The Nation Newspaper

Category: Jobs

  • Seven drivers of effective job search

    This is 2013, well almost. It is natural to talk of a new beginning or new opportunity to take on job-hunting and be successful. No matter, there are certain “immutable principles” of job search. It is relevant to take another look at them, to provide you with “fresh fire” for successful job hunting in 2013.

    It is my fervent desire that you succeed this time. The stats are not on your side- unemployment is high and raging: many people will have to look for job this year. And many here have been on the job queue for some time. Add to these are those who are just entering (or re-entering the labour market). Now to the drivers

     

    Nobody owes you a job

    If you desire a good job, you need to get up your butt and go after the job you desire. Invest your time, energy and money (no matter how little you have, some are still investible in job search-related endeavour- you have a credit consuming GSM handset, don’t you?).

    The principle here is that though you may be unemployed, you still have a job to do: to get yourself a job. And that is the mother of all jobs, if you know what I mean! You will need to put in all you have and be focused. To get a good job takes imagination, initiative and focus.

    It means that you must be committed to implementing the skills you will acquired reading this column (and if you have the time, from our website) attending seminars, reading relevant books. You know what you want, and must be ready to work for it.

     

    Put in the maximum

    effort possible

    Job-hunting success rate is directly proportional to the amount of intelligent job-hunting effort. The more you try, the more likely you will find the job you want, and quickly too. Even if you are a career/job changer, you need to schedule and make time out consistently to pursue your job search. Always ask: am I doing the best? Is there something else I can do?

     

    Successful job-hunting requires a willingness to change tactics

    If something is not working, move to another strategy. Try something new. Try something unusual- as long as it is reasonable. But do you have a job search strategy? These apply to everybody in the job market.

     

    Never give up. Never

    A major challenge is that most job seekers give up often too soon. They expect the job search to be easy, simple and quick. It hardly works that way.

    Most people don’t have the stamina. You must realise that job hunting is a marathon- a game of strength, stamina and appropriate strategy. In your efforts to get a job, you will probably encounter some barriers and hurdles. Common barriers include:

    • Analysing my skills, interest and qualities

    • Honestly looking at barriers

    • Identifying specific job target

    • Writing effective job applications

    • Preparing for interview

    • Performing at interview

    • Writing effective Resume/C.V

    • Networking skills

    • Selection Test skills

    • Evaluating job offers

     

    Think again, are these real barriers or excuses? It is often easy to blame external factors for failure to get what you want. The real barriers are generally internal doubts and fear, resistance to change and our perception.

    Perceptions, may be stronger than reality- it influences our atitude and actions towards a given object or situation, whether it is right or wrong.

     

    Aquiring job-hunting skills

    Even madness, they say, have methods! Review the points already listed (1-4). Look at the ‘barrier’ list above- most of them are ‘Job Hunting Skills’ gap: Do you know how to find a good job?

    You especially need to acquire skills in the following areas: skill analysis, job search strategies formulation, career and job goal setting, identifying career achievement, writing winning Resume/C.V and application letter, conducting informational interview, job interview and follow up, job aptitude test etc.

    One more thing: Give yourself a big advantage in the job market- get a copy of our recently published book. Visit our website for details.

     

     

     

     

  • How not to get employed

    Year 2012 will soon expire. You will be counting your first on your second or additional New Year’s Day as an unemployed graduate.

    We will use the remaining Mondays and some of the early 2013 to run do quick run of what may be doing wrong in your quest for the dream job. Or what you are supposed to be doing but that you are not at all.

    Whatever is written below, I am happy to inform you that the the book JobSearchGuru’s JOB-HUNTING MANUAL- Strategies and Tactic for effective Search in Nigeria Competitive Job Market is now in the bookshops. This is the comprehensive tool-box for job-hunters. See www.jobsearchhow.com.ng for more info. Now to the business of the week.

    Sometimes the simplest matters make all the difference in the potential joining together of an employer and a job searcher.These opportunities to fail occur before the first phone call is ever exchanged.

    If you’re a job seeker, simply rectifying simple mistakes can keep your resume out of the ‘no’/trash pile.They can help you find a marriage with the employer of your dreams. Here are 10 things that job seekers do that relegate their applications to the slush pile.

     

    Fail to follow the employer’s directions about how to apply

    By following the employer’s requested application method: email, fax, mail, you brand yourself as a cooperative person who can follow directions. Also, consider the possibility that the employer is routing all applications that come via email, as an example, into a recruiting folder. Other applications may be missed. Delivery of your resume via mail is still acceptable, however, fewer applications come in the mail these days; they are a paper management nightmare.

     

    Send resumes or cover

    letters with typos, unforced errors

    Typos brand you as a careless person who didn’t take the time to proof read your resume and cover letter. Employers judge the quality of your future work, by the quality of the documents that introduce you. Many managers use typos, inexcusable grammatical errors, etc as a screen to eliminate candidates from contention.

     

    Choose to leave out requested salary information

    Many candidates are positive that once an employer sees their credentials, and meets them, salary won’t be an issue. Their credentials will knock the socks off the employer. Don’t believe it. The employer has a budget. When you don’t submit your salary as requested, your resume will likely be rejected. Minimally, you cause the employer to make a screening phone call. Neither you nor the employer need to waste time in an impossible situation.

     

    Fail to send a customised cover letter with the resume

    A customised cover letter does not mean changing the lead paragraph to mention the employer’s company name. It means drawing the employer’s attention, point by point, to how well your credentials match the employer’s stated needs. A generic introduction is already available via your resume. Use the cover letter as your place to shine. Demonstrate what’s important to you – and to the employer. Connect the dots for the employer and you’ll likely get a call for an interview.

