Hello everyone, welcome to my blog today.
As a university graduate filled with hope, I entered the job market eager to start earning money to cover my clearance and other expenses from school that were holding me up.
I had always heard that individuals who studied health-related courses had a higher chance of finding jobs easily in the health sector, but without a certificate and only a senior WAEC (West African Examinations Council) result, it was a challenge to secure a good offer. Life has taught me many lessons; to survive, you must be street smart.
My first encounter was at a laboratory where I applied for a position as a lab assistant. I submitted my application letter and a photocopy of my result and went to the laboratory. I was instructed to wait in the lobby to be seen by the Managing Director. Despite arriving as early as 9 am, I was not attended to until 4 pm.
When I was told to come back the next day, only to be turned down because my degree was in public health, not medical laboratory. At that moment, I almost regretted my academic choices and wished I had studied something else. Everyone believes that education guarantees a job and puts food on the table. Unfortunately, in my country, Nigeria, getting a job often depends on connections, a harsh reality I learned outside the classroom.
I then tried my luck at a hospital for a receptionist position. I brought my application and spent the entire day there. During the interview with the doctor, he offered a monthly salary of only 10,000 naira. I struggled to see how I could manage with such a salary in the current economic situation, so I had to decline the offer. All the effort I put into my education only to be offered 10,000 naira.
Feeling defeated, I decided to try a fast-food restaurant but faced another obstacle. I was required to work from 7 am to 10 pm, which did not fit with my schedule as I was caring for my elderly mother. At this point, depression took over, and I almost gave up on finding employment. However, I had to remain resilient and hopeful for better days.
Earlier this year, a good friend informed me about a job opening at the firm where she worked. I was invited for an interview and eventually got the job with flexible hours and a decent salary. Life has a way of teaching us tough lessons that extend beyond the classroom walls. In all we do learning a skill is very important, nobody will tell you this within school walls.
Thank you for visiting my blog today.