5 Bitter Truths Nigerian Job Seekers Need To Know

While I was researching for my recently completed ebook, I came across some professionals who have worked for several years as seasoned recruiters, hiring managers, and interviewers.

While "milking" them for vital information about job seeking (in Nigeria), I was made to realize some bitter truths, some of which I'll share with you here.

1. Being a perfect match for the job description doesn't mean you'll get the job

Even if the job description for a vacant position seems to be describing you specifically, there's still no guarantee that you'll get the job. In fact, you may not get an interview invitation. This is because hiring managers look beyond your qualifications when making hiring decisions; they're more interested in your skills and your achievements.

So, even you don’t match the description perfectly, you may still be chosen over others with more complete credentials if you have skills and past achievements that will make you asset to the employer.

However, this is not to mean that applicants who match job descriptions perfectly aren't favorites. In fact, such candidates have the brightest chances. But sometimes, the job goes to less qualified candidates.

SUCCESS TIP: Don't just highlight your skills an capabilities in your CV and application letter. Give instances in the past where you used them to achieve great results. And ensure that you include only skills that are relevant to the position you're applying for.

2. Most CVs end up in the trash bin after the first glance

For your information, the length of your CV is not what impresses hiring managers. What impresses them is its uniqueness and relevance to the job position you're applying for.

What hiring managers hate the most is a generic CV – one of those several copies that you've made just to distribute around in case one of them falls on fertile ground. Such CVs land inside trash bins.

SUCCESS TIP: Tailor your CV to each job position you're applying for. This may seem tedious, but it's key to getting a job in this tight economy, as it convinces hiring managers that you're serious about getting the job.

3. Not all CVs are checked

Some hiring managers don't bother to check CVs; they believe CVs aren't just enough to measure the employability of candidates. Others believe anyone -- even the worst candidates for the job -- can craft stellar CVs. So, these managers would rather read application letters first, and then check the CVs of candidates with outstanding application letters. Even though this method seems odd, many hiring managers use it.

SUCCESS TIP: Write your application letter in a way that makes a powerful first impression.

4. Most application letters aren't read to the end

Hiring managers receive tons of application letters, and yet, they're given deadlines to fill vacant positions. And because they're in a hurry to weed out mediocre applications, they usually read only the introduction paragraph in application letters. If they can't find any compelling information within this paragraph, they trash the letter and move on to the next.

SUCCESS TIP: Include in your introduction paragraph every piece of information that proves your suitability for the job.

5. Being eloquent at the interview doesn’t mean you'll get the job

Most of the time, candidates who speak most eloquently at the interview are not given the job. So, even if the interviewers are nodding at your answers, this doesn't signal that your answers are impressive. Interviewers like to tease with their nods!

While eloquence may be a plus, only relevant, no-fluff answers impress interviewers.

SUCCESS TIP: Prepare adequately for the interview and avoid irrelevant answers.