Employment Gap on my CV?

CONCERN

Dear Jarus,

I have been an active user on Nairaland for a long time now and I can’t but notice and respect your posts and opinions on many issues from politics to career.

I have decided to seek your counsel on matters as regards my career bordering on reason for employment gap on my CV. Having completed my ICAN program late 2011 (started through ATS) I am 23 years old and currently pursuing my BSc. degree in a private university (a part-time 2 year program for ACAs). I think it is also necessary to mention I worked with a small audit firm briefly for 8 months in 2012 before leaving due to some reasons –i) I had to relocate ii) for promised employment elsewhere (which I never got), iii) and even though I left the firm without any friction (no disagreement as there was a mutual understanding) there seemed to be an imbalance between working there and schooling.

I am about completing the first half (session) of the program, however I have concerns as we approach the last session of another year. I am worried about the employment gap building up in my CV, even though I have taken up jobs in this vicinity – none seems to add value or directly related to my professional career. I am deep in thought to approach possibly the “big four” and some other top notch firms and maybe even some oil firms **wink** for internship. Does my previous work experience in any way mar my chances of internship opportunity with these organizations? How feasible is it approaching these firms for internship? Are there organizations you know of both in practice and industry who readily take in interns? Any other guides and advice you can give me will be highly appreciated. Pardon me if my focus is primarily on internship, you could also recommend organizations that go beyond the conventional recruiting requirement of a degree as I possess little experience coupled with ICAN only.

In case you intend publishing this on your blog, an anonymous identity is preferable.

Thank You.

OO

RESPONSE

Dear OO,
Thank you for the generous words. I just believe sharing information doesn’t take away anything from anybody, as I have been a beneficiary of useful information sharing myself. This is why I’m eternally grateful to Mr. Akeem Oyewale, who mentored me, and Mr. Niyi Yusuf, CEO Accenture Nigeria, who provided right information for me when I was in final year in the university.

I have passed your concerns to equally trusted friends (“The Jarus Eggheads”) and I present their responses below.

NIYI OGUNBAYO, CFA, ACA, ACCA, ACS

My first concern – can he go for NYSC after completing the part-time program? If not, I doubt if he will be able to use the degree because he may find it difficult to get employment in standard organisations without NYSC.

Stockbroking firms or small audit firms usually have internship or employment opportunities for people in his circumstance.

Still on the degree, if he will be allowed to do NYSC I don’t think the employment gaps will matter as he would be hired as a normal fresh graduate

OBAFEMI BAMIDELE, Msc (Edinburgh), CFA, ACA, ACCA, ACS

When he finishes, he will still be employable – not more than 26 years age-restriction employers ask for. He is at an advantage so far. He won’t have too much gaps in his CV as he’s thinking.

As far as he should be concerned and employers will be concerned, he is still in school till he gets his Bsc. It is good he’s bent on getting practical experience, it is good; he should be less bothered whether it is very relevant or not; what employers want to see is a demonstration of focus.

Besides, he will still pick valuable knowledge anywhere he is.

Internship? Possible – just that most people never really try. I can volunteer dropping his CV in one (but I can’t guarantee space or whether he’ll be called).

He should concentrate on building IT skills, or writing more professional exams as they broaden one’s opportunities.

He should be bold and approach more organizations in his internship bid and talk to people who can do something.

He should recognize space and timing limitations.

With respect to his internship, if most Nigerian students are thinking this way, they won’t turn out “unemployable”.

MUYIWA ADENIJI, ACA, ACS

To start with, it is good to have professional qualifications but it is great if it’s a support for a Bsc degree. Employers of labour in Nigeria treat professional qualifications as additional. So, you need to ensure you complete your degree asap – to have variety of options and strong bargaining power.

Since you’re currently running a part time degree programme I would advise that you use your free time to do something meaningful – internship or some other skill-building activities. As for approaching the big four, I am not aware that doing internship with them gives you a strong chance of joining as full time later (especially when you have only ACA). I think you should find a full time position with other firms to learn the job and gain experience – the most important thing for you now is the skills you are able to acquire. I have 4 years experience interviewing talents for my organization and what I look out for are your skills and leadership capabilities. I do not care about the number of years of experience, so I ask questions on how you have used your training to solve problems – no theories.

Are there internship opportunities for you in Nigeria companies? Yes, if you approach the ‘Ojo & Partners’. Blue chip companies generally prefer undergraduates running full time programmes and pre-NYSC.

NAJEEM EWESESAN, MBA, ACA, ACCA

You should immediately go back to an audit firm no matter how small it may look, work very passionately to really add values to your self and your ICAN certificate. Stay there for a minimum of 3 years so that you will be eligible for license.

My reasons are these: You are still young and internship with non-audit firms will only give you temporary satisfaction. Audit firm is the only place that is readily available and also get experience to survive in the finance world. I am not sure it is easy for you to join the ‘big 4’ but if you get the chance, kindly take the shot. There are a lot of opportunities around for people with this kind of experience, this is also what the audit firms do.

The opportunities include: all small firms with need to prepare accounts for tax, loan purpose etc. There are government agencies that have needs for finance professionals not as salaried employees but as consultants to carry out audit of their activities. There are a lot. You may also add lecturing at ICAN centres to what you do and I am sure you won’t regret it. The three years with the audit firm is to prepare you for the big opportunities around. It is only meant for those that have prepared.

Be wary of other distractions if you must get there. Complete your Bsc., continue to add value to yourself, be focused, be in the company of like minds and you will get there.

 

THE JARUS VERDICT

My panel have analysed your dilemma and proferred way out. I will just consolidate their views, which converge on so many fronts and lace it with mine.

All of them are unanimous that you still have age on your side. I also agree. Is the degree you are currently pursuing from a recognized institution? Will anything as part-time reflect on your certificate? These are the most important questions. If the answer to the first is yes, and/or the second, no, then I’m afraid it’s not the best route.

Like Muyiwa said, truth is, ICAN, nay professional qualifications in general, only support university degree, for many Nigerian organizations. If you don’t have a first degree but professional qualifications, it might not be so rosy to get good job at entry level stage which you are (forget about those in-between school experience, you are still entry level, as Niyi said). I have a friend in my former workplace that had ICAN and CITN certificates but no first degree and I had only Bsc then (still writing ICAN then), yet he was a contract staff that was earning less than a quarter of my pay, yet we were doing same job – just because he didn’t have Bsc. That is how critical it can be. So I hope the first degree you are pursuing is recognised and part-time will not reflect on your certificate.

I share the views of my team and I believe you will find them useful.

You appear to be focused. That’s a good sign. Like Obafemi noted, if all Nigerian students think this way, then majority of Nigerian graduates will not be ‘unemployable’.

All the best.

Jarus

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