Smart ways to give your career a boost

Most successful people give 90 percent. They stay in the moment, tackle their projects slowly but steadily, and don't waste time worrying about what's ahead. (Los Angeles Times/Allen J. Schaben)
Marty NemkoU.S. News & World Report

Don't give 110 percent.
I know a friend who always gives 110 percent. Yes, he reaps rewards, but he's stressed out much of the time, makes mistakes as a result, and hasn't developed close relationships. The most successful people I know give 90 percent. They stay in the moment, tackle their projects slowly but steadily, and don't waste time worrying about what's ahead. They also have the emotional reserves to develop relationships and enjoy work.

Get evaluated by your colleagues.
You know you should get a 360-degree evaluation. Most people are too scared to ask trusted colleagues for feedback, but force yourself. It's key to your growth. It's better to know the bad news so that you can try to improve. You may receive more praise than you think.

Become an entrepreneur.
America has entrepreneurship woven into its warp and woof, so it's easy to learn. Take a course at a university extension, read a good book on entrepreneurship, or take a job--even a menial one--at the elbow of a successful entrepreneur. Then start a low-cost venture, such as a Web-based service (rather than something involving a product).

Be pleasant.
Standard advice usually omits this key to success: Be enjoyable to be around. Whether you're an employee or self-employed, people prefer to work with those who make their lives more pleasant. They'll often prefer a likable person even over a more competent one.

Cure your perfectionism.
A number of my clients are such perfectionists that they make every task painful to complete. I suggest that for every major task, you set a timer for three minutes and, in that time, list all the steps needed to complete the task. Make the steps as fun as possible. Then tackle each step sloppily, perhaps in just three minutes each. Then keep revising each step until it's done well enough.

Cure your lazy procrastination.
If you're consciously procrastinating, the cause and cure usually lie in one of these: laziness, fear of failure, or fear of success. If it's laziness, remind yourself that, like a drug addict, you'll find that the long-term pain will outweigh the short-term pleasure. Also, think how good you'll feel when you get the task done and reap the benefits.

Cure your fearful procrastination.
Sometimes fear of failure is a legitimate self-warning, but often it's irrational. Remember that if you don't try, you ensure failure. If you try and fail, won't you survive? Failures may help you realize you are average; not everyone can be a star. But plain folk are worthy, too. Some people procrastinate because they fear their success will make someone feel bad. Remember that worthy people will rejoice in your success. No one who resents your success deserves your self-sabotage.

Stop pursuing happiness.
I could be happy watching movies, eating, and having sex all the time, but that would hardly be a life well led. If happiness occurs while I'm producing something beneficial, fine. But pursuing happiness for its own sake distracts from making a contribution, which is the core of that well-led life.

Be nice, even when it's inexpedient.
Being nice to your boss can lead him to conclude, "He's happy here. I don't need to give him a raise." Be nice anyway. That ensures that even if you're just an average person, you'll have been a positive influence on the world. Many stars can't say that.

Strategies for Getting Yourself Promoted

Some career experts say that the day you start a new job you should begin planning for your next job. And you know what? You should! Just make sure that you stay focused enough on the job you were hired for that you succeed and excel in that position before looking for the next one.
Promotions are not a given. It used to be that workers progressed along specific career paths during their careers, but the impact of technology, globalization, and flatter organizational structures, has changed that paradigm. Today, employees have to create and manage their own career paths -- through one or multiple organizations. And remember that a promotion is not always an upward path. Sometimes -- especially in today's business environment -- you may need to make a lateral move to position yourself for a later upward move. How do you develop your promotion plan? Incorporate these 10 strategies into your plan.

 1. Develop Mentoring Relationships
One recent study found that in four out of five promotions, those promoted had a mentoring relationship with someone higher in the company who helped spread the good word about them. Some companies have formal mentoring programs, but even if your company does not, there are still ways you can build relationships with people in higher positions in the company. Mentors can also be great sources for information and career guidance.

2. Quantify Results
While promotions are not necessarily based on your past performance, you can certainly make a much better case for a promotion by showing detailed information about your past successes. Those who get results get ahead. Keep a record of everything you do that enhances the company's bottom line, that puts the company or your department in a good light, that is creative and innovative, and that shows your loyalty and commitment to the organization.

3. Practice Self-Promotion
We're taught by our families that modesty is a virtue, but just as with job-hunting, if no one knows how great you are, you simply won't get ahead. Be a known quantity. If you have had major accomplishments or created new or award-winning programs, make sure people know about them -- especially the people doing the promoting. Sell yourself -- and let it be known that you are seeking a promotion. One professional we know sends out a monthly email to his boss and his boss's boss to keep them updated on his progress on various projects -- and to share any accomplishments and accolades that occurred in the previous month.

4. Establish a Bond with Your Boss
It might help to think of your boss as one of those border guards between countries. S/he can either be raising the gate and waving you onward and upward to your next position within the company, or s/he can be keeping the gate down and blocking you from any movement within the company. Use all opportunities to make your boss a key supporter of your promotion.
Use professional settings to seek counsel and stress your interest in staying with the 
company. Use performance appraisals not just to go over your accomplishments, but to talk with your boss about potential roadblocks to a promotion -- and how to overcome those roadblocks. Some experts also suggest building rapport with your boss by learning more about his or her outside interests and hobbies -- and then chatting about them during conferences, parties, or other informal activities.

5. Acquire New Knowledge and Skills
It goes without saying that one of the best ways to succeed in getting a promotion is to expand your knowledge and skills sets in areas that are critical to the organization. As technology and other environmental forces change rapidly, you need an ever-increasing skill set not only to perform your job, but to stay marketable. Experts also suggest that employees who want to get ahead should not only keep current with industry news and events, but to also pay attention to trends and events outside their specialty.

6. Build Your Network
The more people who know you, know your strengths and abilities, know your value to the organization, and know (at least some of) your ambitions, the more likely your name will be discussed when opportunities arise. An added benefit of networking is that you will learn 
much more about the company if you network with people in other areas of the organization. Learn more about networking here.

7. Ask for More Responsibilities
Volunteering to help out other departments or teams -- or simply asking for more responsibilities -- increases your value within the organization. Asking for more work shows your interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed -- as well as putting a spotlight on your value to the organization.

8. Act Professionally at All Times
Earn a reputation for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Act and look the part.
•    Dress professionally and neatly -- even on business casual days.
•    Ask questions when you aren't sure how to do something.
•    Dare to be different -- make yourself stand out from the pack.
•    Keep a positive outlook on things, even when in tough situations.
•    Don't whine or complain - or blame others -- when things don't go your way.
•    Make a name for yourself in your industry through conferences, articles, speeches.
•    Don't be a clock-watcher.
•    
Finally, be a problem-solver. Don't go to your boss with problems. If a difficult situation arises, be sure to come up with at least one solution before seeking your boss's blessing for dealing with the situation. Problem-solvers get promoted. Complainers who expect the boss to solve all their problems don't.

9. Be a Team Player
Because so much of work is now accomplished through teams -- departmental or cross-functional -- it becomes even more important to share successes with your team and to avoid pointing your finger when there are failures. And by being a team player, you only build your reputation and increase your value to the organization.

10. Create Your Own Opportunities
After studying the needs and challenges of the organizations, if you see an area that has been neglected -- and you have key skills in that area - write a proposal for a new position. And even if the company does not go for the new position, you have again shown your initiative, creativity, and value to the firm -- and these things can only help you the next time you request a promotion

Ways to use Social Media to boost your Career prospects

Its reality now that employers, both current and future, look you up online. And not just your LinkedIn profile—most of them will also click any public social network links that are floating around. But don’t panic. With a little effort, you can polish your profiles so your personality shines through and makes you a more attractive candidate to recruiters. Here are five tips for leveraging your social networks to give your career a competitive edge.

1. Keep it professional
It should go without saying that if you have a penchant for posting sexy selfies, risqué party pics, and curse-filled tirades, you should lock down public access to your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram profiles. Although the question of whether your boss can fire you because of something you posted on your own time is up for debate, you don’t want that photo of you at the business end of a beer bong to be the first thing that pops up when a potential employer Googles your name.

An employer's first impression of you may be something you posted on one of your social accounts. If your profiles don't pass professional muster, keep them locked down.

But making sure your profile is “professional” is about more than scrubbing NSFW content. If your networks are family-friendly but also family-only, you may want to keep them private rather than public. “Using non-professional social media in a professional setting can be tricky,” says Matt Brosseau, director of technology and recruiting at IT strategy and consulting company Instant Technology. “Twitter and Facebook are meant less for establishing yourself as a professional and more for facilitating conversation.”

2. Engage with others
Having thousands of Twitter followers is one thing, having significant influence over them is another. Are you an interesting, engaging online persona, or are you just collecting followers? Employers can check this—sites like Twitter Audit and Klout reveal if your followers are real and whether you’re an engager or just a broadcaster. It’s better to have a small, involved following than it is to have an ego-boosting number on your page.

