Easy Ways to Secure a Good Job in Nigeria

“You must have a strong connection before you get a job in Nigeria.” Many Nigerians are familiar with this statement. But is that the case? Do you have to get a godfather or godmother before getting a good job in Nigeria? Read on to find out.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a recent interview with Channels TV, stated that education is not an automatic ticket to government jobs. He added that Nigerian youths should use their education to improve themselves rather than wait to get a government job. So if this is the case, what is the way forward? How does a graduate get a good job in Nigeria?

Table of Contents

6 Easy Ways to Get a Good Job in Nigeria

Get a skill

Yes, you must have spent four to six years in the university, no thanks to ASUU. But still, you need to develop yourself. Having a skill is as important as getting a certificate. Many organizations are no longer concerned with what you studied in university. Instead, they want to know what you can do for them.

You must have seen cases where a microbiologist or biochemist works in a bank. Most times, it’s because of the situation of Nigeria, and others, it’s because they have the relevant skill.

The best way to contribute to the development of any organization is through the skills that you have. Relevant transferable skills include customer relationship, human resources management, content writing, programming, UI/UX, Project development, and data analytics. Having any combination of these skills is an easy way to get a good job in Nigeria.

Network

Networking is the professional way of building a connection, getting to know people in the field you are interested in working in, and building relationships with them. In networking, you have the opportunity to get a good job and grow your career.

To network with people, first, know what your skill sets are. Then, find out how to meet with industry experts and use that opportunity to reveal your abilities to them. An example of good channels for networking is LinkedIn, Twitter, Clubhouse, and other social media platforms. You can also network with industry experts by attending events, conferences, and boot camps. These places are goldmines.

Read also: The ultimate guide to Networking for Nigerian students

Apply for internships

In most cases, organizations prefer to have internal recruitment rather than outsource candidates. This is because informal staff like interns and volunteers already know what the organization is like. They have earned reasonable experience and require little to no training after employment.

Therefore, stop focusing only on full-time employment. If you notice that you rarely get an invite for interviews after applying, try switching to internship applications. Although you might not be paid for an internship, you still stand a chance to gain experience and get a retainment offer.

Build your portfolio

Your portfolio is simply proof that you can do what you claim to do. It’s documentation of your work samples and skills. If you are a graphic designer, your portfolio should be a collection of all your designs. A social media manager’s portfolio will link all the pages they have managed over time.

For you to have a portfolio, you need to practice your skill. Ensure that you keep this at the back of your mind when getting a good job in Nigeria. The truth is, most organizations don’t want to waste time checking your CV or trying to take you through different stages of the interview process. They prefer to see your portfolio. So, if you do not have a portfolio, you should start working on one now.

Have a detailed CV and cover letter

One of the mistakes job seekers make is not spending time creating a detailed CV and cover letter. When you think of creating a CV, don’t look at it as a piece of information you can submit anyhow. A CV is your first impression of receiving an invitation for an interview. If you have never thought of it this way, start doing that.

Your CV should contain some vital information, such as your full name, an active phone number and email address, experiences, and a link to your portfolio.

Read also: How to write a professional CV for the Nigerian labour market

Your cover letter should be a summary of your most important skills or experiences. Do not make it too wordy. It should be short, simple, and concise. Most importantly, it should make the reader want to open your CV.

Here are some tips:

Never write a nickname in your CV, except if the organization specifically asks for it.
Ensure your email is in an official format. For example, [email protected], [email protected] do not look professional. Something like [email protected], [email protected] is better.
Ensure the experiences you put in your CV align with the job you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for the role of a video editor, do not include experiences of you working as a baker. It does not correlate with what the recruiter is looking for. Try to tailor your CV to reflect experiences in line with the available position. This will help you to get a good job in Nigeria.
For security reasons, don’t include your full address details. If you live in Apartment 10. Whitehouse Estate, Oniru Lagos, you can write your address as Whitehouse Estate, Oniru Lagos. Remember, you cannot control where your CV and Cover letter will get to.
Ensure your CV and cover letter have no grammatical blunders. Get a third party to proofread and edit it.
Never lie in your CV. It can hinder you from getting a good job. You might be asked to prove whatever skills you include in it, so avoid lying.

Apply to organizations that match your skills

There are many situations where people apply to over 200 jobs without getting any feedback from the organization. Some would even say it is their “village people” holding their progress.

Funny, right?

Well, most times, that’s not the case.

The problem here is that Nigerians are guilty of two things when applying for a job. First, they apply to organizations that do not need their skills. Second, they do not read the job description before applying. It is crucial for you to always apply to organizations where you can function. It will save you the stress of wasting your time and blaming your “village people.”

Also, always ensure you read job descriptions thoroughly before applying for jobs. A job description might tell you that you must have up to 5 years of working experience in the field while you have only one year of experience. In such a situation, your application might not be accepted. So learn to follow instructions to help you get a good job in Nigeria.

Read also: How to choose the right career path in Nigeria

Conclusion

Every goal in life requires proper planning. Getting a good job in Nigeria is no different. You might have believed in the misconception that you cannot get a job without having a connection or that there is no good job in Nigeria. Well, this article has been able to highlight easy ways you can get a good job in Nigeria. Feel free to use them in your job search.

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About Author

Esther Adeniji: I haven’t found an easier and more convenient way to express myself than writing. I chose this path because I believe that a writers pen or as it is in this tech age, tablet is still powerful enough to change the world. Apart from being a writer, I am also a digital marketer.