Goodmorning Good people of nairaland. I am a
final year student of unizik, from the department
of Geological science . By God's grace i will graduate with second class
upper.

Sometimes, i have sleepless night thinking of my
future and what my Job Life will be like when i
graduate knowing fully well that i don't have
any person in the job sector and judging from the inreasing high rate of unemployment in
Nigeria.

I have decided to do my Msc immediately after
my NYSC here in Nigeria to specialise in either
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY or GEOPHYSICS or travel to
Norway to do my Msc, since education in Norway
is free.

I want to stand different from the crowd when i
start looking for employment. Now my question is, will i have a better
opportunity for employment than people who
studied in Nigerian university if i do my masters
in Norway and then come back to Nigeria to
look for work?

Please, i am just a naive young man who dream
to get job in Nigeria. I dont want to make a costly
mistake of spending an estimated amount of 2.5
million naira for one year living expenses to
study in Norway and come back only to live in
joblessness and poverty which i believe is not my portion.

I will appreciate graduates, those that already
have job, mature people and last but not the
least Those that have travelled wide to give me a
MOTIVATIONAL ADVICE that will posetively
metamorphose my life in future. your comments
will be appreciated.

Well, If you study in Norway & you v good grades you v a higher chance of getting jobs in Norway or Nigeria. Some people honour foreign certificates than Nigerian certificates but me, I look at the grades to some extent & the brain of that job seeker.
____________________
Last Bullet:
I don't think you should use N2.5million for your Msc in a foreign land when there are reputable federal universities in Nigeria where you can do your programme & you won't spend much. Best wishes.

Okiki_Oluwa: Well, If you study in Norway & you v good grades you v a higher chance of getting jobs in Norway or Nigeria. Some people honour foreign certificates than Nigerian certificates but me, I look at the grades to some extent & the brain of that job seeker.
____________________
Last Bullet:
I don't think you should use N2.5million for your Msc in a foreign land when there are reputable federal universities in Nigeria where you can do your programme & you won't spend much. Best wishes.

Thank you so much Oluwa.. ....inshort you are really an OLUWA SENT.

As i said, i am still naive, and your contribution just opened added to my experience. the 2:5million is not all the money you will spend. that one is just for a year. and the program is two years........thanx so much for your advice.......

More sound advice like this is still needed please

My guy, it will be better to use 1.5 to do business and after ur service, you can apply for your master through National Open University Of Nigeria as thãt will enable you to study and have time for your business and you dont need to spend unessesary as you will not buy handout and you dont need to settle lecturér because they dont have access to your script or scores. Best of luck.

Thank you so much Oluwa.. ....inshort you are really an OLUWA SENT.

As i said, i am still naive, and your contribution just opened added to my experience. the 2:5million is not all the money you will spend. that one is just for a year. and the program is two years........thanx so much for your advice.......

More sound advice like this is still needed please[/quote]

i'll suggest you work at least ONE YEAR after NYSC to acquire work experience before studying further.

MSc degree from Norway or Finland guarantees nothing.

funkybaby: i'll suggest you work at least ONE YEAR after NYSC to acquire work experience before studying further.

MSc degree from Norway or Finland guarantees nothing.

thanx Funkybaby. what of Msc from Germany?
I will love to work immediately after graduating but the problem is WHERE IS THE WORK? i know what i suffered before i even got where i did my IT. So it really gave me the information of what Nigerian employment is like.

Thanx once more for ur wonderful advice.

darelar: My guy, it will be better to use 1.5 to do business and after ur service, you can apply for your master through National Open University Of Nigeria as thãt will enable you to study and have time for your business and you dont need to spend unessesary as you will not buy handout and you dont need to settle lecturér because they dont have access to your script or scores. Best of luck.

thanx so much for your advice. It will be easier for me to beg for assistance to further my education than begging for 1.5 million to start bussiness after my NYSC.

I have relatives who value education so much. Even more than bussiness.

But i personally value bussiness just as i value education.
But the problem is will they comply?

Secondly, can National Open university offer master courses like Petroleum geology or Geophysics?

Ezegozie:

thanx Funkybaby. what of Msc from Germany?
I will love to work immediately after graduating but the problem is WHERE IS THE WORK? i know what i suffered before i even got where i did my IT. So it really gave me the information of what Nigerian employment is like.