“Personally, I don’t check candidates’ Klout scores,” says Tracey Russell, a recruiter at sales and marketing recruiting firm Naviga Business Services. “But I will pay attention if someone is active and engaging on Twitter.” According to Russell, who frequently sources “passive” candidates (people who are not actively looking for jobs), engagement on social media shows you’re passionate, you understand technology and social media, and you’re able to work with and talk to other people.

3. Show off your interests
There are hundreds of other candidates with your same level of education, work experience, and job-related skills. Demonstrating that you’re interested in a variety of things—not just being a punctual, detail-oriented team player—makes you stand out from the horde and helps employers make a deeper connection with you.

career sushi candidate profile part 1
Career Sushi is designed to showcase personal interests to employers, but you can use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to do the same.

One social network, Career Sushi, is designed to bring your personal interests to the fore, but you can also showcase them with your existing Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. Unless your passion is partying, you shouldn’t hesitate to post status updates and photos that display what you love doing in your free time. “Instagram photos that show varied interests, such as cooking, attending sporting events, and traveling show that you’re well-rounded and that you can balance work and life,” says social media and marketing consultant Jessica Hall.

4. Treat it like email
Social networks, especially Twitter, are inherently casual. But as a general rule, you should keep your tweets and status updates free of grammar and spelling mistakes, excessive emoticons, and gratuitous netspeak. This is especially important if you’re in, or looking for, a client-facing position—employers see your social media as a snapshot of how you relate to the public.

“I’m not sure what it is, but there seems to be something about social media that causes people to end every sentence with a smiley face or exclamation mark,” Hall says. “If I see someone that does this a lot, I run for the hills. They could be a highly intelligent person, but they elicit the image of a vapid sorority girl who says ‘like’ in between every other word. It’s hard not to imagine them sending professional emails in the exact same manner.”

Hall suggests treating social media like you would email: Only add emoticons and exclamation marks if they’ll convey tone or add context.

5. Brand yourself
The nice thing about social media is it only shows what you want it to show, so you can easily create a cultivated online image with a few well-placed status updates.

“If you Instagram photos of yourself at restaurant openings, or showing off new brands or hobbies or trips to off-the-beaten-path locales, you look like someone who’s an early adopter and who’s willing to try new things,” Hall says.

You can also leverage social media to ameliorate shortcomings you might have when it comes to first impressions. For example, if you look younger, using more refined speech in your status updates can convey experience and seriousness. Alternatively, if you’re older in an industry that values youth, you can use social media to show people you’re up-to-date with current trends and young at heart.

A Simple Strategy to Boost Your Career

Do you want to get promoted, energize your job, or get a raise?

Your best tactic isn’t glamorous and it doesn’t require any major training. But it will heighten your boss’s appreciation of you today and establish your track record through future upswings and downturns.

Enough suspense. Here it is: Writing a biweekly or monthly “executive briefing”—or if you prefer, “executive update,” can not only protect your job, but enhance your status.
Perhaps you’re thinking “I already work really hard, with too little appreciation. Are you really telling me to add one more task to my already full plate? Yes, I am.

There are five substantial benefits for you:
1. Gain more respect. If you don’t give yourself credit, no one else will, either. Other people can only appreciate you fully if they fully understand what you contribute. You are more likely to be promoted and recognized if management keeps your achievements top of mind throughout the year.

2. Increase the value you bring to the table. Increasing your value is the best way to increase your compensation. Organizing your thoughts and questions demonstrates respect for your boss’s time. Your status reports enable your boss to remain fully and efficiently apprised of your work, redirect or facilitate your initiatives, respond with advice, add resources, or approve spending, all in a concentrated time period.  Providing a framework facilitates feedback and action. Your boss will more readily make a phone call or send an e-mail to troubleshoot a request that may be stuck in limbo. She is also likely to say “thank you” or “good job” more often and more genuinely.

3. Maintain a current documented record of the results of your work. When your boss reads about your work continually, she is more likely to provide real-time feedback, rather than spring surprises on you at the end of the program. You can react to these discussions with agility to stay aligned with her expectations and perceptions of your performance.  When the time comes for your formal review, four reports backing up your achievements strengthen your professional presentation with dignity, rather than defensiveness. You’ll also have a terrific head start for updating your résumé.

4. Focus your time to get the most bang for your buck. One client told me, “After you convinced me to write status reports, I began keeping myself more on track with actions and results. Now, I sometimes start a task, then realize it isn’t really meaningful enough to put on my status report. I’m motivated to do something more critical and so I try to delegate the other task to my staff or an outside resource.”

5. Increase your motivation, pride, and confidence. It’s easy to lose sight of our accomplishments amidst the day-to-day noise and challenges in our lives. Your status reports transport you from that for an hour or two, allowing you to stop and say, “Hey, I did all this and I did it well!”
Still in doubt? Here’s a true story:

“Nnenna” is an extremely dedicated and talented executive assistant to the CEO of an event management company. While reviewing the scope of her work, I asked if the CEO was duly impressed with her ability to manage so many projects across budgets, reports, event planning, and working with regulators. Her priceless response: “My boss knows what I do—he just doesn’t know all I do.”

Sound familiar?
Based on our initial discussions, Nnenna realized she wasn’t aware of all she did either. Her role had expanded over decades, but over 24 years, neither her title nor her position description had ever changed.
I asked how she kept the CEO updated on the breadth of activities she oversaw.  She initially informed me, in a somewhat patronizing manner “He is a very busy man and doesn’t have time for details.”
She listened attentively about the value of status reports, but remained skeptical and apprehensive. But after she logged few weeks of notes, we defined six broad categories of her work and created an outline. She then submitted the first status report ever—after 24 years on the executive floor.
The CEO’s response?  A special trip to her office to say, “This is a lot of work, and we should schedule time to review.” Nnenna proudly told me that simple statement was the greatest recognition she’d ever received. That’s when she came to understand why even if she executed everything to perfection, her boss still benefited from knowing about her accomplishments.

Using her status reports as a basis, we developed an accurate and comprehensive job description. We then began the formal HR process to upgrade her position. After the review, she received a new title— “Director of Administration and Budget” —with a professional level designation. Beyond the salary increase, her promotion entitles her to training, stock options, and other benefits which she had deserved for years. Furthermore, she is now in a position to train others to assume some of her functions so she can concentrate on delivering her highest value to the CEO, shareholders, and her department.  Everyone is better off.

What will your status report look like?
Keep the process as fast and easy as possible. Your report should be a bullet point list of key accomplishments and questions sent via e-mail. The entire document should be no more than one or two pages.

Facilitate reading and response through format and structure.
—Organize the content according to topics or priorities.
—Highlight the difference between statements, questions, and requests.
Cater to your audience. Ask your boss for direction regarding:
—Timing—biweekly or monthly.
—Review and discussion—“Live” discussion is best, but regardless, arrange a way to collect comments and directions.

How do I start?
The first report may take you awhile to compose. You’ll probably experience some resistance; you may worry that you won’t be able to write something compelling enough. However, you’ll become more adept and efficient as you add to your upcoming status reports over time. You’ll have a template to follow. You’ll learn to summarize in bullet points, rather than paragraphs. Knowing the main categories in advance expedites and facilitates both writing and reading status reports. There is no need to come up with creative formats or presentations each time.

When do I start?
Whenever you’re ready to gain the recognition and respect you deserve. (How about today?).

12 HABITS THAT MAKE ULTRA SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE UNIQUE

A study at Strayer University found that most people think success is about achieving your personal goals.  Ultra successful people delight themselves by blowing their personal goals out of the water. They succeed along many different dimensions of life—their friendships, their physical and mental health, their families and their jobs (which they are not only good at but also enjoy).
TalentSmart has conducted research with more than a million people and found that ultra successful people have a lot in common. In particular, 90% of them are skilled at managing their emotions in order to stay focused, calm, and productive.
These super successful folks have high emotional intelligence (EQ), a quality that’s critical to achieving your dreams.
While I’ve run across numerous effective strategies that ultra successful people employ to reach their goals, what follows are twelve of the best. Some of these may seem obvious, but the real challenge lies in recognizing when you need to use them and having the wherewithal to actually do so.

1. They are Composed
Ultra successful people are composed because they constantly monitor their emotions, they understand them, and they use this knowledge in the moment to react to challenging situations with self-control. When things go downhill, they are persistently calm and frustratingly content (frustrating to those who aren’t, at least). They know that no matter how good or bad things get, everything changes with time. All they can do is adapt and adjust to stay happy and in control.
 
2. They are Knowledgeable
Super successful people know more than others do because they’re constantly working to increase their self-awareness. They vow constant growth. Whenever they have a spare moment, they fill it with self-education. They don’t do this because it’s “the right thing to do”; they do it because it’s their passion. They’re always looking for opportunities to improve and new things to learn about themselves and the world around them. Instead of succumbing to their fear of looking stupid, truly exceptional people just ask the questions on their mind, because they would rather learn something new than appear smart.
 
