The Dynamic Engineer: GETTING THAT DREAM JOB

As I typed up the word "job" on an on line dictionary here were some of the related words that popped up,

job action, job application, job allowance, jobber, jobbery, jobbing, job candidate, job centre, job control language, job holder, job comforter, job seeker,job sharing, job tears, jobs worth, jo'burg.

Yeah! as funny as some of these words seem, i was also overwhelmed cos i never knew job had extended suffixes such as these.

I recalled sometimes in 2017, I delivered a presentation to some passing out corps members, and I remember telling them that the chances you get a job was yesterday, I also quoted a book published in 1988 titled minding your business and one of the authors of the book lamented on the alarming rate at which jobs in Nigeria were disappearing, note that in 1988 1$ US dollars was equivalent to ₦12 Naira, and the statistics on the rate of unemployment giving in 2014, 2015 and 2016 was quite alarming, it stated that in 2014 over 18million of the 120million Nigerians were either unemployed or underemployed, and in 2015 the numbers went high, of over the 150million Nigerians about 21million were still underemployed, and in 2016 over 27million of over 170million of Nigerian population were jobless.

Well good news, that statistics is actually bullshit!, only if you believe so, you can overcome and stand out not joining the crowd if you take necessary steps when going job hunting.
Follow me through as I shall unravel some do's and dont's that would make you get that dream job.

Identify the job :

First of all how do you know there is a job out there for you?
The only way you could find out is to be exposed remember, "If you are not informed you can never be in-form"

Internet: subscribe to job websites e.g jobberman, jobguru, careerbuilders, Siajobexpress or other sites that would give you updates on available vacancies, and check your mail from time to time to get updates, instead of wasting your time on whats app, Instagram or twitter all day, you know they never pay the bills!
Media: these includes the radio and television, if you are the type who is into seasonal and soap operas like super story or Maria and Clara only on the screen then you really have a long way to go, listen to broadcast, news, adverts or anything that would keep you up to date with current trends and happenings.
News papers: lots of people don't read the national dailies any more, I think this is wrong, you see from time to time the papers advertise job openings which are usually legit and reliable on like the social media which some of the times are hoax or scam.
Billboards, Posters and Handbills: Sometimes stopping and checking that sign post might be worth it, they don't just hang for decoration, who knows that's the offer you've actually been waiting for.

"have a sense of purpose but let your purpose go with a direction" Dynamic Engineer

Don't just go for a job cos you are hungry for one, put certain factors and set some standards or targets as this will make you fully prepared for the job and make you love your job, in the US research has shown that a high percentage of people hate their jobs and do it just to foot their bills, so here are a list of factors you need to consider before applying for that job;
       i. Your Passion what do you so love to do ?
   ii. Your Skills what are you good at ?
   iii. Your Leisure what do you do best at your free time which seem enjoyable ?
   iv. Worthiness is the job profitable and can it take a negative tone on your health?

Making your choice/selecting your own job:

This is when you actually need to utilize the skill acquired from your education like research, home works and studies,

Find out what the organization/company does: These are some of the cheap yet costly blunders job seekers make, trust me you don't wanna enter an interview of a tanning company and when asked by the interviewer of how you could contribute to their product you start saying things like "am very good at storing spare parts or am pretty fast at canning beef "
Proper and correct address: while compiling your letter, address it properly and correctly if possible have a mouth watering and tantalizing cover letter attached as this would stir up the employers interest and give an insight of your research and how organized you are which would by extension tell on your personality even before reading your cv. In one of our numerous write-ups, we've actually discussed difference between a CV and RESUME, but summarily CV is short for curriculum vitae and a British system which usually entails your data in details, while resume is an American system it is short and straight to the point with only important details.
Avoid Spelling, Grammatical and Typographical errors: Yes! one thing that turns off the employers are those three guys, it gives the employer a view of an un-serious applicant who does not really bother to go over their own written CV, that's why if you must give your CV out to be typed my advice is, stay with the typist or better still go through the work before packaging it for that job. Use spell checkers every time while typing, but be careful even some times a computer can't correct all errors.I would sight some of these errors which could be very costly and bashing that you wouldn't ever want to make such mistakes; I am prefect for this job = Perfect
I love hiding horses = Riding
I hope to here from you shorty = hear,shortly
I love to severe customers = Serve
I control sock = Stock
Am a rabid typist = Rapid
I have interest in pubic relations = Public relations
I would be going on maturity leave = Maternity leave
I am a commuter literate =Computer
Dear Madman, = Madam
My hobbits includes
As indicted I have 5years working experience
Avoid pleonasm and tautology: pleonastics are the use of more words than necessary e.g black darkness, I would have loved to like your page. Tautology are repetition of words with similar meaning e.g The ATM machine is not dispensing, in my opinion i think, are my skills adequate enough?
Finally place your contact on that CV: Yup cover letter and application letter as well, you should have your phone number boldly inscribed at end of your letter, including your emails and possibly if you own a website as well could be added, but if you have a flirtatious, or rugged email or even own a ponzi or sex provocative website you would want to think again before adding that up on your resume' as a contact medium, most employers log into social media platforms of their potential employee i.e facebook, instagram, twitter just to view their social lifestyle and personality.

