₦airaland Forum

jericco1:
na you sabi oh...we're not china or all those countries you mentioned...had it been you used an African country as a yardstick it would have made sense

which African county don progress, maybe rwanda. South Africa na cos of white Man.

realunclej:
Whether China, USA, Uganda or Ghana, let's get going.

well okay

This is just spot on.

realunclej:
My dear it is not that simple. But the reality in the country is disheartening. I function as a HR in an organization and when we advertise for job positions, the average age of the applicants is 30. Many are 34 or 35. That means at 33 many Nigerians are yet to achieve anything let alone settle down especially the guys. Before you know it, they are 40 with nothing to show for it. So, before it becomes late they should try and start something tangible and I belief their family will become sympathetic to their plight. Even though it is not easy but that is the hard truth.

Op sorry to draw u back again sth is not clear in ur defense of the above statement I quote

" I function as a HR in an organization and when we advertise for job positions....... "

This suggested u worked in a company as HR ie worked for someone. so your poor n weak defence of owing a recruitment agency sounds unconvincing. Its either sth went wrong with ur English or u lied. U have worked for ppl b4 for salary accept dt

ednut1:
which African county don progress, maybe rwanda. South Africa na cos of white Man.

well I no get time to argue with you, if you know what development means you wouldn't ask such dastardly question

ogawisdom:
Op sorry to draw u back again sth is not clear in ur defense of the above statement I quote

" I function as a HR in an organization and when we advertise for job positions....... "

This suggested u worked in a company as HR ie worked for someone. so your poor n weak defence of owing a recruitment agency sounds unconvincing. Its either sth went wrong with ur English or u lied. U have worked for ppl b4 for salary accept dt

I am not here to debate on irrelevant issue. There is a different between working for people and working with people. You should try and comprehend the different. I like to work with people even if I had to work under the supervision of someone in an organization but I will prefer to be a shareholder rather than an employee. That is the message I am trying to pass across. When starting out in your endeavor you should be able to answer that question. What I am bringing to the table. If you have that leverage, you can seek partnership with others. It does not matter the role you perform in the deal what matter is your share and the fact that you are building something for yourself. If you have an organization and I can partner with you, I will be glad to do that even if you hold the larger share as the owner provided I am getting return in my investment.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ME BACK ON THIS B/C I WILL NOT RESPOND. I have important target to meet.

realunclej:
I am currently doing a research on this but when you are ready I can share whatever business experience I have with you.

Okay thanks I'll be waiting

realunclej:
In all my life, when it comes to source of income, the only thing I have not done is work for anyone in a 9 to 5 job. I made that decision long before I went for higher institution. I could remember my dad telling us that he is sending us to school to acquire academic knowledge but that if we want to succeed financially in life, we should be thinking of starting our own business. Those were my guiding words all my year in school. So, while in school, I made sure I had a profitable business. In fact, it was the proceeding I used to see myself through and even start a better business after graduation. Today, I have a couple of businesses and I still have bigger dreams. I can't thank my dad enough. Maybe today, I would have been roaming the street looking for job.

If you are a graduate and you are looking for job/employment, honestly, there are at least 10 reasons why YOU will not get a job. So, I will advise you should start building your capacity to start your own business. Below are 10 reasons why you will not get a job.

1. You Lack The Required Skill. Employers continue to complain about a dearth of skills among graduates. Employers are obviously tired of seeing same set of individuals with same set of qualifications springing up for interviews daily whereas they are in need of someone that will stand out. So ask yourself, what employable skill do I have?

2. You Lack Personal Capability To Deliver: I think many graduates believe in their certificate and not in their individual capability which would make or mar their pursuits of employment. Many lack self-development and I belief you belong to that category. What have you done since you graduate to develop your personal capability?

3. You Are A Product of a Bad Educational System: Poor funding and management of our Educational system in addition to strike has made our institution products a laughing stock. In fact, the curriculum of some studies in the institutions are not in demand. Failure of school curriculum to place emphasis on practical concepts of entreprenuership and too much emphasis on theoretical education than entreprenuership exposure is a major problem.