3. They are Deliberate
Ultra successful people reach decisions by thinking things out, seeking advice from others, and sleeping on it. They know that (as studies show) impulsively relying too much on gut-instinct is ineffective and misleading. Being able to slow down and logically think things through makes all the difference.
 
4. They Speak with Certainty
It’s rare to hear super successful people utter things like “Um,” “I’m not sure,” and “I think.” Successful people speak assertively because they know that it’s difficult to get people to listen to you if you can’t deliver your ideas with conviction.
 
5. They Use Positive Body Language
Becoming cognizant of your gestures, expressions, and tone of voice (and making certain they’re positive) draws people to you like ants to a picnic. Using an enthusiastic tone, uncrossing your arms, maintaining eye contact, and leaning towards the person who’s speaking are all forms of positive body language that super successful people use to draw others in. Positive body language makes all the difference in a conversation because how you say something can be more important than what you say.
 
6. They Leave a Strong First Impression
Research shows that most people decide whether or not they like you within the first seven seconds of meeting you. They then spend the rest of the conversation internally justifying their initial reaction. This may sound terrifying, but by knowing this, you can take advantage of it to make huge gains in how people respond to you. First impressions are tied intimately to positive body language. A strong posture, a firm handshake, a smile, and open shoulders help ensure that your first impression is a good one.
 
7. They Seek Out Small Victories
Successful people like to challenge themselves and compete, even when their efforts yield only small victories. Small victories build new androgen receptors in the areas of the brain responsible for reward and motivation. The increase in androgen receptors increases the influence of testosterone, which further increases their confidence and eagerness to tackle future challenges. When you achieve a series of small victories, the boost in your confidence can last for months.
 
8. They are Fearless
Fear is nothing more than a lingering emotion that’s fueled by your imagination. Danger is real. It’s the uncomfortable rush of adrenaline you get when you almost step in front of a bus. Fear is a choice. Exceptional people know this better than anyone does, so they flip fear on its head. Instead of letting fear take over, they are addicted to the euphoric feeling they get from conquering their fears.
 
9. They are Graceful
Graceful people are the perfect combination of strong and gentle. They don’t resort to intimidation, anger, or manipulation to get a point across because their gentle, self-assured nature gets the job done. The word gentle often carries a negative connotation (especially in the workplace), but in reality, it’s the gentleness of being graceful that gives ultra successful people their power. They’re approachable, likeable, and easy to get along with—all qualities that make people highly amenable to their ideas.
 
10. They are Honest
Super successful people trust that honesty and integrity, though painful at times, always work out for the best in the long run. They know that honesty allows for genuine connections with people in a way that dishonesty can’t and that lying always comes back to bite you in the end. In fact, a Notre Dame study showed that people who often lied experienced more mental health problems than their more honest counterparts.
 
11. They are Grateful
Ultra successful people know that it took a lot of ambition, passion, and hard work to get where they are in life. They also know that their mentors, colleagues, families, and friends all played a huge role in their success. Instead of basking in the glory of achievement, super successful people recognize others for the wonderful things they’ve done for them.
 
12. They are Appreciative
Truly exceptional people are able to achieve so much because they know the importance of slowing down and appreciating everything they already have. They know that a huge amount of their positivity, grit, and motivation comes from their ability to stay grounded and appreciate the opportunities that life has given them thus far.
 
Bringing It All Together
These habits can make any of us more successful if we use them every day. Give them a try and see where they take you.

Career Tips For The Youth

During the past few months, I’ve spoken with young graduates who are just starting their professional adventure applying for the various job vacancies in Nigeria. They are looking for a definitive path and the best way to build their careers. I also know of people who have shifted career paths once or twice by following unconventional paths to perceived success.

However, I think I would have also wanted something more to specific to apply to my day-to-day life. In the spirit of sharing more practical advice based on what I’ve learned throughout my career, here is my best advice to myself:

    Always show gratitude. If someone has done you a good turn, take a moment to express genuine gratitude by call, email, text, or a few words and smile. It’s a gracious way to live. As old-fashioned as it seems, sending a message to a potential employer or a hang out leaves a lasting impression.

    Remember this, too, shall pass. Whether you’re riding high on good fortune or you’re wallowing in the dumps of tough times, things move on and so will you. Be grateful when things are good. And be grateful for the things that are good when other things are crumbling around you.

    Never expect someone else to advocate for your best interest or to navigate major life decisions. While there are people who will want to help you, you know yourself and what you need best. Take whatever time you need to research, learn and to create your best options. From great options, make good decisions.

    Maintain your professional reputation. Avoid burning bridges with those you’ve worked with. If anything, invest a little time to continue cultivating your past relationships with colleagues. You never know when you might cross paths again in business.

    Every night, think of three positive things from the day – no matter how minor. This is another way experiencing gratitude, but it’s more introspective. Gratitude has been documented to generate success in individuals.

    Exude confidence. You only have one body. So be comfortable in it. Confidence in yourself will spur confidence others will have in you. Don’t have the confidence? “Fake it ‘til you make it,” as they say.

    Surround yourself with people who nurture you and encourage you. This is true in both your professional and personal life. Anyone else can be a distraction at best and an energy drain at worst.

    Be generous with yourself. I don’t mean that you should go on a buying spree. Be more practical than that. For example, make your bed in the morning as a small comfort for when you’re tired after a long day. You will feel a little more cared for. In addition to investing in as much as you can in your 401(k), set aside savings for the opportunity to advance your education. Even if you don’t end up going back to school (graduate school or otherwise), you will have a safety net if the economy goes south. Spend 150 minutes a week on yourself by incorporating cardiovascular activity. If you don’t have your health, everything else falls away pretty quickly.

    Understand that job interviews are a two-way street. View them as career interviews. The company is as much of a candidate for you as you are for them. After all, if you’re going to be spending 40+ hours per week somewhere, it’s important to be fully informed about how much they will enable your career growth. I always ask job candidates if they have any questions for me. What you ask is sometimes as important as what you’re answering.

    Mistakes can be gifts. Whether a learning experience, a happy accident, or a humbling experience, mistakes can serve us well. Don’t be afraid to make them. Just try not to make the same one twice.

Protect Yourself From Job Scam

As if job searching isn’t tough enough, in Nigeria we also have to look out for the ever-present ‘job scam’. As you may know these are situations when a job opening is advertised, and desperate job seekers are conned out of their savings by the lure of a potential job offer. These scams come in many guises, and even the most savvy job seeker could be caught out. There are quite a large number Jobs Vacancies in Nigeria published every now and then; online, posters seen in our streets, via SMS, etc

Too good to be true?

Con artists pose as employers or recruiters and offer enticing employment or career opportunities. If a job offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Fraudulent employers use false job applications to collect personal details such as phone numbers and addresses from job hunters as part of an identity theft ploy.

Keep a few basic security precautions in mind when evaluating ads on job boards - and most especially job offers received via unsolicited email – and look out for these red flags:

Inflated salaries

If a position has a high salary and promises big part-time earning potential, then be careful. These positions will also seldom offer regular salaried employment. These positions also often overhype the job demand or amount of available work, provoking job seekers into acting quickly – and rashly.

No skills required

Fraudulent job offers generally understate the amount of time and effort needed to perform the job, and minimize the requirements, experience or qualifications necessary to apply. Beware of phrases like "No experience is necessary" and vague job titles like “Graduate Trainee”. They will also be unclear about the company, job description or responsibilities. Plenty of money for minimum effort? It’s likely a scam.

Payment upfront
You’re being hired to do a job and to be paid for it. So any job offer that requires money for instructions before explaining how the employment works, or demands fees or making purchases to receive a job or employment opportunities is not genuine.

A solid offer

If you are pretty sure that the offer is legitimate, then go ahead and ask questions. Valid employers will be willing to answer questions about the company and job advertised. Steer clear of those not willing to provide the details you require.

Accepting A Job Offer? Important Facts to Consider

 You applied one of the recent Jobs in Nigeria, passed the interview and on the negotiating table with the HR Manager discussing the offer available to you. Before you hurriedly grab the offer, there are serious facts one needs to consider, listed below are the ones the author deemed crucial.

Salary
Salary is one of the most important factors to look out for. A good remuneration strategy shows that the company places value and commitment in its employees. The salary should be market-related meaning; it should be in accordance to what the average salary in that field of work is. A good job is the one that recognises and rewards your performance and effort, acknowledging that the part you play is critical to business success.

Work-life balance/flexi hours
A good company is one that recognises you have other non-work related responsibilities and provides adequate time off to attend to those. This can be done either through leave days, vacation days and even maternity leave. During interviews, don’t be scared to ask for flexible working hours and work from home options. With the availability of affordable broadband almost anywhere, working from home has become a big possibility.

