Adesegun Damazio
I’d like to share a few tips with young job-seekers out there.
I know you’re doing your best to get a job somewhere, anywhere, and I do hope that you find a placement soon.
In the meantime, you might want to consider these few ideas just in case they’re new to you:
- Open a LinkedIn account. I’ve seen people put up posts on Facebook and Twitter requesting for job opportunities but can tell you for a fact that you’re more than likely to get an offer or valuable referrals from LinkedIn than any other social media platform. There are statistics to back this up but I won’t bore you with that. Just Google it yourself and see.
- Garnish your LinkedIn profile with professional English language construction and not shorthand or elementary English. See it as a marketing profile which anybody can be drawn to at first glance.
- Send connection requests to people in your preferred field of work. And most importantly, target your requests at HR personnel – managers, directors and officers. These professionals have been shown to spend more time perusing LinkedIn than any other kind, though it’s advisable you send requests to other organizational top shots as well in other to boost your chances.
- Once your request has been accepted by a good number of highly-positioned individuals, put up a post stating your job request and if possible, attach a PROFESSIONAL picture of yourself. It’s like adding salt to taste. In the post, enumerate your qualifications, skill sets and preferred field (FMCG, NGO, Retail etc.) It’s important you make a concise post, otherwise, your connections might just scroll away from the epistle. The more likes, comments and shares you get on the post, the wider the reach. It’s how LinkedIn woks.
- At this point, people will start viewing your profile. Ensure you view the profile of people who have viewed yours. All of them. Note the highly-positioned individuals who are in your preferred field and send them punchy messages stating your willingness to work for them. No long messages, just appreciate the time they took to view your profile and tailor your short message along professional lines.
- Watch what happens from there.
I’m not saying this is the ice-breaker but trust me, it’s worked for a lot of people and I felt it won’t hurt to share this strategy with my friends.
Please, be mindful of what you post on LinkedIn too. It’s not a platform for subs, derogatory comments and slay mama/papa pictures. Keep it professional and build a good image for yourself.
On the side, continue to send your industry-specific CVs to the recruiters you come across on MyJobMag and HotNigerianJobs.
I hope you get lucky someway and somehow. But LinkedIn really works – in Nigeria. BIG TIME!
Cheers! 🙏🏽
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