respectively. I wondered at her method of preparation without a grade in mind.

I also noticed that parents were only interested in results. The process counted for nothing for them. Once school session was over, we were out of business. That parents conspire to help their children pass examinations dishonourably brings tears to the eyes. The drudgery of everyday living and the materialism fad has made it almost impossible for parents to be around to complement teachers’ effort. Let me not attempt a review of the educational system in the North here where corps members in some places become principals and vice principals and most students in secondary classes cannot communicate in the basest English form.

Unfortunately again, we live in the ICT age where television no longer resumes at 4pm but is a 24 hours affair. Video games and all forms of distractions are available to compete with the student’s time as well. We seem done for and it would be a miracle if at this pace, we do not record only one student scoring above 300 in subsequent JAMB examinations.

Education was lovely in the late 90’s. I have heard more astounding testimony of those who witnessed the landscape much earlier. There were also a thousand and one competitions to aspire to. The Bournvita Brain Match convened by Cadbury was one of such and a number of us cut our teeth in oratory there, not to forget the Close-up Essay Writing competition then. There were also the after school lessons, some free, some affordable and it allowed students from different schools meet and size up ourselves. You became an impromptu if you stood out in the mock exams, students of Adams Tutorial can bear me witness! Those from the legendary Sir K’s tutorial in Bariga axis for students from as far as Akoka would also agree. Today, the priorities have changed.

The multinationals would rather sponsor show-biz related programmes as their Corporate Social Responsibility. I guess they are following the body language of the government. Let it be said that no nation becomes developed by entertainment. They are secondary matters. The few educational ones available have been yanked off air. Where’s the Zain Africa Challenge again? No one to ‘port’ it? There is practically nothing for our young people to look up to except entertainment in form of music and football! It’s 12:56 am on Wednesday morning and as I cross the t’s and dot the i’s of this article, the television is muted and the National Television Authority is busy showing a quiz competition for post primary school students. I wonder who the target audience is!

Let’s not forget that out of this population failing UTME today would emerge teachers of tomorrow, perhaps, the Emekas of the future would hunt and charge their teachers to court if this Tsunami continues to hit on our educational system.



http://jarushub.com/2013/05/08/god-will-never-forgive-my-teachers/

9ice was an apala singer

mbulela: you guys are killjoys. where did he say he is about to squander his earnings?
All these apostles of entrepreneurship can be very annoying. You all sound like the fact that you do a business of your own is guaranteed success. There loads of business people who are dying of hunger. Don't make it sound like being an employee is a sin. It is not. Yes having streams of income is a good thing but all this talk is not it.
Just rejoice with the guy and move on.
See your mouth like "and will not return there, evn for d president's salary"

I tire o my brother. But these 'self-employment' theorists know how to come and borrow 5k from you salaried worker.

I don't have any problem with entrepreneurship/self-employment advocacy but they should stop demonizing salaried jobs. Not everyone is cut out for the risks involved pls. I can become CEO of an oil company with my employment, leave me alone. Don't turn me into pure water 'entrepreneur'.

Tolexander: If there were no exams?
Then all of us would come first and no one would come last like our fathers.

There wont be GP.

I wouldn't have any repeat in OAU pharmacy school.

I wouldn't tried befriending my teachers to upgrade me.

I wouldn't feel inferior to ask the most brilliant gurl in my class out.

Seun Osewa wouldn't leave OAU electrical electronic engineering for NAIRALAND.

My parent wouldn't be beating me at the end of each term after collecting my report card.

I would be very rich in school because there wouldn't be reason to spend my money on expo.

So u be Great Ife too.

I don't think it's for exams that Seun left OAU. Seun comes acroos to me as too good to fail/fear exams.

omiobo: KPMG!!!!yey! Their test and interview na die

LOL. Dem don hit you?

Admitwithschola: I don't think you are completely correct. All these big 4 don't pay jack. Don't be surprised that the salary for that position is below 6Million.

I agree.

