Earlier today I came across a post in a Whatsapp group about how getting the first job is usually the hardest. Subsequent jobs come easier. In my own personal experience, there tend to be more opportunities coming my way when I have jobs at hand or engaged.
Being guilty as many other recent graduates, I feel I should write a post to help motivate somebody. After graduation, a lot of us expect to find a big job and are not willing to accept the small ones that come our way meanwhile (At the same time, losing an opportunity to gain experience).
A lot of fresh graduate turn down jobs of 40k - 60k in the name of being too small and prefer to sit at home and wait for one with a bogus paycheck. Two years past, you are still home and you see a job with a big paycheck but requires two years of experience, then you have no experience and need to continue searching. Before you know, it's 5 years and then 10 years. You then wish you made a move a long time ago.
I will like to share my personal experience when I finished NYSC a few years back.
Growing up in Abuja I was already accustomed to the fast life and crazy expenses. I served in Jos, plateau state where things were quite cheap. Returning to Abuja, I got a job offer of 40k for an IT position. I felt it was too small for me, I then referred a friend who knew absolutely nothing about IT. I just brushed him up on possible question area as the position emphasized on SEO.
Fast forward four months later, they paid for his professional certification course in SEO, doubled his salary (I was still home). Another four months, his salary was increased to 105k. The next six months with them, he took an all expense paid advanced SEO course with a salary increase to 160k.
Fast forward again to 3months, he was transferred to Ghana where he spent one month in their branch office and came back to Nigeria to prepare for permanent relocation to the UK. Although the Corona pandemic disrupted the plans, he made it October this year.

I couldn't regret as It all turned out perfectly, we are now into a laptop business together. He sends, I sell. But you may not be that lucky.

Coming out as a fresh graduate, it was quite difficult for me to write a cover letter as I had no experience. 90% of the time, I just googled cover letter for similar role, edit and send. But with time, I had experience, even when I am not actively engaged with a company, I built software and learnt new skills. After about 4 years, even though most of the positions I have held over the last couple years, I was approached by organizations and clients, writing a cover letter is seamless as I have a lot of experience that match the role I may be applying for.


Moral: Sometimes it it not about the remuneration. Gain experience and analyze your ability to grow with the company. If they have room for you to develop yourself. KEEP LEARNING, NEVER STOP LEARNING.

Cheers!