Mr Mark.. great work, people like you are bringing investment into Nigeria online space and opening the eyes of the world to Nigeria startup.
I have one question... I would like to share techniques on branding and marketing for startup with little capital

I am looking for skilled WordPress & Design expert that can customise a WordPress theme and also a mobile theme.
interested persons should send me an email at krestup@gmail.com

In this modern society many people are so engrossed in the business of their everyday life that they are no longer conscious whether they are in a job or career. This lack of awareness has made most people confuse about where they are heading in life. Their inability to know the difference between getting a job and pursuing a career has made them to live undefined life.

It’s no surprise if people don’t even bother to know if these two factors are different or the same. I believe this is largely connected to their educational upbringing right from their childhood school days. I tend not to blame the educational system, but we can’t totally say that they don’t share blame in this matter.

From a dictionary definition; a job is an activity/work that one engages him or herself to earn money that will enable them make a living. The sole purpose of a job is based on financial value. A career is also similar in nature but slightly different. It’s a job that you do with an intention, passion and interest to achieve fulfillment.

With this definition established, I want us to take an in-depth analysis of these factors. People who go searching for a job are most times focused on what they can get form the job in terms of monetary benefit. Their sole purpose is to make money disregarding the fact if the job is a perfect fit for them or not.

They are mostly motivated by the benefit they will receive and with that intact, they most times lose the motivation to make impact because they don’t usually derive fulfillment from the job. Forgive me if I am focusing on the negative part of getting a job or rather the effect of setting your mind on only the benefit you will derive from the job. This is the only way you can discover why going out to get a job without true purpose being defined can be detrimental.

A career in itself contains the job aspect because without a job a career is not complete. A career is made up of different factor put together to form one unit. I will like to define it as a job you do that enables you to derive fulfillment from your work, which is an aspect of your life that that have to do with you calling.

Though you will work in a job, your mindset is not based on just monetary value (although it’s part of it). You sense of achievement is measured by the impact you want to make toward the growth of the place you work.

Most times you will notice the work input of two people working in the same place is different, why? This is because one is driven by the passion to make impact, while the other is driven by the desire to be impacted. Both of them have the desire to work but driven by different motive.

The truth is, getting a job is all part of pursuing a career but the single difference is on the motive and reason that people use to search for it. This single difference will see one person claim up the ladder of success, while the other remaining stagnated for years in one position. This is clearly a matter of the inability to define one’s purpose in life.

Let me say something straight, a career wrongly chosen will lead you towards the path of just getting a job. When ever you see yourself longing for fulfillment in a place and not seeing it fulfilled, take note, you might be in the wrong place. I believe with this fact clearly stated you should know what the difference between getting a job and pursuing a career.

http://career.com.ng/what-is-the-difference-between-a-job-and-a-career/

They don't even succeed in anything they do in life because for you to become successful, you need to try new things, think outside the box, take risk, focus etc

I appreciate the debate on this topic. The reason i decided to write on this controversial topic because 2 weeks ago i was hanging out with some friends then someone popped the question and we also debated on it. After the debate, i decided to do a research on it.. To my greatest surprise those professional courses are important.
Do you know most companies in Nigeria spend millions of naira annually to send their worker for professional training? So if you happen to have gone that kind of training previously, it gives you an advantage because every company are also looking for a way to save cost.
But the problem is that a professional course alone is not enough to get you a real job(although you can under special cases). You would need your university degree to back it up and it has to be in line with your discipline.

I would still like to know your own view about this...

Ensure to prepare all the materials that you will need including the dress you will wear on that day, at least two days before the interview day. Always know that looking good is good business so look good, neat and appropriate for the interview because your appearance matter a lot.

Try to get enough rest or go outing with friends to enable you calm all the tensed up nerves before the interview.

As an engineer, it's better you take a course that's inline with your profession. Even if you want to go into ICT it should be something related to your discipline like software's used for circuit design, HSE, Project management.

