Ace that Interview...

Hi Guys, 

How has the week been? Its Thursday and that means we can start wiggling our behinds because the weekend is here. 

Before we start grooving for the weekend lets discuss something serious.The high rate of unemployment in Nigeria and how its affecting the economy. You are probably wondering why am talking about something this depressing. Well, its because another batch of Youth Corpers are currently at their Orientation camps now.It is really depressing that one batch has passed out and another batch has gone in and there is no guarantee of jobs when they do join the labour market. It makes everything bleak and very depressing but as we Nigerians always say ' IT IS WELL'. 

However, someone told me that no matter how dire the situation is, if you are very good  at what you do, you will get a job. Unfortunately that is not the case in Nigeria, competence or skill is no guarantee that you will get a good job but to make our chances better,i have decided to do a blog post on getting ready for an interview. Going in for an interview can be very nerve wracking and sometimes letting your nerves get the best of you  or being ill prepared can ruin your chances of getting that dream job. So here we go... 

• Practice:  practice makes perfect ( or at least as close to perfect as you can be). Try and practice answering interview questions and practice your responses to typical job interview questions and prepare examples to describe your skills. 
• Research :  This is very vital. Make sure you find out as much as you can about the company and role you are interviewing for. 
• Be on Time : This is very important and will give a good impression about you. Make sure you never get to an interview late and if you cannot avoid it, please call ahead. 
• Look Good: Now this is my favourite part of the whole process. Wearing the outfit and looking sharp will boost your confidence and whether you like it or not , You are also appraised on how you dress. You cannot go in for an interview in marketing or Business Development wearing a T-shirt and Jeans. Dress according to the industry you applying for a job in but no matter how crazy or creative, it may be, look put together. Here are some pictorial guides. 

 

 

If you notice, am tilting towards wearing a skirt. They make you look feminine and smart and you can be subtly sexy ( not skanky) with a pencil skirt. I believe a little sexy can be brought into an interview but as long as you are not a total air head. 

Live Love laugh

Monday Musings: Meeting your Future Mother in Law

Hello Ladies and Gents,

How was the weekend? Mine was fantastic, i relaxed and i spent most of the weekend, resting, taking care of house hold chores and spending time with loved ones and family.



Over the weekend, i had a discussion with a friend and she confided in me that she is extremely nervous about meeting her boyfriend's mother AKA future mother-in-law. She and the guy have been dating for a couple of months and they were getting serious. The guy wants to take it to the next level and wants her to meet his mum. I told her that's a good thing and the guy is serious about her.I have tried to calm her anxiety but its not working. What if she doesn't like her? What if she does not give her blessing? etc. I must say i totally understand how she feels. I have experienced it and i know i will still experience it.




 However, i also know its something that cannot be avoided except you want to kill her and remember that you also have your own mother. I know that this is a fear that every young woman faces and i decided to do a blog post about it. I talked to my mum, friends who have gone through it etc . So here we go....

• Do your research and Learn about her. Talk to her son and find about her likes and things that interest her and find out what makes her tick. You never know, you guys might have similar interests. 
• Have an open mind. The myth of the wicked mother in law is known, far and wide. Sometimes due to preconceived notions, we meet our future mother in law's with our defenses up and guided. I am not saying some mother in laws are not difficult, come on, some of our own mother's can be difficult as well and we manage them and continue to love them. So lets try and be open minded. 
• Dress well and decently. I am not saying wear a caftan and hi jab, if you do not cover your hair on a good day but we all know that you are addressed the way you dress . If you make an effort to look professional when going to work,meetings and interviews. Then make an effort for the mother of the man you love. Less is more is my opinion. 
• Be polite. Now that is a no brainer. You do not need a seer or a pastor or anyone to tell you this. Being respectful is a prerequisite in polite society. If you are Yoruba for example and your man is from the same tribe, then you should know that kneeling down is how we greet as women, duh!
• SMILE. The best accessory you can have and its universal. Everyone understands a smile and it helps in breaking the ice.

If you have more tips, please feel free to send and lets discuss. 

Live Love and Laugh

My Lagos, the city i hate to love..

Hi Guys,

Is this weather crazy hot or not? This kind of weather in Lagos is not for the children of God. Its hot and dusty and just plain uncomfortable. But you know what? With all my complaining, i don't think i can live any where else in Nigeria. Lagos is in my blood, i love the craziness, the high tempo of living in this city. My state of origin is Lagos and i from Lagos island ( with ijebu blood from my mums side) and i am a proud ' Real Lagosian' not the ' I was born and lived here all my life so i am Lagosian even though my name is Nnamdi'. My love of Lagos does not mean that i do not understand the downsides of living in this crazy city.  To live in Lagos, you must have some ' street smarts' so you are not taken advantage of. You must know when to 'display' and you must know when to shut the hell up.

I call myself a cross between ' Aso' and ' Pako'. I have lived a relatively sheltered life but i still know the 'score'. I  do not speak street lingo but  i  do have an idea of some of the words they use. I also know that you do not show fear or total naivety because you will be taken advantage of.  I have various reasons why i hate to love 'Las Gidi' and ill love to share them with you:

• Danfo Drivers and their Conductors: They are known for their dare devil tendencies. Their total lack of fear and respect for human life and their caustic tongues. They are brilliant marketing strategists changing their destinations depending on demand but are terrible customer care representatives. They are rude,uncouth and lack human relations but i have the utmost respect for their knowledge of arithmetic.  

• Uniformed Officials: They are a dime a dozen and can be a thorn in the sides of drivers in Lagos both public and private. LASTMA,KAI,VIO,YELLOW FEVER,NURTW etc. No self respecting Lagosian can stand them.  

• Traffic: That's synonymous with this city. Nobody understands the reason or has a cure for it yet, just like cancer.  When Lagos traffic has you in her grip,sit back and relax and call for Gala and Lacasera.  

• Owambe: Lagos Owambe parties are one of a kind. I go to these parties for the food and souvenirs. The 'Aso ebi' fashion cannot be compared and that's for another post. 

• Night Life: Lagos has a thriving night life. Lagosians love to party and there are different scenes that cater for different needs,tastes and pockets. 

• Entertainment: Its hot and growing fast. Lagos is the entertainment capital of Nigeria and if not Africa. In movies and music, its ever changing and everybody wants to go into entertainment.  YO!

These are just a few of the reasons why i love this great sprawling metropolis of crazy,fun and hardworking people. I remember the day i came back from NYSC camp and the bus got to Berger, the first thing that brought a smile to my face was the sound of blaring horns and people cursing each other out. It was music to my ears that's when i realized that i truly loved this city.

I rep 'Las Gidi' for Life! 

Live love and Laugh