I called a guy in charge at an office I applied for a job and told him about my interest in the job. He asked me some questions about my educational history. I told him that am a graduate of computer science with a 2:2 as I have a copy of my statement of result to proove that. And he asked that I present something to show my CGPA as well. I told him I didn't know what I got unless I have to apply to collect my transcript from my school. This means going back to my school and would have to wait till it's ready.

I mean, what does the CGPA has to do with a technical job such as an IT Technician? Most of what is in the Job description has nothing to do with what I learnt in school. I learnt most of the IT skills I know now outside the walls of the University. Most of what we did in Computer Science was all about programming and mathematics etc. An 80 job test questions relating to IT subjects would have been the best way for selecting candidates seeking for technical jobs such as this.

Now, do these people [Employers] really know what they are doing? I thought the reason for a job test is to pick the best from th crowd. They might as well get a mathematician to do the job.

dont mind them,they'r just fustrating us,puting all sorts of obstacles on the way,just to give the job to those they want.
just keep tryin n developing urself,God is watchin,somethin good will come,n God will fustrate them n mess them up one day.

Don't mind dem jare, they dont even know what they want. Even if you present the transcript they will still ask you for another thing again. Some if not most employers do not really get the best best hands at the end of the day because of all these their conditions. Forget about dem and keep on trying, God will surely see us thru.

Why not see yourself through by creating a job for yourself? No-one else owes you a job!

Seun, you like talking about self-employment. Can you begin to give people ideas on what to do to become self-employed?? And 2ndly can you help them with the initial capital they need to start the biz??

ishmael that's a good question. I believe most people have biz ideas and stuff but the problem almost always remains generating the INITIAL CAPITAL!

Path to self-employment
a) Look for a problem that is really paining people.
b) Search for an affordable solution to the problem.
c) Find a customer who is willing to pay for the solution.
d) Profit. That's all, folks.

If you choose your business properly, you won't need too much initial capital.
The initial capital you need will be a little amount that your family or friends can help you out with.
A good business might not be the most glamorous, but it will be the most profitable.

Learn to use the Internet to research your business ideas. You can't expect me to do your research for you.

Thanks for the advice Seun. I'm sure a lot of job seekers at nairaland will find this interesting.

i think you should ask yourself who needs the job most the employer or you?

most of us from humble backgrounds think we can work and accumulate capital to begin a business of our own. these days you present a proporsal to the bank and they ask for a landed property in abuja as collateral. where does that leave us? so you can see that we need these jobs.

HI
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If you are an electrical engineer, do you need a loan to repair damaged electronic equipment for people?

If you are a Computer Science graduate, do you need a loan to supply PC consumables and repair PCs?

If you are a brilliant student , do you need a loan to start giving personal tutorials and composing handouts?

If you own a digital camera, do you need a loan to cover events and produce photo CDs for people?

If you like to cook, do you need a loan to offer to be a resident chef for all neighbours?

If you like children, do you need a loan to convince your neighbours to pay you for baby-sitting services?

I know students who own laptops. Why can't they lease such laptops to people for short presentations?

Nigeria is a country full of problems. One man's problem is another man's profit!!. Get cracking, people! Instead of looking for capital, look for a business that requires capital withn your means. The fact that you are alive and not dead means that there's a certain amount of capital at your disposal. Manage it!!

@Seun this is a tap on the head. I'd already started something cool just after I posted this topic. I know this will sure fetch me some cool money. I actually took some time to think about this and as I went on, ideas started creeping in from every corner. That's the spirit and that's how it comes. Thanks men.

Nice advice Seun but if one wants to go big, you definitely need some capital base.

Donzman: Nice advice Seun

Thanks!

Donzman: but if one wants to go big, you definitely need some capital base.

We can't all go big, but we can all make a decent living. That should be one's goal when starting out.

@Seun this is a tap on the head. I'd already started something cool just after I posted this topic. I know this will sure fetch me some cool money. I actually took some time to think about this and as I went on, ideas started creeping in from every corner. That's the spirit and that's how it comes. Thanks men.

That's the spirit. Well done and keep it up!

We can't all go big, but we can all make a decent living. That should be one's goal when starting out.

Yeah I know man, I was just saying. What you said is basically how these Asians around here make it, they just look for something to do and work hard at it. By the time you know it, a bunch of immigrants who speak no English are able to afford houses in the suburbs.

@ Seun

If you are an electrical engineer, do you need a loan to repair damaged electronic equipment for people?

If you are a Computer Science graduate, do you need a loan to supply PC consumables and repair PCs?

If you are a brilliant student , do you need a loan to start giving personal tutorials and composing handouts?

If you own a digital camera, do you need a loan to cover events and produce photo CDs for people?

If you like to cook, do you need a loan to offer to be a resident chef for all neighbours?

If you like children, do you need a loan to convince your neighbours to pay you for baby-sitting services?

I know students who own laptops. Why can't they lease such laptops to people for short presentations?

Nigeria is a country full of problems. One man's problem is another man's profit!!. Get cracking, people! Instead of looking for capital, look for a business that requires capital withn your means. The fact that you are alive and not dead means that there's a certain amount of capital at your disposal. Manage it!!

