7 Simple Guide to Land Your Dream Job as a Graduate.

 

Getting your dream job immediately after tertiary education be it University, Polytechnic or College of Education is one of the best things that could happen to a person, however it does not guarantee a successful career but it might be a pointer to it, and because of the deteriorating level of education in Nigeria and its resultant effect on the employability of her tertiary institution product, but despite the odds there are still job opportunities for graduates that possess the required skill sets, but are these graduates taking these jobs?

I doubt if the answer in your mind is a capital YES in totality, to ease their stress and turn their mountain of challenges into plain I was ordained by the Lord of the pen to write this insightful article highlighting "10 Simple Guide to Land Your Dream Job as a Graduate".

1. APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP: This is one of the easiest way to land your dream job, do a cursory research on places you would love to work and apply for internship, if you would be paid cool and if they tell you they can't accommodate you because of any reason is known to them, tell them you do a 3 months internship without pay, trust me you're not losing anything you're even gaining, gaining work experience, meeting people, improving yourself.

And it is never too late and you may be able to get a short-term internship to boost your employability.

If the company finds you resourceful enough for them they might retain you or someone there likes your attitude to work, he or she can recommend you for another job.

"You’d get jobs faster via recommendations than submitting an excellent CV." - Dr. Dipo Awojide.

2. EXPLORE: Venture into larger job sites, and search for the categories of jobs you would like to do, write and submit your resume to these companies. It’s a myth that sites like Jobberman, LinkedIn, working or Workforce isn't really getting briefs to recruit for firms, they do get, In fact, one of my friends got his pre-nysc job through this channel and some other graduates are getting.

3. NETWORK: Find time to build a network. Forget the odds. Reach out on social media, job sites, among friends, family, friend’s family, counselors, teachers. Whenever you encounter someone interesting, ask them for their advice and email. Most of us love imparting our hard-earned wisdom on up-and-comers, and are happy to make introductions to employers or recruiters. It makes us look good, too.

4. SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS: Employers know you probably lack specific job skill set. You should use your resume and profiles to showcase the skills you do have.

5. HARNESS THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter can be used to find jobs, there are thousands of job vacancies posted on these social platforms. "For example, show your interests in a career path by joining in the discussion on Twitter or LinkedIn. This will make prospective employers, recruiters familiar with your name or even earn you a recommendation from a known person in your industry.

6. SHOWCASE YOUR WORK PORTFOLIOS

Ever produced a piece of work at a university you were exceptionally proud of? Dissertations, project, assignment, reports, portfolios (and more) all, this is an added advantage, optimize it by showcasing your expertise because of these reputable pieces are evidence that highlight your immense talents. You own them, so why not show them off?

To really maximize their potential, bring them to your interviews and intimate your interviewer about it, upload them on the web for free online publishing - and even get your supervisor to give you a recommendation.

7. JOIN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS

Organizations and clubs are usually gatherings of resourceful individuals depending on the type you join you can meet your employer or meet someone who would recommend youforthe jobb of your dreams.

Some organizations and clubs organize recruitment fair, you’ll find some really awesome groups full of like-minded people that will help move you along your chosen career path.

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8 Skill Set Millennial must acquire before leaving University.

The Nigerian Educational system is fast deteriorating with the country's Universities not helping the situation with their archaic, stagnation or barely updated course contents hence making it difficult for it products to be productive in the labour market or even to adapt or fits into the new jobs created as a result of technology disruptive influence.

Before delving deeper into the theme of this article, I will like to share my personal experience with you, I when I was in the University I had various opportunities to learn so many things one of which was graphic design at cost of "thank you" or "a Coke and Doughnut", but guess what I missed that opportunity, I was preoccupied with academics and students' unionism..
Don't be like me, because it hurt to remember that I had the opportunity to learn an in-demand skills for free and I did not took advantage, just last week a dab hand at graphics design was telling his training fee starts from N70, 000, perhaps if I had taken that advantage I wouldn't have to pay N70, 000 to learn it now.

SKILL SET YOU CAN ACQUIRE ON CAMPUS.
Depending on your passion, vision and plans of what to do beyond the University you can choose a skill set that's complimentary to your course of study.

1. Marketing and communications: This is one of the most important skill sets required to succeed in the business world especially for Entrepreneurs and those planning to seek for job opportunities after University, 50% of jobs opportunities in my industry is Business Development/Marketing and that applies to the Banking industry and some other industries as well, so I'll advise you that while on campus attend free and paid Marketing training both off and online, it pays.

2. Social media marketing/advertising: Take advantage of this too, you easily run a consulting firm if you're a dab hand at this.



3. Graphic designs: This is one of the trainings that are consistently organized in University environment, if you have passion for it, create time and learn, it pays.

4. Cake Making
5. Tailoring
6. Shoe Making
7. Website design
8. Event Decoration
The list is almost endless, look around your campus and fine something you have passion for and that will be useful for you and learn, it pays, learn it.

WHY YOU SHOULD ACQUIRE THIS SKILLS SETS WHILE YOU ARE IN UNIVERSITY?
The best time to acquire these skills set is now that you are still a student because no matter how tight your schedule is you can still squeeze out time or even stay in school while your University is break as this is the time these trainings are mostly organized.
Aside the home truth that you can easily create time for it, training fee in University environment for students are usually very cheap making it affordable for you and if you have friends that are dab hands at a particular skills you can learn from them while on campus, don't be like me, seize the opportunity.