Medical cover and other benefits
Most people tend to overlook the importance of other compensation benefits that are nearly as important as your monthly salary. A good company has a comprehensive compensation and benefits strategy that includes medical and life insurance, bonuses and even a pension contribution fund.

Career development
No one likes doing the same thing over and over again. As a recent graduate, you would want to consider a job that helps you to develop your skills and abilities to make you better at what you do and essentially more profitable in the market. Coming from University you will realise that the journey of learning has actually started not ended. Try by all means to ask about the company’s training and development strategy before you accept the job. This is probably more important than the salary you earn as it will determine where you end up in your career life.

Understand the job itself
A simple one line description of what the job is about does not do justice in informing you what the duties and responsibilities of the job entails. It’s very important to understand the job that you are about to take. The job should have a concise and precise job profile clearly outlining the job specification and requirements highlighting the 4 Ps:

    1.    Purpose of the job
    2.    Picture – how the job fits into the bigger picture of the organisation
    3.    Plan of action to achieve goals
    4.    Part - what part the job plays in all of this

    It should clearly outline the soft skills that are needed to do the job as well. If you have any questions, it’s better to ask them upfront than to be unpleasantly surprised once you start the job.

Career Development Topics That Will Follow You Through Life

Recurring career themes you'll encounter when choosing a career, changing careers or building a career:

Career development is a lifelong process that encompasses everything from choosing a career and selecting your work place to building your career and changing careers. It really never ends. There are even executive coaches out there who help those at the top of the corporate ladder to navigate the sometimes choppy career waters! No matter where you are in the process, whether you're researching careers or moving through your career, you'll find that certain themes pop up again and again. We'll be digging in to each of these themes over time here at Careers Out There. For now, I'll give you a brief overview of some of the themes that pop up a lot. To provide examples of each theme in action, I'll share my personal experiences below. Please share yours in the Comments section!

What interests you?

You definitely want to look in the mirror and ask yourself this question. Also ask your friends and family what they think interests you. This is something that can change a lot over time so keep asking the question. Work can feel more like play if your career path matches your interests – and I always say success is when you don't know whether you're working or playing.

Skill assessment

Napoleon Dynamite knew he was good with a bow staff but wasn't otherwise aware of his skills. What are your skills? Recognizing what you’re good at is key to finding the right career fit. It took me a few years of working to realize that my strengths included being a persistent, detail-oriented, trustworthy good listener who could effectively meet and connect with new people and help them. When I learned that that combination of skills makes a good salesperson, I pursued a sales-related path. That fit helped me both enjoy my work and make money – always a nice combination.

Following your dreams

You'll have to balance this route by making many sacrifices but it can be done and achieved! Life is short…do you want to look back one day and say, "if only……"? The "if only" way of thinking can take over your mind.

Networking

Always necessary no matter what you do for a living. Networking is technically meeting with people and establishing a mutually beneficial relationship. I look at it as just keeping a high profile, always letting people know what you're looking for, and helping to connect others to what they're looking for. Careers are grown this way. Businesses are built this way. Friendships are founded this way. If you don't do this, you will suffer. For some, it's a skill that needs to be learned. Musicians, other artists and introverts typically need a major push to embrace this. For extroverts like me, it comes naturally – I never think "I'm networking now." I just like connecting people to other people and/or opportunities and hope that karma (and a little push) leads them to do the same for me.

Informational interviewing

This is an amazing way for you to meet new people and learn about the different careers out there. There is no job opening – you're meeting with someone to learn about his or her particular profession. I've gone on tons of these – first with music industry executives and later with professionals in other fields in the course of career change research. I've actually been hired and met some of my friends this way. The relationships you build through informational interviewing can get you access to job openings before they're even made public!

Interviewing

Be yourself. Be the best you that you can be. Be prepared. Ask questions. As a recruiter, I coached hundreds of people on their interviewing. I'll have lots to share with you on this topic. For now, check out this video featuring job interviewing tips and don't miss this article on how to interview with confidence.

Secondary education

Formal education beyond high school is often needed to get the career path you want. This might mean visiting a skills center or attending community college, college and/or grad school. I've seen people limit their own career growth potential because they never got that license or certification for the path they wanted….or that college or grad school degree.

Salary issues

Sometimes you have to choose whether to go for the high-paying job and the sacrifices that come with that (long hours, tons of pressure) or the job that better fits your passions and lifestyle but pays less. I chose to follow my passions after graduation by joining the music industry – I definitely sacrificed a fat paycheck.

Paying your dues

You can't avoid this. We all know people who got incredibly lucky and barely had to pay any dues….but that's the exception. Just as many lounge around waiting for lucky lightning to strike. As a kid, my mom always told me that "nobody in life owes you anything." It's true. When you're new to the working world, whether working for someone else or trying to build your own thing, you should be prepared to start from ground zero and get your hands dirty. Sure, being paid poorly and filling the bottom rung on the ladder isn't much fun. But if you spend that time working hard, acting like a sponge and staying focused, you'll be happy later when you've got a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to build on.

Entrepreneurship

Working for yourself can be an amazing experience on many levels. I’ve gone back and forth between working for myself and for others. I believe both routes have their merits. I’ve pursued my own ventures that were fun (band management), went nowhere (a music TV program for university cable channels; a music business education service), and were both gratifying and lucrative (attorney recruiting).

Putting family first

Sometimes you have to choose between career growth and taking care of personal business. This might mean debating whether to accept a promotion that would give you less time to spend with your spouse or kids. In my case, in the same week the music dot com I worked for went under, my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Rather than keeping my career going by jumping to the next opportunity, I moved back to Chicago to be a caregiver and help my mom fight for her life.

Career Change | Choosing a new career path
Pursuing new interests and reinventing yourself can be a great feeling. Don't let it scare you! Change is your friend. I was in an industry (music) that changed, as did my goals and interests. The time came when I thought it was important to find a new path that fit my new goals and interests. That led to my joining the attorney recruiting/career industry which led to having my own successful business and earning the kind of money I felt I was worth. Embrace change! You can start by checking out this video on making a career change.

Getting laid off
A risk you always take when working for others. Thanks to working in the ever-shrinking music industry, I have experienced more layoffs than most people! “We’ve decided to eliminate your division of 85 people.” “We’re being acquired by a giant conglomerate and they only want to keep 10% of us.” Been there, done that….and I’m still standing and laughing about it. So can you. (See Networking…or Reinventing yourself).

Career Tests

After my mom died and I decided not to return to the music industry, I took the Myers-Briggs® MBTI® personality type assessment. I found it really empowering to get that perspective about myself. I advise everyone to take reputable career tests. We make that assessment as well as the  iStartStrongTM inventory available here for your benefit.

Volunteer work

This is a great way to give back to your community and reward your soul. Some also use this for networking, getting to learn new skills or to flex certain muscles that the rest of their life doesn’t use. Amongst other things, I sit on the volunteer board of an amazing non-profit in L.A. that funds the cancer research of young, up-and-coming scientists around the world called Concern Foundation. Concern is a grassroots organization that has raised over $42 million in 42 years and only spends 5% on administration costs! Volunteer experience may be the key to your next job.

Key Phrases and Words That Shouldn't Be In Your Resume

In the process of creating your resume, you want to look professional, present the best image possible and find ways to stand out. There are several common words and phrases that many people think fit the bill, but aren’t as great as they seem. In fact, they make hiring managers and recruiters cringe. If you are one of the many at entry-level in the labour market sourcing for jobs in Nigeria, pay great attention to the details below.

Here are eight words and phrases you should eliminate from your resume.

Results-oriented

This term is one of the worst, HR experts say. “People use this term in lieu of telling giving me specifics,” says Liz D’Aloia, founder of HR Virtuoso.

Career consultant and data analyst Carl Forrest agrees, adding that the term itself is nebulous and doesn’t say anything. “It implies that the reader should just take your claim at face-value.”

Both D’Aloia and Forrest recommend focusing on specifics instead. “Give me a brief summary of the project that demonstrated your strong drive for results, how you achieved them, and most importantly, metrics so I understand the scale and impact of the results,” D’Aloia says. “This should be one of those stories that you want to share when I interview you.”

High technical aptitude
 
This phrase is especially grating on a marketing resume, says Wes Lieser, marketing recruiter at Versique Search and Consulting. “It's just not something that needs to be said. It actually makes me assume that you don't fully understand what you are doing. This is comparable to a baseball pitcher telling someone that he or she can throw a baseball. It goes without saying.” Instead, talk about the specific programs and applications you excel at using.

Ninja, rockstar and other quirky titles

You may see words like “ninja” or “rockstar” in a hiring ad, but if you don’t, definitely don’t use them in your resume. It makes you sound pretentious, says Josh Goldstein, co-founder of Underdog.io. “It demonstrates that the person doesn't get it and probably lacks creativity. Instead of saying you’re good at something, show it.”

