Letter to the Nigerian job seeker

Dear Jobseeker,

I emphatised with your situation of joblessness especially with little help from expected quarters. Having had periods of unemployment myself, I understand some of your challenges. It must be particularly difficult in an environment where the price of everything is skyrocketing at uncontrollable speed. Moreover, it must be difficult in today’s Nigeria where people show off their riches, however acquired, in an obscene manner.  

It must be particularly frustrating that you have skills and experiences that you are unable to put to productive and creative use. I can imagine your sleepless nights over this. Chances are that you have heard stories that your friends in other countries get helped in a lot of ways by their governments either through jobseekers allowance, free or subsidised vocational training or small business loans or grants.    

I am sorry to echo the sad really of the environment you live in Nigeria. The terrible reality is that there are simply not enough jobs out there. There are no industries or enough thriving businesses being established! The biggest employer in Nigeria is the Civil Service. If you not already know that, the Civil Service is too bloated to employ more. To further compound that problem, you would struggle to get into the civil service if you do not have an ‘Oga at the Top’. The Oga could be your parents, relations or a sugar daddy!

If the thought of ‘when am I going to get a job and be able to fend for myself’ comes to your mind regularly, I am here to say do not despair, it’ll be here sooner than your present situation might suggest. The current cloud will soon disappear and your star will be out shining brightly.

For that to happen though, may I suggest the following radical steps?

One, stop the blame game! Have you attributed your unemployed situation to lack of proper government policies? Stop! Stop!! Stop!!! You have to start believing there is no government in Nigeria. Developing this mindset will enable you to develop a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) mentality. With such mentality, you will be able to come to the rational conclusion that there is no point waiting for a government that does not exist.

Read the above paragraph again and let it sink in!

Secondly, are you one of those who believe ‘there are no jobs’ out there? Stop! Stop!! Stop!!! Yes of course there may not be enough jobs for all unemployed people out there (by the way, no country is free from unemployment issues). But I will like to suggest that there are more jobs for a lot of currently unemployed people. There may be a job waiting for you this minute.

I hope you’re not one of those unemployed people who are blind to the fantastic opportunities around them. You need to ask yourself whether you’re too unrealistic about what is possible. For example, some people only want to work in Banking, oil and gas sectors or to be a personal Assistant to a Governor/Minister.

Don’t get me wrong, these are legitimate aspirations but it may not necessarily materialize via your first job. The reasons are that there are many others looking for exactly the same types of jobs. But you need to start working on something especially because there are not enough jobs out there.

Thirdly, re-define what a job means. Many people erroneously assume a job to mean working for some ‘employer’ who gives them an office, a daily schedule of what to do and at the end of the month pays them a salary. This is a popular interpretation among Nigerians. But a job is more than that.

We know that a job provides means of livelihood, an office and a monthly salary. But there is nothing in it that says you have to be working for somebody else. A job can also be one in which you are your own boss, you set your own time, agenda, manage yourself and determine your own pay. An example of such job is – marketing or selling.

Marketing or selling is a tough job to start out. But believe me, it is one that rewards you handsomely after a few years of dedication and hard work. Besides, it enables you to set your own agenda, and freedom to do other things without being tied to a boss or desk.

The good life is waiting, seize this time to re-orientate yourself and do something different. Good luck!

If you would like to explore your chances in this field, I would be happy to be your Mentor. Just get in touch.