₦airaland Forum

5 Top soft skills employers look out for Today.

Every employer wants you to deliver value, and these are some of the soft skills needed to bring out the value in you.

1. Communication skills
2. Team work.
3. Positive Attitude.
4. Adaptability.
5. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving. .

Microsoft Excel is a very important software that one must know how to navigate.
Here are 5 reasons why you should be proficient in Microsoft Excel

1. Sharpen Skill Set
Advanced Excel focuses on critical skills that are utilized and valued by many organizations. Taking up an excel training will enable you to create equations and provide more data on vital company functions like project efficiency, and financial projections. You can also design spreadsheets that provide a clear picture of the information that is input and create tracking systems for different departments and operations. These skills will provide you with tools and allow you to work more effectively.

2. Improve Efficiency and Productivity

Excel allows employees to deal and do calculations and this speeds up productivity. Understanding Excel at an advanced level means that you will be able to use more sophisticated tools and complete tasks and analyze data quickly. You will also update the team members hence streamlining the workflow process.

3. Great Value
Having advanced excel skills means that you are a valuable employee because of productivity and this provides you with job security and opens other opportunities for advancement. For you to be successful at your place of work, it is good to be more efficient, and be skilled. You can achieve this by enrolling in an advanced excel course that will help you be equipped and protect you from being replaced with professionals with advanced skill sets.

4. Better Data Organization
A spreadsheet is a better tool for data collection and analysis. Excel is spreadsheet software that allows you to organize information and sort information that can easily be analyzed and transferred to graphs or charts for better viewing.

5. Eases Work
The more proficient you are in Excel, the easier you will navigate through the system because of shortcuts that make work easier. The better equipped you are to perform various tasks, the more likely you will enjoy your work, and studies show that happier employees are 20% more productive than unhappy workers.

10 Work From Home Tips To Maximize Your Productivity

1. Get Ready for Your Work Day.
2. Choose a Proper Home office.
3. Install Quality Technology.
4. Maintain consistent Working Hours.
5. Eat & Sleep right.
6. Set a Morning & Evening Routine.
7. Prepare a To-do list/Planner.
8. Exercise regularly.
9. Take a few Breaks
10. Take a stroll during lunch break.

How to Switch to a Career in Tech: 4 Step-by-Step Guide

1.Find a Tech skill that interests you,.

When switching careers, the first thing to consider is understanding your reasons and motivations. Do you need a more fulfilling career? Or do you want to take on a new challenge?Next, research other career options to find the one you are the most comfortable working with that aligns with your interests and desires. Some of the most popular ones nowadays include data science and software engineering. Ideally, your research should cover the nature of the job, educational requirements, required skills, technicalities of the profession, and job prospects. Conducting thorough research prepares the way for you to easily move into a new career by helping you to understand the career you are about to enter fully.

2. Identify Your Transferrable Skills

When researching alternative careers in the tech industry, you need to evaluate yourself to know if you have what it takes to succeed in your new career. Evaluating yourself entails understanding your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, otherwise known as SWOT analysis, which is helpful for your personal development. It is important to perform this analysis, as it helps you understand yourself and determine the job that best fits your unique abilities.

3. Get Educated on What Your New Career Involves

Now that you have decided which tech career to pursue, you need to get the required education and technical skills before being given a chance. You can obtain a university degree for specialized, formal education or take online courses and certifications on sites like Coursera and Udemy, among others. Analytical skills(Your job requires that you work with specific metrics ,knowing how to understand data provided by insights and translating it into something profitable for the brand you are working for is important)

4. Develop Other Vital Technical and Soft Skills

A tech career typically requires extensive knowledge of computer programming, cloud computing, DevOps, and time and project management skills, depending on your chosen field. Also, soft skills like analytical and critical thinking, data management, and attention to detail are must-have skills.

3 Tips on How to prepare for a virtual interview.

1. Prepare in advance
Be sure to do your research on the employer ahead of time! Search online and check out their profile, read reviews from peers who’ve worked or interned there, and scope out recent news coverage of the organization for developments. The better equipped you are to ask thoughtful questions, the smoother your conversation will go throughout the interview. Also use this time to review your resume and the job description, and consider how your past experience might help you exceed in the role. Having this information fresh in your mind will help you feel more confident during the video call.