Most importantly, you need to know where your passion lies.
http://career.com.ng/factors-to-consider-when-making-a-career-choice/

Take time to practice previous interview questions that you can get your hands on, for it will give you a basic idea of what you will encounter during the interview.
http://career.com.ng/10-common-questions-and-answers-asked-in-an-interview/

You should research the company you are applying to, to know what they do and how they do it. Do an intensive research on what they need to equip you with sufficient knowledge. This information if well harness will enable you show to your interviewer that you are not here to just work for salary but you have what it takes to do the job professionally. The information will also help you to answer all the questions precisely and give your interviewer that you are vastly knowledgeable in that area.

krestup: 1. The number one thing you must know is to get the necessary skills and knowledge needed for the kind of job you are seeking for, because it will be a shame to get a job and not be able to function due to lack of knowledge.

2. Prepare a good CV that will portrait in detail all your various educational qualification, skills, work experiences and work history also know that every employer is looking for that uniqueness in an applicant that it’s not just outstanding but perfect for what they want.

3. Having a good referee in your CV will go a long way in getting you approved by HR. you must take your time and get the most reputable individuals in your society, government and previous company you worked for, and they should be able to write a letter of support to vouch for you.

4. One other thing is to prepare a resume that will align with the type of job you are applying for, because every job have what is specifically needed from the applicant that can fit into that position. It must be exactly what they need, anything other than that you don’t stand a chance.

5. Your cover letter should be outstanding when “blowing your trumpet”, for this is the only document that you have the right to talk about yourself to an employer. When applying through an email ensure you include your cover letter details in the body of your email, but if through physical submission of document you can do it separately.

6. Ensure you address and submit your application to the HR department which is responsible for recruitment of new employee excerpt they state otherwise in their advertisement.

7. It’s advisable to always check all media system where they place job vacancy regularly. Register with the newsletter of website that are into job advertisement so that you will get recent update of job vacancy, ensure to indicate the type of jobs you are interested in to avoid being sent ads that are not relevant to you.

8. Try to dedicate enough time towards the searching of jobs on all media because your chance of getting a job largely depends on it.

9. Take the initiative of sending a follow-up email to the company at least a week after you submitted your application. This will create a serious impression of you in their mind in the midst of the multitude application sent to them.

http://career.com.ng/9-ways-to-increase-your-chance-of-getting-a-job/

I would like you to share your contribution about job hunting tips...

The first thing you must do is to know the necessary criteria an interviewer demand in terms of the quality they need to fill in the vacancy. After that you should write down the quality you posses that are in alignment with what they demand, so that you will be able to share that information with your interviewer when you are asked.

I would like you to share contribution on this topic..

Job keywords: Knowing the right keywords to use on your resume/CV is very important whether you are submitting online or offline. Most employee uses screening software to select he resume/CV that fall into the needed standard. Even in the office the interviewer just glance through all the application with their thought focus on the criteria stated for the position. So you must know the main words that they need.

A career is different from a job... A career has to be exciting, challenging and there has to be a lot of passion for it. When you lack those attributes, what you have is a job. Then it's time to move on to something else.

http://career.com.ng/factors-to-consider-when-making-a-career-choice

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Emzybrown: Hmmmmm i have seen so many alcoholics and weed smokers that are still successful in their biz, op this your writeup is a pure hypothesis.

In the long run these habit can hinder success in life. I can show you a lot people that alcohol and weed or any hard drugs has ruin their life.

Nice!! Thanks for sharing this

Here are also some benefit of professional course...


It helps to improve your knowledge for more effectiveness.

It gives you an extra push in your performance level through advanced strategies.

It keeps you in form which will make your employer to value you more.

It set you apart from your colleagues because your output will double in result.

It helps you to keep pace with the current standard of things at that season.

It safe guards your credibility before your employers and makes you highly demanded.

