resume | Zikoko!

What does life look like for Gen Z Nigerians everywhere in the world? Every Friday, we ask five Gen Z Nigerian students one question in order to understand their outlook of life.

With the constant debate about the resumption of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, this week we asked five Nigerian students if they want to resume school even in the midst of all that is going on.

Here’s what they said:

Theresa (UniBen/20)

Resuming right now means sudden doom. I am not done with my mini projects and other assignments. It means constant tiredness and emotional distress because it is back to having class from 7am to 5pm. I imagine everything will be worse now because of all the time lost. I WILL BE STRESSED, and that’s not something I want.

Anita (PAU/19)

I really want to go back to school. We have online classes, but it is not the same. In school, I can be naked in my room without anyone stressing me. I will be living my best life the way I want to, without the uneasiness and stress that comes with being at home.

Eli (UniLag/21)

Resuming means I get to live on my own again. In school, I am my own boss. I choose my religion, my faith and my God. It means money that will never be enough, but will be better than not having any at all. It is running on energy drinks, caffeine while being constantly accompanied by anxiety. I get to dance with my friends by 10pm playing loud music without disturbing anyone, even though we have assignments to complete and classes in the morning. I love not answering to anyone, and not having to hide to do the things I want.

Anu (UI/18)

I do not want to go back, at least not just now. I just started a new job and moved out of my parent’s house. School means an environment with no friends, no job, and dependence on family. It means going back to classes I am barely passing and lots of drugs. School is where I find myself relapsing most.

Paul (Covenant/19)

I really want to go back to school and finish this stupid degree, but there is still a virus outside. 50,000+ cases, and pretending it is not there and opening everywhere up will not make it all go away. School is crowded and unsafe. I want to go back, but I do not want lots of people falling sick and dying.

For more stories about student life and Gen-Z culture, click here

Itohan Esekheigbe

September 4, 2020

Aluta and Chill

Five students, One question, resume, School
1. Your body, trying to remember how to wake up early:

How did I do this before the holiday?

2. The traffic returning from its own holiday like:

You can’t even wait small?

3. You, throughout your first day back at the office:

I’m not ready for this.

4. When your co-worker asks you about your holiday.

Don’t remind me of the freedom I’ve lost, abeg.

5. When a co-worker comments on your holiday weight gain.

Better face your work.

6. You, pretending to actually get work done:

That salary must still enter.

7. You, immediately searching for the next public holiday:

I’m already tired.

8. When you hear someone say they “missed work”.

Is it crack?

9. Your broke ass, counting down the days until January salary enters:

Hay God! Why did I do Detty December?

10. How time moves on the first day back:

What kind of slow ass day is this?

11. You, finally leaving the office:

I MADE IT.

NerdEfiko

January 7, 2020

Oldies

Holiday, Job, Nigerian, resume
Job hunting in Nigerian is an extreme sport and for you to survive you must be well equipped. Your most important weapon is your C.V. and we are here to help you make it the best it can be.

Every little detail you put in it counts. Because that extra little detail that may or may not be true can change your life.
You know your CV is incredible when you highlight the fact that you are a self motivated individual who can work without supervision.

True or false, it must be there o.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a young dynamic individual, you must add it too.

It doesn’t matter if you are 45, just add it. You are young at heart.
If the only thing you know how to use a computer to do is play Solitare, you must add that you are computer literate.

“Okay ma, but I have one question, what do they use PowerPoint for?”
After putting that you are proficient with Microsoft Word you also have to add that you are proficient with Microsoft Excel.

“Yes, ma, I’m excellent with Excel, I almost studied it in school sef. “
What of your skill set? You can’t leave it out. We know they are many but you must add everything.

Plus the ones you are still aspiring to have. Add them.
Next is the number of languages you speak. If you only have English on your C.V. then you are not ready for life.

German, French, Yoruba, Chinese, Hausa, Spanish, Ibibio put all of them. The only thing you know in French is ‘Bonjour’? still, add it.
Employers also want to know what your talents are. If you didn’t finish with a first class or 2.1, this is your time to shine.

My talents include but are not limited to multitasking, leadership, working hard, efficiency and so on and so forth.
You must also add the fact that you work well under pressure. Even if the office is on fire you won’t leave your desk, your work comes before your life.

I can handle anything and anyone anywhere at anytime.
When it comes to handling people, you are an expert at it. You are a people person, in fact people have told you to run for president.

I also have the right team spirit. Me alone I have team spirit for the whole team.
What of work experience? let them know that you are 22 years old and you have 12 years experience. True story, you’ve been working since you were 10.

In fact, I might even be overqualified for this role, I just want to help you, people, out.
And finally attach a cover letter to your C.V. saying ‘It would be nice for you to consider my Résumé and hire me’.

