₦airaland Forum

mrking3:
guy i'm sure you made your 2:1 through the back door! You don't sound like one!! Just imagine the crap you typed here? Which employer of labour would hire a 2:1 graduate that can't make a simple correct sentence? This is a social forum and of course, you never can tell who might be reading your post! You have to sell yourself in the best possible professional manner if you really need any form of assistance. You think with your 2:1 you have arrived? Companies this days don't give a shit about your grade bro! If an SSCE holder can get the job done, why should they hire a BSC/2:1 graduate that can't do the job? Bro develop your self, acquire new skill that would give you an edge over others with same grade. That's the only thing that would make you stand out! Lastly! Go get yourself a voluntary job if you can't find a low paying job at the moment. NO FIRM WOULD HIRE YOU WITH YOUR JOBLESS STATUS. You have to be productive and meaningfully engaged for you to stand the chance of being hired! (NB: I hold a 2:1) No bragging!! Coz it's not an end itself! Just a means to an End!!

I dont agree with your assessment though. What is the use of blowing grammar in a forum. The guy is saying it the way he feels. But I reckon with your suggestion that he should get a voluntary job at least one that he is paid though.

Opistorincos:
Contact me with the number on my signature. Both for calls and whatsapp.

Noted

profchijindu:
streets peopls r tired of seeing my face, my brodaa n sistas gossip me day in day out, my mama n papa don tife for my case, me ma stjll pondering ob wia i went wrong. pls meaninful naairalanders help me n give my life a meaning. i want to stop gambling n turning into a rift raft in my area. im a 2:1 graduate of unizik (ind phy). i reside in ikeja. 07067298014. pls help a broda. pls, biko, ejo, yakuri

If you live in Ikeja, you are living in the midst of money. I can help you if you are willing to learn. Leave your email and I will contact you personally.

FILEBE:
Send me ur number via email let us whatsapp.

Fill me in too.

spyglaxx:
@realuncle
4k per month for me oh.But i loved the job seriously. I was able to do a lot of practicals with his vsat and that was where i learnt networking and some hacking. I later got a job with the state government.The only question i was asked during the interview was "what can you do with computer"? and i just poured the whole experience.But i must start my own biz seriously.

To me I will take it like you were more like an Apprentice while your uncle was just reimbursing you. It is possible you are getting other incentive from him. That was a nice way to get valuable skill for less because you will likely pay to learn that elsewhere. Meanwhile you will need entrepreneurial experience and knowledge to start your own business. You can start small but you can get to your desire height if you are smart about it.

spyglaxx:
I helped my uncle to run his cafe for sometime and the salary was 4k for a graduate.People called me names like stupid boy, but i told them the experience will be worth $1billion.My computer college will soon
start running on solar and gas.

Do you mean you collect 4k or you pay 4k to your recruits?

spyglaxx:
Yes. No immigration officer can check the knowledge in your head.No armed robber can steal it.While you can't transfer your certificate to your children you can transfer your skill. Try and sell your certificate now!

That's true talk. I kept my certificate long ago but today If I lost everything, I can start with nothing. Thanks to the investment in my personal capability. At least, in the past five years, I have spent minimum of 5 hours reading or writing or researching everyday. That volume of book will become a walk in the pack especially if you enjoy what you are reading.

efficiencie:
Truckload of motivational crap!!!

You are either born rich or born struggling...First conditions matter a lot! In a country where we say there are no jobs, some young under 20 graduates are getting jobs as soon as they leave school while many who burnt the midnight candle, developed themselves and are doing what they can to break out of lack are still struggling. Why? One of the reasons is that they come from well placed families in the social strata.

Time and chance happens to us all...You can follow all the motivational theories, that's what they are 'theories', and still be as poor as you were! Uncertainty is high in this country and ever since the thread this country has been hanging on, oil, started having issues, the uncertainty has risen to astronomical heights.

In a country where rules are not just bent but broken, survival may imply not just breaking the law but grinding the law to power...So you either stick to God and be the patient dog or you play by the unlawful rules of the streets and get rich quick. Both paths have costs and both have rewards...