It helps you from being outdated in an ever developing society.

You are able to meet customer/client demands in a more professional way that makes them come back for more.

Most times it makes you the pacesetter in your career field.

You are always able to contribute largely to the development of a job.

It creates room for you to be exposed to new possibilities, skills and knowledge.

It enhances your creativity to the amazement of your boss.

It guarantees you a promotional spot in your work place due to your improve performance.

I would also like to know how professional course has benefited you...

Life after service is not really easy because it's time to face reality. I can say 95% of corper awaiting passing out is thinking about the same thing. Guess it's thing to look within yourself for something you can do to support yourself before the job come forth because we all know the job situation in the country, so that's the best way forward. Don't worry everything would be well bro!!! Wish you all the best

5. Unprepared for interview: This is one of the terrible thing that can happen you, while looking for a job. After you have take your time to write an outstanding CV, that got your future employer interested in you. Then on the interview day, your future ask some common interview questions then you begin to flop. You need to prepare for an interview. Take your time to study, having a good knowledge about the company, the common questions asked in an interview, current affairs and what ever is related to your field of specialization.

There is a quote that says “…a person who stops to grow will continue to decline…” this portraits the fact that any person who considers their states of accomplishment as sufficient will always find their self lacking a lot of things. In an ever competitive world that is fueled by the need to accomplish greater height,demands that anybody who wants to be great should always seek room for more improvement in their area of expertise.

The importance of taking a professional course to improve your performance in a given career cannot be over exaggerated because of its value. This is the number one point in the business world that is always demanded from everyone, to the point that managers and company owners take time to schedule training for their staff. The benefits are numerous that is why it is highly recommended for everyone to take a professional course.

http://career.com.ng/are-professional-courses-really-important/

4. Poor networking: Networking with the right people can be very helpful when looking for a job. That’s why you should know how to network. You can start by becoming a member of your industry professional body. Association like that you can be able to know people in your industry and they can provide you with valuable information. With the use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, G+ etc) has made it easier connecting with people.

3. Uncoordinated resume/CV: Your CV is the information your future employer would use to access him. You have to make your CV special by writing your CV within the expected guideline. When you send a resume/CV that is not well coordinated and lack proper alignment with the necessary criteria the employer needs for the position they are advertising for, your resume/CV would be rejected

2. Wrong educational concept: Many people go through school with the mindset that education is an instrument to make money or a guarantee to get a job. This has being a debate in many places because views differ due to interest level of people. The truth can’t be denied that an employer will only employ you by what you have upstairs to offer than what you have to present in your certificate.

I took the liberty to place in this article title the word “common” because that what it is when it comes to job search. There is a saying that goes like this “as common as common sense is, is not common at all”. The truth is this, if it really was that common there will be no silly mistake being made by people on daily basis. Frankly speaking, I have also being a found wanting on this issue, but with sound knowledge it will be easy to do the right thing.

Job searching in Nigeria or any other country is known as a hectic process, trail with a lot of difficulties. It has being so difficult that even the undergraduate still in school have made up their mind to join the labor market with the mindset of trial by chance, like if this should be a norm in our society. In this article we will discuss the common mistake people make when searching for a job that has made them regular customers to the labor market.

1. Having a failure mentality: Like I earlier said, those people who are either graduates or in school or yet to gain admission have accepted the myth that job acquisition is dictated by the economy, influential people, sex (women being favored than men), tribe, etc. These set of people are pledge by a self defeating belief and they have made it a point of duty to use these reasons as excuse for their failure for not getting a job.

http://career.com.ng/common-mistake-people-make-when-looking-for-a-job-in-nigeria/

CV is one of the tools an employer use to access applicant. That's why you have to write your CV in a way it would stand out because you are not the only person applying for that job. Anyone can write a CV but you have to take your time to make sure your CV is in line with the employer objective. They are somethings employer look for when they gone through your CV. That's why i took the time to write this article..
http://career.com.ng/curriculum-vitae-how-to-make-your-cv-special/

Getting hired is the beginning of a relationship between you and your employer. The major reason you got the job is to render service to the organization; your skills are needed to enable the organization remain competitive and profitable. In return for this service you get paid a salary. This is a symbiotic relationship where the company needs you and you need the job.