2. Show up on time
This is one of the easiest ways to start things off on the right foot: show up on time! While you don’t need to log on 15-minutes early like you would when arriving for an in-office interview, definitely enter the video chat promptly at the set start time. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, make sure that you’ve got the correct software loaded (if necessary), and consider a test call with a trusted friend to work out any kinks in your connection.

3. Dress for success, even remotely
Make sure that you look polished and professional — at least up top. (The beauty of video calls is that nobody will know if you wear sweatpants with your Oxford shirt and tie!) Consider a button-up shirt or blouse, and be sure to groom just as thoughtfully as you would for an in-person meeting. Not only will this help you make a great impression with your interviewer, but wearing clothes that make you feel confident will also help you get your head in the game!

Your interview is going well. You've answered all the recruiters questions confidently and the session is coming to a close. One of the final things you'll be asked will be, 'Do you have any questions for me?' To have a chance of securing the job, always say yes.

Having a list of questions to ask an interviewer makes you look interested, enthusiastic and engaged - all qualities that the employer will be looking for. It also gives you one final chance to further highlight your relevant qualities and experience.
Try to come up with few questions to ask the interviewer. That way, if one or two of them are answered during the earlier discussion, you have backups in place.
Avoid asking questions that focus too much on what the organisation can do for you. Save questions about salary and holiday allowance for when you've got a job offer. Also, stay away from questions that require a yes or no answer, as you're likely to find this information on the company's website.
While it's ok to ask your interviewer to clarify certain points, avoid asking about anything that has previously been covered. You don't want them to think that you haven't been paying attention. If you need some inspiration here are some good questions to ask at an interview…

1. Are there opportunities for training and progression within the role/company?

Enquiring about development opportunities demonstrates to the interviewer that you're serious about your career and committed to a future with the organisation.
You don't want to be stuck in a dead-end job so if you're unsure of the typical career path for someone in this role, asking this question will help you to assess whether a long-term career with the company is a possibility, or if you'd need to move on to gain further responsibility.

2. Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?

The response you receive will give you an insight into the company's progression plans and its place in the market, while giving you a general idea about job security. You may also get a heads-up on any major upcoming projects.
Asking about future plans shows a real interest in the organisation and reiterates your commitment to the company.

3. Can you describe the working culture of the organisation?
Asking this question is a great way to assess the working environment of the company and it gives you the opportunity to discover whether you'll fit in.
From the recruiters response you'll learn if and how the organisation prioritises employee happiness, of any benefits on offer and what the work-life balance is like.

4. How could I impress you in the first three months?

This is a good question to ask at the end of a job interview because it shows potential employers that you're eager to make a positive contribution to the organisation.
Pay close attention to the recruiter's response as it will tell you how they want you to perform and will highlight particular areas of the job you should be focusing on during the first few weeks of employment.

5. Can you tell me more about the team I would be working in?

This will help you understand the way the company is structured, who you'll report to and the department the role sits within. These are the people you'll work most closely with, so it's worth trying to find out about the team dynamic and working methods.

No one enjoys getting turned down for a job, and if you’ve done a lot of preparation for a role that you really wanted, it can be harder still to accept a rejection.
But with the right mindset, you can turn the experience into a career development opportunity. Here’s how…


1. Ask for detailed feedback

The key thing to do after a rejection is to think about what happened, and how you can learn from it.
Asking for and listening to feedback is the most valuable thing you can do when faced with a job rejection. Self-analysis alone won’t paint the whole picture of why you weren’t the right person for the role.
So start by gathering all the feedback you can from the recruiter – and through them, the employer. If the feedback feels a bit superficial or generic, don’t be afraid to ask for a more detailed assessment. You put a lot into the process, after all, and you’re entitled to get some actionable insights at the end of it.

2. Review and reflect
Once you’ve had a chance to come to terms with the employer’s decision, it can be tempting to brush the experience aside and never think of it again. But that would be to pass up on a significant learning opportunity.
So, thinking about the feedback you received, go back through everything that happened, from the way you prepared and researched through to your interactions in the interview and any follow-up.
If the process took place in stages, rank your performance for each part and determine where there is room for improvement. Ask yourself: What did I sense went well? What could I have done differently?
Could a presentation have been prepared more thoroughly? Could you have worked harder to build rapport with your interviewer(s)? Did you focus too much on technical competence at the expense of showcasing your softer skills? Were there any questions you feel you could have answered better?