     

    Leave large gaps in their employment – unexplained

    The first scan of a resume will reveal gaps in your employment history. Trust me. The employer always wants to know why. You took three years off to raise your child? Tell the employer upfront in the cover letter. Otherwise, the employer will often reject your application.You risk the employer wondering why you have trouble finding a job.You appear undependable or, at worst, a mystery. It’s hard to find great candidates. Don’t eliminate yourself from the review.

     

    Tell what the job searcher did – not what was accomplished

    You answered a multiline phone, provided excellent customer service, and ran the photocopy machine. Does the employer care? Not likely. The employer wants to know that you improved customer service by 120 per cent. The descriptions on your resume must focus on accomplishments – you were promoted three times in five years. And, make sure you label the bullet points as accomplishments or key achievements. Otherwise, your resume won’t pass the 30 second glance test.

     

    Apply for jobs for which they are way over-qualified – or under-qualified

    The employer has described the skills and experiences required for the position. A job description and a salary range exist. If you are way over qualified, or under-qualified, your application is suspect and is filed under “no”. It doesn’t take long to see that a high school grad is applying for a position that requires a degree and one to two years of experience. You’ve wasted your time applying. You’ve wasted the employer’s time, too – although I guarantee – not much time.

     

    Exhibit problems with grammar and sentence construction

    Your image is you. Application materials that demonstrate you are challenged to produce a sentence won’t serve you well. Grammatical errors are noticed and telegraph several messages. You can’t write very well. You lack attention to detail. Your ability to interact with customers is limited by your skills. Is this the message you are trying to send your potential employer? I think not. Remember, when the employer stumbles over mistakes, they rule you out.

     

    Use out-of-the-ordinary tactics and gimmicks to draw attention to your resume

    They do, but I guarantee the attention isn’t positive. Employers have enough problems without viewing your resume picture, except when required. Stuffing your resume envelope with confetti isn’t a good idea either, even if you’re applying as a creative. Sending your life history and every training certificate you’ve ever obtained won’t earn you any points. Save these until you’ve, at least, spent some time together. Skip the rest.

     

    Skip human resources and apply to the hiring manager or the CEO for advertised position

    Job searching books persist in making this recommendation, and maybe it was a good one, once upon a time. It’s still good when you are introducing yourself and making a professional contact. But, when applying for an advertised position, it’s the death knell for your application. You tick off the HR people, who are the monitors and caretakers of the hiring process. They build the pool of candidates that managers interview. They schedule the interviews. And, believe it or not, respected HR people have a serious influence on who gets hired.

  • 200,000 agent banking jobs likely

    200,000 agent banking jobs likely

    The prayers of the unemployed may be answered in the New Year, which begins tomorrow, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduces agent banking. The initiative is expected to create 200,000 jobs as a way of boosting the economy. AKINOLA AJIBADE writes.

     

    THE New Year begins tomorrow, with a lot of hope for the unemployed. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is introducing tomorrowAgent Banking, a scheme which holds a lot of promise in job creation. About 200,000 jobs are expected to be created under the scheme. It is coming under the CBN’s Financial Inclusion Strategy (FIS).

    Launched in Abuja in October, the strategy comes with various concepts aimed at increasing banking penetration and growth.

    At the launch, CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said concepts under the strategy include mobile money and agent banking. Mobile money has since been introduced under the cash-less policy. It is now the turn of agent banking.

    Agent banking is a system whereby a postal outlet is contracted by a financial institution, or a mobile network operator, to process clients’transactions. Rather than a branch outlet, it is the owner or an employee of the retail outlet that conducts the transactions. The agent banker performs banking function. Clients can deposit, withdraw, transfer funds, pay their bills, inquire about their balances, receive government benefits, or a direct deposit from their employers at an agent banking outlet.

    It can be operated in supermarkets, petrol stations, gas stations, stores, laundry shops, post offices, cybercafes and eateries, among others. As such, people are employed to provide an array of services.

    Agent banking has helped to improve access to financial services, as well as create jobs for people in places, such as Kenya.

    In its framework, the CBN described agent banking as a catalyst for growth because it has the potential to provide jobs.

    The CBN said outlets would be created nationwide for agent banking operations. It said rural areas, perceived by the conventional banks as unprofitable, would benefit through employment creation.

    Experts lauded the idea, saying it has potential of providing jobs for the people. They said about 200,000 jobs would be created in the first two years of the scheme’s implementation. More jobs, they said, would be created, if things work according to plans. Noting that Nigeria has an estimated 50,000 villages, they said each village would have at least two or three agent banks to provide financial services for people. They said no fewer than four people are required to work in each bank, adding that the figure would increase as the system becomes acceptable.

    According to them, agent banks are equipped with a combination of Point-of-Sale (PoS) card reader, mobile phone, barcode scanner to scan bills for bill payment transactions, Personal Identification Number (PIN) pads, and sometimes personal computers that connect with the bank’s server using a personal dial-up or other data connection that may be required.

    The scheme, they said, has provided opportunities for people to work as back-office operators, system programmers, credit application, verification officers and security.

    Speaking during the second retail banking series of Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA’s) in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Top Image, Ms Jennifer Barassa, said agent banking enables delivery of financial services at affordable costs across a wide range of income segments of the society, and provide opportunities for employment generation.

    Ms. Barassa, a mobile money transfer expert, said the idea would provide opportunities for middle-income earners.

    Citing Kenya, she said the system is a tool for jobs creation because it has helped in providing employment for people in other places.