Service is work done for somebody else (your employers) and is the primary aim of having the job, to continue to render service is to continue to have a job and as long as the service is relevant to the organization you got a job. This makes it a two way street; the company must require the service and the employee must offer the service.

Your service is needed within certain parameters and must be offered within the stated parameters for both the employer and the employee to benefit from the relationship, service is the basis for the relationship and this cannot be over emphasized. As an employee you must seek in rendering this service to be smart and hardworking (this is about going the extra mile), smart and hard work are the two pillars for a successful service which means a successful job, which is to keep your job, to enjoy your job and to grow your job by making your services hard to dismiss.

In offering your service to the organization, you must seek to develop your skills set in order to improve on the services you render, take advantage of company training if offered or develop yourself through books, seminars and workshops. You are responsible for your job and so you owe it to yourself to be the best you can be at it least it is taking from you by one more efficient.

Keep the right relationships within your organization; cultivate positive and mutually beneficial working relationships with fellow colleagues and the managers. Avoid office politics and “eye service”, it will cut short your career and hurt your relationships.

Finally have a life outside the organization, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy is true for kids as it is true for working adults. Find fulfillment in your romance, family, sports etc, this helps you develop as a well rounded individual. Work is no substitute for life.

Now you got the job, do the work with all your heart, with all your ability and more, cultivate the right relationships and enjoy life.

http://career.com.ng/the-employers-desk-now-you-got-the-job/

It is funny how something that seem so easy to write can be so complicated to prepare, for this is the nature of a CV when view from the angle of an applicant after being screened by an interviewer. A CV is the first document an employer looks at when screening the application of an applicant, and this so simple document have being the “Hercules heel” of most applicant because of lack of professionalism in preparing their CV.

As we all know a CV is suppose to contain a detail breakdown of our educational background, qualification attained, work experience, personal biography, work history etc, that are the basic necessary detail needed to create a CV. what most people don’t know is that the CV must be tailored to the standard, operation type and employment requirement of what the company needs in terms of the position they are advertising, because the qualification a CV presents that is not align with their needs will not be considered.

1. In a case like this you must look closely at the advertisement to know what they need so as to give you the right idea on what to present.

2. Always use an easy to read font such as 10-12 Arial or the one they want if it’s indicated by the company, which in most case they rarely do.

3. Your CV should be less than 1-3 pages to avoid putting unnecessary data that will turn off your employer.

4. Let your layout be consistent throughout the document to avoid unprofessionalism and improper arrangement.

5. Let every data you type be easy to read especially your contact detail.

6. You must make your spelling and grammar accurate to avoid being misunderstood when your application is read and don’t ever use jargons or abbreviation because they will be misunderstood.

7. Never leave out the prominent information about you, let them be at prominent position that can be easily be read.

8. When writing points about you be careful not to blow it out of proportion with too much exaggeration. Just make it precise with a sense of confidence.

9. In the aspect of arrangement, you can use a CV format that can guide you on how to place the information appropriately and neat.

10. As a last resort, you can give your already written CV to a professional to either view for editing or indicate area of errors for you to make improvement.

http://career.com.ng/things-to-consider-when-writing-a-cv/

Interesting report, its obvious that those industries are declining.

