HOW TO GET YOUR DREAM JOB

a) Prepare a CV

Prepare a CV (Curriculum Vitae). More often than not, this is your first contact with your prospective employer. Most companies nowadays do not have the time to go through “I beg to apply”. They simply ask for your CV. Your CV tells the story of who you are and what you have to offer.

There are hundreds of sites on how to prepare a good CV. This is your calling card. It has to make a good first impression. Use a professional looking font, and not something funky or jazzy. Summarize your information and go straight to the point. If you have not been working since the days of the civil war, then your CV should fit into 2-4 pages. Nobody has the time to read stories, especially when he has a truck load of CVs to scan through.

Have a career summary on the front page, so that your prospective employer can see what he is looking for upfront. Include dates/duration in your job experience entries, and do not try to panel beat or make your CV look good, when you do not have the experience. Your façade will come crashing down during the interview proper.

Make sure you qualify for the position before you apply in the first place.

b) Promote Yourself

After turning out a beautiful CV, a veritable work of art, the next step is in marketing yourself. This is where a lot of people develop cold feet. You have to first of all believe in yourself, and what you have to offer. Utilize your existing network (friends, acquaintances, church, old school mates etc) to distribute your CV. In these days of the internet, you can stay in Nigeria and get a job in UK, US, Australia, you name it. You don’t need to beat the streets, or get insulted by the gateman. Post your CV online. If you have the experience, don’t be scared of closing dates, send in your CV. The worst that can happen is, they through it away, or keep in view. A lot of company sites have vacancy/career links. Post your CV in season and out of season; that is if they do employ people in your field of study/experience. Some vacancies come up at short notice, and people with CVs already in the system are considered first.

Also, some companies hardly advertise. They deal with the CVs they already have. If yours is already in, then you are in contention. That is why it is very beneficial to send in your CV.

Employment agencies are also a good place to register with and upload your CV. Reputable ones have a large database of employers, and can match you with the right employer. They are more exposed than you are, and will have job openings in their database which are not in the public domain.

Be confident, and know that you have something to offer. Employers are looking for you. They have a problem while you have the solution. They are not doing you a favor. Believe in yourself.

c) Stay Current and Up-to-Date

Stay current with what is happening in your sector of the economy. There have been a lot of advances in virtually every sector. Most offices use computers and sofwares to do their job. If you cannot use a desktop computer in the 21st century, you are semi-literate.

Brush up your computer/software skills, even if you have the experience. For example, if you are a chartered accountant with 15 years experience and you don’t know how to use any accounting software, you are at a disadvantage.

Make friends with other job seekers, and share information. Being at the right place at the right time can make a lot of difference. They will tell you where and when it is happening. Keep your network active

d) Stay in Touch, and Keep Hope Alive

Follow up, if you can, the places you sent your CV to. Nowadays, you don’t have to physically visit the offices to communicate, simply call. Sometimes, it is not necessary to call. When they need you, they will get in touch. Sometimes, you will get calls when you least expected, from companies or agencies you have long forgotten after posting your CV.

Do not allow yourself to go into depression, especially if you have been on the job hunting avenue for a while. Job hunting is not a full time job. It is something you do a few hours a day. Find other interesting things to do, like hobbies. With a lot of time in your hands, this is an excellent opportunity to develop your talents and perhaps attain mastery. You can even take your talents to the next level by turning it into a business. Before you know it, you may not need a job anymore. You may be looking for good hands to employ.

Another way to get a job, especially if you are fresh from NYSC, without any experience, is to offer to work for a neighborhood small business for free. It may sound strange, but it does work. You need experience, and you are tired of being idle (assuming you are still sure of a roof over your head and at least two square meals). There is this company that has no vacancy, and has told you so. You can approach the owner, tell him you are aware there is no vacancy, but that you just finished your NYSC, you admire the company and would love to work for free to gain experience. More often than not, the person will be quite impressed, and may go out of his way to make room for you, and show you the ropes. What happens when there is eventually a vacancy? Your guess is as good as mine. You will get the job. Pure and simple. Not only will you get the job, you will get a boss that has faith in you. If he says no, you simply move on.

After all said and done, have faith in God. Let him lead and direct your paths. It is not a matter of if, but when. Someday sometime soon, the postman will knock on your door with your employment letter. Keep hope alive.

Best Of Luck....