Admitwithschola: A Lagos based financial institution requires the services of two BOND/FIXED INCOME TRADERS. The Personnel Officer has since been on my neck to help them find somebody. This was after several adverts on the Internet with close to 1000 CVs but none with the required skill and experience..

The position does not require a CFA or MSc, just simple BSc AND fixed income trading experience. I do not know the salary that will be offered, but I know that similar positions at FBN, Zenith and co attract a salary of over 6 Million Naira per annum.

If you have Fixed Income/Bond trading experience and you have worked for a maximum of 4 years and minimum of 1.5 years, please shoot me an email at adekanbiabiodun796@yahoo.com with your CV and cover letter. This is not a position for stock brokers or forex traders, it is for bond/fixed income traders..So, do not send me an email if you do not have the said experience..

I am tired of posting this opportunity, yet not getting useful CVs..And this is a job with excellent pay oo.

I have a friend with the qualification and experience you're looking for, but defnitely won't take 6m. Not sure he will take triple that sef.

omiobo: I don't know whether it has now changed, but the KPMG test I wrote in 2006 wasn't so difficult. Maybe time.

Your friend must be wizard. Their test has stages,you must pass all stages to qualify for interview.

Good to hear from you again, Cecegorz.

A job grading and restructuring exercise took place here, and, fortunately, I turned out to be one of the biggest gainers - my job was graded higher, and that resulted in 50% payrise.

It's one year now that I moved here and it was a great decision for me. I've learnt much more in my specialization in the last one year and what I just realized you think you know everything until you move to another place. The challenges are more, and every challenge assailed, one gets better for it.

Afam4eva: Ayo Ositelu is dead? He was the compere when the williams sisters played each other just a few months ago lagos.

Died couple of weeks later. That was his last public outing.

Am I the only one that observe that about 4 of every 5 Nigerian university-educated elite in Ondo and Ekiti states finished from Ife.

Fayemi himself, his predecessor, Segun Oni too. Last Ondo guber was dubbed 'Battle of Great Ife'.

Another veteran columnist gone

From Stanley Macebuh (Thisday) to Godson Offoaro (Sun - I remember tackling him in an article I wrote in 2011 in the run-up to April elections) to Edafe Onovo (Tribune) to Ayo Ositelu (Guardian) to Village economist abi na market economist, now Pini Jason (Vanguard).

SR was wrong though. He still wrote his column last week Tuesday, 4 days before his death.

I remember Pini joining those of us that took on Dele Momodu over his Sanusi-bully article late last year, for which Dele replied with another piece, 'Teacher, don't teach me nonsense', refer to Pini, Ethelbert and us 'ants', to use Dele's words.

All of them are dying between 65-70.

I pray other elders in the trade of column writing (Dare Olatunji, Mohammed Haruna, Tunde Fagbenle etc) live longer.

Having studied Adenuga for years, not surprised. But it doesn't make it right. He should have acknowledged his staff in 2 minutes and then leave.

I hope someone is not fired sha, because Adenuga is a toughie.

Meanwhile, he may have transmitted that habit to his top guys. One of his guys (an ED in one of his companies) that used to live in my old neighbourhood, was also like that. Very erratic. U no fit park for his car space, na wahala. If u greet am, na wahala.

Contract position is better than none, you know.

Just checking development....

Still in...

Dear Jarus,

I have been an active user on NL for a long time now and I can’t help but notice and respect your posts and opinions on many issues from politics to career.

I have decided to seek your counsel on matters as regards my career. Having completed my ICAN program late 2011 (started through ATS) I am 23 years old and currently pursuing my BSc. degree in a private university (a part-time 2 year program for ACAs). I think it is also necessary to mention I worked with a small audit firm briefly for 8 months in 2012 before leaving due to some reasons –i) I had to relocate ii) for promised employment elsewhere (which I never got), iii) and even though I left the firm without any friction (no disagreement as there was a mutual understanding) there seemed to be an imbalance between working there and schooling.

