₦airaland Forum

For decades, many people believed that graduating from a polytechnic or university was the ultimate ticket to success.

Today, the reality is different.

Across Nigeria and many parts of the world, employers are no longer hiring based solely on certificates, we have too many graduates. They are increasingly looking for people who can communicate clearly, solve problems, think critically, work with others, and adapt to a rapidly changing world.

This explains why many graduates remain unemployed despite possessing academic qualifications. The challenge is often not the absence of jobs alone, but the gap between what people know and what the workplace actually needs.

Research has repeatedly shown significant skill mismatches among graduates, particularly in areas such as communication, digital literacy, decision making, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem solving.

These are what many experts call "evergreen skills" because they remain valuable regardless of industry, profession, or technological change.

A software developer needs them.
A pharmacist needs them.
An entrepreneur needs them.
A teacher needs them.
A doctor needs them.
A business owner needs them.

Consider these seven skills:

1. Communication
The ability to express ideas clearly and listen effectively.

2. Teamwork
The ability to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

3. Taking Initiative
The willingness to act without waiting to be told every step.

4. Digital Skills
The ability to leverage technology to create value and solve problems.

5. Problem Solving
The ability to identify challenges and develop practical solutions.

6. Critical Thinking
The ability to analyze information, question assumptions, and make sound decisions.

7. Interpersonal Skills
The ability to build relationships, influence others, and work effectively with people.

In many cases, these skills determine career success more than technical knowledge alone.

Artificial intelligence may automate tasks. Technology may transform industries. Economic conditions may change. But people who can think, communicate, adapt, collaborate, and solve problems will always remain valuable.

The future belongs not only to those with qualifications, but to those who can turn knowledge into impact.

In the 21st century, your greatest competitive advantage may not be what you know.It may be what you can do with what you know.

WHEN QUALIFICATION MAKES YOU A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE, YOUR EMPLOYER AND YOU ARE BOTH USELESS.

orisa37:
WHEN QUALIFICATION MAKES YOU A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE, YOUR EMPLOYER AND YOU ARE BOTH USELESS.

You used the word square peg, break it down for us.

Communication is the most lucrative and important skill today
Good talkers are cashing out big, its such a bad time to be an introvert
So so unfair
People are talking their ways to prosperity, and they dont even have to make sense
the market is so huge, billions of shallow mind ready to consume all sort, you just put it out there

It's easy to get certification than competence.

See Mr. President had a certificate from Chicago but man is as incompetent as a dull fxxxck.

Bro relax with this your opinion till the leaders provide the basic infrastructure to aid human development. You are just doing textbook research.
Light no dey,road no good..who even gets the jobs? Man know man.

Sabificate is presently more valuable than the certificate.

I had to agree on this. Most of our standup meeting revolve around effective communication. No matter how deep the bug is, if you can't convey the message to the product management team effective, you are slowly entering the black list. Even when you have critical thinking and problem solving skills, you still need to be able to lay it down to your colleagues.

Yes. I'm your guy for communication. I'm urrrgghhh... effortless flow and chills

But seriously, communication is an effect and not a cause.

When you see communication as a cause, you'll think reading books and pick-up lines will make you a better communicator...lolzz. With that, you'll fail to carry last.

But when you begin to see communication as an effect of understanding your needs and desires and that of your communicatee, and taking the risk to be vulnerable with them to the right people, Don Juan, Neil Strauss, Mystery, Rollo...all will dwarf in comparison to you

Sleep naturally happens at night. But that doesn't mean that you can't sleep in the afternoon or in the morning. It's just that night time naturally comes with that feeling of wanting to sleep and its arguably enjoyable around that time.

I read books...I was on harddon thread years ago trying to cram pickup lines. I also read song of Solomon in the Bible to woo a girl in Secondly school...those time of writing love letters on paper
It didn't work shii. I later became a misogynist trying to punish girls for my failure by reading ubunjas thread
Lol. I was the man then...or so I thought. I was so depressed and repulsive to girls lol...

I didn't even know why I was doing it then. It was mechanical and with great effort. The love in me wanted to effortlessly come out but I created a shield around myself with pride...because of what?

I had to understand a lot to come out of that hole, and it's not like I'm at any ceiling yet.

One love, nairaland.

I hope my posts and threads here help.