    Chief Executive Officer, Mobile Money Africa,Mr Emmanuel Okwogale, said the strategy comprises concepts that can easily create jobs and further grow the economy.

    He said: “Be it mobile money banking, microfinance banking, or agent banking system, there is no limit to their employment generation capacity. Research has shown that each concept has the ability to improve banking penetration, and generate employment opportunities. Given the size of the Nigerian population, the system is going to provide a lot of jobs for people.”

    He said mobile and agent banking systems have different structures, adding that they achieve common goals of reducing the number of the unbanked population.

    Okwogale said last year CBN implemented mobile banking frameworks by licensing 16 firms to provide the service, adding that at the moment it is developing the guidelines for the implementation of the banking system. He said more job opportunities would be created, when agent banking starts in 2013.

    Okwogale said: “Agent banking operates through different outlets, such as supermarkets, cybercafes, petrol stations, laundry shops, among others. These outlets are going to be run by people. This implies that people would be employed to work in these outlets. When you look at Nigeria from the geographical point of view, you would observe that the country is large. This shows that agent banking has a lot of prospect for the unemployed.

    “Given the right policies and implementation procedures, agent banking, among other concepts, introduced to drive the financial inclusion strategy would create jobs for Nigerians.”

    When people are equipped with the right skills, they would work in any aspect of the industry, he added.

    A financial market analyst, Mr Dayo Adeosun, advised CBN to implement the guidelines on agent banking well, arguing that many policies have become a flash in the pan in Nigeria.

    He agreed that the idea has prospect to create jobs, urging the apex bank to implement it.

     

  • Will 2013 favour the jobless?

    Will 2013 favour the jobless?

    What does 2013 have in store? Nobody knows, but the prayer is that it will be a good year. The unemployed, especially, are looking forward to a prosperous 2013. To analysts only a review of ‘anti-people’policies by the government will bring succour to the people.DUPE OLAOYE-OSINKOLU reports.

     

    Are you a Nigerian, born in a state other than your parents’state of  origin? You were educated and even secured a job in the state of your birth. You have risen through the ranks and appreciating God for his blessings. Suddenly, a circular addressed to you by the government shattered your self-confidence and threw you into the labour market. You have been sacked because your parents hailed from a state other than where you were born and raised.

    This scenario is not an assumption. It is happening in many states at a time jobs are hard to come by, and this has generated a lot of concern among workers and government.

    Besides, Nigerians are appealing to governors to find a means of creating more jobs in the New Year, since gainful employment of the youth will lure them away from committing crimes.

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is also appealing to households to cooperate with its enumerators to collect information that will guide the government in creating jobs in the country.

    Supervisor of an Enumeration Team, Mr Muhammed Muritala, said the call became imperative because the level of statistical awareness in the country was low.

    State Officer, NBS, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Oladokun Akinola, said its field workers have started collecting data on job creation.

    He said: “The purpose of the survey, which covers households, private establishments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the country, is to assist the Federal Government to track jobs created and provide information on the kind of jobs people want.

    “It would also help the government to monitor and evaluate its programmes and policies toward job creation.”

    According to him, three modules would be used to collect the data.

    “The first is to know the households in each Enumeration Area (EA) and select 17 households to administer questionnaires on.

    “The second is to administer questionnaires on some selected private establishments and institutions. The third is to collect data from the MDAs.”

    Akinola said the field workers were to identify 60 EAs in each of the 36 states and the FCT and interview 17 selected households in each EA.

    Many Nigerians, however, condemn discrimination by some state governments, against their fellow countrymen, relieving them of their jobs on the excuse of being non-indigenes of their states.

    Some also mentioned the case of Abia, where non-indigenes were sacked last year, during the agitation for new minimum wage.The fear is that more state governments might want to emulate Abia.

    But the Delta State government has said it will make job creation a priority next year to lure youths of the state away from crime, especially kidnapping.

    The Abia crisis started with the agitation for the payment of N18,000 minimum wage. The government decided to send non-indigenes back to their states to enable them to afford the new wage.

    An Abian, Douglas Adiele,who is the General Secretary, National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), condemned sacking.

    “The rationalisation of workers, who hailed from other states apart fromAbia, is unacceptable. No amount of rationalisation can justify that action. It does not promote national unity. The law must be reversed. It is condemnable. Other states must not do it.”

    The state, however, said that was the only way it could go, to enable it to pay the new wage.

    In a statement, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), enjoined Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, to reinstate non-indigenes in the state public service, sacked by his government.

    In a letter with reference number ASCSN/Abia/Vol.IV/672, signed by its Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, and sent to the Abia State government, the Union regretted that the state government refused to re-absorb the sacked employees, including Abian women indigenes married to “outsiders” despite pleas by religious leaders, royal fathers, human rights organisations and other eminent Nigerians.

    “Can we really say in all honesty that if all the other 35 governors were to follow the footsteps of the Abia State Government on this policy, it would promote the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerian citizens?” the union asked.

    The argument being presented by the aides of the governor, was that the Southeastern states do not receive much from the Federation Account compared to other states, but if mismanagement, misappropriation, corruption, irrelevant trips, over-bloated aides are checked, there will be enough to pay the minimum wage and still develop infrastructure in the states.

    Lawal recalled that Abia State indigenes abound in other state public services, and cited the example of Lagos State where a Southeasterner was serving second term as the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget.

    He appealed to the state government to change the policy.

    ASCSN noted that most metropolitan cities were built by people from diverse backgrounds and cultures who converged on such places to create great civilisations. It, therefore, urged the Abia State government to allow Nigerians, including foreigners, who wish to contribute to the development of the state to do so without hindrance.