Honestly, I don't get your point.

tosyne2much:
Realunclej, this is a brilliant and insightful write-up... I doff my hat for you bro

Thank you. I was inspired by some of the recent experience and discoveries I saw when I visited many industrial areas in Lagos. It shows 'boys are not smiling' in the words of Olamide. Many of the companies are living in their past glories. In fact, in many of them the only functional workers are the security. I just feel sorry that many graduates who are 30+ and are still hoping to get a well paying job from these companies should start thinking outside the box and look out for what they can do themselves.

Easyticketsng:
Regardless of your quest in becoming an entrepreneur, one thing that stands in your way is how difficult it is to make money in Nigeria.

Most of the people that preach this entrepreneurship gospel need to realise that luck is a factor that played in their success.

There are no rules to making it, most times... it's just luck, being at the right place at the right time, meeting the right person at the right time etc

I have been trying this entrepreneurship stuff for over 2 years, i have lost more money than I have made.

One of my entrepreneurial product is http://Easytickets.com.ng

Starting a successful business is not easy but preparation is the key.

majekdom2:
Thank you for coming out being truthful. I personally run my business idea but that's not to say I resigned from my place of work. I know people whose businesses have failed several times. I am not talking just one business idea. I am talking 15 plus years after graduation but still his businesses has been failing. It's not a spiritual thing also. The thing is he never took his time to work for real businesses, never took the time to develop himself when it comes to running of businesses. I had a holiday job with his company sometime and I could tell as a student then that he lacked management skills. This is the case of so many entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Imagine what some of his friends that started work 15 years ago would be upto now. Some of them are running businesses whose turn over is in hundreds of millions. My point is just as there are certain skills required to get a job, there are certain skills required for a business.
@bolded, that's not even the problem. The problem is many have little or no market research, business plan and mode of value delivering. Did you do any market survey, did you have any market intelligence, did you have market and commercial analysis. There are a whole factors to consider when starting/ running a business. Even the iya olojas have solid market information and intelligence.

That is insightful.

majekdom2:
you are calling a spade a spade without providing alternatives and how to go about the other alternatives. Ofcourse, 99 percent of the grads you are talking about know and want to get involved with their personal businesses ideas. Oga, ask anybody out there, they will tell you they want to be like billgates or dangote. How can they go about it is what you should be selling. How can they nurture their business ideas not how to stop looking for job and start some "businesses". What are they to expect when they start ? not where there are opportunities .from your posts and the whole hard times stuff, you are only advocating some business because you feel there is a need for survival and not a need to deliver value. 9 out of 10 startups fail in the first 3 months. Why? Because they were not prepared and don't know what it takes to run a business. Give a fresh graduate reasons and how to nurture his business ideas to convince him even as his friend just landed a job with a multinational while another friend of his is still struggling with his business after 3 years. You highlighted reasons/ weaknesses why a graduate might not get a job, he may decide to work on these weaknesses, turn them to strength and start looking job. This is a typical illustration: you pick a begger and take him to the riverside and then tell him to start fishing. He might insult you in a short time because it's like you are taking him from his unlucky state to a worse misery. You did no good because you refused telling and showing him the tactics and teaching him the skills required. If I do not have the skills to get a job, where did the skill to run a business come from then. Do you understand my point. YOU DO NOT TALK DOWN ANOTHER IDEA WHEN SELLING YOURS, YOU PROMOTE YOURS INSTEAD. If you talk it down, you have shown it it's weaknesses and they will be worked on. Even in the scriptures, Jesus said ; the devil has come to steal, Kill and destroy but I have come to give you life. He had to sell himself by promoting what he has come to do. And all through, we could read come to me I will give you life, eat for if you do I abide in you and you in me.

I really got your point and appreciate your pointing to the need for elaborating on the alternatives. Personally I am studying the responses and have been impressed by some other comments. This thread though is not meant to discuss business idea as that will derail from the main point. If you check the headline, you will see that it is not misleading and the point I raised buttressed the headline. I remember telling a friend if he thinks starting a business is hard, he should try getting a job. I can tell you both are difficult. But first, we need to accept the reality on ground and then think of moving forward. Now I am impressed by what I have read so far and I can now commit some other business associate to provide further information on business opportunities and other necessary information to educate and encourage those who choose to think outside the box. I also understand that not all persons can go through the risk of own a business or the stress of nurturing it.

neutral2000:
Good write up. It is also a fact that the major cause of unemployment is shortage of job opportunities. The jobs we are competing for were created by some people. So, there is need to create more jobs. And whose job is it? If we don't, who will?