Everybody can communicate if you promise them good money.

All skills are still very valuable you just have to me top 10 percent to make money these days

I came across the post below on LinkedIn during the week

Back to the topic, it's not just enough to have skills, you should know how to sell your value. Communication is key.

Know how to present youself, your skills, your services/products to people. They are your buyers.

Oga, companies need real money generating skills like sales, marketing, strategy, legalities, planning etc. These are skills that gets you, as an employee, paid big money.

Leave all these reharshed silly rhetorics of "soft skills" that motivational speakers started selling 20yrs ago. E don cast tay tay.

Find a business school, come out with real business skills and become a hot cake to employers because you can help the company make money for the business.

#i don talk my own#

BizLeader:
Oga, companies need real money generating skills like sales, marketing, strategy, legalities, planning etc. These are skills that gets you, as an employee, paid big money.

Leave all these reharshed silly rhetorics of "soft skills" that motivational speakers started selling 20yrs ago. E don cast tay tay.

Find a business school, come out with real business skills and become a hot cake to employers because you can help the company make money for the business.

#i don talk my own#

How do you sell or market without strong communication skills?

Have you sold products to real people before?

You might be the master Strategist, best financial planner, best sport coach, but if you can't communicate well, nobody would hire you or pay you what you are worth.

Why do we have Obidients, Kwankwassiyas, etc. It's because these Politicians know how to sell themselves to their base. Do you think they are the best at governance?

The thriving content creators versus the struggling ones, what do you think differentiates them? Communication. They know how to deliver their contents to their audiences.

Success is that you don't depend on getting "hired". A random fellow always dictating what you should do and not do. Threatening your livelihood as they deem fit.


Get skills and talent to be self employed, that's better

ecolime:
How do you sell or market without strong communication skills?

Have you sold products to real people before?

You might be the master Strategist, best financial planner, best sport coach, but if you can't communicate well, nobody would hire you or pay you what you are worth.

Why do we have Obidients, Kwankwassiyas, etc. It's because these Politicians know how to sell themselves to their base. Do you think they are the best at governance?

I am talking about real companies not 1-man hustling self employed setups.

Every role is systemized. You employ someone who is naturally a good communicator while you also fit into your space without trying to learn to become who you are not naturally.

Seen anyone selling anything to you from MTN?

PS
The Obedients is not a company.

It's a crowd/movement, like a church, where one person is just the head and others follow. It's based on the herd mentality. That is not a company structure.

Study. Study. Study.

Reverseng:
Yes. I'm your guy for communication. I'm urrrgghhh... effortless flow and chills

But seriously, communication is an effect and not a cause.

When you see communication as a cause, you'll think reading books and pick-up lines will make you a better communicator...lolzz. With that, you'll fail to carry last.

But when you begin to see communication as an effect of understanding your needs and desires and that of your communicatee, and taking the risk to be vulnerable with them to the right people, Don Juan, Neil Strauss, Mystery, Rollo...all will dwarf in comparison to you

Sleep naturally happens at night. But that doesn't mean that you can't sleep in the afternoon or in the morning. It's just that night time naturally comes with that feeling of wanting to sleep and its arguably enjoyable around that time.

I read books...I was on harddon thread years ago trying to cram pickup lines. I also read song of Solomon in the Bible to woo a girl in Secondly school...those time of writing love letters on paper
It didn't work shii. I later became a misogynist trying to punish girls for my failure by reading ubunjas thread
Lol. I was the man then...or so I thought. I was so depressed and repulsive to girls lol...

I didn't even know why I was doing it then. It was mechanical and with great effort. The love in me wanted to effortlessly come out but I created a shield around myself with pride...because of what?

I had to understand a lot to come out of that hole, and it's not like I'm at any ceiling yet.

One love, nairaland.

I hope my posts and threads here help.

Nice read but I'm curious to know how you got better in communicating 🤔

BizLeader:
I am talking about real companies not 1-man hustling self employed setups.

Every role is systemized. You employ someone who is naturally a good communicator while you also fit into your space without trying to learn to become who you are not naturally.

Seen anyone selling anything to you from MTN?

PS
The Obedients is not a company.

It's a crowd/movement, like a church, where one person is just the head and others follow. It's based on the herd mentality. That is not a company structure.