Assisted

“Assisted” is one that workforce development consultant Frank Grossman doesn’t like. “If you assisted with something, there's something you actually did. For example, if you ‘assisted in
keeping the facility clean,’ what did you do to assist? Did you clean the kitchen? Did you sanitize 24 restrooms before opening each morning? If one of your accomplishments was to ‘assist the CEO,’ what did you do for her? Did you make her travel reservations, write her press releases, fly her jet or drive her car?” Use specifics to describe your experience.

Strong work ethic
 
This is the one phrase Kimberli Taylor hates. As the office manager for Conover & Grebe, she is the first person to read through resumes when the firm is hiring, and “strong work ethic” will not impress her. “I hate this because it is not a skill or an asset. It is an expectation of any employee. Listing it as a skill tells me that the candidate believes work ethic is optional for some jobs.” Frequently “strong work ethic” is simply a space-filler on resumes for people with no other skills to list.

Disruptive, cutting-edge and other trendy adjectives

Stick to plain English when describing your accomplishments, says Dennis Tupper, corporate recruiter at Eliassen Group. “Do not try to impress the recruiter or hiring manager with words like 'disruptive,' 'cutting-edge' or 'ground-breaking.' You are not reinventing the wheel, but chances are you are accomplishing some great things. Keep it simple.”

Self-starter

You may think this term makes you look like a productive, eager employee, but it doesn’t necessarily come across that way. “‘Self-starter' is generic, and as an adult if we have to motivate you then you are probably not someone we want to bring into our organization,” Tupper says. Instead, list projects that show your leadership or initiative.

Detail-oriented

This is another term that should be thrown out, Tupper says.“We expect all people we hire to pay attention to detail,” he says. Again, find ways to show your skills in catching mistakes others miss or your extraordinary abilities to find problems in complex issues.

NLC Confab: Politicians fight over workers’ vote, promise more jobs, others

The 11th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference, NDC, of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, which ended yesterday in Abuja, was not just about the election of a new set of leaders to lead NLC for the next four years among others, it also provided a unique opportunity for politicians in the two leading political parties in Nigeria; the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, to out do each other and woo the over 3200 delegates from across the country, their families, friends and other guests including veterans unionists, ahead of the general election.

They used their thoughts on the socio-economic and political situations in the country to try to sway delegates and others at the conference with special focus on jobs creation and similar issues.


APC Speaks 

Speaking at opening ceremony of the NDC with the theme “The Working Class and the Challenges of National Security, Unity and Democratic Development”, APC’s Presidential Candidate, General Mohammedu Buhari, GMB, ret'd, told the delegates, “You believe that the labour of our heroes past and present shall never be in vain. You believe that our hopes and dreams can become reality. You believe in a nation bound in freedom, peace and unity. You believe that we can rebuild the broken walls. You believe that our great country can set a standard for all of Africa to see. I pray that you will give me the opportunity to play a part in bringing about this CHANGE that the All Progressives Congress, APC, so strongly desires for our country, Nigeria.”

He said the three most challenging issues confronting Nigeria now were insecurity, the state of the economy and corruption that must be tackled at once before the nation could achieve any meaningful progress.

General Buhari lamented the menace of Boko Haram insurgents since August 2011, leading to the kidnapping of girls from their schools and women from their homes; slaughtering of boys in their dormitories and men in their farms; exploding bombs in public and private venues; and taking town after town in the northeast of Nigeria.

He decried the inability of the defence forces to arrest the situation despite the federal government’s defence budget that had gulped over $32.88 billion in the past five years.

According to him, “Our security situation in this country has never been so dire. Today, Nigerians have to endure, not just terrorist attacks in the North, but militancy in the Niger Delta, communal violence in the Middle Belt, cult wars in the South, and kidnappings, armed robberies, and common acts of thuggery throughout the country.

He equally spoke on the poor state of economy especially the devaluation of the national currency and its negative impact of the good, services and the purchasing power of the citizens.

The APC candidate explained that other challenges facing Nigerians today included youth unemployment, a lack of social services, corruption and poor governance, promising that “an APC government at the centre will treat Labour as a partner in moving the nation forward. Our plan to restore good governance, efficient and effective public sector stands to benefit the country’s labour force perhaps more than any other subgroup.

In line with our party’s manifesto, we will identify and promote growth of industries and give incentives for the use of local content. An APC government will protect and respect labourer’s right to organize, guaranteeing the rights to collective bargaining in good faith in law. We will promote new skills, equip youth for a modern economy through a network of local technology institutions to provide free training in courses for the unemployed.”

PDP, FG position
On its part, the PDP and the Federal Government speaking through the supervising Minister for Labour and Productivity, Mr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, insisted that PDP led federal government had been battling the security, economic, unemployment and other challenges confronting the nation head on.

He recalled that at the beginning, the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents were felt in about seven states including the Federal capital territory, but today their activities had restricted, saying “except for instance few isolated activities in the FCT, it has been restricted to three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa where we have emergency rule.”

The Minster recalled that the first time the country faced such security challenges during the time of President Shehu Shagari and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians were united and it was contained, but lamented that today, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan had been left alone to confront the insurgency.

While stressing that the government had been doing its best on the economy to improve the standard of living of the citizens, the minister noted that beyond any other government, “the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has not only reciprocated and appreciated but protected the right of Nigerian workers to unionize.”

According to him, no Nigerian worker had been intimidated by the present administration even when some of the strikes embarked upon by workers were being influenced; the government saw it as the legitimate right of Nigerian workers.

On jobs creation, he said the Jonathan-led administration had been creating more than 1.8 million jobs including those under Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, and promised that the government would create more enabling environment to help increase the jobs in Nigeria.

Mr. Turaki told the delegates that the President Jonathan’s administration had consistently supported the labour union, boasting that today the nation had a government that “has absolute respect for the rule of law and the freedom of expression.”

Oshiomhole laments

Earlier, former President of NLC and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, lamented the insecurity, growing level of poverty, poor state of economy, epileptic power supply, rising unemployment in the country among others.

According to him, “This conference is taking place at a very important time in our country. Our people want jobs, not just jobs, they want decent jobs. We want a wage, not the one that will make us millionaires, but a wage for the workers to meet their legitimate basic needs and to see something to save for the future. We want security to be able to come to work, return back home, sleep and wake up without having to rely on private security arrangement.”

Similarly, outgoing president of NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar, decried the level of insecurity, unemployment, poor state of the economy, power supply and among others.


Culled from Vanguard

Tactics to Successfully Build Personal Career Brand

What is it that all successful companies have mastered -- and what job-seekers looking to advance in their careers need to master?

What is it about Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Starbucks, Disney, and McDonald's?

What makes a consumer buy one product over another -- and makes one job-seeker much more sought after than others? The answer is marketing, but more specifically it is the power of branding. And branding isn't just for products anymore.

Branding can be described as many things, but it's best defined as a promise... a promise of the value of the product... a promise that the product is better than all the competing products... a promise that must be delivered to be successful. Branding is the combination of tangible and intangible characteristics that make a brand unique. Branding is developing an image -- with results to match.

Branding (some call it self-branding or personal branding when talking about individuals) is essential to career advancement because branding helps define who you are, how you are great, and why you should be sought out. Branding is your reputation. Branding is about building a name for yourself, showcasing what sets you apart from others, and describing the added value you bring to a situation.

Most job-seekers are not proactive in establishing and building their career brand, letting their actions speak for them when seeking promotions or new jobs. But why not take the time to master some very basic tactics that can help build your career brand and make you a much more attractive employee or job-seeker? Remember, if you don't brand yourself, others will for you. And while you may be happy and secure in your job now, you really never know when that will change.

Management guru Tom Peters, writing in his book The Brand You50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Yourself from an "Employee" into a Brand That Shouts Distinction, Commitment, and Passion! states: "Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are the CEOs of our own companies: Me, Inc." He adds, "You're not defined by your job title and you're not confined by your job description."

This article takes you through five easy tactics for building and strengthening your career brand.

Gain Experience/Track Accomplishments
Building your brand begins with tracking your past accomplishments and gaining strategically important new experiences. Your accomplishments are the foundation of your career brand and your brand story.

But before you seek out new work, take the time to plan and focus on what you want your brand to stand for -- and develop a strategy for gaining experience in areas of your brand in which you are weak.

So, besides doing your job, ask for new and challenging assignments that will build your brand. Consider freelancing or consulting. Use volunteering to gain experience. If you're a student, seek out multiple internships.


Complete Education/Training
For many careers, a minimum amount of education is necessary, but to excel in your career you may need to complete additional education, training, or certifications. Getting additional education can greatly enhance your career brand.

It may be hard in terms of time and finances, but find a way to do it. Some employers even offer an educational reimbursement benefit. Self-learning is another option.

