Dear Jarus,
My name is Jide, a graduate of Economics. I recently finished and I’m about starting my service year. I am 21 years of age and graduated with a first class after lots of effort. I am really confused on how to become a great person in life. Please, I want to know things to do that will make me different from other graduates. I would like to build myself. I want your professional advice on how to make my service year worthwhile. I would like to get employed before the end of my service year.
After much thinking, it always seems like I’m unserious but that’s really not the case. I just don’t know what to do. I would like the oil sector, not because of the pay, but because I have just always wanted that sector. I do not mind any other industry though as far as I’m doing well.
I’m confused on the next step to take. I got GMAT materials recently and I plan to start studying once I start serving in January 2016. I do not know what’s needed of an Economist and even the companies suitable to work with. I’m just blank but I know I’m a kind of person that does well anywhere I find myself. While I know you must have answered this same troubling thoughts of mine, I still want to tell you mine.
Kindly advise sir.
Thank you.
***
Dear Jide,
1, You have taken the first step by making a first class degree. Not that first class degree will get you automatic job or that it is automatic ticket; no it is not, but the truth is, it will make your job search easier. You tend to get invited for test/
interview almost anywhere you throw your CV, provided your course of study is listed as part of the criteria.
2, You seem to lack information, as you come across like someone that did no more than studying while in school. Otherwise, some of your questions – like prospective places of employment for an economics graduate – are things you should have known from school. But fair enough, your focus on academics only paid as you made the highest grade possible. You’re also remedying the information gap quickly by coming here. I advise you read articles we publish here from time to expand your career information horizon.
3, For career opportunities for an economics graduate. Please see these articles where we discussed this extensively:
4, You have done well by getting GMAT. Get SHL materials too (samples available free online too). Practice as much as possible during your service year. Other things you can do during the service year are discussed in this old article on JarusHub here: Things You Should Do During Your Service Year
5, Read websites that discuss jobs and career. JarusHub here and few other good websites will provide valuable resources that will be helpful to you.
6, Oil and gas is good, but don’t focus on oil and gas only. Only very few non-technical people start their career in the oil and gas sector. There are just very few openings at entry level in these companies. Your best bet would be professional services and consulting firms like PwC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Accenture and investment management institutions like ARM, IBTC, Meristem, Vetiva, ChapelHill Denham, Cardinal Stone, FBN Quest, United Capital, etc. It is relatively easier to get offers in these companies, especially the first 4, than in the oil and gas sector, but the good thing is that after few years in these companies, you stand a better chance of moving to the oil and gas sector.
I wish you all the best.
Jarus
***
My career guide, THE ROAD TO VICTORIA ISLAND, is another quality resource that has been helpful to many Nigerian graduates in bridging career information gap.
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remains inspiring
sir I want to study economics or geography I love both courses a lot but, the problem is that am not good at mathematics n economics has to do with a lot of maths what should I do? what can I do with a geography degree?
Course of study doesn’t matter much. Just make a good grade in Geography. But I don’t think you should let Math scare you away from Economics. Overcome your fears.