Study. Study. Study.

In the structured companies you mentioned, check those in leadership positions (CEO, CFO, CTO, CIO, etc), do you think they were the best Engineers, HR, Analysts, etc... Nahhh

Knowing and doing your job excellently well is just a piece of the puzzle. It gives you the promotions and baby steps of growth in your early career.

Strategic communication gives you visibility internally and positions you for top management level roles.

It is no longer enough to be honest

Lol
That's a story, Yvngex

It is a process. It wasn't about talking nicely or how to talk, what to say BUT it's about WHY did I need to talk to people nicely or WHY did I need to know how to talk to people?

The Why behind an action is important, because it's comes with the will to act

See it this way...I'll use addiction to try explain what I'm hinting at

Addicts try to escape addiction by doing cold showers, press-up when the urge comes, changing environmentand all other type of activities
But this is the question that put things in perspective:

If I were to give that same addict a bottle of a poisonous substance to drink, would they put themselves through all those activities to resist the urge to drink sniper?!

No! They won't. And this is me assuming that addict value their life, you know.

Those who genuinely value life and want to live long don't do cold showers therapy or press-ups or other type of activities, just to resist the urge to drink sniper?

Why? Because they value their life and genuinely want to live long
This reason behind their 'Why' was so strong enough that it came with a follow-come WILL

Once I understood that the value of my words and how I can uplift a persons life or bring them down, that was my first realization.

I understood that my words to a person could either bring them out of their depression or drive them to commit suicide, and when the bible said "thou shall not kill" it didn't mean with swords and bombs, it also meant with words: driving a human being to depression by talking to them in dehumanizing ways. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A MURDERER! There...! That's reason number 1 for all readers, I guess. I rather use my words to uplift and inspire people, you know

Secondly, I understood that the ability to talk is a priviledge...not given to many. If I don't want to be born dumb or mute in my next life, I better be smart enough to know how to use my mouth....

These amongst other reasons
Feel free to hit me up with your questions

Yvngex:
Nice read but I'm curious to know how you got better in communicating 🤔

"Nigerians, let's all unite against terror! #UniteAgainstTerror" 🙏🙏🙏

orisa37:
WHEN QUALIFICATION MAKES YOU A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE, YOUR EMPLOYER AND YOU ARE BOTH USELESS.

It makes sense. This videos can help you to discover your skills and talents:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-KGQiFKNOw?si=kmQYZQueJ4N8K085,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9lAeNpT3E?si=E45Ol2Bic9eNtjeX

The story of Richard Gonzalez is wild:

"RICHARD GONZALEZ HAD ALWAYS been a kind of wild card in the pharmaceutical industry. For years, as he was climbing up the pharmaceutical industry ranks, he had falsely claimed to have received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Miami.

In fact, he had dropped out of the University of Houston in the early 1970s and spent only four months at the University of Miami. He never earned a degree of any kind. By the time this lie was discovered, Gonzalez had become an important and talented executive at Abbott Laboratories with decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Gonzalez spent much of his career at the Chicago-area company, working his way up commercial, research, and manufacturing operations to the posts of chief operating officer and president.

In 2007, Gonzalez was diagnosed with throat cancer and retired. The idea was to get healthy and play golf. The cancer went away, but Gonzalez was miserable. “My golf game is lousy—it’s not like I want to spend four hours on the golf course,” he would later say.

He returned to Abbott two years later, initially to run the company’s venture portfolio. When he came back, Gonzalez informed the company that his biography contained inaccurate information about obtaining academic degrees, which Abbott corrected in his official biography.

When Crain’s Chicago Business broke the news about Gonzalez’s credentials, Abbott initially said that the degrees were included in securities filings as a result of an internal administrative error.

In 2013, Abbott, which specialized in medical devices and nutrition, split itself up. The company spun out its biggest prescription drugs into a new company called AbbVie, and Gonzalez was tapped to lead it as CEO. He earned over $20 million a year..."

~ Nathan Vardi's "For Blood and Money: Billionaires, Biotech, and the Quest for a Blockbuster Drug"

- - -
This guy built something on nothing and got away with it. Not everyone is so lucky.

ecolime:
In the structured companies you mentioned, check those in leadership positions (CEO, CFO, CTO, CIO, etc), do you think they were the best Engineers, HR, Analysts, etc... Nahhh

Knowing and doing your job excellently well is just a piece of the puzzle. It gives you the promotions and baby steps of growth in your early career.

