Thread by @Dhammylarey

Happy new week y'all! To all job seekers out there, this new week shall bring the testimony you have been waiting for in Jesus name. But then you need more than prayers and faith. Thread...

I have been there and can tell you for free that I prayed, fasted, had an unshakable faith but it wasn't the solution. Looking for a good job with a minimum salary expectation(70k) even when I had no experience in my kitty. Mumu mi(in lasisi Elenu's voice)

I was applying to every opening that came my way. Gave several copies of my CV to my dad to give his friends. Hoping that I would be called for interviews. Weeks and months passed, nothing happened. Frustration was setting in already.

Little did I know that everything I did was in futility. Reason is I was using just one type of CV to apply for all jobs. I didn't pay attention to recruiter's instructions. I was rejecting 30k jobs because I coveted my counterparts in GTB, NNPC, etc.

I later realised that staying at home doing nothing can cause more harm to me. I took up a sakes agent role with an insurance company. This one had no salary except commission based on what I sell. I used my savings from NYSC to market insurance products.

This was my little beginning which I had despised earlier. In fact it was a zero beginning. Only my parents and a few family friends patronized me. It was very difficult selling insurance to Lagosians. Nobody wants to hear "insure your life against death".

In fact I almost got slapped by a prospect. I waka for sun tire so tey my black coat (not suit) turned brown and my shoe's sole got chopped off from trekking long distance got such that it gives me a bow leg structure when standing. But in all of these...

I was getting exposed and acquiring corporate skills - interpersonal and human relation skills, presentation skills, persuasion, communication, resilience, marketing, negotiation, amongst others. I couldn't have learnt all these while staying idle. But...

...something happened, I had to quit the job when sales didn't come for months and no cash at hand for t-fare. I stayed at home again but this time my value as a person had increased. I had skills employers are willing to buy. I paid attention to my CV...

...I put together all that I achieved as General Secretary of NCCF Nnewi North Anambra state, as class rep in my final year at the university, and all my sales, marketing and social skills, and my CV had a new look. My last penny was 200 naira. Was living...

...with my parents and didn't want to be a burden to them being the first child and only son. The 200 naira would at least serve as tfare in case I was called for any interview. Had sleepless nights reading GMAT, practicing interview questions. BUt after a...

...few weeks, my CV got noticed. I attended a sales job interview at ICSL and the recruiter was interested in me (the very first time I felt valued). He liked my confidence and the fact that I had sold insurance - my tenacity and resilience. He promised to...

...share my CV with his client and get back to me. After a few days the good news came. I got a Sales job with an international bank who had recently come to Nigeria - Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria. It was a contract job and better than my previous job...

There was a base salary and commission, access to staff bus, etc. Within six months I rose to a team lead. The skills I had earned earlier while selling insurance came very handy. I hit the ground running. Base pay doubled and commissions flowing in...

I started training new entrants on the art of selling and product knowledge - unsecured lending (personal loans), employee banking (salary accounts), insurance (life and non-life), credit cards, etc. I won a couple of awards as one of the best sales person...

But guess what there was still pressure of targets and sales wasn't rosy all months. Besides, I had discovered myself and that my calling wasn't sales&marketing but human resources management. I managed my team to deliver targets and ensure they had necessary

...skills to perform their jobs. Because of my newly discovered calling (HR), I made a decision to start reading any and everything I see on HR. I was still putting my best into my sales job. In fact my income including commission was above 120k from 25k
...

I was now able to give my parents money on a monthly basis. My wardrobe was upgraded and I was glad I could discard those 2 pant trousers, 1 shoe and 4 shirts which I have worn for over 13 months. I no longer eat just one meal a day. No more trekking...

My next goal was to get an HR assistant job but I also thought that I had a future in Sales. I weighed both options and realized I enjoyed managing people, training and counseling more than the pressure of meeting targets. My dilemma now how to get a HR job..

...with my non-HR experience. I immersed myself into all HR materials I found online. I started following HR managers and asked them questions (LinkedIn wasn't rampant then). One of them advised me to apply for a HR certification and I immediately registered

...I sponsored myself from my income. I was already saving to rent my first apartment. I started doing contribution (ajó) with some colleagues. Being a sales person gave me ample time to read. I would visit libraries looking for HR materials. CIPM exam came..

...and I sat for my intermediate 2 exam. I studied a mgt. course (BSC,Ed Accounting) , so I was exempted from the first 3 stages of the certificate exam. Don't ask my why I didn't dream of becoming a chartered accountant. I didn't enjoy accounting a bit...

...to God be glory, I passed that stage. It was remarkable because I didn't attend any CIPM study center for lectures because I couln't afford it. This success was enough motivation to apply for the next stage (PE 1) which I did. And I also passed. It wasn't.

...easy but I have an ambition and goal. I read for the exams as if my life depended on it. Burnt night candles. I would apply for leave a week to my exam. Now my CV has better experience, achievements and certifications to boast off. I crafted two types of.

...resumè, one for Sales Officer vacancies and HR assistant/officer role. In the former I flaunted my sales prowess and achievement while in the latter I paraded my administrative, training, problem solving skills, NIM, AISMN, HR certification (in-view)..

You need to be smart. Both NIM and ISMN certifications I sat for and passed while serving. It was tough getting my first HR job but I persevered. I asked HR people around me lots of questions. Started thinking and acting like a HR professional. Seeing the...

...things that are not as if they were. Now I knew God will answer my prayers because I wasn't idle and empty as I was when I jobless and had no experience to boast of. And yes God did, one of my customers whom I sold personal loan to informed me of an...

...opening when I mentioned my career ambition to him. I shared with him because it was a group of companies that has an HR outsourcing/consulting division. I submitted my HR tailored resume and got called for an interview. Lo and behold, I got my 1st ever..

...HR job. I was suitable for the role because part of my responsibilities would be to help promote the sales of HR outsourcing services and my achievements as a sales person speaks to that. Moreso I had just one more stage to become a certified HR pro. and.

..Associate member of Chartered Institute of Personnel management of Nigeria. It was as if God had been preparing me for that job. I excelled in it and have moved on to senior HR roles in multinational FMCG/manufacturing companies. This is my journey from...

...being a confused, devastated fresh graduate to a focused and successful HR professional. You can and will also make it but you need to do beyond praying and hoping, ACT, DISCOVER YOUR PASSION, BUILD A CAREER AROUND IT, WHEN A PARTICULAR DOOR YOU HAVE BEEN

...KNOCKING DOESN'T OPEN, *TRY OTHER DOORS*. OPPORTUNITIES WILL PASS YOU BY WHEN YOU PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. *DO NOT DESPISE THE DAYS OF LITTLE BEGINNING*, YOU MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS OTHERS, *YOU MAY NOT BE AS CONNECTED AS OTHERS, *BUT BELIEVE..nur

...YOURSELF,
-GET EXPERIENCE WHICHEVER WAY
-DON'T SIT DOWN IDLE, GOD CAN ONLY BLESS THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS, WHAT WILL HE BLESS IF YOU ARE IDLE?
- Discover your passion and nurture it
- Don't rush to leave a job until you get another
- Identify a mentor

I hope my story gives you hope and you find strength to forge ahead. Anyone out there going through a difficult time in their career. Hit me up let's talk about it. Relax, it will get better. Play your part to attract your desired testimony. Love you!