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After my service year in Port Harcourt, I was really eager and desperate to start my dream job and live my best life, so some months before rounding up I really got engaged with the job search, I did some online research, had many interviews, experienced some rejections and also rejected some job offers.
After a long search , two months after my service, I worked at my PPA, where I was being treated nice and even had an accomodation, but I felt I was missing out outside and wanted to try other fields not just a regular administrative staff in school.
So I got an HR job in a private firm, I was so excited, I left the job offered to me by my PPA, to embrace the HR job, on the day of resumption, I realized we were really few and it wasn't my expectations, but I was still happy, each time I try to discuss my pay with the CEO he would be very dismissive about it, he keeps telling me I'm a fresh graduate and I should focus more on growing and not money, I had no particular job description, at this point I was looking for an accomodation, I needed to know my income, so I don't rent an apartment above my yearly income.
Two weeks at work, he keeps making me feel, he was doing me a huge favor, and I should feel privileged because I was being trained for the future and I should even be the one paying him, I was totally stressed, suffered self doubts and was handling more jobs than expected. I had more than five job description at the office.
In his words; many graduates will pray and embrace this opportunity I have given to you,you are supposed to work wholeheartedly and be grateful to me. It's not about the money at this stage, but the quality of training you get.
I had a call with my mentor, because I was getting depressed at some points and he was really mad at me for not having the discussion with him , before resuming work at his firm.
I wasn't bold enough to ask after three weeks, I was just waiting patiently to see what he would pay at the end of the month, but guess what, he paid below minimum wage, I took the salary and never returned to that office, he called incessantly but I never replied.
From my bad experience, I would like to share my lessons, it will definitely be helpful to any young graduates desperate for job;
1 . Know you worth- Be so conscious of who you in any situation, at any time and everyday. The moment you feel neglected or less of yourself pls resign.
2 . Before accepting a job or celebrating about a new job offers, have a clear conversation with your employee.
3 . Don't make your desperation or eagerness so obvious, don't allow them realize you are new to the labour market, immediately they spot desperation a eagerness, they see an opportunity to use you.
4 . Be grateful for what you have, I neglected a good offer because I felt I was missing out on other aspects of life. The devil you know is better than the Angel you don't know.
It was a bad experience, but I'm really grateful for the lessons learnt, I'm forever grateful for my mentor who never judged me during that phase of my life, but rather taught me to do better next time.
Thank for reading about my first job experience as a graduate in Nigeria, you can also learn from it, it was nice sharing with you. Thank you.