As we all know a CV is suppose to contain a detail breakdown of our educational background, qualification attained, work experience, personal biography, work history etc, that are the basic necessary detail needed to create a CV. what most people don’t know is that the CV must be tailored to the standard, operation type and employment requirement of what the company needs in terms of the position they are advertising, because the qualification a CV presents that is not align with their needs will not be considered.
http://career.com.ng/things-to-consider-when-writing-a-cv/

As your career options begin to unfold, you may be examining alternate paths to achieving a life that offers the financial security and fulfillment you desire. Your dream may be to become an entrepreneur or to making a living pursuing your creative passions. While you aren’t restricted to either/or career choices anymore, it is wise to first pursue a professional core career for the practical business experience and financial foundations it will give you.

While it offers no guarantees, a traditional core career is still the most secure route to any sense of economic security and success as it is traditionally defined. There is no real job security in any traditional career paths anymore but some professions, some industries are much better bets than others.

Should you “follow your bliss”?

Lots of career management advice to date tells you not to be practical but to find your passion, find your bliss, find something you love, and stick with it until you achieve success. This message gets lots of play because it tells people what they want to hear, but it is rarely practical, because coming out of school and crossing this last bridge into adulthood, your idea of bliss might not be that practical a way to make a living. If you dream of being the bass player in a band, go ahead give it a shot, but at least do it in conjunction with a core career. If you are not prepared to compromise, whatever you do, don’t stay too long at the party; entering the professional work force at the entry-level is tough enough up until twenty- five, but leave it two or three more years and employers begin to get really leery. Leave it too long and getting a foothold in a professional career can be very difficult.

The experts tell us to expect three or more careers over a work-life, which averages out to around fifteen years per career. Even if you become successful in one and technology doesn’t eradicate it in the way that technology continually destroys professions as it creates new ones, change still happens and unforeseen circumstances may dictate you have to make a career change anyway.

Your needs/desires—the things you find worthwhile in life—will evolve as you age, and you will probably experience significant changes in these areas every 7–10 years. Because the metrics say that no job is secure and psychological research say that whatever rings bells for you today might not have the same relevance a few years down the road, career choice shouldn’t necessarily be about finding your passion, although it’s preferable if you can make a living doing things you enjoy.

A more practical approach that responds to the realities of the new world of work is possible: the work you do dictates the money you earn every week, and this dictates the quality of life you experience and the things you are able to do when you are not working; and this has an impact on every day of your life, for the rest of your life. Your core career choice should take into account personal preferences, but it should not be made in the belief that the career you choose will lead to lifelong security or that it will satisfy all your needs for today and always. Nothing is certain in this life except change, and your need to master how to manage the inevitable twists and turns of the long career ahead; because how you learn to navigate your career will dictate the degree of your long-term success and fulfillment.

What Comes First, the Career Choice or the Degree?

Paying for college is expensive, so you want to make the smartest choices that also offer the greatest flexibility for changing jobs and careers later in your professional life.

Learn about the growth industries, the high–growth jobs within them, the academic credentials required for entry, and the credentials suggested for an accelerated start.

Cross-reference the academic requirements for the job(s) and career path(s) under consideration with the other jobs and careers people with these same degrees have pursued successfully. Because of these considerations, core career choice should be based on pragmatism and a more intelligent approach to career management that embraces other options. Smart core career choice should take into account skills, aptitudes, and preferences.
Having come up with a short list of appropriate career choices you should also consider:

The projected health of the industry sectors you are considering
The projected growth of the target job(s) you are considering
The relative flexibility offered by that degree/job/industry combination in allowing you to change jobs and professions in the future.

An industry sector/profession with healthy growth projections will deliver more job opportunities and better professional growth in good times and bad.

Within the profession/industry sector(s) under evaluation, you should consider the projected health of target jobs. Jobs with high projected growth potential—20-plus percent growth over the next decade is considered pretty healthy—are better than jobs with little or no projected growth.

The absolute number of people holding that job title today and on which the growth projections are based is also important: a projected 20 percent growth rate on a job that already has 3 million people holding that job title suggests greater security than a job with a projected 20 percent growth rate based on 35,000 people.


http://career.com.ng/factors-to-consider-when-making-a-career-choice/