This is really true! I hope many people can listen and stop demanding huge capital to start a business.

Seun:

If you are an electrical engineer, do you need a loan to repair damaged electronic equipment for people?

Do Engineers repair damaged equipments?? I thought they are suppose to be designers?? If they repair what then will be the job of Technicians?? But all the same, well said sha!!

The problem is, its very tempting when, u know u’re qualified and can get a job, that can earn u much more,n instead u go for something that brings u only a few hundreds a day. some of us, cos we’re lookin for jobs doesn’t mean we r not startin, or tryin to start something by the side, but a job makes things much easier, in terms of pay, esp for starters. i think graduates need to get real humble n start pursuing other means n alternatives of earnin pay, while huzzlin for job. it doesn’t necessarily has to be something that has to do with ur field or profession. not all jobs in Nigeria can go round for all the graduates. and its not enough to blame govt for the unemployment problem, even though they have failed in regard to this. its just that its annoyin to see some employers acting the way they do, but, no sh*t, we’ll soon be employers too.

@seun, good tips.

It is not anyone's duty to give you a job. It is your personal responsibility to find one or create one for yourself.

kdships:

ishmael that's a good question. I believe most people have biz ideas and stuff but the problem almost always remains generating the INITIAL CAPITAL!

AGREED with Seun. I specialise in entrepreneurship and business venturing and marvelled when people waste.
Please note a person start as UNEMPLOYED, before becoming EMPLOYED and now EMPLOYER.

If you have a project needing capital, please post it in Nairaland. Anything under N1m I can help. If you need more than that and your project is genuine, I can organise funds both locally and abroad. So there you all go. Forgive my writing as I have not worked for anybody in the last 15 years.

Good luck in 2007.

Please note a person start as UNEMPLOYED, before becoming EMPLOYED and now EMPLOYER.

What about self-employment? You left it out, but it's very important.
That's what I practice. I'm not an employer, but I employ myself gainfully.

The problem is, its very tempting when, u know u’re qualified and can get a job, that can earn u much more,

You can earn more money from a business than a job. It depends on how well you serve your customers.
When I started Nairaland, my expectatins were very small, but my income suddenly flew beyond my target.
When your business is successful, you will make enough to be able to employ a few other people to do your work.
How many of the richest people in the world are employees? The road to big wealth is entrepreneurship.
And even if you do not become the richest man in your state, you will make enough to be comfortable.

In business, there's room for all of us to work hard and make money.
As long as there are problems, there will be business opportunities.
One man's painful problem is another man's abundant profit opportunity.
One man's spoilt television set is an electrician's profit opportunity.
One man's NEPA problem is another man's generator servicing opportunity.
One man's problem getting laid is another man's dating service opportunity.

Nigeria is full of big problems, and these big problems translate to big profit opportunities if we use them.

We can't all be employers, but we can all be self-employed and comfortable.

Hi Seun,
Thanks for all those motivating word I believe it time we begining to change our orientation about getting a job, rather we should look inward ourselves and tap into that God given skills in us. Please I will like to read more of your motivational word regularly, Maybe you need to go on air and let other naija youth know all about self-employment.
Cheers. I believe we shall affect our generation so soon. See u at the top and keep the dream alive.

Naija4ward:


AGREED with Seun. I specialise in entrepreneurship and business venturing and marvelled when people waste.
Please note a person start as UNEMPLOYED, before becoming EMPLOYED and now EMPLOYER.

If you have a project needing capital, please post it in Nairaland. Anything under N1m I can help. If you need more than that and your project is genuine, I can organise funds both locally and abroad. So there you all go. Forgive my writing as I have not worked for anybody in the last 15 years.

Good luck in 2007.

Bros i have a biz proposal o but no capital to start it, how do i get in contact with you??

Hi all,


I read most of the responses you guys posted but its just unfortunate that people that find themselves in position of opportunity uses it wrongly.

How will you ask for GP when you know the person is qualify. I think by the time we all start saying the truth about the real picture of things, we ll all get used to it.

@Seun

In business, there's room for all of us to work hard and make money.
As long as there are problems, there will be business opportunities.
One man's painful problem is another man's abundant profit opportunity.
One man's spoilt television set is an electrician's profit opportunity.
One man's NEPA problem is another man's generator servicing opportunity.
One man's problem getting laid is another man's dating service opportunity.

so your idea of dating is for the purpose of getting laid? or vice-versa!!!

na wah o!!!

Can we ever reach our various goals through this way?

kimba:

so your idea of dating is for the purpose of getting laid? or vice-versa!!!

na wah o!!!

I believe everyone here already got the message, why point this out?

don't mind them

Employers are only taking advantage of the economic situation of nigeria to deal with applicants.

Employers can only make nonsense of people only if they are given such opportunities.
But with time they are absolutely going to beg.

I believe he's saying the same thing. There are more job seekers than the jobs. I guess it's our politicians that are giving them the opportunities. If only the government had created more jobs like they always promise, things would have been quite different. Maybe more job seekers than jobs still, but the gap definitely wouldn't have been this wide.