You know that thing they say about Gen Zs having zero chill for any work-related stress? We spoke to 7 people and they shared the very moment they looked at a potential job and decided, “nah fam.” I’m not sure if almost every Nigerian recruiter attended a joint workshop to decide on the best way to torture applicants because so many of them play by the same book. I had applied for this interesting vacancy and was quite hopeful. Only to complete a pre-screening assessment, personality test and case study before even getting shortlisted. It was when I was asked to complete a mini work project that I gave myself brain and japa-ed. All that to possibly not even get an interview call-back. First off, I’d done a preliminary interview with this company already, and they knew I was based in Ibadan. After the first interview, they invited me for a second at their head office in Lagos. Keep in mind that this was supposed to be a fully remote role. Imagine jumping bus to another state when there’s no assurance I’d get the role. I told them if there was no way I could attend the interview remotely, I’d pass. They didn’t reach back. This happened recently. I went through the different interview phases of this big real estate firm on the island and was offered a job. Omo, see conditions. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every workday (plus Saturdays) and I would need to secure sales of at least 10 million naira every month. If I don’t meet the target, my monthly net salary would be cut from ₦100k to ₦20k. I dusted my slippers and told them thank you. RELATED: Seven Nigerians Talk About Resigning From a Job They Hated To be fair, I applied without conducting any research. Imagine the shock when I logged on to the Zoom interview to find five uncles on the call. I lost interest at that point, and I’m sure my answers weren’t matching the questions. I didn’t see myself working at that kind of organisation. The intended salary wasn’t stated in the job vacancy, and I didn’t ask during the interview so as not to appear unserious. After all was said and done, I got the offer and it was ₦80k. I live in Agbara. The office is at Festac. Adding transport costs and the stress, it just wasn’t worth it. I still laugh when I remember this. When the ASUU strike got extended, my sister suggested I consider an internship with a family friend (he owns a private firm). I got there and had to wait in the reception area. Two minutes later, the secretary (who knew why I was there) waved a food flask in my face and asked me to go buy her amala. When I left that day, I told my sister I wasn’t going back. I think cover letters are a complete waste of time, and I often lose interest in job applications when I discover that they are required. It hasn’t stopped me from landing jobs so nobody should stress me, please. *All names have been changed for the sake of anonymity. ALSO READ: Five Nigerian Graduates Share Their First Jobhunting Experience Bring a friend. In 2020, the pandemic changed the world. A lot of profitable offline businesses had to close and lay off their employees. With thousands of unemployed in Nigeria and all over the world and the poor economic state of even the leading countries, thousands of people have decided to look for alternative sources of income. And […] “A Week In The Life” is a weekly Zikoko series that explores the working-class struggles of Nigerians. It captures the very spirit of what it means to hustle in Nigeria and puts you in the shoes of the subject for a week. “A Week In The Life” is a weekly Zikoko series that explores the working-class struggles of Nigerians. It captures the very spirit of what it means to hustle in Nigeria and puts you in the shoes of the subject for a week. The subject for today is Toyin, a 28-year-old proposition manager at a financial […] I’ve never really been a tech-savvy guy. As a graduate of marketing, I had a day job where all I needed to do was meet my monthly quota, then at night, I was a Canva Graphics designer. I was unhappy, unmotivated, and constantly exhausted. My guys could never relate, they had the financial flexibility and […] May the best man win (because there’s no woman on this list). Kerrygold Avantage is produced in a highly sustainable manner with premium quality Irish dairy which is tasty, nutritious, healthy, and mixes effortlessly into a delicious creamy milk, providing the essential nutrients for a healthy body. As part of activities celebrating World Milk Day, Kerrygold Avantage engaged consumers in a 3-day event, filled with exciting activities […] You mean to tell us that you plan on treating your future daughter-in-law with respect and kindness? It’s like you don’t know how we do things here. Better read this and learn one or two things. Choose who would win a fight between your faves and we’ll rate your taste in anime. Ps: Your street cred is counting on this. Mary* and Joseph* are exes who dated for less than a year. In this episode of Zikoko Sunken Ships, they discuss how they should’ve been friends before jumping headfirst into a relationship, and how their friends influenced their breakup. Here’s their story: The oraimo FreePods Pro has won the 2022 iF Design Award in the Product Design category. The last time to take a food quiz was yesterday, the best time to do it is now. #WorldFoodDay Have you ever been with someone so horrible that you swore to never date again? Yes? Well, do you know that one or more of your exes probably feels the same way about you? You never thought about that, huh? Thankfully, this quiz is here to let you know just how much of a hassle […] We are going to be attempting to guess when you’ll marry based on your favourite Nigerian foods. What does your fave swallow have to do with when you’ll tie the knot? Please, don’t ask complicated questions. This quiz is rigorous and accurate (don’t quote us), so just take it already. QUIZ: Why Do You Have […] ? ✨ ? We already guessed how many people you’ve slept with, and y’all were out here denying the truth. Anyway, we won’t hold that against you. This time, however, we’ve created a quiz that predicts who you’ll sleep with next — so you can either prepare or try (unsuccessfully) to prevent it. So, take and see: “Don’t waste my school fees. Rise…to the occasion.” We spoke to 7 Nigerian Gen Zs and they shared the very moment they looked at a potential job and decided, “nah fam.” In today’s #AWeekInTheLife we feature Samiat Salami, a textile designer who makes prints for ready-to-wear clothes and home decor. She explains her design process, the pains of running a global business in Nigeria & how hard it is to find plus-size models. Working from home can get really boring. It’s just you, your laptop and colleagues that you talk to via email, Slack or Teams. So how do you break that monotony? The subject of today’s #AWeekInTheLife is a massage therapist. He tells us about the stereotypes that plague his hustle, how he deals with sexual harassment but why he continues to love what he does anyway. On today’s #AWeekInTheLife, we feature Efe Edosio, a video producer. He talks about dealing with difficult clients who keep changing their minds, why he has no side hustle and what it’ll take to get him to 10/10 in career satisfaction. Chidera Nwagu is a content creator for three Abuja nightclubs. What’s it like to meet Abuja “big boys”, fend off creepy men and deal with sexism in the nation’s capital? Find out in this week’s #AWeekInTheLife The subject of today’s #AWeekInThe Life is an Abuja-based IELTS tutor. She talks about her struggles with teaching proud adults, Nigerians who think they shouldn’t write IELTS and why she loves her job so much regardless. Today’s #AWeekInTheLife subject is a computer technician in Uyo who sells Ewa Agoyin as a side hustle. He discusses his struggles as a technician who studied computer science, how he started a side business cooking beans and why his Ewa Agoyin always bangs. The subject of today’s #AWeekInTheLife is a medical doctor, but she quit her job to sell perfumes and scented candles. Today, she explains how she makes her fragrances, why she quit her job and the beauty of being in control of her time. The subject of today’s #AWeekintheLife is the caretaker of a hostel close to a university which houses 45 self-con rooms. He talks about managing difficult tenants, why he prefers this job over his last, and his dream to japa one day. Here’s a rabbit hole of stories to lose yourself in: Oya, before you carry last, subscribe to our Zikoko Daily newsletter, enter your email address, and click “Subscribe”. Subscribe to newsletters from any of our popular flagships. Choose who would win a fight between your faves and we’ll rate your taste in anime. Ps: Your street cred is counting on this. We’ll give you a popular statement. Can you guess who said it? Give it a try: If our politicians can do it, you can too. Take this quiz to know what to step down from today. “This quiz looks too easy”… Oya take it and show us your score. Get to know more about the clique behind your favourite ? content.