Strategic communication gives you visibility internally and positions you for top management level roles.

Oookkk. You moved into office politicking.

My take? Stay out of it.

When you stay in an office/church setup long enough, you stop being special and your skillset is no longer exceptional. Most people compensate by getting into office politics OR changing companies to where they will become the superstar again, for a while.

The real solution is to keep learning to be the topmost best in your industry so your promotion won't be by office politics, but because you're head and shoulders the best of the best.

#talking as someone who has read over 4, 000 books in his field#

PS
Strategic communication makes no real sense. Strategy means winning against competition and communication means understanding and being understood.

The term came from motivational speakers who sold courses for years to suggest that it means "better communication".

The reigning go-to term now is "Intentionality". Lol.

Indeed

Indeed

Indeed

Indeed

certificate
certification
competence

Reverseng:
Lol
That's a story, Yvngex

It is a process. It wasn't about talking nicely or how to talk, what to say BUT it's about WHY did I need to talk to people nicely or WHY did I need to know how to talk to people?

The Why behind an action is important, because it's comes with the will to act

See it this way...I'll use addiction to try explain what I'm hinting at

Addicts try to escape addiction by doing cold showers, press-up when the urge comes, changing environmentand all other type of activities
But this is the question that put things in perspective:

If I were to give that same addict a bottle of a poisonous substance to drink, would they put themselves through all those activities to resist the urge to drink sniper?!

No! They won't. And this is me assuming that addict value their life, you know.

Those who genuinely value life and want to live long don't do cold showers therapy or press-ups or other type of activities, just to resist the urge to drink sniper?

Why? Because they value their life and genuinely want to live long
This reason behind their 'Why' was so strong enough that it came with a follow-come WILL

Once I understood that the value of my words and how I can uplift a persons life or bring them down, that was my first realization.

I understood that my words to a person could either bring them out of their depression or drive them to commit suicide, and when the bible said "thou shall not kill" it didn't mean with swords and bombs, it also meant with words: driving a human being to depression by talking to them in dehumanizing ways. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A MURDERER! There...! That's reason number 1 for all readers, I guess. I rather use my words to uplift and inspire people, you know

Secondly, I understood that the ability to talk is a priviledge...not given to many. If I don't want to be born dumb or mute in my next life, I better be smart enough to know how to use my mouth....

These amongst other reasons
Feel free to hit me up with your questions

Okay, I understand better now. I believe this way of reasoning should also be applied to every aspect of our lives.

This post is misleading and the writer is a confusionist

How can one become accountat without having degree or HND qualification.

Qualification is preliquesite

I was trying to understand what you were saying, but i couldn't.

Can you please repeat ur comment in a way i can understand?

And what are those career or skills that are needed?

Thank you.

BizLeader:
Oga, companies need real money generating skills like sales, marketing, strategy, legalities, planning etc. These are skills that gets you, as an employee, paid big money.

Leave all these reharshed silly rhetorics of "soft skills" that motivational speakers started selling 20yrs ago. E don cast tay tay.

Find a business school, come out with real business skills and become a hot cake to employers because you can help the company make money for the business.

#i don talk my own#

Love800:
I was trying to understand what you were saying, but i couldn't.

Can you please repeat ur comment in a way i can understand?

And what are those career or skills that are needed?

Thank you.

12 business skills:
Planning, strategy, marketing, legalities, sales, finances administration (not hr), clientship, multi products generation etc.

Learning each one as a discipline would take you 3years for studying and practice for you to be considered adequate.

Most people become an expert in 1 or 2 skills, earn big from a company and enjoy for the rest of their lives.

To master all, you sit with willing gurus in each skill and serve them for their shortcuts.

Okay.

Cool.

I appreciate alot.

BizLeader:
12 business skills:
Planning, strategy, marketing, legalities, sales, finances administration (not hr), clientship, multi products generation etc.

Learning each one as a discipline would take you 3years for studying and practice for you to be considered adequate.

Most people become an expert in 1 or 2 skills, earn big from a company and enjoy for the rest of their lives.

To master all, you sit with willing gurus in each skill and serve them for their shortcuts.