I am about completing the first half (session) of the program, however I have concerns as we approach the last session of another year. I am worried about the employment gap building up in my CV, even though I have taken up jobs in this vicinity – none seems to add value or directly related to my professional career. I am deep in thought to approach possibly the “big four” and some other top notch firms and maybe even some oil firms **wink** for internship. Does my previous work experience in any way mar my chances of internship opportunity with these organizations? How feasible is it approaching these firms for internship? Are there organizations you know of both in practice and industry who readily take in interns? Any other guides and advice you can give me will be highly appreciated. Pardon me if my focus is primarily on internship, you could also recommend organizations that go beyond the conventional recruiting requirement of a degree as I possess little experience coupled with ICAN only.

In case you intend publishing this on your blog, an anonymous identity is preferable.

Thank You.

OO

See my team's responses here:
http://jarushub.com/2013/05/04/employment-gap-on-my-cv/

I have been quite active in this section for like 5 years, sharing information that have received modest commendation.
While still being active here, I have just introduced a career advisory panel for my blog to take care of types of questions that are usually posed on this section.

So you may also want to make use of the platform, in addition to asking here

http://jarushub.com/2013/05/04/unveiling-jarushub-analysts-council-jac-the-jarus-eggheads/#comment-305

AjanleKoko: Also, people should stop looking for replacements for Xavi and Puyol.
They have their way of playing, and it should go with them. In a way, that's part of what has affected Cesc, trying to be Iniesta, Xavi, and Messi, sometimes in the same game. Quite unfair.

Thiago is our future gem in my opinion. Very good going forward, has the pace, the close control, and can do tricks like Iniesta. The coaching staff should begin to pay attention to his game and start guiding him. Hopefully we will have a coach that knows the game well enough to be able to do that. Not Tito

Ajanlekoko,

Pls shoot me an sms: 07036442913

Lost your number with my former fone


Urgent pls.

debosky: He is convicted of sin by the Spirit and he repents and is reconciled to God.

What do you think happens?

Debosky,

Very urgent pls.

Pls shoot me an email on jarushub@gmail.com

Shettima Monguno


Super ministers of old. Grew up reading about these men.

Military still remains the most respectful profession.

Question

Seun: Why not indicate that more clearly?

Answer

Inik: Maybe Jarus wants a second wife

LOL. One of my writers wrote that for my blog.

My worst interview experience was caused by not preparing well. I got invite two days or so to interview.


I didn't have time to read much about the sector I was going to interview for, so I relied on residual knowledge. I mixed up a couple of things on specifics of the industry, but I did well on general questions/current affairs. I got the job in the end, but it was my poorest performance for an interview.

As it is now, I can submit that I have been graced beyond measures by a great family – one in which the principal thing (love) flows uninhibited. I was nursed in an atmosphere where the collective good remained the most important. My parents watched my back. They still do. My siblings, all boys do same and vice versa. What was bothersome to one was bothersome to all. The joy of one was the joy of all. Today 30th April, 2013, it dawned on me that the founders of that home, my parents, have spent 30 years together building an institution. It has been 3 decades of building a home in the house. There is a difference between the two!

I am happy at what this represents for them; I congratulate them and thought to spare a thought for you – my future wife. I am not exactly sure of where you are seated right now. I can’t tell what colour of attire you are adorning. I am in the dark as to what exactly would constitute real happiness for you. I am uncertain about the names you would want your children, our children, to bear. All I am definite of is your existence and your desire to also have a home to call yours some day.

Like every other straight thinking man, I hope to make a good husband, have children, be a good father and friend to them. I have aspirations and hope to be part of the national reconstruction of this edifice called Nigeria. My forte is not romance. I am as naive as they come. For those who know, I consistently retook that elective – Moz 101 throughout my five sessions in the university without success. I may have failed at that but I am certain not to fail in the discharge of my duties as a boyfriend, fiancé, husband and father when the time comes. Add grandfather to the list as well.