    President, National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), Comrade Lateef Oyelekan, urged the Federal Government to ensure regular power supply in the new year to save jobs because many firms are contemplating relocating from Nigeria due to power outages, which has caused them to spend much money on diesel.

    He enjoined the government to help wage war against the infiltration of smuggled goods, which has been preventing the sales of locally manufactured products, to save jobs.

    Oyelekan condemned the discrimination against workers by some states, claiming they were not indigenes of the state. He urged other state government to borrow a leaf from Lagos, where most of the workers are from neighbouring states. He also wants re-investment of subsidy fund to cover job creation.

    Similarly, the Kebbi Government said it would use the Petroleum Subsidy Re-investment Fund to create 3,000 jobs. Alhaji Samaila Halliru, the Fund Committee Chairman quoted the state government as saying degree and diploma holders would be trained to set up their businesses.

    Halliru said the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) would hold training and that each participant would be paid N10,000 as training allowance.

    Creation of jobs is believed to be the way out of the country’s rising insecurity problem. National Chairman, Citizens Popular Party (CPP), Mr Maxi Okwu, called on the Federal Government to create more enabling environment for the private sector to create jobs.

    He advised the government to invest more on construction, among others, to create room for many youths to be employed.

    Okwu said apart from reducing unemployment drastically, such investments would also boost the nation’s economy.

    “With the government’s intervention to energise the private sector, more funds will be available for the business community to embark on economic activities that will create jobs, especially for the youths,” he said.

    On security, the CPP boss urged the government to rise up to the challenge by embarking applying on a comprehensive modern security measures.

     

  • 10 home truths (III)

    The sparkling new year is

    upon us. In the previous two

    weeks, we’ve been telling each other some home truths about job search. The objective of this exercise is to energise us for the new year. And remember, never give up or go on holiday from job search.

    Let us conclude this presentation.

     

    Home truth No. 8

    You need to get organised for job search.

    The starting point is skill analysis. Skills are the fundamental basis of job search.Employers are looking for certain skills, and the best jobs are those ones where your skills match the needs of the employer.

    There are three types of skills job specific, self-management and transferable skills. You also need to put together an arsenal of accomplishments. This is for those with fairly long working history, highlighting their career achievements.

    You need to understand your strength(s), weakness(es), interests, aptitude and potential. What would you like to do with your life, all your life? Using the inputs from the above, you will determine and write your career/job objective statement.

    It is a statement that describes or states what career or job (or a range of closely related occupations) you desire. A job/career objective statement must highlight what skills you have to offer the employer as well.

    You will now generate a list of potential employers in respect of your chosen job objective. Necessary information may be obtained from friends, relations, consultants, vendors, newspapers, trade journals etc. Once you’ve made your choice, go after them- using conventional and unconventional means.

    How do you intend to pursue these job opportunities? What is your job hunting strategy? Let me tell you what is working. Or let us start with what have the least chance of working. The five most ineffective job search strategies are these.

    • Internet: posting your CV/Resume on the Internet, and expect potential employer to visit the board/site and make a choice, depending on the match between your skills and their requirements. It has four to 10 per cent success rate;

    • Mailing out Resume CV to employers at random (Resume blasting). Seven per cent success rate;

    • Answering ads in professional/trade journals. Seven per cent success rate;

    • Responding to newspaper ads. Five to 24 per cent success rate. The higher the salary/position, the lower the success rate;

    • Using employment agencies, five to 28 per cent success rate. Again, the higher the salary/position, the lower the success rate.

     

    Now, the best five ways to search for a job;

    • Ask for job leads from family, friends, people you know, etc – “Do you know of any job at the place where you work, or elsewhere?” Thirty-three per cent success rate;

    • Knocking on the door of any employer, factory, office etc, whether they are known to have vacancy or not. Forty-seven per cent success rate;

    • Identifying subject/field of interest, identifying employers on that field and calling on them to ask if you they are hiring for the position you desire and that you know you can do well. Sixty-nine per cent success rate;

    • Do the above in a group with other job hunters. 76 per cent success rate; and

    • Doing a life-changing job search (identifying your skills, proffered places, interest and acceptable working environment and going after the job you desire) 86 per cent success rate.

    You got me there. There is still a better method: combining the strategies (experts suggest it should not more than four !).

     

    Home truth No. 9

    As you can see, most job seekers don’t have the right strategy, If any at all.

    A fact never to be forgotten:

    The major difference between successful and unsuccessful job seekers is not some factors out there, or the ‘barrier’ listed earlier. It is the way they go about their job hunt. A successful job search requires organisation and effort. Don’t think of yourself as unemployed. You have a job, full time job. If you are employed think of your job search as a part-time job. If you are unemployed, the working hours of eight are available for your job search. If you are employed but seeking new opportunities, you need to make time for your job search, and be consistent.

    Job search requires that you develop a new set of priorities and schedules. Be aware that there will be distractions. Just about anything will sound better than looking for work. Don’t be fooled, your number one priority is finding that new job. Don’t let anything get in your way. Here are some tips:

    • Establish measurable goals, daily and weekly. If you set 10 a.m-3 p.m Tuesday for research, your goal could be to identify 10 new employer you can pursue. Wednesday’s goal could be to contact the employer you identified on Tuesday. Be realist, but challenge yourself.

    • Make yourself accountable. Create an area in your home where your entire job search is centered. If you keep all your job search supplies and information there, you will stay organised and ready to work. Check your progress at the end of each day and each week. Set new goals. It is a good strategy to involve someone else in your search. Give them permission to hold you accountable for your plans. Or join a job club.

     

    Home truth No. 10

    You need to give your job search all takes in terms of effort, organisation, focus,energy, creativity, strategy, etc.