3. Identify learnings and build a personal development plan

Think about feedback from past rejections, and from appraisals and the like. Are there any recurring themes? What should your development priorities be?
Make a note of any weaknesses or issues that you can do something about, and use them as a focus for the way you approach your preparation next time.
Turn these requirements into a plan. What can you do to fix the gaps in your performance? Depending on the issue, there may be some training or informal coaching you can undertake to help you develop. Or it may simply be a case of working harder on some of your answers, and finding someone to practise them with.

Customizing your cover letter for each application doesn’t mean you have to create a new cover letter from scratch for every opening. However, the more customized your cover letter is to the job, the better the chance a recruiter will want to continue onto your resume. Instead of applying to 10 jobs with a generic cover letter, you will have more success if you apply to five jobs with more personalized documents.

So, what can you do to customize a cover letter and make it unique for each job?
1. Check for Specific Instructions
There may be pertinent information that a recruiter wants right off the bat. Read the job posting carefully, so you know who to send your application to and what information you have to include in your cover letter. Not addressing these requests is a sure-fire way to land your application in the “no thanks” pile.

2. Don’t Repeat Your Resume
Although related, a cover letter and a resume are very different tools. In a resume, you list your accomplishments and state facts about your work history and education. A cover letter gives you the chance to sell yourself as the best candidate for a particular job.

3. Do Some Detective Work
Before you even think about your cover letter, do some reconnaissance work. Understand what the company does, what the company culture is like, and the key characteristics of the job you are applying for.
Review the company’s website, then explain (briefly!) why you are interested in working for them. Is it their mission statement? Their community involvement? The impact their products make on the world? Help the hiring manager understand what it is about the company and role that excites you and inspired you to apply.

How to pass an interview
An interview is one of the most important stages of selection for a job or internship. At the interview, both candidates and interviewer identify mutual interest and get answers to questions. During the interview, the employer assesses your qualifications, level of motivation, and whether you understand what you want to get from this position. Considering interviews in terms of benefits for the candidate, then they give you the opportunity to evaluate the company, its concordance with your expectations and goals. Moreover, an interview is always a great opportunity to improve the skill of self-presentation, which is extremely important in the modern world.
To pass the interview, you need to prepare for it well, so that there are as few unexpected questions from the recruiter as possible. Our tips will help you with that.

STEP 1: Start by researching the company and your interviewers
Understanding the specifics of the company you are applying for can help you pass the interview with confidence. You will be able to estimate how your experience correlates with the information published by the company on the website and in social networks and what exactly in your experience makes you a great fit for the vacancy.

STEP 2: Practice your answers to common interview questions
Prepare your answer to the common question: “Tell me about yourself, and why are you interested in this role with our company?” The idea is to quickly communicate who you are and what value you will bring to the company and the role—it’s your personal elevator pitch.

STEP 3: Reread the job description
We recommend you additionally familiarize yourself with the job description in advance and highlight the key requirements for the candidate. Think about what in your past or current experience meets these requirements.

STEP 4: Be prepared with examples of your work
At the interview, you will be asked about specific tasks that you have performed previously. Be prepared to provide examples of specific cases that correspond to the tasks for the vacancy in question. For example, you may be asked to share your teamwork experience. Think about a specific situation and tell about it briefly but informatively. Be prepared that the recruiter can ask clarifying questions about this case, so you should be familiar with it. Thus, the recruiter evaluates your behavior in the described situation and "transfers" it to work in the company.

STEP 5: Plan your route
It is very important to be at the interview on time, so we recommend you to calculate the travel time in advance and, if this is a completely new place for you, you can go there once and study the route in advance so that you will definitely not be late on the day of the interview.

STEP 6: Dress for interview success
The first impression you make on a potential employer can make a big difference in the outcome of your job interview. Therefore, it is important to look in accordance with the company’s dress code. Nevertheless, the classic style (shirt, pants, shoes) will always look better than the informal one (sweatshirt, jeans, sneakers).

STEP 7: Use the STAR method in answering questions
Prepare to be asked about times in the past when you used a specific skill and use the STAR method to tell stories with a clear Situation, Task, Action and Result.

STEP 8. The power of gestures
Crossed arms can appear defensive and off-putting. Try to be focused and confident, which will immediately have a positive impact on your interviewer.

