La-Job Portal

Our overview of how to apply for graduate jobs in Nigeria gives a checklist of tips for the three key stages: How to apply, The Job Search, applications, and interviews and assessment centres.

An impressive application especially as a recent graduate in Nigeria, The Job application doesn’t start with getting the right information about the specific vacancy of your choice: it begins with preparation with the right information, and preparation begins with you.

Do you know what you want out of your career, and what you have to offer? Have you researched the employer thoroughly, and can you give examples, drawn from your experience, of the competencies they are looking for? Read on to find out what to expect and how to succeed at each stage of the graduate recruitment process.

Every recent graduate in the business of getting a job in this era needs:

Step 1: A Good smartphone (no matter how cheap)
Step 2. A good monthly data plan (not all this 100 naira per month subscription) plus a good Internet connection.
Step 3. Access to power supply for a minimum of 2 hours daily.
Step 4. Network with “correct” groups.
Step 5. A laptop once in a while (could be your own, your neighbours own or you go to cyber Cafe).

Shell or Nestlé or whoever won’t hear you were broke and so you couldn’t come online to see their post for a vacancy that suited you.

The Job Search

9-5 approach.

For every Job research, there are different Job approaches.

1) The CV

2) LinkedIn

3) Referral Approach (through connections online and offline).

Of all approaches, the most effective is the referral approach.

For every Job application, your cover note is very important and most application with nobody letter might be instantly deleted and not considered at all.

The cover letter or body of the mail is very important in every application.

Irrespective of that you should never send only your CV. There must be a catchy message as the body of the mail to actually convinced the HR or Recruiter to open such mail.

Tips of Job search

Transitions to New Technology
Prepare for new interview tools
Don’t share everything online, don’t compromise your privacy.
Keep your data protected.

There are predators on job boards and social networks who prey on people who are anxious to find new opportunities.

Be conscious of what you post on all social media.

Negotiation is a necessity. Most persons struggle with negotiating their salaries, asking for a raise, or winning an upgrade to their benefits packages.

Put the work into maintaining a quality network. Quality connections don’t happen by accident. You have to consciously build it.

Filter what comes into your timeline.

Keep your Reference warm.

Part of building strong relationships with your network is staying in touch with people who will act as your references.

Keep core values in mind. You are more likely to get a job with the company if you share its core values.

Find a mentor:
To get ahead in your career, you need the kind of wisdom, guidance and total honesty a great mentor.

The said term “elevator speech” at times can connect to a mentor at times. The elevator speech should pinpoint how to solve the person problem or add a certain value, not to share your problem or pitted.

Don’t bug your mentors with text. Send text only when it important.

Tell your career story with little personality: people remember how someone’s story is told as much as they remember the content of the story itself. Stories without personality are forgettable. Plus a personal touch to create a reminder in the mind of your interviewer.

Cover letter is same as application letter.

In cases where a firm posts an advert for more than 4 roles

Apply for one role. Applying for more than one automatically disqualifies you.