CV Disaster: People missing opportunities

It  is very common for job seekers to say "there are no Jobs".
I have noticed that even when there are jobs, there are no qualified people or the qualified people have a poor way of showcasing their skills.

Recently, there was a vacancy for an accountant in the organization I work. I reached out to small social media groups that I belonged to, requesting for qualified CVs, stating the requirement for the job and channel of submission. I made the description very brief such that any person that received it could copy and paste the opportunity easily for a friend of family.

Fresh Graduate Opportunities at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Are you a fresh graduate with a minimum of 2nd Upper Class Division? Have you completed your NYSC?

 Regardless of any discipline you graduated from, PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria of offering you the opportunity to be a part of the firm.

The 2016 Graduate recruitment program for Assurance and Tax Regulatory Services in PwC Nigeria is on.

See Full Job Description Here

Apply Here

Apply Here, To Train in The Guinness & NAPTIN's Skill Development Scholarship Only For Electrical/Electronics and Mechanical Engineering Graduates.

Guinness is offering bright, ambitious graduates of Electrical/Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, a unique opportunity to train at the prestigious National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN)

This Scholarship will provide full tuition for engineering graduates (from Guinness Nigeria's Host Community) to enroll for the 2015/2016 one year Graduate Skills Development Programme (NGSDP).

Graduates in the following communities are encouraged to apply;

• Ogba, Ikeja Local Government Area, Lagos State.
• Oregbeni, Oregbeni Ikpokta-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State.
• Egbeluowo, Osisioma Ngwa Lacal Government Area, Abia State.
• Odeukwu, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, Abia State.

Eligibility

• Candidates must be University/Polytechnic Electrical/Electronics and Mechanical Engineering graduate who have completed their National Youth service Corps Programme
• Applications are only open to graduates of the above communities.

Application Procedure;

Candidates who qualify should visit NAPTIN Portal; www.naptinportal.com.ng (Click on the Sign Up As a Trainee) tab on the home Page.

Deadline: Wednesday 11 November, 2015.

Selection Criteria:

Shortlisted candidates will required to writ a NAPTIN Selection test which holds on Saturday 14 November, 2015.

Venue: NAPTIN Regional Training Center, 73 Adelabu Street, Off Alhaji Masha Bus Stop, Akangba, Surulere, Lagos.

Time: 8:00am

Note: Assessment for those who have already applied  following NAPINS earlier advert is on Saturday & November, 2015.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to provide a letter of Introduction from the Chairman of their Community Development Association.

Visit www.naptin.org.ng for more information on NAPTIN Graduate Skill Development  Programme.

Contact: Ohue Tony-Allens (Program Manager/Coordinator)

Email: teeallenso@naptin.org.ng; teeallenso@yahoo.com

Mobile Numbers: 07067777818, 08057777266

Opportunity Strictly For Graduates Currently Undergoing NYSC

Interested serving NYSC members are hereby requested to apply online immediately.

Application closes midnight of 3 November, 2015.

Apply at PwC for Administrative Assistant, Office Assistant and Customer Relations Officer Positions: With Little or no Experience

The Company:  PricewaterhouseCoopers

Job Title:   Administrative Assistant

Location: Lagos


Responsibilities:

• Must have high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. 
• Must be able to communicate professionally with individuals at all levels.

Requirements:

• Must possess a good first degree from reputable University/Polytechnic
• Must have good knowledge of computer software and Microsoft Office suite.
• Work require continual attention to detail in a fast paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing task and demands

Deadline: 15 October 2015

Click here to apply



Job Title :  Customer Relations Officer

Location:   Lagos

Responsibilities:

The position is the first contact with the firm and reflects the firm's image. Thus;

• Enhance client's perception of PwC by providing distinctive and personalized response to visitors and callers
• Communicate courteously with clients and staff members by email, letter or face to face.
• Take and receive messages for various personnel.
• Communicate various issues with appropriate personnel
• Manage reception area
• Call in and pick up delivery of express mail services ( FedEx, UPS and DHL..etc)