Thanx once more for ur wonderful advice.

yeah, i do understand that getting a job is hard but that should not deter you from trying.

if you insist on going for a further degree, check to see if the University offers some sort of internship during the duration of the course. this is usually very useful because the company might end up offering you a job (if you really impress them). it will also prove useful once you are done with the course because you can lay claim to 'related work experience' which is better than nothing and this might help you to secure a job after university.

finally, have you considered what happens after you finish your course , that is, getting a work permit? make sure that any courntry you decide to study offers some sort of visa route for international students to stay behind and get a job. if you are good at what you do and you have the right skills, you might be lucky and have an employer sponsor your work permit or get yourself a very good job in Nigeria.

whatever decisions you make, i wish you all the very best

funkybaby:

yeah, i do understand that getting a job is hard but that should not deter you from trying.

if you insist on going for a further degree, check to see if the University offers some sort of internship during the duration of the course. this is usually very useful because the company might end up offering you a job (if you really impress them). it will also prove useful once you are done with the course because you can lay claim to 'related work experience' which is better than nothing and this might help you to secure a job after university.

finally, have you considered what happens after you finish your course , that is, getting a work permit? make sure that any courntry you decide to study offers some sort of visa route for international students to stay behind and get a job. if you are good at what you do and you have the right skills, you might be lucky and have an employer sponsor your work permit or get yourself a very good job in Nigeria.

whatever decisions you make, i wish you all the very best

oh Sweet darling. Thank you so much for your wonderful advice. You talk like somebody that have had so many experience.

The fact is that i am not even so much interested to work permanently in another man's land. I prefer to work in Nigeria even if i have the chance to do my Msc abroad. I will only work for some years there if i get work to get work experience before returning back to Nigeria to work permanently, so that i can do other bussiness and pay no big TAX or bills. Those countries pay so much TAX. norway pay 36% of ur total income, then you pay for where you live.
Thanx so much

My guy, your comment above made me to reply your post. Please, factor in your plan to work after your graduation. Even if it is a short period, it would help you get international experience and boost your chance when you eventually come back to Nigeria. Your concern about not wanting to stay and work because of tax is unfunded because the money you are earning would be good enough to fund the tax and you still have more to take care of yourself. Remember, your utmost concern is the experience,if you do not intend to stay for a very long time before coming back to Nigeria.

Otuabaroku: My guy, your comment above made me to reply your post. Please, factor in your plan to work after your graduation. Even if it is a short period, it would help you get international experience and boost your chance when you eventually come back to Nigeria. Your concern about not wanting to stay and work because of tax is unfunded because the money you are earning would be good enough to fund the tax and you still have more to take care of yourself. Remember, your utmost concern is the experience,if you do not intend to stay for a very long time before coming back to Nigeria.

thanx so much Boss. You people have really made my day full of knowledge and experience, eventhough am still an undergraduate

My brother, you say you are studying Geological Sciences. I am a Geologist.
Thank God you said you are currently on second Class Upper. That alone will make you stand out of the crowd. See, the most important degree you obtain is your first Degree. Most Oil and Gas companies careless about a master's degree. They take graduates with second class upper in first degree and train them. They can later go for there masters if they so wish.
Employmet at graduate level is tied to age. If you are still very young in age e.g 22 and less you can as well go for your masters cos incase u still want to work in Nigeria, u'll be back in time before you cross the max entry level employable age (24-27/28yrs)
As for choice of area of specialization: If you can get a job with ur B.sc, your career path will help you in determining which field to specialize in.
It is good you are seeking this kind of advice now. I had class-mates that finished with 2:2 and thought a masters degree will salvage the situation only for them to find out that most of them have passed recruitment age and they find themselves fighting for jobs with 1st degree holders

Syenite: My brother, you say you are studying Geological Sciences. I am a Geologist.
Thank God you said you are currently on second Class Upper. That alone will make you stand out of the crowd. See, the most important degree you obtain is your first Degree. Most Oil and Gas companies careless about a master's degree. They take graduates with second class upper in first degree and train them. They can later go for there masters if they so wish.
Employmet at graduate level is tied to age. If you are still very young in age e.g 22 and less you can as well go for your masters cos incase u still want to work in Nigeria, u'll be back in time before you cross the max entry level employable age (24-27/28yrs)
As for choice of area of specialization: If you can get a job with ur B.sc, your career path will help you in determining which field to specialize in.
It is good you are seeking this kind of advice now. I had class-mates that finished with 2:2 and thought a masters degree will salvage the situation only for them to find out that most of them have passed recruitment age and they find themselves fighting for jobs with 1st degree holders

my Oga @ the top. my fellow geologists. so happy to meet you here.

Which skul did you study?.
Really dis our department is so tough. Full of very strict lecturers and sadists.

I just dey pray earnestly for me to conclude with second class upper, becos they can do the undoable. last year only 9 second class upper holders. No 1st class for about 9years now.