     

    • Keep accurate records if you are conducting a serious job campaign. You make hundreds of contacts and generate new opportunities regularly. Don’t rely on your memory, develop and maintain a filling and/or a recording system – binders, pocket calendars and notebooks.

    You need all the help you can get when you are on the march for job seach. The veritable source of help and assistance is the book by Olu Oyeniran, Job-Hunting Manual-comprehensive strategies and tactive for extensive job hunting.

    Your destiny is in your hands. Now you know.

     

     

     

     

  • More jobs coming for nurses

    More jobs coming for nurses

    The preventive and environmental health care management system says a lot about disease control. Experts are of the view that the subsector holds much prospect for nurses and midwives in Nigeria. They say this is the time for such workers to tap the opportunities in the area, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE

    FOR nurses and midwives, a window of opportunities has opened up in preventive and environmental health care system.

    The former focuses on disease prevention and health maintenance. It includes early diagnosis of diseases, discovery and identification of people at the risk of development of specific problems and counselling, among other interventions that could help in averting health problems.

    The latter has to do with keeping the environment hygenic to prevent the outbreak of dieseases, such as cholera and diarrhea.

    Experts argue that there are not enough health care professionals to work in these areas. They said health care service providers, such as nurses and midwives, have restricted themselves to hospital jobs where they work on schedules. They said many nurses and midwives are jobless because of their regimented lifestyle.

    They said the Red Cross, United Nations Children Education Fund(UNICEF) and a host of other international organisations do employ people to work as preventive and environmental health care providers, advising nurses to key-into these opportunties.

    A Nursing Consultant, Larry Obadan, said there are a lot of opportunities for nurses in preventive and environmental health care system, arguing that many countries are showing deep interest in these areas.

    He said: “ The world is moving towards preventive and environmental health care system. The developed ouuntries are showing more than a passing interest in these areas by providing a lot of money to tackle diseases.

    “Also, the developing nations are aware of the importance of environmental healthcare management.These are the opportunities, which thousands of unemployed nurses can tap into to earn a living.”

    He said the field and allied areas could provide jobs for between 500,000 and 600,000 nurses, adding that there are immense opportunities in nursing.

    He said nurses and midwives, who long to work as preventive healthcare officers, should move from house to house to tell people on how to manage their health, while those that are ready to offer environmental health care services need go to rural areas to do the job.

    He said Nigeria needs more than a million nurses and midwives to manage the primary health care system, stressing that there is a shorfall in the number of nurses in the country.

    Obadan, who is a legal practitioner and Labour Consultant, said there is a lot of mis-match in the medical profession in Nigeria, arguing that the development has affected nurses negatively.

    He alleges that doctors are frustrating efforts being put in place to employ staff nurses in Nigeria.

    “From investigation, doctors are employing auxillary nurses and midwives to work for them. They parade them as qualified officers, thereby jeopardising the chances of the trained nurses.

    Besides, the country is battling shortage of nurses and midwives, making it impossible to develop the primary healthcare system,” he said.

    A don at the Department of Nursing Science, College of Medicine at the University of Lagos (CMUL), Prof Boluwaji Fajimilehin, corroborated this assertion, saying the country’s 240, 000 qualified nurses and midwives are not enough.

    Fajimilehin said 136,000 of these are not registered, implying that many are working without regulatory approval. He said the country does not have enough nurses and midwives to cater for the sick.

    Citing data from a private outfit – the Integrated Human Resources Information System (iHRIS) – Fajimilehin said two or three nurses are made to work in a 30-bed ward in the morning, one or two in the afternoon, and only one at night. This, he said, requires employing more workers for the health industry.

    Also, a Matron with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the problems associated with the health care delivery system are enormous and therefore require more hands. She said nurses and midwives are in short supply globally, adding that Nigeria is not an exception.

    She said there are opportunities for people to work as professionals, auxiliary, dental or primary health care nurses and midwives.

    The source said people who have the qualifications would get jobs, in view of the openings in the sector.

    Her words: “There are a lot of job opportunities in the health sector. First, the issue of ageing nurses and midwives have opened up job prospects for people. Secondly, many of such workers are due for retirement. Thirdly, some have retired and need to be replaced with younger and stronger workers. Fourthly, many have travelled to Canada, among other countries, for better conditions of service.

    “The development suggests that more nurses and midwives are needed in the country.”

    She added: “The time has come for people to show more interest in nursing by taking it as a profession. They can do this by studying nursing at the university level to get more exposure on it. Holders of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing are going to have an edge in the labour market over those with only School of Nursing Certificates.

    “People must develop interest in nursing from the beginning, if they want to achieve success. When this happens, the country would have enough nurses and midwives to work with and further reduce the pressure on the labour market.”

    She advised people to go for career talks to know their areas of specialisation in nursing science, adding that each area has the capacity to provide jobs for practitioners.

    “There are various cadres of nurses and midwives ditto job opportunities. Many are unemployed now because the government does not create the enabling environment for the healthy sector. The best thing for the government to do is to employ more workers in the healthcare delivery segment. The Federal Government has not done much in this area. The Lagos State government is trying its best to take nurses and midwives out of the employment market. Once efforts are geared toward the creation of jobs for medical practitioners, the better for their families and the economy in particular,” she said.

    Also, a Nursing Consultant, Mrs Adenike Amao, said the country was yet to comply with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) directive of one nurse to a maximum of 10 patients. Mrs Amao said a nurse or a midwife attends to a minimum of 100 people in Nigeria, arguing that they were being overworked.

