Are our colleges grooming us enough for the job market?

I recently stumbled over a material talking about something that seems to remain a constant truth in Nigeria. Every year, the over 100 universities,  these excluding polytechnics turn out graduates for the job market. This is something we should naturally have been happy with.  But there is a dimension that continues to bother my mind. That is, how much training for the real world are we getting from our higher schools of learning.  It appears that a lot of emphasis continue to be placed on course work at the sacrificial table of practicality.

Our graduates are becoming unfit for the world of career development basically because they now attend schools to make grades and graduate.  They are not groomed, not trained in their area of specialisation. We will continue to have a challenge in our economic development as long as many are not able to apply their knowledge and skills on the job.

What career can a youth groom when he is unable to learn enough about his expectations in a job? When he can't think outside the box strategically? When all he thinks is a job for the sake of its remuneration and not the impact he wields on his present position?

We wont go far as a nation if we don't stem this disaster now. Lets work it out, as it begins with you and I.

Mentoring- A beneficial career stimulant

Most of the great career professionals and businessmen and women today can trace their success to a figure, a mentor who impacted positively on them through their formative years. Mentoring simply put is a situation where an individual pairs with another who is an expert in a chosen field or skill.

Mentoring is regarded as a mutually beneficial partnership between the mentor and mentee. For a profitable career development therefore, this form of programme should be sort by people who desire to go far on their career path!

Career mentoring is not a job waiting in the near future to be cashed upon. It is not a situation for people to make decisions for you. It is a mutual partnership.  It is a situation where the mentor serves as a motivator to you,inspiring and encouraging you to greater heights. It is about offering you alternative perspective and sharing personal experiences and expertise with you. Therefore it goes to say a mentor is not one who simply provide you solutions.

To advance in your career will mean seeking out great minds.  There are a number around you. Be open to new ideas and experience whilst accepting feedbacks and learning from it.

Get an edge now. Speak up, find a worthy ally on your way up!

©credit on picture to www.mindtools.com

Recognising the catalyst for career growth in high schools

Schools and their academic tone seems to be first in the hands of their managers, in high schools, principals. Its against this backdrop that the school and its vision as well as its dedication to providing career path of students cannot be overemphasized.  School principals are known to support the drive for students achievements and successes. So no parents should take this for granted.  Whilst your child may be intelligent,  it takes a good school manager to help nurture such intelligence and bring the best out of it.

For parents, it is advisable that you get familiar with your children's principal much as is to know their teachers. Introduce yourself at the next chance possible. You will find how eager they are to meet you and their desire for your own input.

There is no loss in knowing the school manager... its a way to help them motivate those who shape the career dreams of your children. Try that out today and watch how much success you will claim for your child, in career terms!

Are you networking enough to get your career ahead

Where is your networking taking you to? Many people seeking a career or employment over the past years will attest to the fact that they have visited countless dozen online job sites, in vein search for a job. Averagely they send in about three CVs weekly and still get no response. They are the ones who stay online all day forwarding and attaching cover letters and CVs to potential employees.

However, many have ignored their networks. Many social meetings and media will continue to provide opportunities for people to quickly share their skills with those they meet. Use every chance to sell yourself, know what you are good at. Present them in active sentences. Why not try to make a new friend at the car wash, when at the mall, or in church. You will find that the opportunity to talk to them yields something positive for you. They may get attracted by your talent or skill and/or may know someone they can recommend you to.

Never assume its something shameful to tell others about your need for a job, or the need to move to a different career field. More often you will find that many people also desire as you do and they can also share one information needful to you about where and how.

Take the network seriously ... not just your Facebook or twitter, but every avenue that brings you in contact with people!

Give us a feedback on this when you try it out today.

Psychometric Test- what career suits me?

Have you ever tried it? Giving up less than an hour to determine in no small measure your strengths and perhaps weaknesses professionally. Most online sites provide free psychometric test that has provided career minded people with a better information about their personality and skills coupled with their aptitude.

Many people find it embarrassing to be graded by others.  This tool therefore comes handy to you. I am sure it will be worth the effort. A phychometric test will not make you feel inferior in any ways. It will only serve as a pointer to you, helping you save the much scarse time available in today's world of advancements.  It would help you define even better and shape more accurately your career. Don't rely on guesses, or put down in writing skills that you assume or guess you possess.

Build upon the skills you now have, but first find out what they are. Try out these sites for a start. See www.monroeconsulting.com/recruitment-resources/free-psychometric-test and www.practiceaptitudetests.com/psychometric-tests/

Let us know how it went

picture credit: wikihow.com

Letting your skills work for you- transfer them

This past week I read about how three Nigerian Banks laid off staff. In all, over 350 persons were laid off. The latest being just a few days before the new year. Its sad how these employees have to manage through the abrupt depression they find themselves.

Technological advancement will continue to make job elimination as well as organizations downsizing a common trend. Armed with such information,  career minded persons must brace up to this challenge as no one knows who's next. Faced with such reality, forced to find a new employment,  workers next ask " what else am I qualified to do?".