STEP 9: Prepare smart questions for your interviewers
Interview is a two-way street. Employers expect you to ask questions: they want to know that you’re thinking seriously about what it would be like to work there. Here are some questions you may want to consider asking your interviewers:
o What my day-to-day responsibilities on this position will be?
o If I were in this position, how would my performance be measured?
o How would you describe the team culture?
o What will be the next step of the selection?
If there are no questions left to the recruiter by the end of the conversation, then you can say that during the meeting you have already received answers to all your questions, and thank him for the meeting. For candidate it is better not to initiate the question about wage. If the recruiter did not ask you about this, it means that he already has this information, or he intends to clarify this at the next stages of selection

STEP 10: The power of gestures
Crossed arms can appear defensive and off-putting. Try to be focused and confident, which will immediately have a positive impact on your interviewer.

STEP 11: Be positive and friendly
Smile. You should not talk about experience in a negative way, even if it took place in the past. If the recruiter did ask you about this, then talk about it as neutral as possible and emphasize what useful lessons you could learn from this situation.

STEP 11: Try to handle stress
Try not to focus on negative thoughts. You can imagine that a person you know is sitting in front of you instead of the recruiter and you are presenting your experience to him. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident.

3 Ways to Get your Dream Job in Nigeria

If you want to get employed in Nigeria, then you will have to prepare to be employed. A job doesn’t just land on your feet, you would need to search for the jobs yourself. These tips will help you prepare to become employed;

1 Discover your passion: As a beginner, there is a need for you to discover your passion before you start searching for a job. It is very necessary for you to discover what you truly love to do as an individual. You can discover your passion by paying attention to your hobbies and things you can do without being necessarily trained to do them.
Discovering your passion helps you with career path discovery.

2 Develop skills: [/b]In today’s job market acquiring a skill is key. From recent job opening trends in Nigeria, we have noticed that most of the job vacancies are skill-based vacancies. Employers are after job-seekers that have the skill that can add value to their company. As a fresh graduate, acquiring a skill is preparing yourself for the bright future.

3 [b]Be ready to start a career path: Many fresh graduates don’t have a career path and are confused about what career path they should choose. It is advisable for every job-seeker to have a clear understanding of the career path they want to pursue. Having a career path makes your job search focused and precise.

5 Mistakes job seekers makes

Searching for jobs in Nigeria can be very tasking and also job hunting is a job itself. It involves a whole lot of effort and consistency to land your dream job. However, most of people put in much effort and dedication to their job search but they make same mistakes over and over again. Here are 5 mistakes job seekers makes in Nigeria and how to avoid them.

1. Unmatched Resume
When searching for job your resume do not match all vacancies. When applying for a job your resume should be tailored to that particular job description, location and skills. You do not want to use a marketing resume for a HR job vacancy.
Your search for a new career should not consist of blasting your resume to every open position that interests you. Many candidates feel that getting their resume to every company and applying to any position with the same resume within and outside their field will increase their odds of getting hired, it won’t.
Do not use the same resume for every application. Instead, customize your resume for each position by comparing the relevant keywords in the job posting to those in your resume. Customizing your resume will help a recruiter match your skills to the skills they are looking for and increase your chance of a phone call or an interview. When a recruiter searches a network like LinkedIn, they use the skills they are looking for as keywords and if you don’t include this in your resume or profile, you won’t be found.

2. Sending empty emails
As a job seeker always pay attention to details and focus when sending job applications. Many job seekers makes this mistakes of sending empty emails, emails that does not contain subject (Title) and body, this makes you very unserious
Every email should contain the job position you are applying for as the subject of the mail and the body of the mail should be your cover letter or a short note showing your interest in the job



3. Not utilizing your online presence
From LinkedIn to Twitter, your connections should know that you’re looking for a new job (as long as you aren’t currently employed.) The more people that know, the better chance you have to make connections with people and network with their connections. If your LinkedIn profile isn’t updated, recruiters may think you’re still employed and could pass you by. Don’t be shy, that’s why LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are called social networks, so use them to the fullest potential!

4. Being unprepared
Being prepared for interviews is one of the most important things you can do to help your job search. Research the company you’re interviewing at, learn about the person conducting the interview if you can, practice tough interview questions and be able to speak about your experience clearly and confidently. And also virtual interview make sure you have good internet connection and you are in a noise free environment and also dress appropriately.

5. Not following up
Whether it be an interview or a networking meeting, make sure to follow up with a simple email or phone call to thank the individual for their time. This will allow them to remember you and create the opportunity for another meeting in the future. Keep the door open and find ways to be helpful to everyone in your network.