If you are unsure if you need more education -- and you probably do -- seek out a mentor, someone highly respected in your field (who has branded himself or herself well), and ask for advice.

Promote Yourself
You can have an amazing brand, but if no one knows about it, you are not going to have much success with your career development. And no one more than you has more reasons to promote your brand.

Throw modesty out the window? There is a fine line between bragging and promoting -- and you need to learn it -- but it's always better to err on the side of promoting your brand than not.

One of the oldest tools of promotion for job-seekers is the resume, and you certainly need to start there by listing all your key accomplishments, skills, and education on your resume. You may even have your positioning statement (qualifications summary) and a branding statement on your resume... but don't stop there.

Begin developing two career portfolios -- a print one and an online one. If you don't have a personal Website, now is the time to buy a domain and let the world read all about the benefits of your brand. Your portfolio should include all important brand artifacts: resume(s), mission statement, detailed accomplishments list, samples of work, articles and working papers, speech transcripts, awards and honors, testimonials, and more.

One interesting trend we've seen is of employers "Googling" the names of prospective job-seekers -- typing each name into one or more search engines -- and basing initial candidate screening decisions partly on the number (and quality) of hits for each job-seeker. The lesson? Your brand needs to have a strong online presence.

And finally, don't forget to promote your brand on the job. Workers often assume the boss knows your accomplishments, but often times s/he does not. Certainly at review time, have a list of all you have achieved since your last review, but also consider finding ways to let the boss know your successes throughout the year.


Become an Expert
Nothing builds credibility in a career brand more than establishing yourself as an expert in your field.

Start by writing articles that showcase your knowledge -- and getting them published (ideally) in noteworthy media outlets. Consider self-publishing.

Seek out conferences and meetings where you can give speeches and presentations.

Play up awards and other recognition that can help label you an expert.

Get quoted by offering your thoughts, ideas, and opinions to journalists and reporters.

Consider constructing a professional Website or blog where you can publish all your articles and speeches.


Build Relationships
Nothing in marketing is more powerful than a promotion tool called word-of-mouth, which can be defined as what people say about you.

Thus, nothing is more powerful in building your career brand than what your network of contacts -- your friends, colleagues, customers, clients, and former bosses -- say about you and your set of skills, education, and accomplishments.

And keeping your network strong involves nothing more than relationship building. Keep in good contact with your network and be sure they know of your most recent successes.

But the best brand-builders don't stop with their current network; these folks are in constant network-building mode. Search out new professional associations as well as the growing number of online networking communities.

Final Thoughts on Building Your Brand
Once you identify and build your brand, remember to continue strengthening and protecting it. There will always be competing brands (job-seekers) ready to fill any gap you leave behind. You are indeed founder and CEO of Me, Inc., and the more you do to cultivate your career brand, the more successful you'll be with your current employer and in the search for current jobs in Nigeria.

To better understand how these marketing terms apply to job-hunting it helps to first understand the terminology. To that end, go to our Marketing Concepts Glossary. And for a general introduction to marketing and career development, read: Using Key Marketing Tools to Position Yourself on the Job Market.

Evaluating A Job Offer: Steps to consider

After spending four year or five tied to your books, case studies, and presentation notes, you’ve finally earned that degree you’ve been striving for. So what next?

You have been applying for the current jobs in Nigeria, now you’ve received numerous job offers is flattering and just what you’ve been aiming for as a graduation goal. High salaries, intriguing benefit packages, and fancy titles are tempting you like a free tropical holiday, so how do you choose between these seemingly exceptional jobs?

    Function: Ideally you’ll use the skills you developed in business school to produce personal success and company improvement. And hopefully you’ll gain even more skills, either through formal training or on-the-job experiences, to add to your skills bank. Accordingly, make sure your new role is challenging, as nothing leads to career static like a boring job that seems elementary, especially if you’ve just completed a degree programme. Take into account if and how the prospective role will evolve and whether you’ll have the opportunity to strengthen the role or even gain access to a higher position from ‘mastering’ the position’s demands.

    Location: Choosing a city that has good economic, social, and cultural benefits can be harder than you think. Keep in mind that if you are a consultant or banker you may not have much time for social or extracurricular events in your first year or two after graduation, so you may consider choosing a city you feel won’t be your permanent home, if the career benefits are there. If you feel you will be working long hours, find accommodation near your workplace to avoid long, tiring commutes.

    Environment: Good working relationships are key to career success. Try to get a sense of your boss’ work habits and if possible, meet your potential colleagues. Mike Holmes, Recruitment Expert at QS Global Workplace explains, ‘Try and arrange to meet some of your colleagues, either in a work or social environment. Can you see yourself working with these people? Do you think you will enjoy working with them? It does not have to be positive, however if it is negative, perhaps you should reconsider!’

    Career Prospects: Mike Holmes discusses the importance of creating the right career path: ‘Make this job an excellent stepping stone; look at where you want to get to over the next 3-5 years and your long-term career aims. Put some milestones down so your career path looks manageable and realistically achievable.’

    Company values: Does the corporate culture reflect your personal and professional values and goals? Do they uphold the highest standards of ethical practice? Is the staff diverse? If you value hard work between the hours of 9 and 5 and the company values 24-hour dedication, you may decide its standards are not in sync with your own. Furthermore, many companies, especially online businesses, encourage team proactivity and a happy working environment. Google, for example, has an onsite gym, restaurant, and even sofas and dogs in some locations. Experts say this could be the reason why Google now ranks second in Fortune 100’s Top 100 MBA Employers 2006.

    Salary and Benefits: Make sure to consider company benefits such as bonuses, as what seems like a low salary quite easily could end up being a higher salary than offered for a similar position at a different company. Furthermore, it goes without saying that evaluating purchasing power in the country in which you intend to work is essential. You’d be surprised what a seemingly small amount of money can get you in some countries. And finally, while salary is very important, it shouldn’t be the be-all-end-all of job selection: ‘Always place a financial figure against the development and lifestyle opportunities that are available to you in both jobs,’ advises Peter Fennah, Director of the Career Development Service at the Cranfield School of Management. ‘At this point, you will find enough revealin g information to make an informed decision along with your gut instinct.’

Finding Your First Job

This article is to help our fresh graduates with landing their first job. Listed and elaborated below are a few steps that are essential for success.

Any-one faced with the daunting task of finding their first job is likely to find themselves in a quandary of perplexing proportions. Their CVs are thin if not non-existent, their industry knowledge is limited and their contacts in the business world are few and far between. The good news is that a record number of jobs in Nigeria exist for fresh grads and with the rapid growth of the private sector initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the emphasis on training, human resource development and growing from within, this is unlikely to abate soon. To help you out with your first job, here are a few steps that are essential for success provided by experts

Know Yourself

You will not sound very convincing to a prospective employer if you are not convinced yourself of your strengths and weaknesses and that you will be an asset to his team. Take the time to understand what types of jobs interest you, what areas you enjoy and excel in and what skills/competencies you have that can translate in meaningful ways to the jobs you are applying for. Prepare an honest detailed personal inventory of your unique skills, strengths and weaknesses and use it to hone in on the industry, companies and positions you think you can do best in.

Various books are available for fresh grads and people contemplating a career transition that help you identify your areas of strength and steer your job search in the right direction. In addition, there are a number of personality tests, many of which can be taken free on-line, that can help shed light on suitability for various professions. It is also very helpful to talk to peers, professors and family members who know you well to get an added perspective. If you are unsure what different types of jobs entail, there is no substitute for talking to people inside the industry and asking the types of questions that help you identify whether this is indeed an area you will excel in.

Focus

Once you have identified those areas you are interested in and believe you can excel in, focus your efforts accordingly. Your CV and cover letter should be uniquely tailored to those professions and industries as should your research activities, networking activities and any training activities you undertake. Start reading the industry journals, attending industry events and widening your circle of contacts within the industry. Envision yourself obtaining and succeeding in the position you are targeting and then work backwards to see how you got there.

Research

Research should be the core and foundation of your job search activities. Research will help you identify what companies, departments and positions to target and will uncover who is hiring in your target segments. The more you research your target industries the more cognizant you will become of what a typical job in your target area entails, where the overall industry is heading and where the best jobs are. Read the industry journals, look up target companies' websites, read their press and talk to as many people as you can within the industry to gain perspective. Research will also uncover jobs in the "hidden" job market ie jobs that are filled by referrals and word of mouth without ever being advertised. Certain job sites are ideal for positioning your CV within the "hidden" job market traffic as a large number of companies use the website to find candidates without ever advertising their jobs.

Perfect Your Toolkit

Your CV and Cover Letter are usually the first interaction you will have with a potential employer so use them to leave a positive and high-impact first impression. Make sure the format, content and flow of both is professional and appropriate. If you are uncomfortable creating your own CV, have the experts prepare it for you or visit career sites and learn of experts the best method to use.