By Ojekunle Olabisi.

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10 Ways of Making Extra Money from your side hustles.

 

There are thousands of ways to make money at this age and I won't be wrong to say millions of ways.

The internet has opened up vast creative opportunities for those who are ready and smart enough to do so, how far you go or how much you make will then depend on your consistency and skills sets.

For most Nigerians especially the younger generation online side hustle is best and easiest way for them to make extra money and some of the channels are;

 

1. BLOGGING.

This is one of the easiest ways to make money online, you can easily set up your own blog by using blogspot.com or WordPress.com with this you can set up your blog within an hour, find a niche, like Fashion, Entertainment, Sport, Relationship write about any this that you can do passion consistently and continuously with tiring, and read up how to market/promote your blog to your target audience, if you do and get this right the next thing is to monetize your blog by applying for Google Adsense or other advertising sites and voila you'll start making money.

 

2. SELL ON JUMIA OR KONGA

Do you have a brother or sister that has shops and sells stuffs like body cream, clothes, electronics etc?

Then you should consider marketing and selling their stuffs on Jumia or Konga.

It's incredibly easy to list your items for sale, and you'd be surprised how much you can get as profits.

 

3. ONLINE FREELANCING

There is a whole lot of freelance work online these days. You can sign up for sites like Fiverr, or you can even become your own online freelancer like many others advertising their services to friends, families, acquaintances and followers on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram etc.

One of the more popular ways to make money freelancing right now is by doing SEO consulting. If you're a little savvy and analytical, you can make N5000/hr or more. Check out free SEO Consulting Course online to get started.

You could also do something like proofreading or transcription work. Many bloggers and authors need proofreaders to make sure their writing is on point. You can learn how to get started proofreading for bloggers and others.

 

4. eBOOK PUBLISHING

Have a story you want to tell, a problem you want to solve be it in place of work or relationships, something you want to teach? Maybe you should write an eBook and sell them on Amazon, Okada, LinkedIn or even Facebook. I have a friend that has made a living selling eBooks about financial topics and selling content online.

 

Do you know Reno Omokri? He has sell tons of eBooks on Amazon, Otunba Akin Alabi's "Small business, Big Money" is moving so well. One author has almost 100 different books he's selling on Amazon.

 

If you don't want to put together a blog, you could go this route of selling your content online.

Others are;

5. SELLING PHOTOS ONLINE

6. CREATE AN ONLINE COURSE

7. BE A SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETER

8. SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

9. ONLINE TUTORING

10. OFFERING C.V WRITING SERVICES

Congratulations to you for getting to read this, I hope pick some insightful point and start growing, and before I forget if you are keenly interested in knowing more about how to start any of these online side hustles you cOjekunlabisi@gmail.com. 08060195149 149 or ojekunlabisi@gmail.com.

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FAO Says Food Prices Steady In August

The Food and Agriculture (FAO) said food prices remained stable in August as cereal prices rebounded while vegetable oils and sugar declined.

The Food Price Index, a monthly index, released yesterday, averaged 167.6 points in August, virtually unchanged from its revised estimate for July and 5.4 per cent below its level in August 2017.

The FAO Cereal Price Index rose 4.0 per cent during the month, with wheat prices rising twice as much due to deteriorating crop prospects in the European Union (EU) and the Russian Federation. International maize quotations rose by more than 3.0 per cent while rice prices eased during the month.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Index declined 2.6 per cent from July, nearing a three-year low as palm, soy and sunflower oil quotations all fell amid favorable production trends and, in the case of palm oil, weak global import demand.

The FAO Dairy Price Index posted its third consecutive monthly decline in August, falling 1.5 per cent amid relatively thin seasonal volumes.

While droughts may adversely affect milk production growth in parts of Europe and Australia, New Zealand’s output prospects are improving.

The FAO Sugar Price Index dropped 5.4 per cent from July to reach the lowest level in a decade, due largely to the continued depreciations of the currencies of major exporters Brazil and India.

The FAO Meat Price Index was broadly unchanged on the month, as pigmeat and ovine meat quotations rose on strong import interests from China, offsetting declining poultry and bovine meat prices, with the latter under pressure by high export availabilities from the United States of America.

FAO now forecasts global cereal production this year to reach 2 587 million tonnes, a small upward revision from July but a three-year low and 2.4 percent below last year’s record high level.

The latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, also released today, cut by a notable 14 million tonnes the world wheat production forecast for this year, which now stands at almost 722 million tonnes, the smallest crop since 2013. Dry and hot weather intensified yield reductions around Europe.

World rice production, meanwhile, is expected to rise 1.3 per cent from the previous year and reach a new record of almost 512 million tons this year, buoyed by larger output recoveries in Bangladesh and Viet Nam and stronger area rebounds in Sri Lanka and the United States.

FAO raised its forecast for world cereal utilization to 2 648 million tons, largely due to greater use of maize for feed and industrial use and the robust rice harvest.

Cereal stocks are also being reduced – especially in China, the European Union and the Russian Federation, and the global cereal stock-to-use ratio is expected to slide to 27.3 per cent, a five-year low.

The forecast for world trade in cereals over the 2018/2019 season has been revised up to nearly 414 million tons, about 1.5 per cent below the previous year’s record high.

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