You are spot on. Whether we like it or not, new generations of millionaires will come up from those who decide to think outside the box. The journey may be rough, they may fail several times but if they don't give up, they will learn and come back stronger.

Raalsalghul:
Okay, I just got a job, to resume next month.

But this thread has taught me two things.

One: not to get too relaxed because I have a job.

Who knows, I might be booted out some day.

Secondly, I should keep saving and saving and start thinking of how to start my own business.

Thanks everyone

Lesson learnt

Glad you pick one or two points. I wish you success in your new job. Remember, save for the rainy day.

majekdom2:
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".

I am sorry if you think I am not objective enough but the idea behind the message is to call a spade a spade. Even though my message is directed at graduates, I do not expect everybody to accept that the message is for them. It is meant only for those who recognize they need to think outside the box. These are hard times that calls for hard measures not time for 'MAY' or 'MIGHT'. I understand that no matter how grim the situation might be, company will continue to recruit for one reason or the other. But a situation where 200 people need job and only one space is available how would you fill the gap?

KPhantom:
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.

You are spot on. Viewing center is a good idea but there are many more. Meanwhile you should be aware of locals who have viewing centres around the school. SOme of them can be intimidating. Either way study the business environment and decide if it will be best for you.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

[quote author=jideniceguy post=48466918][/quote]I am currently doing a research on this but when you are ready I can share whatever business experience I have with you.

ogawisdom:
Success is not tied to or measured with age. One shld jst work hard and pray hard, God's time is the best. D story of life is different for everyone, some were gainfully employed at 21 n but got fired at 35 n never got employed while others got employed at 37 and worked till retirement. A fool at 40 is a fool forever is d greatest fallacy ever

I reckon with you. Opportunity can knock any time but how prepare are you to open the door. My point is a lot of these applicants at that age have little or what I will call mediocre working experience or worse still no experience at all. If you know how much company spent on recruitment and new recruits, you will see why most companies don't want to recruit someone that will be due for retirement in few years.Unless you have years of working experience and you are looking to cross to another company or you have an extremely valuable skill, you can hardly get a tangible job at that age.

ogawisdom:
Busted op so u can lie like this chai see wetin Buhari don cause with extreme hardship

People can be funny. See how you jumped at someone comment who cannot read between the line. You don't even know if I have a human resource agency. The fact that I function does not mean I should work full time. I am in a position to recruit for the organization when the need arise. Is that clear? Between, don't distract from the main message.

oluwamitomisin:
Didn't you just say you don't hold a 9 to 5 job? Why function as HR for an organisation?

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

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.

Please don't take it personal and 'no vex' if you are offended. Actually, after I gained admission into a higher institution, I decided I will not disturb my parent for money. My parents are not rich neither are they poor and they can afford to care for my education. That decision today is what has been helping me. What I am saying is that many of the curriculum in our higher institution is out-of-date. Most of the lecturers do not upgrade and that is why they teach outdated courses or subject. My post bother on the reality on ground and it is not meant to belittle the graduates. I am only pointing to some obvious fact. While we expect government to do something, but as the person affected, we should make some move ourselves. Remember time wait for no one.

ednut1:
reason Nigeria will never progress everything is prayer, is it prayer dat developed china, usa, israel Singapore nd others. Prayer without action na wash

While you are praying things get better, start something better. So, when things get better you will be well positioned to be blessed further. Prepare yourself and look for your opportunity.

Supnaija:
A friend of mine who just recently got fired was regretting not starting his own business from day 1. He discovered that he totally depended on his salary that he forgot to even save up some cash for the rainy day.
Now he is peniless and jobless with only certificates - in his words he asked me 'na bsc i go chop?'. He never really expected to be fired cos he was the best at his job.
Now he wants to start his biz and does not know where to start to raise the capital needed.
Whats the way forward.....

I sympathize with your friend. It happens every time this days. The HR is dining with you, meanwhile he has your sacked SMS message in his phone. Your friend need to sit down and think of what he can do in terms of skills or ability. We will come up with some ideas on how to get started. But first he should not lose hope.

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

Noted. I will have to consult with some other business associates and get down to some research plus whatever experience I have.

maximunimpact:
Wow...certified blogger! sounds like you are my senior colleague.

Oh. I am a humble learner.