Finding a Job: My Top 5 Unusual Acts

Jarus

Some people are just wired to defy the norms. For example, billionaire investor, Warren Buffets, I read in Tope Fasua’s “Things to do….before your career disappears”, doesn’t go around with mobile phone. You can only do that if you are Warren Buffets. Someone like me cannot do that. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, I read somewhere, on hearing that someone was trying trying to buy a house near his house and go around marketing that he lives next door to Zuckerberg, quickly bought four houses adjacent to his house (for $30 million), just for privacy. These are examples of crazy acts that make some people unique, although not related to job. The guy that did employadam.com and wrote on billboard “I did this billboard with my last $500, please employ me” is another example of such people. Now, I present my own top 5 unusual acts that relate to job search.

1. Simulating email address of the CEO of a multinational and sending my CV to her: I did this in my final year in the university. I have mentioned times without number on this blog that I spent my final year practically strategizing my post-school plan. I saw the name of this company’s CEO in newspaper and I am familiar with the emailing style of the company, having seen one of the company’s employees’ email address before. Let’s say the employee’s name is Wale Alabi with email wale.alabi@xyzompany.com; then I saw the MD’s name in newspaper as Bola Ajayi, I just guessed her email address would be bola.ajayi@xyzcompany.com. I got it!. She got my CV, and replied the email that they would invite me for test when I finished university within the next few months. They did.

2. Sending CV to Dangote Group in 200 level: I have been familiar with CVs, perhaps from secondary school. At least I saw my brother’s CV in the cupboard in the house. So I knew how a CV looked like. During the long break after my 100 level, I did my CV (wrote my CGPA there), went to Dangote group’s website and sent the CV – expectedly a poorly drawn one, coming from a naive year 1 boy – to that email address, explaining that I would like to work with them when I finish my university education in the next 3 years. No prize for guessing I didn’t get response. Well, if at all they received the email, they would have just laughed it off.

3. Unconventional cover letters: Now, this is when I have come of age and I have had experience, and just wanted a career move. I have a knack for writing daring cover letters. I’m unconventional when it comes to cover letter writing. I ignore all the conservative, formal protocols. For example, in my last job move (to my current job), the title of my cover letter was: “TAX ACCOUNTANT IN AN E&P COMPANY: 5 REASONS WHY THE CAP FITS ME!’, and went ahead to list the 5 reasons. That’s all, no story. I’m sure such daring title must have interested the consulting company that recruited me for the company. I have also used sentences like “ give me the job and thank me later” in my cover letter. I don’t know what drives me, but I can be unconventional when it comes to things like that. I just like to pull off something different from the normal.

4. Pam sandals to interview: This actually happened recently. I just got a call from an Italian oil servicing company ( not Saipem, much smaller; I didn’t know where they got my CV, but they later told me they saw it on Global Oil & Gas job search website – I must have uploaded it there long time ago)  asking if I would be able to come for interview as Finance Manager that same day. I told them to give me 10 minutes to decide. The following week I would not be in Lagos, so I dropped my initial plan to ask for postponement. I called them back that I was game by 12 noon (my lunch break time), but added that I dressed down being a Friday, so they should not expect me to be in suits and all that. I had gone to work in pam sandals, regular not-so-new T-shirt and quite faded jeans, being a Friday (and not knowing someone would call me for interview that day). Going home to change was a no-no.  Not wanting to go for the interview like that (although I had hinted them of my casual dressing already), I just entered one boutique close to my office, picked a short-sleeve shirt and chinos, but didn’t change the pam sandals. I didn’t even tuck in. I didn’t drive to work that day, but knowing that you don’t go for an interview for a managerial position in an oil company on okada (you need to show class, to aid your negotiation) , I collected the key to one of my colleagues’ Toyota Camry and zoomed off. Got there and was received from the car park by the pretty admin lady that had been calling on phone. That was my craziest interview experience in terms of dress and preparation, but one of my best in terms of confidence and delivery.

5. Turning interview into football talk:  Still the same interview experience I was describing above, but another crazy angle. I got there, was shown my seat and set to interview me were one Italian man, their MD, and one Nigerian lady, their Head of Commercial, if I recall her position. From their introduction of their company, I knew we will never agree pay package (oil servicing companies generally don’t pay as much as E&P ones, much more a small servicing one), so that boosted my confidence (I wasn’t desperate, just wanted to enjoy myself, and add to my interview experience and draw teachable lessons). The discussions began, and when we got to offer package, I named my price. Expectedly, they said they couldn’t afford that, and tried to talk about prospects, finally offering what was even lower than what I earn in my current job.  I waited for them to finish the talk and started mine. Hear me: “I don’t know whether you watch football…do you know Messi?” (the lady said she doesn’t watch football, both of them wondering where I was going). I added, “in football, there is what is called buy-out clause, Messi for example cannot be signed by any club lower than a certain fee. So XYZ amount is my own sign-on fee” bla bla. At this point, the man interjected: “look, man, this is not football, this is interview, serious.” I then said I knew, I was just using that as example to make a point. We then agreed the deal cannot happen. I told them I can recommend someone else for them, who should be able to accept the price they were offering. I collected his card and gave him  mine and I left for the staircase. When I got to my office I forwarded one of my friends’ CV to them, but they didn’t call him. I don’t know the reason.