    She said Nigeria’s health care delivery system is poor, going by the WHO Report on 57 countries facing critical shortage of health workers.

    She said: “The report indicates that Nigeria’s shortage has increased three times from 44,000 in 2006. This would be the seventh highest shortage of the 57 crisis countries. Giving this, the country has a shortage of over 130,000 workers, a development that is not good enough for a country that is planning to attain the goal of Health for All by 2015. For Nigeria to attain that goal, the government must employ medical practitioners, in addition to the provision of infrastructure for the sector.”

    According to her, Nigeria must clear the deficit first before it can achieve meaningful growth in the area of healthcare services.

    “After clearing the deficit of over 130,000 workers, the government still needs to employ more hands to foster growth. By my estimation, Nigeria would need about a million nurses to achieve growth. The reason is because there are many towns and villages that are finding difficult to have access to qualified nurses and midwives. In those areas, people patronise fake health service providers. This has resulted in untimely death”, she said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 10 home truths

    10 home truths

    T HE year 2012 is racing inexorably towards its end. So, you have been in the employment market throughout the year or even before, you will probably be concerned by now by your situation.You are probably strategising about next year. The starting point is why are you still unemployed? I don’t know.

    Sure, you are the one to find the answers, mine is to ask questions, assist and encourage you. In this article some subsequent ones, I will try and help you to a new and profitable start in 2013. That was the promise I made earlier.

    Our employment status is crucial and important to our lives. Why? Most of us start work in early 30’s and retirement often occurs in the mid–60’s. This implies that we spend 80 per cent of our adult life at work.

    It will then be obvious that we need to get not just a job, but also a job of our choice. We need a job that will give us the greatest quality of work life, one that gives us the fullest opportunity for maximum expression of our needs, interest and values.

    The unemployed is poor, feels loss of control over his/her life and faces social pressure (some unintended). He also feels frustrated, angry and has low esteem. in the same vein, sudden loss of job disrupts family and social life, leads to loss of income and identity.

    The resultant change results in emotional turmoil, given the magnitude, speed and scope of change. At another level, many are not happy with their jobs-and are passively or actively looking for opportunity for job/career change.

    They all are really in the job market. The frank unemployment statistics (or better still, estimates) are not cheering: 16 millions Nigerians are unemployed – 25 per cent or four million are University/Polytechnics graduates.

    About 220,000 are produced from such higher institutions, and only 10 per cent obtain employment within one year post-NYSC. These were estimates made two years ago. I don’t think things are better now. In all, it may well be true that over 25 millions Nigerians in the job market-looking for job, a better job or a new career.

    From the foregoing, it is obvious that the Nigeria Job market is tough. The hard reality is that it requires more than extensive cognate experience and academic excellence to obtain a good job in the Nigeria’s job market.

    Question then is, at the personal level, is there anything you can do to get and stay ahead. Yes, you need to acquire job search skills. It is that simple. Buying an exquisite car will not give you the pleasure and pride of driving it, except you know how to drive.

    In the same way, the vast majority of us will only enjoy the fruit of our formal education and training only through paid employment. It is therefore the ironic that few possess the requisite skills for effective job search. That is home truth no1: few of us possess job search skills

    Let’s look at the hiring process, from the point of view of the employer. It is a good strategy of war to have good understanding of the ways of your enemy. The hiring process consists of essentially 3 stages Recruitment, Selection and Placement.

    Recruitment is the set of activities a firm uses to attract job candidates who have the abilities, knowledge and skills required for occupiers of the job position to help the firm achieve its objectives.

    Home truth No 2: Most candidates failed even before the start- they do not get to know about job openings. They are not looking the right places or they are looking in wrong places.

    Selection is the process of choosing the specific candidates for the job. It entails gathering sufficient information about the potential candidates for the purpose of evaluation.

     

    The sequence may be as follows

    • Preliminary screening (basal evaluation of candidates’ application and Resume/CV. A candidate may be considered absolutely unsuitable for academic, vocational, vocational, experience etc reason)

    • Completion of Application Blank (candidates may be required to fill standardised application blanks which are required for information usually already available on the Resume/CV)

    • Selection Test- (usually pencil and eraser, designed to predict candidates performance on the job, intellectual ability, numerate/verbal aptitudes etc.)

    • Interview (interaction and exchange of information between the employer and job seeker)

    • Decision to Hire (Making up the mind of the employer as regards that most suitable candidate)

    • Job offer (contacting and informing successful candidate about the decision of the employer to hire him and the terms of such employment).

    Are you positioned to cross these hurdles?

    Permit me to ask this obvious question again: Do you want a job? Or, a better job? Do you know how to? From deciding what you want, to crafting a winning resume through job interview to negotiating your employment conditions reqires know-how. JobSearchguru’s JOB-HUNTING MANUAL, is now published and available in the market. You can visit our website for further details. It is your complete job search tool-kit.

     

    See you next Monday.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Coca-Cola appoints new Managing Director

    Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited has appointed Adeola Adetunji as its Managing Director.

    He will replace Kelvin Balogun from January 1, 2013. Balogun is now President, Coca-Cola Central, East and West Africa (CEWA) Business Unit.

    Adetunji is the General Manager for Manufacturing and Trading Services; he serves as Managing Director for Waveside (Pty.) Limited, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company in South Africa.

    Adetunji has spent 19 years in Coca Cola, serving in areas spanning finance, marketing and operations.

    He joined the company in Atlanta in 1993 and was appointed the South Africa Division Accounting Manager three years later.

    He led Coca-Cola in East Africa between 2003 and 2005 and helped to stabilise the business in Southern Africa between 2005 and 2007, before he moved to bottling operations in July 2008 as the East and North Africa Operations Director for Coca-Cola Sabco.