4. You Can't Meet Employers’ Unrealistic Demands: Employers stating job experiences as much as 3 years for fresh graduates. Age restriction, height, gender, language and many more, under these tense conditions, hardly will you see a graduate that will scale through and qualify for job application requirement except those who want to cross-carpet..

5. Lack of Digital Skills: In this digital age, if you lack the digital skills and creativity to thrive in relation to your profession, you will surely be chasing a ghost if you are looking for a well paying job.

6. You Are One of the Educated Illiterates: Every employer wants beyond just a certificate. Every employer is out to employ someone with reasoning and intellectual might, not someone who cannot play with a full deck. Someone who knows how to and wants to learn more than what they studied in school and on the job. Someone who can readily bring ideas to the table on how the company can forge forward. Not someone with low reasoning capability who won’t even be able to answer extremely trivial questions. But guess what, that is what many of our graduates are.

7. You Want The Pay But Not The Work: Many Nigerian graduates think of getting employed today and get a car or probably buy a mansion in the next month, based on their salary. You and I know that such only happen in dreams. Success is built over time and with hard work, perseverance, dedication and being focused over the years. Are you willing to make the sacrifice?

8. Too Much Ego With Empty Pocket: I have had the privilege to present some business opportunities to some graduates and all they can say is they can only do administrative work where they sit in an office to be answering yes sir or yes ma. It took someone who is not a graduate to embrace the same opportunity. Today these uneducated persons are 50 times better than the graduate in terms of personal capability, income, value and the caliber of people in their connection.

9. Companies Are Downsizing: I remember visiting a couple of industrial estates in Lagos recently. You will see busy security men at the gate, but when you approach them that you want to go in, they will tell you the company has folded or the workers are on strike. The story is the same across the state and I belief same thing is happening in other part of the country.

10. There Is No Job Out There: Investors are not bringing in money which means no new job opportunity is being created. There is economy recession in the country. Even the companies that are retrenching, what do you think will happen when they become financially buoyant again. I can bet they will simply recall their sacked workers. The reason is simple, it cost more to hire a new staff than to recall an old staff. So, where will you be then?

The Way Forward
The only way forward I see is for you to start something on your own. Do not despise small beginning. If you are going to start a business though, I will advise you focus on evergreen product or services. Those that are always in demand such as Agriculture, Health, Real Estate, ICT, Environmental services, Retail, Travel, Real Estate and maybe some few more. If you embark on this journey to discover your true potential, I pray for your SUCCESS but if you go down the popular path of seeking for job, I wish you lUcK.

Better to be an entrepreneur than employee.

Emeka71:
Better to be an entrepreneur than employee.

You are right. What motivated me is freedom of time to do what I like. To create time for critical thinking without being boss around.

tspun:
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Cause I can remember how I started, I almost gave up, but I thank God for his gift of persistency, now i am so proud of my present status.

How can I miss such a wonderful comment. It's inspirational. I like the part on consistent and determination. I am starting something big and I really need those too qualities against a volatile and hostile business environment in Nigeria.

realunclej:
I am not here to debate on irrelevant issue. There is a different between working for people and working with people. You should try and comprehend the different. I like to work with people even if I had to work under the supervision of someone in an organization but I will prefer to be a shareholder rather than an employee. That is the message I am trying to pass across. When starting out in your endeavor you should be able to answer that question. What I am bringing to the table. If you have that leverage, you can seek partnership with others. It does not matter the role you perform in the deal what matter is your share and the fact that you are building something for yourself. If you have an organization and I can partner with you, I will be glad to do that even if you hold the larger share as the owner provided I am getting return in my investment.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ME BACK ON THIS B/C I WILL NOT RESPOND. I have important target to meet.

U said you function in an organization as HR, not work with or where ever u saw dt in ur statement. It is jst clear it's either ur English teachers did a poor job or u r a flat head or better still a pathological liar. U worked in an organization n earned salary period.

OluwatoyinIS:
This piece is priceless

Thanks for the insightful comment. I really desire a decent society where people have the resources to do what they want. But until that, we should look inward and create opportunity for ourselves.

Sugarbear007:
these are the kind of posts that should be making front page not every time snake and graphic pictures(that make you think death is coming for you). This why I joined nairaland... op God bless you for the post... I am a student and I am thinking of starting a business.. do you have any ideas on how I can sought for capital?

