GETTING JOB AFTER NYSC: HOW LONG IS TOO LONG?

Hello, I studied Counselling in school because I didn’t get Accounting…and because I had started with ICAN exams before getting admission. I finished with 2:1. I completed ICAN exams November 2012 (can’t get the ACA yet because of work experience requirement). I started with CFA too, passed level 1 in June 2014, I have registered for the 2nd level.

I finished service 16th October 2014 and I quite understandably expected to get a job almost immediately after service. I haven’t been able to get one thus far. So my question, do you think my course of study is working against me? And please all these your guys that got ACA & CFA help me beg them. Or is it just hard getting a job in Accounting/Finance with zero work experience? Thanks.

Geek

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Dear Geek,

You completed your NYSC in October 2014. This is December 2014, just two months after, and you’re complaining?

You’re very impatient. Job doesn’t come so fast for 90% of people irrespective of  qualifications. I have friends that had first class in accounting (you had 2.1 in Counselling, right?) plus ICAN, and still spent up to a year at home before getting job. That is the reality. It is hardly out of place.

For me, not getting job within 6 months of completing NYSC, irrespective of one’s qualifications, is not yet a bad situation. Even recruitment processes of some companies (all stages of tests, interviews, medicals etc) take up to a year.

Your degrees will not land you job automatically, my brother.

Where did you study Counselling? I hope it is a recognized school. While your course of study (counselling) is not so attractive to employers in this part of the world, the fact that you had 2.1, got ICAN and CFA 1 qualifications is a good remedial strategy.

You did not tell me where you have applied to? What were you doing during your NYSC? Were you throwing your CVs around? How many companies have you applied to?  Have you written any company test? If yes, did you pass?

No matter the qualifications one has, job will not come and meet anyone at home. One has to hustle.

I know many companies do not care about your course of study once you have 2.1. Good for you, you have more than 2.1, you also have ICAN qualification and already in stage 2 in CFA. The two issues I sense here are, one, you’re impatient and expected to get job on a silver platter and two, you dont appear to be equipped with right information. It hardly works that way.

If you’re below 26 years, have you applied to PwC, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Akintola Williams Deloitte? These are the Big 4 professional services firms that recruit people like you from time to time. They don’t bother about your course of study once you make 2.1 and you’re below 26 years of age. PwC are even currently recruiting.

Most banks also don’t care about course of study. There are many other firms like that.

You just need to get the right information and probably shed your mindset that your 2.1 will automatically land you job once you finished your NYSC.

My friends with ACA and CFA that you saw did not have that mindset. They loaded themselves with right information. And yes, it’s not so hard getting Accounting/Finance job with zero work experience once you get your strategy right and you can defend your qualifications by passing tests and interviews.

All the best.

Jarus

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