REVIEWING A 2.2 GRADUATE’S CAREER PLAN

Hi Jarus

I need the professional advice of you and your team on this. I am a 2012 graduate of Industrial Chemistry from one of the best Federal Universities of Technology in Nigeria. My desire to study Industrial Chemistry wasn’t a well-thought out act as I later realised I became frustrated from 300L-500L. My frustration arose as a result of not enjoying what I was studying even if people had said “oh! It’s a good course”. As a new student in the school, I was told by a 500L student who was on a first class whom I met for advice that I had to cram to succeed in the course but I disagreed, why can’t I read to understand? I later got to realise it was true but I already lost interest in the course (from 300L) since I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing again though I still studied hard in some cases(I never dubbed assignments throughout and instead first class and 2.1 guys dubbed my assignment). I was that serious. I graduated with a 2.2 anyways (who cares if you are intelligent provided you graduated with a 2.2?)

I realised my passion or what I originally should have done was chemical engineering(which is more challenging and calculation based than Industrial Chemistry which deals with more of cramming as it has proven) only if I had thought it through more and was properly advised. My best subjects in secondary school were Math, Chemistry and Economics but I was initially naively gunning for Medicine.

Fast forward to three years after graduation, I wanted to pursue my passion in chemical engineering and I was already scouting for schools abroad and gathering necessary things I should know to aid my MSc in Chemical Engineering even before graduation. A school in Norway mailed me back that it will be good if I learnt Hysys(a chemical engineering software) before coming over which I immediately learnt after passing out of NYSC last year, though I grabbed it but I didn’t know the basics since I lacked some basic chemical engineering skills and it is more or less useless to me now. So I want to put in for a PGD in chemical engineering in UNILAG, then do an MSc abroad through scholarships.

I also have passion for Economics and numbers and I was at an MBA fair recently where my passion was re-awakened so I began considering Lagos Business School (LBS). I already made enquiries about LBS and I realised I could get a scholarship with a good GMAT score so I am working on it now and there is also the recently introduced loan scheme by the school which I am also considering if I do not get the scholarship.

My original plan as an undergraduate was to do an MBA after years of practicing Chemical Engineering at least to aid my rise to management positions (in the company) and my ultimate plan to retire into consultancy but now since I have no job yet I am considering doing the PGD in Chemical Engineering now (2 years) then apply for MSc at top schools abroad and also follow up with the MBA in LBS (since 3 years experience is required to enroll) with MSc in Chemical Engineering as my preference if both click. My choice of looking into the MBA is also driven by securing a good job on time.

The assistance I need from you and your team is to scrutinize my plans as professionals considering the time and manpower I will invest in achieving these things since MBA and Chemical Engineering are two different professional career paths, then give me useful advice on how to go about them. I am a very ambitious person and I excel at everything I set my heart to do, so I have no doubt I will excel in these programmes. I also write too and one of my articles was published last year in The Guardian newspaper “Lieing Politicians and the race to 2015 mountain” while some are on online blogs. I graduated at 21 and will be 24 later this year.

I will appreciate your immediate response out.  I just had to make it explicit so everything will be properly understood.

Jaiye

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Dear Jaiye,

I threw this to two members of my team that I think are eminently qualified to advise.

OBAFEMI BAMIDELE, Msc (Edinburgh), ACA, ACCA, ACS, CFA

What I make out of the case is that you need confirmation on whether you have a good plan and whether MBA after MSc Chemical Engineering is useful.

First I do not see anything out of place in your plan, but what I will emphasize is getting work experience, all along, if possible. Needless to say, you still have age on your side. Also, you need to be sure what your overall goal is; you have indicated your desire to rise to the top in a paid employment and retire into consultancy – your plans, in my opinion, fit this, together with the goal of pursing an MBA (which should hone your entrepreneurial and business skills and prepare you for consultancy in retirement).

Also, MBA after MSc is not out of place. Professionals from every discipline can pursue an MBA and it is more like a professional masters which focuses on entrepreneurial skills and development.

I hope this helps.