    Prior to joining the Coca-Cola, Adetunji worked in audit and consulting with Spicer and Oppenheimer (now Nexia International) for over three years.

    He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife), Nigeria and an MBA in Finance and Strategic Planning from the University of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, United States.

    “We are very pleased to have another strong professional in Adetunji to lead the Coca-Cola business in Nigeria, one of our strategic growth markets,” said Nathan Kalumbu, outgoing President of Coca-Cola Central, East and West Africa, who will be moving up as the Group President for Coca-Cola Eurasia and Africa Group.

    “We are confident that he would focus on delivering our system growth plan, leveraging the solid groundwork laid over the past two years,” he added.

    Adetunji said: “I am excited at the opportunity to return to Nigeria as steward the Coca-Cola business; and I look forward to working with the team to further strengthen the fundamentals of our business and grow our market leadership.”

  • Waiting in the wings

    Waiting in the wings

    The government plans to complete the construction of agro-airports next year. The airports will facilitate the ferrying of perishable agricultural products abroad, create jobs and grow the economy, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE.

     

    LIKE other sectors of the economy, the aviation industry has its own challenges. But despite these, it is forg- ing ahead.

    Determined to improve facilities at the the airports, the Federal Government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 35 investors to remodel the 22 terminals to meet international standards.

    Of the 22, seven are designated as agro- cargo terminals to help in taking perishable farm produce from the country to Europe, America and other parts of the woirld. The aim is to encourage the growth of the agricultural sector, and further increase its contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Added to this is the issue of job opportunities arising from designating airports as agro cargo terminals. Aviation sector analysts said the terminals, which will be sited in Markurdi, Jos, Yola, Asaba, Enugu, Akure and Lagos airports, are meant to encourage the growth of the agricultural and aviation industry and further create jobs for people.

    Before now, the air cargo business subsector of the industry was under the control of companies, such as the United Parcel Service (UPS), DHL, FedEX, Abex among others. These firms do not only employ few hands, they also air freight non-perishable goods from one country to another. But with the planned take-off of agro cargo airports in 2013, a lot of job opportunities would be opened for Nigerians.

    Experts said the development is the government’s first shot at agro air cargo business, as hitherto, what was on ground was cargo airlines, which were not specifically designated to do agro business.

    They said the development would have multiplier effects on the economy, by providing jobs for people across sector. If well managed and properly executed, they added that it is capable of creating about one million jobs in the country.

    These jobs would be for people in cargo companies, airports, farmers, among other stakeholders. They said the idea would reduce the pressure on the labour market, by providing different layers of jobs for people.

    Jobs for cargo supervisors, ramp agents/baggage handlers, ramp operation managers, cargo customer service agents, technicians, junior maintenance officers, senior maintenance officers, trainee air cargo brokers, business development managers, and security wardens are some of the job openings that would result from the implementation of the scheme.

    Others are cargo handling assistants; cargo claims handlers, cargo control officers, drivers, office attendants, among others. Also, more people would be employed in haulage firms and farms in the process. According to them, Asian and European countries that have established agro cargo airports are generating huge revenues for the government.

    Findings have shown that countries, such as China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysian, Korea and Singapore have not only designated some airports for agro allied businesses, but have been able to create millions of jobs through this means. Little wonder that Nigeria is taking a cue from those countries, by designating some airports as agro cargo terminals.

    the Managing Director, National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr Nnamdi Udoh, said the establishment of agro cargo airports would provide job opportunities. He said the idea has created jobs in countries that have established such airports, noting that Nigeria cannot be an exception.

    Udoh said Nigeria is blessed with perishable products, such as mango, oranges, potatoes, pineapples, plantain, among others that can bring revenue to not only the farmers, but also the government. He said Benue State boasts of abundant agricultural products that would bring about job creation, if the people key in to the programe.

    Also, the Managing Director, Best Foods Nigeria Limited, Emmanuel Ijewere said the agro cargo airports would provide jobs for the unemployed. He said the country produces tons of perishable products, and that they are wasted because there is no good storage and processing system in the country.

    He said farmers would get more jobs and improve their productivity if the government can run the agro cargo airports well.

    He said: “When farmers are able to export their products, they would make money and employ more hands. The aviation industry will benefit by way of collecting certain fees/charges.This means that the agricultural and aviation industries will enjoy in the long run. The issue can be likened to a cycle, through which various parties co-exist for growth. That shows that different sets of people would get jobs to do when the idea materialises. It is now left for people to key into job opportunities that the agric sector is bringing into the economy.”

    The Minister of Aviation, MsPrincess Stella Oduah, said the aim of designating certain airports as agro cargo terminals is to achieve significant value chain in farm-to-market concept, enhance rural transformation with multiple effects on job creation.

    Oduah said immense job opportunities are going to be created through the initiative, arguing that various stakeholders would benefit from it.

    “The value of perishable agro businesses in Africa (mainly agricultural products stands at N245 billion (or $1.53billion). The market is shared by only 16 countries in the continent. At the moment, Nigeria has no share in the growing market for foreign exchanges,” she said.

    She lamented that Nigeria has no share in the agric cargo business because of lack of adequate storage processing and transportation of perishable farm products to local and international markets.

    An economist with Lagos Business School, Dr Austin Nweke, said there is nothing wrong in Nigeria enjoying a comparative advantage on some products.

    He said the country boasts of many agricultural products that could be exported to bring in foreign exchange.

    He said agro cargo terminals means a lot to the economy in terms of creating jobs, and increasing government’s revenue. He said people would get jobs directly or indirectly through agro cargo terminals, when they start operating. He advised people to look for compliementary skills, adding that it is only through this that they can get jobs.