Many new graduates have no work experience and are unsure what to put on their CV. Here is where your education and activities during your college years must be highlighted. Emphasize in your CV and/or cover letter all activities that have prepared you directly for the job at hand including directly relevant courses, related research, special papers or publications, leadership positions in college, internships, volunteer work, student or professional organizations you joined etc. Spend a lot of time on skills you have acquired such as IT skills, languages, presentation skills, project management skills, writing skills, etc.

Treat the Job Search as a Full Time Job

Approach the job search methodically, logically and systematically applying the same discipline and organizational skills you would apply to a real job. Identify your targets and set a game plan in place that includes companies you will target, activities you will undertake, dates and follow up plans. Set aside a number of hours per day and develop a routine for your job search that resembles a real work day. Keep a record of every interaction you have with every company and make sure you follow up diligently and ask for leads at every juncture.

Widen the Net

Finding that first job is for many like swimming upstream so set a realistic gameplan and maximize the number of companies you target in your given field. Talk to friends, alumni, peers, family and the career planning team at your college and make sure your CV is circulating in the right groups. Placing your CV on a job site vastly increases its visibility and allows you access to both advertised positions as well as the "hidden" job market.

Prepare for the Interview

Employers are primarily looking for candidates that have the right kind of experience, can do the job and will fit in well with the company culture. With new grads, experience becomes less relevant than whether you can in fact do the job and will fit in seamlessly with the culture. The employer may ask you during the interview to demonstrate how you would actually do a specific part of the job whether be it dealing with a difficult client, selling the company product or service, solving a problem etc. The employer will also want to know what aspects of your past endeavours position you directly for the job you are applying for. A plethora of literature exists on common interview questions and what employers are looking for during the interview. Be prepared. Above all act professional and display enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a knowledge of the company, its products and the industry.

Jonathan Pledges More Projects As Buhari, Others Berate President on Corruption, Security

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday promised that if re-elected into power, he would embark on developmental projects that would transform Nigeria into a developed nation.

  Again, the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Maj-Gen. Muhammad Buhari, has vowed to sanction any public officer who indulged in corruption if elected president, saying that administration would have zero tolerance for graft.

  Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the certificate released by Buhari’s school, alleging that it was forged, while the  Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday said that Nigerians would  still remain one indivisible entity if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the forthcoming election.

  Jonathan who made the promise yesterday in Bauchi during the campaign in the State, added that his vision  in the next four years was to add to the list of job vacancies in Nigeria for youths and women.

  On his part, Vice President Namadi Sambo said that the purpose of their visit to Bauchi was to canvass for votes and support for Jonathan in next month’s election.

  He said that politics of bitterness was not good for the country’s nascent democracy and people should desist from such campaigns of calumny for the sake of peace in the country.

  According to him, God had made us in Nigeria both Christians and Muslims and people should stop playing politics with religion, because the country is for all of us.

  He further stressed: “It is not all about shouting but about registration, most of the people shouting they have not registered and without registration, you cannot vote so people should register so that they can vote.

  Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State also disclosed that it was God that gave power to whom He wished and not by men’s wish.

  “It is God that gives power and God has given it to President Jonathan, we the people of  the Northeast, we are loyal to our leaders and we will give all our support to Jonathan, then we can tell him some of our problems,” Yuguda said.

  He assured the President that the people of the state would vote him beyond his expectations in the February 14 polls.

  Also, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said that he was sure the people of the state would vote Jonathan for the second term because of the good things he had done for the people of the state.

  According to him, the President had done well by appointing sons and daughters of the state into juicy positions in the federal government.

  National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmed Adamu Muazu said that it was time for the PDP in all the states to work hard to ensure that PDP won elections at all levels.

  Buhari who stated this at a campaign rally  in Gasau, Zamfara State also pledged to ensure that the Nigeria Army, Police, and other para-military security agencies were dedicated and productive in their duties.

  Addressing a mammoth crowd at the rally, Buhari however,  asserted  that if elected as president, he would not investigate past corrupt practices, but would draw a line and looters of the treasury would not go unpunished.

  He added: “I want assure all that all past corrupt practices will not be investigated by the APC led administration. However, we must stop and eliminate all forms of corruption in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and security agencies. Let me said it categorically that if I am elected as your next president, any person who loots the treasury under my administration will not be spared. I am assuring you he or she will go to jail.”

  Buhari who arrived the venue of the event at around 10:48pm and spoke in Hausa, remarked that the stealing of public funds had become a tradition, saying that if you don’t steal you would be regarded as old fashioned.

  According to him, if elected, l will in  the next two years,  clear all the mess and put the nation’s on the path of economic and political progress.

  The APC presidential candidate reiterated his determination to educate the youths by resuscitating the nation’s ailing educational system, stressing, ‘’when you give education to the youths they would be able to sustain themselves.”

  He charged the youths to join in this crusade of changing the existing status quo if they want a secured nation where the rule of law and true federalism would prevail.

  The ex-military leader also promised to re-organise and re-structure the army and police, maintaining that the present state of the military was a disgrace to a country like Nigeria.

  Director of Media for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who addressed a news conference on the matter in Abuja yesterday called on the police to find the authors of the alleged forged document and prosecute them for forgery.

  He stated: “It is quite unfortunate that a few hours after Buhari’s press conference, some documents appeared on various media platforms purporting to be the APC candidate’s results released by his old school.”

   Fani- Kayode alleged: “The results sheet which was attributed to the Cambridge examination body is clearly a super imposition of one document on another.

The column lines on the part where names are printed do not align with the blank columns while there is an introduction of extraneous lines on some other columns.

   He continued: “The document contains an obvious alteration on the Mathematics column of the candidate, Mohamed Buhari, who was assumed to have scored an “F” in the subject. This raises a very fundamental issue of validity in view of the fact that the accompanying result sheet states,  “any alteration or erasure renders this statement of results invalid. This is the standard practice in all interpretation of documents especially academic records.

  The PDP campaigns spokesman further said:

“The question we put to Buhari and his party is whether this alteration was done by the University of Cambridge.

   One of the footnotes on the document purportedly issued by the University of Cambridge says, “the results of this candidate in all subjects except English Language have been carried forward from the 1960 examination.”

  The question arising from this is: When exactly did Buhari sit for all the other subjects claimed to have been passed in the Secondary School Examination?

   Our conclusion from all these is that the documents purportedly released by Government College (Pilot) Katsina, upon which the APC presidential candidates hopes to bury the doubt about his eligibility for next month’s election are forged, manipulated and fraudulently procured. They are therefore untenable in fact and in law.

   “We do not know who the authors and masterminds of this forgery are but whoever they are, we urge them to come forward and be identified. If they fail to come forward voluntarily, we hereby call on the police and other security agencies to seek them out, find them, arrest them, interrogate them and prosecute them in accordance with the laws of the land.

  “We reiterate our call on Buhari to submit himself to the police to answer charges of perjury, having lied on oath about his academic qualifications. This is what a man who claims to represent integrity and due process ought to do in this situation.” 

  But, a former Managing Editor of The Guardian Newspapers, Tunde Thompson has said all the charades to Buhari from contesting the forth coming elections should stop now.

Thompson was a Diplomatic Correspondent at The Guardian when he was arrested and jailed along with his colleague, former member of the House of Representatives, Nduka Irabor, by the then Buhari-led military administration  

  Thompson said: “Buhari has humbled himself; people say he has been running for this position since 1999, that he keeps persevering and remains consistent means there must be something he believes he has to offer. I have chosen to look at the positive side of what he presents, which is commitment on progress, attack on corruption, building and restoration of Nigeria’s integrity because we have lost it.”

  Fashola also accused the president of dividing Nigerians along religious and ethnic lines rather than fulfilling his electoral promises.

   The governor, who also said that he was yet to get his Permanent Voters Card (PVC), said it was unfortunate that many eligible voters in the country were yet to collect their PVCs less than one month to the general election.

Daily Habit That Can Boost Your Career

Are you interested in an easy way to improve your job performance and boost your career, it’s time to start a writing habit.

A study from Harvard Business School tested whether taking 15 minutes at the end of a work day to reflect on that day’s work improves their performance and found the participants tasked with daily written reflection did 22.8 percent better on an assessment than the control group.

But wouldn’t internal reflection by itself be enough to bolster performance? “My speculation would be that writing things down would be more beneficial as the act of writing imposes a discipline on us to stay focused,” says paper co-author Brad Staats, an associate professor of operations at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Reflection forced people to process their days, find patterns and link actions. Some people might think the experiment focused on the successes of the day, but Staats says the parameters of the experiment when explained to the journaling employees didn’t specify giving the reflections a positive or negative slant.

“What we wanted was for them to reflect more on whatever they thought was most important from the day,” Staats explains. “The positive/negative point is a great question, but not one we looked at here.

In other research, was on how individuals struggle to learn from failure, but when they accept internal responsibility for their actions then they learn from failure.”

