Dilemma: Between His Business, an Oil Company Job and a Construction Firm Job
Dear Jarus
I have followed you for many years since your active Nairaland days and like the career advice you dish out.
I am a young man in my late twenties from one of the northern states. I live in Abuja where I run my personal business. I schooled in China and came back to start my own business. I studied an engineering course. I never really actively sought paid employment but recently got a job offer from an oil company that is offering me about N7m gross annual pay.
The issue is, I make triple that amount from annually from my business. For example, if one state government wants to procure materials from China, my firm is usually part of it because of my connection with China. So my business is not doing badly.
Now this oil company also wants to come to Lagos but I’m not really a Lagos person.
While thinking about that, another Chinese construction company in Nigeria offered me a blank cheque – work for us for twice the pay of the oil company offer you have. And they are based in Abuja. But the only issue is, the contract has a 2 years fixed term.
Kindly advise.
Abubakar
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Dear Abubakar
It is good to see a young man spoilt with job choices in this period of serious economic challenges all over the world. That’s a good problem.
Oil and gas, though volatile, still remains a good career option. The company you are talking about is also a good one. However, clearly, you don’t like Lagos and possibly the environment. You appear to be the conservative time, possibly not cut out for the pressure of such industry.
The China construction firm offer appears great, and it wont involve you leaving Abuja, which is clearly your city of preference. It will keep you close to your business.
Our advice:
- Do more research about the Chinese firm – informally talk to their current employees (if they have already), will they truly pay the promised benefits? What is their labour practice? How is their financial standing? Do they keep to employment contract? What is their footing?
- Take the offer if the answers to the above are positive
- Put someone in charge of your business, you’re also in Abuja, you wont be too far from it. That will be multiple stream of good income
- If your business is getting too affected, you may consider quitting and returning to it
- After the expiration of your contract, return fully to your business. Your learning and further connection on China while working in that firm will also further help your business and reinforce your positioning as China business fix, or China business expert, in Abuja, northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.
All the best.
Please what course can I study with mathematics c6English language c6, chemistry c5biology, c6 economics c5 Civic education c6 physics D7