As for age. I am not that young oo o .
My real age is 23, and by God's grace, i wil round up @ 24 next year. Then finish my NYSC @ 25.

But i can still falsify my age. lOl

anyway thanx for ur advice

Hey bro, I'm like in your shoes too but all I have to say is that map out a career path.
What I mean is that what do you want to achieve with that masters? From what I've read, I think you believe that having a masters would give you an edge in the job market in Nigeria. <b>This is not totally true as there are lots of unemployed people with masters in Nigeria (even masters from UK universities)</b>. The major thing you need in the Nigerian job market is <b>skill</b> (because that helped me as you would see below) and of course a good first degree.

I said I'm in your shoes because I'm also planning on going for my masters in 2014. I am a relatively fresh graduate and before I finished my B.sc, the company I did my IT with were calling me to resume even before doing my NYSC (I'm a Computer Scientist). I have worked for a year in the Tech Industry in Nigeria and I don't feel fulfilled despite the pay that's why I'm chasing my masters with and eye on Ph.d to enter the academia. I feel drawn to the classrooms and I intend being a research lecturer. The business part of the Industry and customer relationship just pisses me off.

I'm not that old to give advice and obviously I don't have much experience, but please do Masters for the right reasons or else it would be a waste of time and money.

Please my people, I have a question. <b>HOW HARD IS TOEFL</b>
(Heck! Are HTML tags not supported on Nairaland?)

pchax: Hey bro, I'm like in your shoes too but all I have to say is that map out a career path.
What I mean is that what do you want to achieve with that masters? From what I've read, I think you believe that having a masters would give you an edge in the job market in Nigeria. <b>This is not totally true as there are lots of unemployed people with masters in Nigeria (even masters from UK universities)</b>. The major thing you need in the Nigerian job market is <b>skill</b> (because that helped me as you would see below) and of course a good first degree.

I said I'm in your shoes because I'm also planning on going for my masters in 2014. I am a relatively fresh graduate and before I finished my B.sc, the company I did my IT with were calling me to resume even before doing my NYSC (I'm a Computer Scientist). I have worked for a year in the Tech Industry in Nigeria and I don't feel fulfilled despite the pay that's why I'm chasing my masters with and eye on Ph.d to enter the academia. I feel drawn to the classrooms and I intend being a research lecturer. The business part of the Industry and customer relationship just pisses me off.

I'm not that old to give advice and obviously I don't have much experience, but please do Masters for the right reasons or else it would be a waste of time and money.

Please my people, I have a question. <b>HOW HARD IS TOEFL</b>
(Heck! Are HTML tags not supported on Nairaland?)

thanx my Man. inshort if i see Job after graduation, i will work for about 2-5yrs before moving out for my Msc. but i dont think it is advisable to keep on waiting for employment when you have better things to do.
What i plan to do is this, If i dont have the opportunity to travel out (which i believe i will have by God's grace)
i will enrol for my masters in Nigeria, then i will be looking for employment during my Msc studies. So that i wont be waiting idlely @ home.

I hope it is ok like that?

Ezegozie: Goodmorning Good people of nairaland. I am a
final year student of unizik, from the department
of Geological science . By God's grace i will graduate with second class
upper.

Sometimes, i have sleepless night thinking of my
future and what my Job Life will be like when i
graduate knowing fully well that i don't have
any person in the job sector and judging from the inreasing high rate of unemployment in
Nigeria.

I have decided to do my Msc immediately after
my NYSC here in Nigeria to specialise in either
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY or GEOPHYSICS or travel to
Norway to do my Msc, since education in Norway
is free.

I want to stand different from the crowd when i
start looking for employment. Now my question is, will i have a better
opportunity for employment than people who
studied in Nigerian university if i do my masters
in Norway and then come back to Nigeria to
look for work?
Please, i am just a naive young man who dream
to get job in Nigeria. I dont want to make a costly
mistake of spending an estimated amount of 2.5
million naira for one year living expenses to
study in Norway and come back only to live in
joblessness and poverty which i believe is not my portion.

I will appreciate graduates, those that already
have job, mature people and last but not the
least Those that have travelled wide to give me a
MOTIVATIONAL ADVICE that will posetively
metamorphose my life in future. your comments
will be appreciated.

1. I wonder why you choose to start worrying and having 'sleepless nights' because of a future you don't know. Enjoy the present while planning for the future. Don't develop high bp/hypertension even before graduation. It's just a normal stage every graduate passes through. We all did. No need to panic.

