How to get Internships in Nigeria -
I have always said getting one's desired job in Nigeria depends a lot on strategy, knowing/doing the right thing at the right time. I call it the job search strategy, innovating your way into your employment of choice.
Thread. Pls RT.
I have always said getting one's desired job in Nigeria depends a lot on strategy, knowing/doing the right thing at the right time. I call it the job search strategy, innovating your way into your employment of choice.
Thread. Pls RT.
As a recent graduate with little or no experience, the right internship could be a game changer for you. You could be retained, gain more skills, network, broading your knowledge horizon and so much more. Financial gains should be last on your list at this stage.
The importance of this is stressed more in fields where graduate jobs are near to non existent relative to other fields, HSE, Engineering, QC/QA, Medical Services, etc. You barely see graduate opportunities in these areas. An internship will give you a great experience leap.
Opportunities exist a lot more than the ones we see advertised everyday, even employers need a reminder once in a while about the opportunities in their own firms. I'd explain. During my time working in Nigeria, it was a Mgt consulting firm and we were few...
The company was kept afloat with a few contract-based jobs, so keeping a large number of people on the payroll while chasing new clients didn't make sense, however, there were jobs within that needed to be done given the absence of more hands, but we couldn't hire more hands.
This is the way a lot of firms are set up, especially in the Consultancy business. The downtime is high, so a lot of firms aren't open to hiring more hands even when there are periodic vacancies or things in the office that need to be done. This is your first internship window..
If your field is HR, Accounting, Legal, Consultancy, Services etc.. You fall within this category. You must identify such top firms within & outside your city and target them with your Internship Application. Let me explain. So your field is Accounting or say HR, you live in..
Lagos, you seek internship HR or Accounting opportunities. First, research the top 20 HR/Accounting firms in Lagos & environs. Get their contacts, go further & connect with those that work there on LinkedIn, get their personal emails where possible, then shoot your shot..
There website isn't enough, you must go beyond this, because everything isn't on their site. Read articles, ask questions, visit their office, buy someone lunch and ask him/her questions. Yeah, this takes time, but so does every profitable venture. Better than sitting at home.
Send them your application, write those you connected with on LinkedIn too. Be very specific in your application, tell them what you want, and how long you're open to staying, what you're bringing to the table, etc..Specify how many months/days in the week you will come in..
Another thing you must do is identify the area of their business you have interest in or intrigued by. HR for instance, you could be interested in Payroll, Learning & Devp, Recruitment. You must know what area of their business you are interested in and tell them this.
What this shows is that you know what you want and how to get it from them, that you won't waste your time or theirs. A young civil engineer might research and see he's interested in the Commercial Property Development side of a real estate firm, and tell them why. You get it?
Also, whether or not you're open to an unpaid engagement, what your future plans are after the internship. Out of 20 shots, I bet you, at least 2 if we're being conservative, will enter. Remember my firm that I talked about? If someone sent me or anyone in the firm...
Such an application, best believe he/she would have gotten it, and it would have been a generous opportunity too. So, instead of sitting down, and waiting for when the next HR, Accounting, Legal, Consultancy, Engineering, etc internship opportunities will be advertised..
Get up and strategically reach out to these companies. How are you searching for an Associate legal job/internship, and you don't know the top 20 firms in the country? You have to be intentional this new year and stop playing yourself. This new week, GET YOUR GAME FACE ON!
Start your research now, and let's see how your shot goes. Be sure to give me some feedback.
