The major problem with
entry level particularly from this part of the world is that job applicants at the
job entry stage over-rely on their certificate(s). Right from NYSC camp, they do more of getting
certificates instead of acquiring skills needed in corporate world.
image source: mindthegap.ng
I was a victim of such circumstance until I
realized the skills I needed to survive are not the accumulated certificates,
rather it the value that comes from skills acquired in a defined career path.
I discovered that corporate firms are interested
on how many problems I can solve for them not how many certificates I obtained.
I was made to realize that B.Sc., HND, ND, etc are used for classification,
especially in non-professional courses.
How
you can get a good job at entry level without a referral
As a professional
recruiter, trainer and administrator I discovered that most entry level
applicants apart from overlying on their certificates, either unconsciously or
deliberately refuse to develop their competencies.
To get a good job without
god-fathers or referrals, you have to bear in mind that certificate is mainly for
classification or grading; indeed it may not really be an indicator for
performance, because of the society will found ourselves.
What most employers look
out for are level of skills possessed, both soft skills and hard skills that
could be easily translate into value by the organization.
CASE STUDY 1
Maryanne Ojo studied
Microbiology from one of the prestigious South –South Universities in Nigeria.
Her story, like that of every other Nigerian, is that her parents wanted her to
study medicine against her will and competence. So, she applied for medicine,
but she was offered Microbiology. At
graduation, she discovered she has phobia for blood.
Then she sought for a customer
care job and secured one from a private firm. At the stage of looking for job,
she took her time to study the requirement of Customer service personnel, took
several training related to the career path, of course this could be what
landed her the job.
At the course of working
she continues with training these include Organizational Culture Alignment, a
course organized by me some time ago.
She demonstrated her competencies
and skills, which took her from Service Care Personnel to become MD of same
organization within two year. In summary, she was appointed unto that position
by the CEO, who has not gone for vacation for years, who came to the decision after
seeing her level of her skills and competence, not her certificate. I will show
you more of this in another case study.
Following this, you do not
need to follow a hierarchical order:
1. Pick
a career path.
2. Seek
advice from those who had been in the field and excelled.
3. Know
all you need for you to excel in your chosen career path.
4. Know
and learn modern applications in your chosen career path.
5. Weigh
your passion on the chosen career path.
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