Good news is, through your present career you are learning and using skills which can come handy to you again. Now is the time to identify such skills and groom them even more.  They would come as assets shortly if you decide to even become self employed too. The skills include communication and writing skills, computer skills, as well as management experience.

Are you trying to build these and many more skills that you would transfer when it becomes needful?

Hiring- online job portal as preferred channel

The print media seems to be loosing much ground in terms of acceptance especially among career persons and job seekers. There seem to be a heavy reliance on job portals as can be seen in Nigeria.

Though there has been no recent surveys to show how much of online portal has gained acceptance among Nigerians, there is no doubt saying that it is really a point of first contact for most job seekers today.

The preferred social media channels that are used for hiring are LinkedIn, jobberman, ngcareers as well as naijahotjobs.

The choice seems to favour organisations as it is cost and time effective.  It also appears to reach more people and thus providing a larger and more reliable pipeline for quality talents.

Which of these sites appeal with you most? How well do you relate with it? Share your thoughts with us please

Resumes and words that are overused

Responsible, strategic and creative thinker? These words appeared to be the most used by potential employees as revealed through the 2013 Linkedin's survey on the most overused words by the over 259million users.

Nicole William, career expert at Linkedin notes that it would make a better presentation to show rather than tell when selling yourself on resumes.

While there's nothing wrong with using those adjectives, there's the possibility that you will be classed with all in the job pool as nearly everyone else has the same words on their resume.

It would therefore make sense if

1. Tie words to actual result
2. Use active language
3. Let others vouch for you through endorsement or recommendations

Do you think those words listed above have been a hamper to some seeking employment towards landing a job interview?

Is internship now without stipends?

Many years ago, graduates from colleges followed on with internship programmes in organizations. This approach was a sure way to help Horne their skills and careers. Internship programmes have never been salaried. In fact a number of them only provided for perhaps transportation and minor allowances.

Unfortunately this is becoming a fast fabulous expectation of a distant past. Internship in career growth is now becoming the last option for young people as economic challenges continue to assault the citizenry. Many are not able to cope with the biting cost of transportation and are not able to manage the period of internship in an organization that wont give a stipend. Have you been a victim of this before? Lets hear from you.

Millions of youth out of school or work

It is estimated that over 6million youths are not in school nor have a job in the United States of America. The story is even worse in Africas most populated country, Nigeria. The implication of this is grave as there will be an economic down side to this. In a few years to come, we may need to spend more money in the area of social security, poverty management, corruption and falling health. It is more likely that youths unemployed will continue to seek ways to escape depression springing up from lack of a job or atleast the chance to study and prepare for life. What do you feel will help to stem this doom day which is not far off,anyway? Lets hear from you.

How prepared are graduates for work life?

There is a lot of complaints streaming from employers about the quality of graduates that are churned out from our colleges of learning. Many a graduate come out ill prepared to take up jobs available to them. More worrisome is the fact that most of them apply to jobs just to get Monthly incomes and not because what they applied for matches interest. This is even against the initial backdrop that most college graduates study a discipline different from what they initially desired. It is no wonder that we are far from career satisfaction and many will continue to be dissatisfied through their worklife! Do you think this is a challenge to us?

Career and personality

Very often we ignore the will to develop a strong personality towards reaching a great career. A persons personality will continue to contribute to his overall choice of career and profession. Never delve into a career without being sure how you fit into it. You may as well end up feeling detached and unfulfilled in your job and career if you so ignored this. What do you think?

Choosing a career with relevant skills

Choosing a career can be a daunting task. However, it may be important to decide what career matches your skills. What skills do you presently have and can profitably enjoy promoting? Most people do not know enough about what they have within. Could you try out by asking friends or relatives what they think your best skills are? Compare it with what you feel is,then groom expertise in it!

Welcome

Dear friends,

It is with great delight that I write this premier blog on this platform "realities from dreams". It is a premier discourse and I am sure that we will be able to bring the issues of career management to the best position we want it to be. Realities from Dreams will endeavor to bring up issues of interest around career, and I do hope that we will develop a  mutual relationship as the days parade by.

Very often we are caught in a web of dreaming and not realizing them as should. I have often wondered why many young people are in the euphoria of going to have a descent education with not much knowledge about the arrays of educational careers and options. A few hours ago, I had to advise a young man of 18 on what to do with his career. He has become mortified with the options that have been presented to him by one of Nigeria's leading tertiary institution. Should he study in the departments that is not linked to his desire or should he just write the qualifying exams again. Many a times, we are very quick to suggest he picks up the course for all it is worth. But are we also sure he will do well when he gets to study it round and out? What is his aptitude? What skills does he possess? There are many questions begging for attention and I am sure that letting out the dreams will be just what is needed to birth a reality. And it is on this note that I welcome you all to my blog, realities from dreams!

It is hoped that in the next few months, we will have the chance to relate and bring to the fore basic issues that will crystallize the convictions which we share. I am hopeful that we will be able to create a great alliance of mind in Nigeria as we bring the issue of career management from where it is to where we want it to be. I am happy to be your co-facilitator as we voyage into this path together!

Yours sustainably,

Jeph Ighodaro
Principal Consultant/CEO
Availah Deroy Consulting