Thanks for the suggestion. I have have used a host of method myself and have learnt many others to raise capital for business, I will touch on it soon. Happy Sunday.

Ephraimspy:
I'm like u in this case!!!
I keep increasing my guality making myself both attractive!
I'm a graduate and have numerous skills too.
When I was a corper, I told a hopeless fellow to think about dominating a classic vulcanizing job in his territory he laughed at it, today the rest is story!

Many fail because they cannot see beyond the obvious and they don't want to take business risks. Tomorrow they will envy those who took same risks and wish they are like them. Father please open their eyes to see and their heart to belief and their brain to work it out.

before starting that business, you should ask yourself questions like
1) am I passionate about this particular business? many choose to start a business just because someone else is doing it. If you are a teacher, there is every tendency u love imparting knowledge, starting your own school will be a hit since you knw everything about it. If you are crazy about sports, starting a viewing centre or a bet shop is also a gud idea, if you are IT savvy, you can learn how to be a programmer, if you love fashion, you can learn designing.. don't go and open a school just because john is making money from his school oo. success in business is synonymous to passion(because by the time you are not making any reasonable profit after a year, it is only the passion for the business that can keep u going till you hit your breakthrough), and every area in business is profitable if you are passionate about it.
2) do you see yourself doing this particular business for a long time? ever wondered why first bank have the largest customer's base? They've been in the industry for decades, so the longer the existence of your business, the more profit and patronage you are going to have.
OP hope my talk dey OK? me sef na university aspirant(uniben), and I dey reason viewing centre for school.

realunclej:
In all my life, when it comes to source of income, the only thing I have not done is work for anyone in a 9 to 5 job. I made that decision long before I went for higher institution. I could remember my dad telling us that he is sending us to school to acquire academic knowledge but that if we want to succeed financially in life, we should be thinking of starting our own business. Those were my guiding words all my year in school. So, while in school, I made sure I had a profitable business. In fact, it was the proceeding I used to see myself through and even start a better business after graduation. Today, I have a couple of businesses and I still have bigger dreams. I can't thank my dad enough. Maybe today, I would have been roaming the street looking for job.

If you are a graduate and you are looking for job/employment, honestly, there are at least 10 reasons why YOU will not get a job. So, I will advise you should start building your capacity to start your own business. Below are 10 reasons why you will not get a job.

1. You Lack The Required Skill. Employers continue to complain about a dearth of skills among graduates. Employers are obviously tired of seeing same set of individuals with same set of qualifications springing up for interviews daily whereas they are in need of someone that will stand out. So ask yourself, what employable skill do I have?

2. You Lack Personal Capability To Deliver: I think many graduates believe in their certificate and not in their individual capability which would make or mar their pursuits of employment. Many lack self-development and I belief you belong to that category. What have you done since you graduate to develop your personal capability?

3. You Are A Product of a Bad Educational System: Poor funding and management of our Educational system in addition to strike has made our institution products a laughing stock. In fact, the curriculum of some studies in the institutions are not in demand. Failure of school curriculum to place emphasis on practical concepts of entreprenuership and too much emphasis on theoretical education than entreprenuership exposure is a major problem.

4. You Can't Meet Employers’ Unrealistic Demands: Employers stating job experiences as much as 3 years for fresh graduates. Age restriction, height, gender, language and many more, under these tense conditions, hardly will you see a graduate that will scale through and qualify for job application requirement except those who want to cross-carpet..

5. Lack of Digital Skills: In this digital age, if you lack the digital skills and creativity to thrive in relation to your profession, you will surely be chasing a ghost if you are looking for a well paying job.

6. You Are One of the Educated Illiterates: Every employer wants beyond just a certificate. Every employer is out to employ someone with reasoning and intellectual might, not someone who cannot play with a full deck. Someone who knows how to and wants to learn more than what they studied in school and on the job. Someone who can readily bring ideas to the table on how the company can forge forward. Not someone with low reasoning capability who won’t even be able to answer extremely trivial questions. But guess what, that is what many of our graduates are.