2. What will make you stand out in a recruitment process is your ability to pass the aptitude tests, your attitude and what you have been able to achieve (not necessarily masters) - e.g. Areas you have performed beyond expectation, teamwork, leadership skills, business skills, communication skills, etc. Hundreds of Nigerians have masters in prestigious universities all around the globe. Merely having a masters won't stand you out.

3. Well, I know that for geologists specifically, the job opportunity increases with a masters degree. Eg Mobil only recruits geoscientists with Masters degree. Notwithstanding, there is absolutely NO guarantee that you will get a good job in Nigeria with a masters anyway. The economy is quite tight now and there is oversaturation of Masters degree holders without a job in Nigeria.

4. While the idea of having a masters as a geoscientist is a good idea, I will advise you to pursue scholarships (if you think you are capable of winning one). There are a few postgraduate scholarship opportunities (commonwealth, Esso, Agip, Shell for N/Deltans, PTDF, Total, etc). There are some schools that offer free tuition + feeding+ accommodation. Except you have wealthy guardians, I see no reason why you should squeeze out N5 million for a scholarship. I would rather use the money to pursue PG studies in a prestigious university, which also does not guarantee a good job immediately.

5. Having a 2.1 means that you are also eligible to work in other organizations apart from O and G. Consider that too. Congrats on ur graduation in advance. Cheers!

x-fire:


1. I wonder why you choose to start worrying and having 'sleepless nights' because of a future you don't know. Enjoy the present while planning for the future. Don't develop high bp/hypertension even before graduation. It's just a normal stage every graduate passes through. We all did. No need to panic.

2. What will make you stand out in a recruitment process is your ability to pass the aptitude tests, your attitude and what you have been able to achieve (not necessarily masters) - e.g. Areas you have performed beyond expectation, teamwork, leadership skills, business skills, communication skills, etc. Hundreds of Nigerians have masters in prestigious universities all around the globe. Merely having a masters won't stand you out.

3. Well, I know that for geologists specifically, the job opportunity increases with a masters degree. Eg Mobil only recruits geoscientists with Masters degree. Notwithstanding, there is absolutely NO guarantee that you will get a good job in Nigeria with a masters anyway. The economy is quite tight now and there is oversaturation of Masters degree holders without a job in Nigeria.

4. While the idea of having a masters as a geoscientist is a good idea, I will advise you to pursue scholarships (if you think you are capable of winning one). There are a few postgraduate scholarship opportunities (commonwealth, Esso, Agip, Shell for N/Deltans, PTDF, Total, etc). There are some schools that offer free tuition + feeding+ accommodation. Except you have wealthy guardians, I see no reason why you should squeeze out N5 million for a scholarship. I would rather use the money to pursue PG studies in a prestigious university, which also does not guarantee a good job immediately.

5. Having a 2.1 means that you are also eligible to work in other organizations apart from O and G. Consider that too. Congrats on ur graduation in advance. Cheers!

thanx bro. but what other organisation can i work apart frm O and G.

Secondly, i am happy that you understand that geologists need masters to be proficient in their field. The issue of passing an aptitude test is another thing. because i have experience in that. When i applied for my IT. I wrote aptitude test (computer based) in Exxon Mobil and chevron together with many intelligent students from my department and even one genius from my department with average GP of about 4.88.
Who represented africa in university quize in America. And we ended up NOT BEING SUCCESFUL TO DO industrial Training in those companies.

Anyway as you suggested, i wont be thinking so much of the future, because i dont know what God have in stork for me.

Talking about scholarship for N. Deltas. i am not from Ndelta. I am from Enugu.

I think the MSc geology in Norway would be a good step.Currenty,from close sources the demand for geologists and engineers is quite high in Norway so i would suggest you could take that opportunity i.e if you get the admission.
You could get jobs with oil companies there and get good experience after which you could decide to relocate back to Nigeria if you so desire.
Besides i don't think you will spend that amount if you get into Norway.From gathered information,most people normally pick up part time jobs to prevent going into their initial capital which you can do.The part-time pay is sustainable and the tax for students is very low.

Remember life is all about risk..
May God lead you as you decide.

Cheers!!

Ezegozie:

thanx bro. but what other organisation can i work apart frm O and G.

Secondly, i am happy that you understand that geologists need masters to be proficient in their field. The issue of passing an aptitude test is another thing. because i have experience in that. When i applied for my IT. I wrote aptitude test (computer based) in Exxon Mobil and chevron together with many intelligent students from my department and even one genius from my department with average GP of about 4.88.
Who represented africa in university quize in America. And we ended up NOT BEING SUCCESFUL TO DO industrial Training in those companies.