Requirements:

• Must possess a good first degree from reputable University/Polytechnic
• Excellent communication skill
• Proficiency in computer and internet skills
• Excellent phone etiquette
• Previous experience in similar job role
• Ability to speak other languages will be an added advantage

Deadline:  15 October 2015

Click here to apply


Job Title: Office Assistant

Responsibilities:

• Sort and Distribute internal incoming mails
• Deliver quality service to staff and clients by providing necessary support
• Ensure effective and efficient supervision of contractors
• Assist in ensuring clean desk in the office
• Assist in distributing consumables
• Routine inspection of office equipment and promptly escalate to appropriate personnel. etc

Competencies:

• Physically fit
• Reliable and punctual
• Good literacy and numerical skills
• Self Motivated
• Computer Literate
• Able to write reports
• Good disposition

Requirements:

• Experienced in clerical and administrative roles
• Maximum of OND in Business Admin or Related Discipline
• Below 36 years

Deadline: 20 October 2015

Click here to apply

Goodluck!!!!

The Job Interview 1: Why Should I Hire You?

I am not a HR expert,  I have been in a few job interview panel. I have been interviewed myself but what I am writing about today is based on resources, experiences and now, I see things from the employers perspective.

Why Should I Hire You?

The most common, first response to this would be, a list of qualifications and summary of achievement and experience. What next?

Lets pause for a minute;

I read an article recently from observer.com and they talked about FEATURES and BENEFITS. 

It says, your background,  experience and education are just features and they are what got you to the door of the interview.

As for benefits, that is what will get you the job

Here are other ways these questions would have been asked;

How would you benefit my company?

What other thing can you bring in, to add value to my company and  help it grow?

What will you do differently, to improve my company? 

in this situation, the interviewer wants to know your benefits to the company.

It is obvious the whatever you have, someone else have got it, Is there something else that makes you different?

Always answer this question with benefits first, followed by the "relevant" features. 

Example - For a customer relationship job interview.

Benefits

• I will develop a data process for clients and enable real time update of their status with the firm. This will include the profile, current, past and future relationship, prospects and opportunities.

Features

• In my last job, I developed a client stream database so we had a consistent and streamlined client information and relationships regardless of who is on the job. I will give you an upgraded version of this. It will help manage your firm's relationship with your clients.

Make sure you streamline your answer to your work experiences

When next you are asked, Why Should I Hire you?

How different will your answer be?

Undergraduates and Graduates of Agriculture Related Courses must Know why Agricultural Profession Pays

Why Agriculture Profession Pays

During my undergraduate days, I found a lot of my school mates who studied agriculture related courses feel that they just have to get into school.
Some of them said they never wanted to study Agriculture but they have to be graduates anyway.

What is the Trend Today.

African is still either under developed or developing to the rest of the western world. The three Main Areas that western countries and organisation seek to help African in are, Education, Health and Agriculture.

For the past years, big organisations like WHO, IITA, World Bank, UN, FIAN, Mercy Corps, CARE, One Acre Fund, have funded projects that are all agriculture related.

There has been constant need for professionals in Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Technology, Land Management, Crop protection, Environmental management, Project Management ( Agriculture Experience), Program Officer ( Agriculture Experience) etc.

I spoke with a friends who wants to completely leave his Second Class upper B.Sc degree in Agriculture for an M.Sc in International Business,

I wondered if these four years in the university are going to be in vain.

Can you see, the World's economy is shifting in trend and agriculture is taking the lead.

Rate of crisis is on the rise. It gives rise to hunger thus, the need for food security.

Here are Agriculture related areas for Higher Degree, that will give you an edge 

•  Professional Certification in Project Management,
• Agriculture and Environmental Science
• Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
• Agricultural Development Economics
• Crop Protection and Improvement
• Environmental Management for Agriculture
• Conservation and Land Management
• Post Harvest Practice and many more.