I still don’t appreciate music the way I think I should. Beyond using the sound to drown the silence of my environment, only few rhythms would cause me to shake my head. Maybe with you something will change. I am not likely to ask that we go see a musical show together. Nay! Maybe, you will and trust that like a lamb being led to the slaughter, I will follow you. But guess what, I am crazy about the stage. I love to see actors and actresses on the stage give live performances. I love the theatre. I derive visual excitement from this. Unlike a sizeable number of my friends, I am yet to come to terms with watching 22 adults run after a ball for 90 minutes. Athletics however give me the same measure of excitement. I caught myself during the last Olympics jumping, punching the air and cheering my favourite track athletes to victory several miles away from them.

My heart is racy with expectations. Dear future wife, I need ’us’ to promise ‘us’ that, God willing, 30 years from now, we would in each other’s arms armed with the appropriate dose of laughter read this. I may not fall within the imagery of your dream man. I don’t have bulging muscle neither do I the now legendary 6 packs. I have had the honour of several lovely female friends. I am still friends with them and their hubbies, for the married ones. I also have a large pool of male friends I can always rely on and a number of adults I run to for advice and counsel. I think you also deserve to know that I have a mentor who looks out for me as well. You should meet him soon. I promise to part ways often with Zara. Having to be with her is why I stay up most nights. Zara ensures letters like this come out. She is a dependable ally. My hands and eyes find comfort with her. I only wish she didn’t need electricity for daily survival. Dear future wife, I will love you beyond what you may have seen in Nollywood, Hollywood, Ghollywood, ‘Sollywood’ or Kannywood. As to Bollywood, I cannot promise since I have awful dance steps and can’t sing more than a few songs from beginning to the end.

Dear future wife, this is the second love note I would be writing in my years of existence. Remind me to tell you how the first one turned out. I promise it will crack you and we would together laugh for days about it. One more thing dear, I grew up knowing I didn’t like onions. I still can’t explain why. Everyone in my home loves it. I am the odd one out. I carefully pick them out of my meal or simply swallow then when I can’t do so. Maybe you have a solution for it or we will find one together.

I am not hoping to marry a cook, a laundry girl, a house cleaner and a domestic aid. No, that’s not the deal. I am not discounting that these will have to be done but your responsibility is more than that. I grew up watching my parents share roles at home and I hope to do same. There was a no-go area for my father and I can guess confidently that it must have been one of the reasons why they are still together.

Dear future wife, I know you will have dreams and I promise to help you keep them alive. I am not going to be satisfied having people see me as the only successful of the two. I hope to also be introduced as the husband of a successful woman. Let me also chip in that if you desire to keep your maiden name, I will have no objection to that. It’s up to you. Now, this is the liberal me talking thanks to my socialisation process. Guess what, I once fiddled with the thought of me being the one to change my name to yours! Just some weird thought of mine. I thought it would be fun but then, this is still a deeply cultural society. Nevertheless, where your tribe, state of origin or dialect would not be a yardstick as long as you can speak English! And I also hope that like my parents, if need be, we would sacrifice part of our dreams so that those of our children can find wings.

One more important thing honey, I am a Christian and I believe the shortest distance between a problem and finding solution is the same as the distance between the knees and the ground. We would pray together to make sure things happen the way God desires it for us. I see my parents do this a lot and I hear them express the desires of their heart to a God who understand all things.

Congratulations Signor and Signora Fagorusi for three long decades of a happy and successful home. I will never forget that you introduced me to the magic of literature with those novels tucked in our bookshelves. Dear future wife, I hope you meet this wonderful duo soon, same way I long to be part of your own family.

Till me meet on the aisle and are declared husband and wife, it’s your future husband writing.

http://jarushub.com/2013/05/01/letter-to-my-future-wife/

Well, there are some running annual birthday threads for some landers e.g https://www.nairaland.com/501813/happy-birthday-jarus


HBD to you.