    Nweke said once Nigeria is able to get a good portion of the perishable agro market, it’s going to make money for economy growth.

    “I cannot say specifically the number of jobs that would be created through agro cargo terminals, but there are enormous opportunities if the idea is well implemented,“ he added.

  • Work and temperament: What job am I suited for II?

    Work and temperament: What job am I suited for II?

    The last article, this and the next is about matching your inclinations with your job. Yes, it is tantalising to have a job that matches your personal inclination perfectly- that is the ideal job. But it is an imprecise endeavour, so be warned that article is only a rough guide.

    Visit www.jobsearchhow.com.ng for more information and invaluable resources. If you leave a good comments, you stand to win one of our digital books and booklets. Everyday, five will be given away for the next 30 days.

     The idealists

    Idealist, being abstract in communicating and cooperative in implementing goals, can become highly skilled in diplomatic integration. Thus, their most practised and developed intelligent operations are usually teaching and counselling. And they would if they could be sages in one of these forms of social development. The Idealist temperament have an instinct for interpersonal integration, learn ethics with ever increasing zeal, sometimes become diplomatic leaders, and often speak interpretively and metaphorically of the abstract world of their imagination. They are proud of themselves in the degree, they are emphatic in action, respect themselves in the degree, they are benevolent, feel confident of themselves in the degree and they are authentic. Idealist types search for their unique identity, hunger for deep and meaningful relationship, wish for a little romance each day, trust their intuitive feelings implicitly and aspire for profundity.

    This is the “Identity Seeking Personality” – credulous about the future, mystical about the past, and their preferred time and place are the future and the pathway. Educationally they go for the humanities, vocationally for ethics, and vocationally for personnel work.

    In their family interactions, they strive for mutuality, provide spiritual intimacy for the mates, opportunity for their children, and for themselves continuous self-renewal. Idealists do not abound, being as few as eight per cent and nor more than 10 per cent of the population.

    Well known idealists include Jane Fonda, Leo Tolstoy, Oliver Stone, Mohandas Ghandi, Mikhail Gorbachev, E. Roosevelt and Plato.

    Language of the idealist’s

    “It is easy enough to be friendly to one’s friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business”. (MOHANDAS GANDHI)

    “Character is much easier kept than recovered” (THOMAS PAINE).

    “To give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own.” (ANNE LINDBERGH).

    Vocational interest of idealists In the workplace, idealists have one special talent: they are drawn to and can do wonders in recruiting, training, deploying, advancing, and counseling personnel. With their insight into people, their interest in human potential, and their glow of enthusiasms, idealists shine when they take on the job of finding quality employees, of guiding them into the right positions, and of helping them develop over the course of their careers.

    Not only in business, but at school as well, individual development is the idealist’s domain, which is to say they are naturally good at influencing the growth and maturation of others. Teaching, counseling, interviewing, and tutoring come easily to Idealists, and are highly intuitive pursuits for them. Even without much formal training, Idealists seem able, in Faber and Mazlish’s phrase, to “talk so others will listen and listen so others will talk” and this with young and old and with male and female.

    The rationals

    The rationals, being abstract in communicating and utilitarian in implementing goals, can become highly skilled in STRATEGIC ANALYSIS. Thus, their most practiced and developed intelligent operations tend to be marshalling and planning, or inventing and configuring. And they would if they could be wizards in one of these forms rational operation. They are proud of themselves in the degree they are competent in action, respect themselves in the degree they are autonomous, and feel confident of themselves in the degree they are strong willed. Ever in search of knowledge, this is the “Knowledge Seeking Personality” – trusting in reason and hungering for achievement. They are usually pragmatic about the present, skeptical about the future, solipsistic about the past, and their preferred time and place are the interval and the intersection. Educationally they go for the sciences, avocationally for technology, and vocationally for systems work. Rationals tend to be individualising as parents, mindmates as spouses, and learning oriented as children. Rationals are very infrequent, comprising as few as five per cent and more than seven per cent of the population.

    Well-known rationals include George Bernard Shaw, Walt Disney, Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Margaret Thatcher, Napoleon Bonaparte, Bill Gates, Thomas Edison, George Soros, Albert Einstein, Adam Smith, Aristotle and Marie Curie.

    Language of the rational

    “To me it suffices to wonder at these secret and to attempt humbly to grasp with my mind a mere image of the lofty structure of all that there is”. Albert Einstein.

    “I have taken all of knowledge for province”. Francis Bacon.

    “Error of opinion maybe tolerated where reason is left free to combat it” – Thomas Jefferson.

    “But, I’m not using those lessons just for theorising about the future, I am betting on it.” – Bill Gates.

    Vocational interests of rationals

    Rationals are intrigued by machines and by organisms, the two kinds of systemic entities. Organisms are the province of anthropologists, biologists, ethnologists, psychologists; machines, the regulated by servo-mechanisms developed by engineers. Of course, an organism, whether plant or animal is infinitely more complex than the most modern airport, a giant machine itself with countless sub-assemblies. But whatever the level of complexity it is complexity itself that intrigues the Rationals and therefore beckons them to take up systems-work, whether it be organismic or mechanical.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria’s first comprehensive job-hunting guide, JobSearchGuru’s JOB HUNTING MANUAL- Strategies and Tactics for Effective Search in Nigeria’s competitive Job Market is out and now on SALE! Visit www.jobsearchhow.com.ng/job_hunting_manual for more info

    •This article was based on Please Understand Please and Please Understand Me II written by David Keirsey.