XFIRE'S DIARY: Searching for Job - 8 helpful tools you should not ignore

MY CAREER DIARY

with

XFIRE

I am a graduate of one of the public universities in Nigeria, and I currently work in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. I am sharing my experience under the pen name XFIRE.

1. Online advertisement /applications / job forums
This is the most common way of sourcing for jobs. There are various job sites which you can freely subscribe to, and you will be getting daily job alerts on email. I subscribed to many. One still sends me alerts till date because I have unsubscribed from all except one. Some job websites (though I never used them), like this JarusHub offer special paid services for CV review, cover letter writing and job SMS alert. A friend of a friend, who had a 2.2 got his job via SMS alert. Also visit various career /job forums, like the one in Nairaland, or JarusHub here. You will get lots of updates and information from informants in those forums. You will also get test and interview tips from fellow job seekers in such forum.

I must confess one of those forums (NHJ) helped me a lot. As a job seeker, the internet has to be your constant partner. Many will insist that almost all online applications are not based on merit, and that you need to know someone to help ‘push the button’. While some may not be entirely merit-driven, my experience and observation has shown that many are real, and are actually merit-driven. I know countless number of job seekers that got their job via this method. As a matter of fact, more than 60% of the people I know got their jobs through online applications. For a job seeker who doesn’t have ‘connections’, I believe (s)he should focus more on improving his competency, rather than whining about how ‘unconnected’ s(he) is.

2. Company Websites
Visit career pages of organizations’ websites. This was a practice I never adopted which I wished I did. There are organizations that accept unsolicited applications. And I know a few friends that have benefited from this. Companies like Total, Schlumberger and KPMG accept unsolicited applications (I don’t know if all of them still do. You might need to check). Four of my friends got employed by Schlumberger immediately after service, because they started the recruitment process after submitting applications online during their NYSC programme. Another person got a Total PG scholarship in France, after submitting an online unsolicited job application! He submitted an unsolicited application in Total career site, like every other person. The invited candidates were called for a test and those that passed were interviewed. The successful candidates were offered PG scholarship in IFP, without any option of job afterwards. KPMG receives application all-year round. So it is quite important you visit career pages of organizations, even foreign organizations. Submit unsolicited applications. You also learn about organizations and the qualities they look for.

3. Networking and recommendation
Networking is another common way of getting jobs, most especially in some government ministries and agencies. Even some private organizations still recruit based on ‘man-know-man’. Many will say this is one of the bane of the Nigerian society. I agree, but I won’t focus on the negative aspect of networking . I will focus on the positive aspect. Networking is globally accepted way of sourcing for job. Instead of whining and grumbling about not knowing people, why not utilize the few people around you? Never underestimate the power of networking. It will surprise you how much the people around you can help. Distribute your CV to all the people that you think can help. Never feel discouraged even if nothing is coming your way after networking. Let it be a culture. I am sure we all know people that have gotten jobs via networking.

Even in the workplace, networking is one power way of achieving career progression. In my experience at the workplace, I have seen seemingly insurmountable obstacles destroyed by the power of a single phone call, or a simple friendly disposition. Some people call it ‘office politics’. But there is nothing wrong in ‘office politics’ in itself, as long as it is not sacrificed for merit. From my experience, managing people (be it customers, colleagues, bosses, clients, partners, subordinates, etc) is the most challenging part of my career. You need to learn to properly manage people to achieve remarkable results and grow career-wise.

Another way of getting a job is by recommendation. This is most common for professionals with specialized skills, or highly experienced professional. It is also common for service-oriented professionals such as web designers, civil engineers, architects, consultants, etc. Some people also get recommended based on their integrity. I will 3 examples of recommendations. I have heard of a case in which a graduating student was recommended to top institutions by their well heard professors. A friend of mine (with a 2.2 in a social science course) got employed as an admin staff by one of the biggest Nigerian companies dealing with machineries. He wrote no test, neither did he attend any interview. He got the job entirely by recommendation, because he handled a similar but lower job with a high level of integrity and transparency. The close relative of mine who finished with a third class in engineering, also gets contracts based on the quality of jobs he had handled in the past. I can go on and on, but I will stop here.

4. Job Fair
This is also known as career fair. It is a fair in which employers, recruiters, and schools meet with job seekers. I don’t know so much about this but I know a number of people that got recruited via career fair. I guess it is common practice in UK to hold career fairs, and some Nigerian organizations participate in career fairs abroad, especially those looking to recruit intelligent MSc graduates from top UK schools. My first employer usually participates in job fairs abroad. They recruited a number of fresh graduates from top UK schools before I left. Some top UK schools (like Imperial College) usually attract many recruiters, though having an MSc in a top UK is not a guarantee especially in these days of economic crunch.

5. Recruitment from school
While I was still in school, I know many organizations go different Nigerian universities to conduct job tests and interviews for final year student. I’m aware of KPMG, P & G, Dangote, some banks (during the booming Soludo era), NB, etc. Unfortunately, no one came to my school when I was in final year. I’m not sure if this is still a common practice. I think it’s mainly a publicity stunt – I may be wrong. Besides, I don’t know anyone that got recruited through this medium except two persons. And this is because they served in that particular organization. Their other successful colleagues, who couldn’t serve in the company were rejected after service because there was no longer any vacant slot.

6. Linkedin
Linkedin is the ‘facebook’ of professionals in all occupations. You can build your career profile, source for jobs and join different professional networks and group. You can get recommendations from professionals, and also recommend others. You can also get endorsements, and endorse people. You can a ‘brand’ for yourself in linkedin. It is also an avenue for employers to look for employees that fit their profile. Linkedin is not widely used in Nigeria – maybe because most Nigerian job seekers are ignorant about linkedin or have taken time out to build an attractive career profile. It also appears that Most Nigerian organizations have not adopted it as a way fo sourcing for job, and still prefer the traditional way of advertisement. I never used linkedin, and I have a low profile on linkedin. I have decided to include it here because I know a UK-based Nigerian professional who has attended a few interviews with some recruiters that contacted him on linkedin. Linkedin is particular suited for experienced professionals, or professionals with particular skill set. Notwithstanding, I will encourage all job seekers to open and update their profile on linkedin. There are various sites online that guide job seekers on how to use linkedin for job searching.

7. Hardcopy CV distribution

I am aware that some job seekers distribute hard copies of their CV’s to different organizations, especially after an information. Many people have told me about how they went round various companies distributing their CV’s. A old friend of mine, who is now self-employed told me of how he went round various financial institutions in VI / Ikoyi / Marina axis in 2012/2013, submitting his CV’s. I have never heard of a successful tale. Personally, I do not think it is an effective way of searching for jobs. I think it shows desperation on the part of the job seeker. I encourage anyone who has had a successful tale in this job searching method to share his experience for all to learn.

8. Recruitment Agencies
Recruitment agencies assist various organizations to provide needed manpower. They simply match employers to employees that meet their criteria. In many cases, major organizations patronize recruitment/consulting firms to help conduct test and interviews. A well-known example is the 2010 NNPC recruitment. The NNPC nationwide test was organized and conducted by Philips Consulting. Also, Adexen is another major HR/recruitment company that sources for manpower for various organizations. It also conducts tests and interviews on behalf of organizations. There are quite a number of notable recruitment agencies where you submit your CV online (or register online) freely. You will be included in their database and you will be able to freely apply for openings via their website. In many cases, you may received periodic job alerts on your email box. A few collect a token for registration.