7. You Want The Pay But Not The Work: Many Nigerian graduates think of getting employed today and get a car or probably buy a mansion in the next month, based on their salary. You and I know that such only happen in dreams. Success is built over time and with hard work, perseverance, dedication and being focused over the years. Are you willing to make the sacrifice?

8. Too Much Ego With Empty Pocket: I have had the privilege to present some business opportunities to some graduates and all they can say is they can only do administrative work where they sit in an office to be answering yes sir or yes ma. It took someone who is not a graduate to embrace the same opportunity. Today these uneducated persons are 50 times better than the graduate in terms of personal capability, income, value and the caliber of people in their connection.

9. Companies Are Downsizing: I remember visiting a couple of industrial estates in Lagos recently. You will see busy security men at the gate, but when you approach them that you want to go in, they will tell you the company has folded or the workers are on strike. The story is the same across the state and I belief same thing is happening in other part of the country.

10. There Is No Job Out There: Investors are not bringing in money which means no new job opportunity is being created. There is economy recession in the country. Even the companies that are retrenching, what do you think will happen when they become financially buoyant again. I can bet they will simply recall their sacked workers. The reason is simple, it cost more to hire a new staff than to recall an old staff. So, where will you be then?

The Way Forward
The only way forward I see is for you to start something on your own. Do not despise small beginning. If you are going to start a business though, I will advise you focus on evergreen product or services. Those that are always in demand such as Agriculture, Health, Real Estate, ICT, Environmental services, Retail, Travel, Real Estate and maybe some few more. If you embark on this journey to discover your true potential, I pray for your SUCCESS but if you go down the popular path of seeking for job, I wish you lUcK.

Well said. Difficult to believe, difficult to start, but that is the bitter truth if u are not lazy.

Helkayklassic:
If everyone is an Entrepreneur, who will then work for them? All of us can not be business owner.

If everyone is an entrepreneur, people will be begging u to work for them. U don't seem to get d logic

Helkayklassic:
If everyone is an Entrepreneur, who will then work for them? All of us can not be business owner.

If everyone is an entrepreneur, people will be begging u to work for them. U don't seem to get d logic

Sexytemi:
So because one is a graduate and holds a degree means he shouldn't look for a job...smh.

Dearest o.p not everyone has the mindset or destined to be an entrepreneur o.

I believe when you have a skill you need less money to start a business, most people today parade certificates with no skills.

Omohjick:
If everyone is an entrepreneur, people will be begging u to work for them. U don't seem to get d logic

You didn't get it either. If everyone own his/her business, who would be Dangote's driver? Who would be working as MTN customer care? Who would be working as Tellering officer at Gtb?

Realunclej, I thought you would make sense until I saw the communication skill GAP. So, you assume all graduates are what and who you put upthere. I would think you need to use words like MIGHT, MAY and not you are this and you will that you used. Please, if you cannot post a link to your business as a motivation, delete your post as you talked about being digital and will expect you to be. Pls, people need jobs for different reasons. To garner skills to run their businesses , source for funds, make connections et all. I wonder why this kind of threads are allowed on FP. They are not motivations to boost entrepreneurship in anyway. You don't come out all negative about an idea or thought just to make yours valid. You should promote your ideas and use it as a counter. What you should tell me is " WHY ONE SHOULD START A BUSINESS and what makes it better than a JOB. That's how you sell your business " MR BUSINESSMAN".

jideniceguy:
Thanks for this piece OP. I'm a graduate too and currently havin my NYSC programme and finishin by September ending. Plannin to set up a gas retail biz immediately after service, Is the business lucrative as well? Cos I've been learning the business for some months durin this my service year now.

U are on the right path. make sure u get a good location basically residential areas. One step after the other, u will get to the top.

realunclej:
My dear it is not that simple. But the reality in the country is disheartening. I function as a HR in an organization and when we advertise for job positions, the average age of the applicants is 30. Many are 34 or 35. That means at 33 many Nigerians are yet to achieve anything let alone settle down especially the guys. Before you know it, they are 40 with nothing to show for it. So, before it becomes late they should try and start something tangible and I belief their family will become sympathetic to their plight. Even though it is not easy but that is the hard truth.

you have a wrong belief and notion about running a business and having a job. How about the ones that don't have families to run to?