One idea of why a writing habit helps is that thoughts running through your mind about your day suddenly become significant and deliberate catalysts for change through thinking them over and writing them down. “Reflection on experience and learning facilitates deep processing, which allows you to retain information for a long time — as opposed to simply cramming it in your brain and promptly forgetting it after the test,” says career coach George A. Boyd.

Despite taking a portion of time out of the work day, essentially working less than the control group, the new distribution of energy towards reflection heavily impacted performance. Even Staats was surprised by how much of a difference the exercise made.

“I thought reflection might help a bit, but I didn’t expect it to make such a meaningful impact on performance,” Staats said. “These people weren’t spending extra time at work — they were spending 15 minutes less on training each day so they could reflect, however by reallocating their time in such a small way we see a significant, positive impact on performance.”

Making writing a habit could be a simple way to both gather your bearings and be a better employee, but it is also a hard habit to adopt and keep consistently. “In talking to people, one of the real challenges with reflection is finding the discipline to maintain it,” Staats warns. “That means people need to find ways to continue the practice — whether that is blocking your calendar, finding an accountability partner who might also reflect at the same time, or something else that works well for you.”

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Five Key Characteristics of Successful Jobseekers

If you could highlight any one asset you really needed to find a job that you love, what would you choose?

Crafting the perfect CV/cover letter is vital, and making the right preparations for acing the interview goes without saying. And of course, for certain positions, having a particular skill may be a necessity. But what else does it take to actually get the job you want?

The answer may be simpler than you think. In fact, there might be one key change you can make to dramatically improve your chances of success: master your mindset.

What is mindset?

If skill set is about what you can do, then your mindset is about what you see, think and believe. Used correctly, it can make any one of us stand out from the crowd.

With technology developing at an unprecedented rate, certain skills are becoming obsolete more quickly now than ever before. However, whilst nobody can predict the skills needed to succeed in five or ten years’ time, mindset stays constant.

Echoing these sentiments, we asked over 800 employers, and 96% of them chose mindset over skill set as the key element they seek when employing (and retaining) staff.

Based on these findings, here are the top five characteristics of successful job seekers:

Accountability

72.56% of employers, in Nigeria job market, highlighted accountability as an essential characteristic when looking for new employees.

The individuals who demonstrate accountability most effectively are those who go beyond the confines of their job description, take responsibility for things that go wrong and/or attempt to improve the current situation in any way they can.

Example of how to use accountability in your CV: ‘Sought one-to-one coaching to improve my value per transaction, allowing me to consistently hit not only my individual targets, but also those of the team for a period of six months.’

 Adaptability

Perhaps unsurprisingly, adaptability was chosen as essential by 75.12% of employers surveyed.

Those candidates who can genuinely display the flexibility and ingenuity to rise to any challenge they face, maintain a dynamic approach and respond positively to it all, will automatically increase their employability.


Example of how to use adaptability in your CV: Due to a change in personnel, I increased my workload for one quarter to compensate for the loss (until a new hire could be made), successfully adapting my approach to meet the requirements at hand and ensuring the team’s goals continued to be met.

 Trustworthiness

Whatever industry you’re in, having a sense of trust in others around you is vital for a harmonious workplace. Perhaps that’s why 90.93% of employers chose trustworthiness as their next essential characteristic when hiring.

There are a number of ways you can demonstrate this in your CV or at an interview, from both a moral sense (e.g. opening tills, cashing up etc.) and from a team working/delegation standpoint. Establish your trustworthiness effectively, and a big box is ticked for the hiring manager.

Example of how to use trustworthiness in your CV: Efficiently managed my own workload, which included setting deadlines and delivering copy to external agencies on time, maintaining excellent productivity and ensuring quality of work met a consistently high standard.

Honesty

Affirming the old adage, 91.4% of hiring managers think that honesty really is the best policy.

And, although honesty is inevitably linked to accountability and trustworthiness to a certain degree, adopting it as an integral part of your mindset and being able to practically display it is crucial. It doesn’t have to be too hard-hitting, just a few words to display your morals are in the right place should be more than enough.

Example of how to use honesty in your CV: In my role as supervisor, I have recently had to deal with a member of staff whose recent output has been of a unsatisfactory nature. However, rather than formally discipline them, I confidentially spoke to them to ascertain the problem, and their work has dramatically improved as a result.

 Commitment
Finally, according to our research the most important trait for successful jobseekers is commitment. In fact, 92.09% of all employers said that this was absolutely essential for all team members and potential hires.

Commitment undoubtedly has an exceptionally powerful effect. If it’s there, it engenders trust and earns respect. When it’s missing, it’s almost impossible to replicate or attain belief from any level of the business. 

Actively exhibit your commitment, and you’ll set yourself apart for all the right reasons. (Warning: Stating you always give 110% is not necessarily the most effective way to do this. It’s also impossible…). 

Example of how to use commitment in your CV: During a recent project, I undertook over 40 hours of overtime, making sure all commitments made to suppliers were met on schedule, and personally overseeing all creative changes were implemented right through until the assignment’s completion. 

Negotiating A Job Offer; Effective Way

From the basic pay to your benefits package, make sure you know the most effective way to negotiate a job offer.

Ok, you've applied for one the latest job in Nigeria, aced the interviews and you're finally at the point where you're discussing salary.

So, do you just accept the salary on offer or do you take a gamble and hold out for more? From the basic pay to your benefits package, make sure you know the most effective way to negotiate an offer.

Consider the salary

The first step in salary negotiation is to do some research into the remuneration package you expect, as well as the current market rates for the type of role you've been offered.

Consider the following three salaries:

Minimum salary
Whilst seemingly obvious, ascertaining your minimum salary can be tricky. Does it equate to what you're currently earning? Or perhaps it's just enough to pay your outgoing bills? Your minimum salary should basically equate to your minimum cash requirements for a role, based on your circumstances.

So, if you're a first jobber, this may be enough to cover your costs and give you some extra spending money. Alternatively, if you're currently working and you're moving jobs to earn more money, your minimum will probably be at least the same as you're earning now.

Expected salary

Your 'expected' salary will naturally sit in between your minimum and dream salaries. But how do you calculate this?

Looking at equivalent salaries is usually the best place to start. You should also look for job specs with similar requirements to what you've been offered and check what other employers are currently offering. Of course, if you're particularly well qualified or experienced, you may well expect higher than average market rates.

Dream salary

Having done some research into what the market rates are, you're now in a position to start considering your dream salary. But what is your dream salary?

Most of us would like more money, so, naturally, we're reluctant to put a cap on our 'dream' salary. It’s easy to get carried away, but you should try and remain realistic. Your dream earnings should be the most you can expect to be paid given the job you're applying for and your own level of experience.

Looking at the higher-end salaries for jobs being advertised in your chosen field, as well as the level of experience they require, is a good place to start. If you're expecting a salary higher than any of the jobs you've seen, the chances are you're probably expecting too much.

What about the benefits package?

Whilst take-home salary is clearly important, there are other elements to consider. Namely, the benefits package.

For example, your prospective employer might offer one or more of the following benefits:

    health care
    pension scheme
    stock options
    free gym membership
    travel schemes
    flexible working options (e.g. flexi-time)

The next step is to consider how much flexibility you're willing to offer for all of these benefits. This should take into account the monetary value of each benefit, but you should also consider some of the lifestyle and time-saving benefits. For instance, flexible working hours might allow you to spend more time with your family, whilst the provision of company pensions scheme will mean you don't have to organise your own pension scheme.

How to negotiate

You're now at the stage where you know what you should be earning, and what room you have for negotiation. So it's time to start negotiating your offer.

Your prospective employer is likely to have a figure in mind for your salary, but don't simply accept or reject the first offer.

    Ask if there is any flexibility in the offer, as well as how regular salary reviews will take place - taking a lower salary will be more acceptable if there will be regular salary reviews
    If the salary is below your minimum expectation, explain that the offer is below what you were expecting, backing it up with why
    If the package is around your expected salary, you should still attempt negotiation, explaining how your experience, knowledge and qualifications position you in the market
    In the event of being offered your dream salary, you'll probably want to discuss room for future growth in earnings and career development; remember, although this is your dream salary, as you progress your expectations are likely to increase

For any of these scenarios, you should never flat-out refuse the offer of a salary straight away. You should state that you 'need time to consider the package', giving you and the employer time more time to consider your options.

Know when to back out
There are clearly a number of considerations when deciding whether to accept an offer from an employer.

    Don't solely consider salary: take into account other considerations, such as benefits, working hours, work culture, the job itself and room for career development
    If the salary is not what you expected and is not compensated by additional benefits or career development, you should say so; if this is not then reviewed by the employer, you'll probably need to accept that the job wasn't right for you and move on

Remember, if you've done your homework, you should know what you're worth, so you should try your best to make sure that's what you earn in your next job. Whatever happens, don’t sell yourself short.