Anyway as you suggested, i wont be thinking so much of the future, because i dont know what God have in stork for me.

Talking about scholarship for N. Deltas. i am not from Ndelta. I am from Enugu.

Point of correction - I never said all the PG scholarships are for N/Deltans. I specifically mentioned Shell scholarships as the one meant for N/Deltans. The rest are for all Nigerians. As a 2.1 graduate, you can work in any organization that recruit people irrespective of course of study eg KPMG, PwC, banks, some govt agencies, etc.

gambinob: I think the MSc geology in Norway would be a good step.Currenty,from close sources the demand for geologists and engineers is quite high in Norway so i would suggest you could take that opportunity i.e if you get the admission.
You could get jobs with oil companies there and get good experience after which you could decide to relocate back to Nigeria if you so desire.
Besides i don't think you will spend that amount if you get into Norway.From gathered information,most people normally pick up part time jobs to prevent going into their initial capital which you can do.The part-time pay is sustainable and the tax for students is very low.

Remember life is all about risk..
May God lead you as you decide.

Cheers!!

thanx bro, you are a correct man

x-fire:

Point of correction - I never said all the PG scholarships are for N/Deltans. I specifically mentioned Shell scholarships as the one meant for N/Deltans. The rest are for all Nigerians. As a 2.1 graduate, you can work in any organization that recruit people irrespective of course of study eg KPMG, PwC, banks, some govt agencies, etc.

ok. As the Igbo proverb says "THE FIRST STEP FOR PREPARING A GRASSCUTER PEPPER-SOUP IS CATCHING THE GRASSCUTTER FIRST"

since everything lies on getting a second class upper in Bsc, I think i should be considering more on how to come out with that 2.1 first before disturbing my head with this.
Anyway no experience is a waste. Thank you people for your wonderful advice

I have caught the grass-cutter.
The next thing now is to prepare the grass cutter pepper soup.

Thanks all once more for all your contributions 2years ago.

I love you all.
I am so happy

chaiks. @ ezegozie good to hear ur post.am sure u must v grad and served by now.please am also ur fellow zikite currently serving in Lagos.I want to know if u are successful wt ur Norway study ambition so that u can tip me on how u went about it.am also interested in studying in Norway.will be done wt Nysc by July 2015.graduated from inter rel and history in NAU with a cgpa of 4.48.pls ur response will be of immense benefit.tanks.

chaiks:
chaiks. @ ezegozie good to hear ur post.am sure u must v grad and served by now.please am also ur fellow zikite currently serving in Lagos.I want to know if u are successful wt ur Norway study ambition so that u can tip me on how u went about it.am also interested in studying in Norway.will be done wt Nysc by July 2015.graduated from inter rel and history in NAU with a cgpa of 4.48.pls ur response will be of immense benefit.tanks.

my guy, I never served o o o ..

I am currently posted to AkwaIbom to serve this year 2015.

Guy eeh,
your GP is frightening o o o

chaaiiiii......just 0.02 to the almighty first class.

I wish you good bro

Ezegozie:


my guy, I never served o o o ..

I am currently posted to AkwaIbom to serve this year 2015.

Guy eeh,
your GP is frightening o o o

chaaiiiii......just 0.02 to the almighty first class.

I wish you good bro

bros, abeg ooo...i came across ur topic nw nd saw i av d same probs of urs jus dat ma intendin m.sc country is uk plus am also posted to akwa ibom stream 2...wic stream ar u?

Adesolomon2014:
bros, abeg ooo...i came across ur topic nw nd saw i av d same probs of urs jus dat ma intendin m.sc country is uk plus am also posted to akwa ibom stream 2...wic stream ar u?

waooo. Am also in stream 2.
Lets hook up on facebook
Ezenwere Chigozie is my facebook name

Ezegozie:


waooo. Am also in stream 2.
Lets hook up on facebook
Ezenwere Chigozie is my facebook name

Av Added D Profile Wif 3 Names Sharpaly

Adesolomon2014:
Av Added D Profile Wif 3 Names Sharpaly

chaiii.....I mistakenly deleted the request without knowing its you.
I will add you back.

I dont accept friend request from unknown people, but I will add you now

Ezegozie:



chaiii.....I mistakenly deleted the request without knowing its you.
I will add you back.

I dont accept friend request from unknown people, but I will add you now

aii bro

Adesolomon2014:
aii bro

you can add me again now. Once I see ur name, I will accept it cheers

Ezegozie:

you can add me again now. Once I see ur name, I will accept it cheers

done...hope u are preparin sha

Adesolomon2014:
done...hope u are preparin sha

yes my brother.
I just leave everything for God