Opistorincos:
@op,this came at the right moment, I'm about to graduate with a below average result and my parents are not really encouraging, I've been thinking of a business to venture into after school but I havent got the slightest idea. Can you help out with one? I have interest in tech related stuffs

Face your studies and come out with good grades. No one will help you with any idea plus you cannot run/start a business that did not come from you with your state. Get it, it is either you 1. Have money and buy ideas with it - this is why you may need to work and save. 2. Have an Idea and look for investors.

Helkayklassic:
You didn't get it either. If everyone own his/her business, who would be Dangote's driver? Who would be working as MTN customer care? Who would be working as Tellering officer at Gtb?

I mean there would be job opportunities, that's what the op is trying to say. People grow up everyday, nd a day old baby can't start working d same day and a graduate or under...can't establish a biz in one day, but wen d available ones av laid down somtin gud, dats wat doz ones will meet and raise der own capital from. Well some pple r meant to serve while some r meant to rule. U still don't get it do u?

timilehing:
You need money to start your own business

That's not even the most important thing. It's knowing the business you wanna do, the into to of it and keeping the desire so that when money comes, your success is sure

coolniyi99:
Depending on your certificate for a job will make you a Slave for many years in the endless rat race.

Owning your own business will set you free.

The problem with 95% of graduates is they lack a clear thinking faculty. Partying and movies occupy their minds 80% of the time.

You don't need money to own a business. First you need an idea. Then money will come.

from where?? The moon and pls don't start preaching faith.

realunclej:
I am happy for you because you have a job and a side business. But the sorry state of many graduate is disheartening. It is time to call a spade a spade and move on from slavery of thought to 9 to 5 jobs. Many of the sectors you are saying, Nigerian graduates do not have the skills to function in those capacity. [/b]I stay in an area in Lagos where you have a lot of [b]foreign expatriate. What most of the companies do is employ foreigners as expert and employ Nigerians as labourers. i mean Nigerian graduates.

like I do say, don't come to conclusion with just your experience. Move around and see things differently. There are many high calibre graduates out there. I have met some, interviewed some, competed with some at sometime. The problem is this is the youth age. We have so many graduates outhere. Talents are not scarce in this present age. It is competitive out there. That's why one has to think outside the box, get engaged a be creative NOT that you come here with points you can't prove. @ second bolded, do you know who an EXPAT is??

carsprayer:
I am interested in starting a biz...Kindly list some profitable business ideas

Ideas and how to go about them are sold. No one will be here to list what will make you count millions in 2 years. Do you have 2 mill. I can sell you one.

nairashopping:
U are on the right path. make sure u get a good location basically residential areas. One step after the other, u will get to the top.

Thanks so much brother. God bless you. I've already started workin towards it and plans are underway

realunclej:
I function does not mean I work full time. But in a position to recruit when the need arise.

huma resources is an imperative department in an organisation. You cannot be part of a recruiting process of an organisation other than 3rd party CV collectors if you are not a staff of the company, except the mediocre institutions anyways.

deluxeT:
Hmmm, all these sidrens that have parents that keep giving them food and upkeep money while they spend time trying various ideas of entrepreneurship. when they finally hit the bull's eye they come and give people false impression.


mind you, Nigerian certificate is still very good and Nigerian graduates are still employable, provided you didn't sort your way out of school. The only much difference between a Nigerian graduate and a foreign graduate lies in INTERNSHIP, that's where graduates acquire industry skills. No school exactly what you will do in labour market, they are to teach you the theories and principles.

Here we only do yeye IT and mumu NYSC.

Our leaders are hiding their inadequacy to create good jobs by singing the praise of entrepreneurship, when they are supposed to drive the nation towards industrialization and modern technology. if everybody wants to raise chickens, who would make the vaccine, and other high-tech things we use in modern poultry farming.
How many of their children finished school and take to rubbish fish farming?

My own oga for my company go say he bought his first stock at the age of less than ten years or something only to go do background check and discovered that his grandpa deposited 20 camel loads of silver into the very first bank to ever exist in Nigeria.


anyway, I think the op is just saying the reality of Nigeria for now.

make I just stop because I don they vex for everybody.

The only reasonable reply to the thread!