A
Nigerian youth has recounted his progress in overcoming the menace of
unemployment which has affected a vast majority of Nigerian higher
institution graduates in the labour market.
Read the inspirational testimony as shared on a popular Nigerian online forum:
I give thanks to Allah for giving me the strength and courage to
believe in my self, to make employers perceive me as the right candidate
right from CV screening to the point of interview. Nothing feels good
to be a self made, devoid of any underhand influence other than your
ability and God's blessings.
This is a brief story about me. Immediately I finished NYSC, I was
so determined never to sit at home doing nothing. I looked around my
environment to secure a job with a cement trading company that paid me a
salary of 10k. Soon, I joined Corona Schools Trust Council as a
Graduate Teacher Trainee with the hope of being absorbed into their main
teaching staff later on because I enjoyed teaching during NYSC.
Unfortunately, Corona Schools changed the goal post in the middle
of the game. we were told that the programme is a corporate social
responsibility and we wont be absorbed because there was no vacancy.
Mind u, we were paid 35k + feeding monthly. Four months wasted for
young, bright and brilliant graduates. After some weeks, I secured
another job with an Audit Firm to learn practical accounting. Anybody
who has worked with a small audit firm knows what it takes to be a man.
Truly, I loved the job but left in frustration after 13 months on a
salary scale of between 20-28k per month from Idimu - Maryland, Lagos.
If no one praises me, I praise myself. The merry go round continues, got
another job with a company that pays 50k. i enjoyed a little relief
after NYSC. Spent 3 months and got offer with a capital market operator,
my brother, the job no be beans, wake up 4am and return home around
10pm everyday coupled with transportation gulping more than 30% of my
net pay.
That really fueled my desire to move again. I started applying
voraciously to many job vacancies, related and unrelated skill sets. And
finally, the 3 offers landed with a keen decision to be made.
Please be mindful that as a young person, I never set out to be
jumping around jobs because of money. but when you find yourself in a
let down situation, fight it. Set standard for yourself and go for it.
Every employer wants the best and to continue to make more profit which
is normal. however, no employer will pity you when it decides to sack
you because you u are deemed to work below expectation.
Also note that for every place where I worked, my integrity and
appetite for success always remain intact. It hurts me when I resign my
appointments and observe that my employers still want me but hey, I can
only hustle while I am still young.
Let us be sincere, how can I cope with 28k per month in Lagos,
considering the distance for a guy who is around 30? When will I rent an
apartment? When will I marry?
My pains and struggles ended recently after three top companies in
Nigeria offered me executive jobs with mouth-watering salaries that have
shocked even those ahead of me in life. I have picked the best and I
will be resuming next week Monday like a boss.
Ingredients for Success:
- Set your standard
- Believe in your ability
- Be persistent
- Never get discouraged
- Be courageous
- Sometimes controversial
- Elements of greed
- Never be docile
- Be a risk taker
- You can also add other qualities
Thank you. may Allah bless our hustles.
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