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| Job Interview Situation |
This post is
directed at the school teenagers who spend their time doing things that don’t
matter. Many Nigerian students see the freedom which has been given to them as
an opportunity to unleash whatever has been holding them down. Most have been
caged for so long by their parents and see this as an opportunity to do what
they have been visualizing.
When I was in
school I heard a lot of things such as finishing with a good grade and all. I
was excited and was filled with a lot of aspirations and dreams to finish with
a first class or a 2.1, these were known as good grades and was going to give
an edge in the market. Anything short of this was considered absolute failure
and waste of time.
However, this
doesn’t mean that graduates with a 2.2, third class or a pass won’t get jobs,
but it is what they do after school that will determine how fast you can get a
job. This are not laid down rules but pointers that can be followed to secure a
dream job.
Check out the
following things you can do to improve your chances to get that job.
Discover what
you can do
This is not
rocket science but a simple thought process. Take time to ask yourself what you
can do, most times talent doesn’t happen unless it is put to test. Examination
is not a true test of knowledge so don’t be discouraged. Look for other attributes
and skills that you possess and put it into good use. Only then can you
evaluate the response you get when applying for jobs. Most jobs nowadays don’t
even look at grade they look at your soft skills, what you can bring to the
table. Explore this and come up with a compelling CV.
Change your
mindset
Your mindset
is everything, if you feel you are a failure then indeed you are a failure.
Never back down if you finish with something less than expected because there
are people who even didn’t attend school but are doing well outside. You are
who you think you are. When I was in school, I know some of my mates that
didn’t show up for their convocation ceremony because they felt like failures.
If your mindset is down then you can’t achieve anything. Dust your cv and start
doing something.
Professional
Certification are important
This cannot
be overemphasized, education is evolving and so is the recruitment market. Most
Hr experts do not joke with this aspect of recruitment. There are a lot of professional
certifications out there. Look for the body that’s related to your course of
study, register and become certified. The funny thing is that these courses are
not expensive to do. This makes you become a member and increases your chances
of been recognized since you will meet people who are already experts in the
field.
Communication
and interpersonal skills a must
Communication
is a must if you want to sell yourself. 2.2 or less is not the end of life it
is only a motivating tool to do better than people with a first class. You must
be fluent in communication and your relations with others should not be rigid
but flexible. Soft skills will go a long way to improve your ability to get
that contact to your dream job. When it comes to situation when the interviewer
is what stands between you and your dream job, it’s your communication skill
that will bail you out in such situation. Interaction with others is a plus in
this situation. Even if you the shy type try socializing with people and boost
your confidence it will go a long way.
Network
Just like my
earlier point on socializing this comes next. After building the contacts via
communication channels then have a networking attitude. This is
an ongoing process that can come up when you are in a meeting
with professionals in your field of studies or other avenues. Social media is
Great Avenue to carry this out such as Facebook and LinkedIn which is for
professionals. Have a good profile and attractive bio displaying your
qualifications and experience.
This is not
immediate but a gradual process. Most recruiters go to this medium to check for
qualified and sound candidates to fill up necessary positions. Instead of
wasting your time in dating sites and other irrelevant sites. Sign up today and
start selling yourself.
Experience is
the best teacher
There’s is a
saying that you cannot give what you don’t have. What you know and can do
cannot be taken from you. Experience gives you an edge over other candidates
looking for the same position. Most companies don’t want to spend money
training and the rest, they prefer candidates that they can employ immediately
and they hit the ground running immediately. In as much as its difficult
getting a co-up or internship in the multi-national companies, there are other
places that you can volunteer to learn and be an expert. These advice goes
especially to the youths and teenagers in higher institution in Nigeria, if you
are doing your IT, try and learn all you can at that given time and try to
maintain good relationship with the management of where you worked.
Drop your CV
everywhere
Lastly,
ensure you drop your CV everywhere you go. Print hard copies and share
especially job recruitment websites. Opportunity can come anytime, be prepared
for any job pending when you get to a stage when you can select the jobs that
you want. Give your CV to friends to share to different employees and tailor
your CV to the company you are applying too. Do not forget to pray for grace
not withstanding as there are graduates that have gotten six figure jobs in
places where they do not know anyone or even qualified.
I drop my pen
at this junction, feel free to add yours
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