Memoir Of A Job-seeker: A Graduate’s Job Search Experience

Three months, that was the time frame
within which I was sure I would get a job.
So after the fifth month without a job,
depression naturally crept in. My name is
Nenergy and this is my story.
I graduated from the University of Uyo with
a degree in marketing and was posted to
serve in Gombe State under the National
Youth Service scheme. Service year ended
in October, 2011 and despite the reality of
job scarcity I was so sure a job will be in
my grasp in just three months. Why was I
so certain? Well for one, I was well armed
with knowledge and skills I got from
attending career seminars and
employability workshops like the Microsoft
Employability Programme organized by
LEAP Africa. I was also certain that my
enthusiasm and can-do attitude will work
the magic. Yes, knowledge, skills,
enthusiasm and a can-do attitude did work
some magic, but one essential element was
missing – I did not understand the Nigerian
job market.
My job search started in January 2012, but
the fuel subsidy crisis made that January a
NO-VACANCY period in Nigeria. February
came and went and so did March, and
April, yet not even an invitation for aptitude
test. Something was clearly wrong. Were my
applications all going to the recycle bin or
shredder? Depression set in, my
enthusiasm waned, my savings dried up,
and I began having disagreements with my
parents. I found solace in relating with
other job-seekers. We would gather to
share information and recruitment stories
and discuss the way forward. The movie
“The Company Men” was also an
inspiration. The movie plot is based on the
lives of working class men who lost their
jobs due to redundancy. Life was tough and
depression set in, but they did not give up.
They got their lives back because they had
faith, courage and enthusiasm.
With renewed zest, I began to study trends
in the Nigerian job market and also focused
on personal development. I reset my goals,
improve my computing skills, re-crafted my
CV, extended my searchlight, pounded the
streets more and things began to look up.
The aptitude tests invites began to trickle
in, and then came the interviews. I got my
fair share of rejections, even turned down
two job offers and in September 2012 after
an aptitude test, a minor car accident, a
computer based test and two interviews, I
got a job (my first BIG job). Not just any
job, but a job that matches my skill,
abilities and career objective.
Today, the story can be told of how a
young Nigerian found a thrilling and
fulfilling job after almost 9 months of
protracted search. The long wait was not
easy, but it was worth it because it birthed
THE JOB SEEKERS’ CREED™. I did it, and so shall you.

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