Why? Because you’re hiring. *drops mic*

Eniola

August 13, 2018

General, Oldies

cv, hire, Office, resume, work
Nigerian job interviews are not for the faint-hearted. If you’ve ever been to one you’ll know exactly what we are talking about.
It all starts with waiting for them to even call you for the interview after you send in your application

Hope you people haven’t forgotten me o.
Then you finally get the email you’ve been waiting for “Dear Miss. Ayo we are please to inform you that…”

Just look at God
Then reality starts to set in and you remember that getting called for the interview doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get the job.

How many people even applied for this same job.
You start researching the company and the role you applied for as if you are getting ready to write JAMB again.

Sleep is only for those with jobs.
The morning of the interview you ginger yourself.

Nobody deserves this job more than you.
You get to the reception and spend thirty minutes waiting for the receptionist to show you where to wait while she’s playing Solitaire on her laptop

Your ginger starts to slip when you walk into the office and it looks like this.

Wait all of you are here for this same job?
You start prepping yourself when you hear other applicants talking about their own applications.

Only one person will have B.Sc, M.Sc, Phd, MBA while you only have B.Sc and you finished with a third class.
At this point is not as if you are panicking o but this how your shirt will look.

Maybe I should just be going home instead of wasting my time.
As you are trying to calm yourself down the door to the interview room opens and you see the applicant just be for you laughing with the interviewers.

Plis what’s funny?
You walk into the interview room and try and gauge the interviewers.

This is how they look back at you.
Then one of them asks you a question you know nothing about and you start stuttering as if you didn’t go to school.

After preparing overnight.
You try to crack a joke to lighten up the atmosphere and they start looking at you like you are a joker.

So you think you are a comedian abi? You think you are basketmouth? We are sorry for you.
How you wait for a call back after the interview.

You’ll start vexing more than usual when you get spam callers.
When you finally get a call back and they give you the good news, you got the job.

Toketemu Ohwovoriole

July 11, 2018

Oldies

c.v., job application, Job Interview, Nigerian, nigerian job interview, Nigerians, resume

Theresa (UniBen/20)

Anita (PAU/19)

Eli (UniLag/21)

Anu (UI/18)

Paul (Covenant/19)

1. Your body, trying to remember how to wake up early:

2. The traffic returning from its own holiday like:

3. You, throughout your first day back at the office:

4. When your co-worker asks you about your holiday.

5. When a co-worker comments on your holiday weight gain.

6. You, pretending to actually get work done:

7. You, immediately searching for the next public holiday:

8. When you hear someone say they “missed work”.

9. Your broke ass, counting down the days until January salary enters:

10. How time moves on the first day back:

11. You, finally leaving the office:

Job hunting in Nigerian is an extreme sport and for you to survive you must be well equipped. Your most important weapon is your C.V. and we are here to help you make it the best it can be.

You know your CV is incredible when you highlight the fact that you are a self motivated individual who can work without supervision.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a young dynamic individual, you must add it too.

If the only thing you know how to use a computer to do is play Solitare, you must add that you are computer literate.

After putting that you are proficient with Microsoft Word you also have to add that you are proficient with Microsoft Excel.

What of your skill set? You can’t leave it out. We know they are many but you must add everything.

Next is the number of languages you speak. If you only have English on your C.V. then you are not ready for life.

Employers also want to know what your talents are. If you didn’t finish with a first class or 2.1, this is your time to shine.

You must also add the fact that you work well under pressure. Even if the office is on fire you won’t leave your desk, your work comes before your life.

When it comes to handling people, you are an expert at it. You are a people person, in fact people have told you to run for president.

What of work experience? let them know that you are 22 years old and you have 12 years experience. True story, you’ve been working since you were 10.

And finally attach a cover letter to your C.V. saying ‘It would be nice for you to consider my Résumé and hire me’.

It all starts with waiting for them to even call you for the interview after you send in your application

Then you finally get the email you’ve been waiting for “Dear Miss. Ayo we are please to inform you that…”

Then reality starts to set in and you remember that getting called for the interview doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get the job.

You start researching the company and the role you applied for as if you are getting ready to write JAMB again.

The morning of the interview you ginger yourself.

You get to the reception and spend thirty minutes waiting for the receptionist to show you where to wait while she’s playing Solitaire on her laptop

Your ginger starts to slip when you walk into the office and it looks like this.

You start prepping yourself when you hear other applicants talking about their own applications.

At this point is not as if you are panicking o but this how your shirt will look.

As you are trying to calm yourself down the door to the interview room opens and you see the applicant just be for you laughing with the interviewers.

You walk into the interview room and try and gauge the interviewers.

Then one of them asks you a question you know nothing about and you start stuttering as if you didn’t go to school.

You try to crack a joke to lighten up the atmosphere and they start looking at you like you are a joker.

How you wait for a call back after the interview.

When you finally get a call back and they give you the good news, you got the job.