I have compiled the most recent job opportunities in Nigeria related to Agriculture. It will be out in my next post.

World Bank's Free Online Trainings, to Enhance Your Career Path: Undergraduate, Fresh Graduates, NGOs and Non-NGO

Financially, so many people are not capable of getting internationally certified higher education and degrees. Even when the money is available, there are some basic short courses we wish to enroll in but can't get it on a platter.

I have extensively built my knowledge and career from free online courses and they offer certificates at the end.

I always looked out for authentic, certified and accredited learning portals. The contents of the course syllable is also very important.

Today I am sharing very relevant short, upcoming courses, provided by World Bank's e-Institute.

Courses ranging from Governance, Budget and Finance, Health Management, Agriculture, Climate change, Gender Equality, Policy, Health Economics and many more.

Undergraduates in Health Sciences, Public Health, Agriculture Economics, Finance and Accounting, Social Work and other Social Sciences, these courses will help give you a better understanding of what areas you wish to go for and why you want to be there.

UPCOMING COURSES

Opportunity For Fresh Graduates

Sahara Group:

Graduate Talent Management Program

The Focus here is to develop high-value individuals in an international environment, with a focus on energy and infrastructure.

Requirements:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Other than English, one foreign international Language would be an added advantage.
• University degree form a reputable University, 2nd Class Upper minimum,
• 0 - 2 years post NYSC experience
• Minimum, 26 years as at Dec 2015

APPLY

Expires 15 Sep

Undergraduates Should know this by Now

In the past year, I can't count how many times i have said, "I wish I all these before now".

Graduate of Industrial Chemistry in Nigeria, Where is the opportunity. It is either you stay without a job or you go with what any job you are able to get.

Count down from eight years ago;

NYSC: Taught Chemistry at a secondary school and enjoy it while it last.

Post NYSC:
Furniture Company for 3 years: I was in sales, market, inventory. had no clue about what i was going into. They told me that i was going to sell furniture, but it was all marketing.

I had no experience but i had to earn money. I had a manager who taught me everything. She even taught me how to market and sell second hand furniture at a very good rate.
Shortly i became a pro, my performance outweighed my salary, I was placed on a commission.
Commission are good. It helps control how you earn. I earned enough money to sponsor my MSc abroad but i didn't.
Then I turned independent marketing officer and got credits for it.

An Education Firm for 2 years: Yeah, my administrative and management skills were enhanced here. I dealt with a lot of clients of different temperament and scaled through to heading one of the branches.

Management firm for 2 years: I have started enjoying management and administrative jobs so i took this job at at a conglomerate. Office and Client Management. it was quiet interesting.

Another Management and Consulting Firm, still here: I feel there is more to my movement towards becoming a management consultant.

What am I Selling?

I am selling experience and value but I could sell more for something better if i had it all backed up with certifications, higher degrees and credits and professional developments.

8 years already gone, Why am i just realizing that now?

My orientation about the career world has completely changed.
For example, when my mum did MBA, I always thought that an MBA is stagnant and limited because one can't head to a PhD with it. Now I crave to have one and even go further.

I have to an extent, been exposed to all works of life and I can tell about careers that are thriving in our Nigerian society and are connected to top national and international firms

I wish i knew all these before. I would would have worked my eight years into a top level.

Are you in Secondary or undergraduate,

What do you really want to be in future?
What do you enjoy doing in terms with career?
What is your discipline?
Where do you want to be in five years and how is your Course of study relevant to it?
Is there something more, to enhancing you university degrees so that by the time you graduate, you will have an edge over your mates.
Any body can be a doctor but how good can you be at.
Would being a doctor bring out the best in you?

If you are a fresh graduate, No time i too late.

This is beyond internship, it is about making yourself resourceful.

Email me: bichiny@live.com - your course of study and I will tell you the best way to go about it so that at the end of you degree, you will be different from the rest.