Every now and then, you hear of a Nigerian youth who is mad at their uncle/parent’s friend/elder brother’s friend because they promised to hook them up with job opportunities after graduation, and have now gone into hiding. Most young people do not know what to make of these broken promises, and have become bitter. Now I do not know you, and I do not know your uncle, but I know one very strong reason why your uncle is dodging your calls.
He doesn’t know what YOU want.
I know many undergrads (and I did this as well), who during the congratulatory graduation chats answered the question of “Now, what kind of job are you looking for?” with “Any kind of job will do.” This kind of answer confuses even the most well-meaning of people. Any job could be a blue-collar job like facility management, or an administrative position, or a personal assistant, or an executive. It could also be in any industry – and there are myriads of industries. It could be a full-time job, and it could be a part-time job as you may have plans to run a post-graduate degree or a significant enterprise alongside your work.
Your uncle will surely back away in fear that he might waste his goodwill in helping you secure an interview that you do not show up for because “This is not the industry I am interested in”. Or that you may report him to your parents out of offense that he set you up for a job interview for a role you believe is beneath your standards. And here is the biggest issue with “Any work will do”…it simply gives the brain no place to start. Your uncle is most likely not an undergraduate recruiter and thus has no clue what your expectations are for the job market. Trust me – three years in any workplace, and you will have lost touch with the career expectations (salary, progression opportunities, etc) of an average fresh undergraduate. So where does your poor uncle (who is probably 5-10 years in) want to start from?
Dear Nigerian graduate, your uncle is not a professional recruiter. Help him to help you by being clear about what you want. Have your pitch ready at all times, and let everyone around you (parents, dog, pastor, neighbors) know who you are and what you want. Even the most shady of uncles will remember your pitch when the hour arises, if it is crystal clear and it fits into a need.
The Chics Domain 