Interview: (Oral/written):

If you arrive at the stage then congratulations, but the battle is only half won.
wining an interview showcases your personality and who you really are off the papers, as 85% of employers draw their conclusions from staging an interview with a potential employee or applicant, trust me you don't want to blow off this chance.

I have been opportune to partake in job recruitment exercises and interviews and I must say it isn't your first class or Harvard university certificate or 50 years experience that employers are really interested in but rather, what you can offer your composure, exposure and experience that's what counts I'd like to call it C.E.E.
Note experience here isn't talking about the number of 5, 6, 7 or 8 years you have being on a previous job but even one year experience in doing a particular job severally over and over again is what actually counts as an experience.
I remember once sitting for an interview, that was even before my youth service program.I could recall one of the interviewer (A woman) asked me "how can you qualify for this job seeing you are a fresh graduate and what we require is someone with enough experience" and here was my response to her "ma'am the role required for the job is something i am used to and have done over and over again during my university internship and currently now as a graduate, so Ma i have a good composure since i was exposed to such activity which has overtime improved my experience on it, I believe is not the number of years that counts but rather the frequency " and on that I could observe a smile on her face.

Let me tell you, amongst those 50 job seekers with a foreign school cert or a first class or even with a hundred years working experience, you still stand a chance as i have observed some are mostly jokers and a large number of them don't even know why they are in an interview.
So don't ever under estimate yourself cos you stand a chance, all you need do is top up your game.

"There are a lot of jobs out there just that the scales are high"
Dynamic engineer

Have in mind that person interviewing you is also human and was once in your position, feel free and relaxed explain yourself and answer questions with gestures and if you don't know politely say you don't, do not over do it but laugh when something funny is discussed or mentioned.

What you should expect in an interview:

i. Observational assessment: these are ways the employer sometimes implore to rate your understanding of work environment, participation behavioral skills, interest and task performing procedures. So when you get into that work environment before actually walking into the office or interview room do a light scan of what you see around you, the people, the equipment and tools and possibly the working organogram.

Image result for image job aptitude test

ii. Assessment aptitude: you might be given questions to fill answers, but be careful always read instructions before answering questions as you may come across something like this; Read the instructions carefully before attempting the questions that followed :{ 1.you have 15 minutes 2.use HB pencil 3.do not solve any of the questions }

iii. Computer based test: you could be required to answer questions using a computer system or even asked to type your application on a computer, this is actually to test your on screen ability.

iv. Confrontational dialogue: This is when you have a one on one discussion. Calm your nerves and answer as best as possible, remember those panel you are facing never knew you and are not there to witch-hunt you, you may be surprised issues like sports, politics, etc might be the topic of discussion. Image result for image job interview

An autobiography i once read think big by the world first neurosurgeon and black American Ben Carson He made mention of his interview ordeal, while in the teaching hospital, under tension when he worked into the Directors' office as a black man from Detroit and a person who grew up as timid, not very sharp and black in Detroit he overcame his fear when suddenly the interview took turn and the MD started a discussion on music, according to him (Ben Carson) that topic actually got him the job at john Hopkins hospital because his interest and familiarity with music made the MD so impressed.

v. Keep your phone lines up: yes you heard me, don't leave your phone with your girl friend or friends after interviews, its high time you start expecting important call and I am sure you wouldn't like your potential employer to call your line, hearing a rude response or colloquial language at the other end.

vi. Follow ups: There is absolutely nothing wrong if you call from time to time, that is if there is a contact number available to know your position.

vii. Be persistent and patient while trying a number of places

viii. Explore all options to find the job that suits you

ix. Be willing to leave your comfort zone

x. Brand yourself

xi. Apply for interns

xii. Engage in community development and service.

All these are things you need to do while awaiting that call for the job

Now in Conclusion:

I ask you as a fresh graduate or serving corps member

Have you constructed at least 10 CV's?

Have you submitted applications for jobs ?

Have you been called on an Interview?

Are you waiting till after NYSC before seeking interns and even job applications?

If your answer to all the a fore mentioned is in the negative, then i implore you rethink and start now, don't bother even if you can't do the job now those series of applications and possibly interviews would prepare you against a time when you are really ready, as you now tend to gain more confidence and exposure knowing procedures of applications and possible questions asked during one of such.

Just Keep applying the more you apply using these tips the better chances you have in securing a job, if you apply a hundred jobs there is a high chance sixty would be accepted and at least thirty would give you a call, and ten might probably offer you a job. Grit is all that keeps us going.

"I fall 9 I stand 10 persistence and perseverance up is what makes life living" Dynamic engineer

I don't believe in the there are no job syndrome. There are jobs out there only that the scales have gone high Dynamic engineer

And for those who have been lucky getting jobs but quit at the slightest down time because you have a high chance of getting another be careful, because you may not all the time seem lucky and note that you are never growing or building yourself in such ways, you can never migrate randomly and continuously from one job to another if you love what you do.

Moving from one job to another in the name of more remuneration or updating your CV is like saving sex or consummation of marriage for old age Dynamic engineer

Take a job because you love to don't take a job because you have to Dynamic engineer

Finally Angela Duck worth a psychologist and author of the book GRIT mentioned in a research, those who take on jobs to improve their standards of living alone perform less effective in terms of producing output when compared to those who passionately work a job and want to improve the standards of others.