How To Job Hunt In Nigeria Without Quitting Your Job

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It’s shocking to realize the number of people who quickly forget that a bird in hand is better than ten thousand in the forest. Especially when the topic is about switching jobs; a lot of people make the wrong move by quitting their job too early in a bid to find something better. In this special piece, we will show you how to job hunt in Nigeria without quitting your job.

We strongly advise that you stay in your current job while you look out for something better. Firstly, because we understand that employers tend to pay more attention to applicants who are currently employed. Such applicants are considered assets, and valuable additions to their team while those currently out of the job are candidates to be given an opportunity.

If you are certain that you are ready to make a job switch, this is how to job hunt in Nigeria without quitting your job. To make it easy to understand, we have grouped the steps that you need to follow; before you start the job search, during the search, and when you have secured the job. They are guaranteed to help you get your desired job without losing the job you have. (There is a free ebook below that will guide you before, during, and after your interview to speed up the recruiting process.).

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Table of Contents

Before Your Job Search

1. Take a Critical Self-assessment

It should not come as a surprise that this is our first tip on how to job hunt in Nigeria without quitting your current job. Socrates once said; Man knows thyself.

Before you start making your move to get a new job, you need to take a critical self-assessment. You need to ask yourself some key questions concerning your decision. Make sure you provide clear answers to all the questions that spring up during this process. It will help give you direction and drive as you proceed.

Here are some of the questions you should ask and answer:

Why do you want a new job?
What are the other reasons why you want a new job?
Which things are you willing to sacrifice to make this job change? E.g. a pay cut, a change of location, a drop in level i.e. from senior staff to junior staff, etc.
What are your expectations for your new job?
Which type of jobs would you like to take up?
What are the kinds of companies you would like to work for? See a list of the best 100 companies to work for in Nigeria
Etc.

P.S.: Don’t succumb to trying to generalize your answers. Be specific, and write them down.

Displaying Tips On How To Job Hunt — ***Tips On How To Job Hunt In Nigeria***

2. Rebrand Your First Impression

Having a winning CV is a necessary prerequisite for landing any job. If your CV fails to make the right first impression, you are already disadvantaged. If you don’t have the time to rewrite your CV, consider hiring a professional CV writer.

Does your CV reflect your current reality? Have you updated your latest certifications and training on your CV? Does your CV meet recent job recruitment requirements? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to go and brush up your CV.

3. Revamp Your Social Media Accounts

You should know that your social media accounts represent your online identity. Good employers are concerned about who you truly are and one way they can figure this out is by taking a look at your social media activities.

Your social media activities which include; the kind of posts you make, the comments you make on posts, the pages you like, the people you follow, your interests, and everything about your social media activities are regarded as your digital footprint. Therefore be sure it is a true reflection of whom you are, and the values you stand for.

During Your Job Hunt

1. Build Your Local Network

Networks are one of the surest ways to stay ahead and updated during a career switch. Your network would provide you with the latest career opportunities, relevant training, references, and helpful resources. It is largely believed that the biggest job opportunities are not openly advertised, networks can help you bridge the gap.

Referrals still account for a lot of big career opportunities. More so, some employers have come forward to attest that they prefer to employ based on references, and referrals. Their first major reason is that running employment campaigns is expensive. Secondly, they find out that a good number of job seekers are unemployable. Hence, it is easier for them to employ based on referrals. Build your local network.

2. Visit Online Job Boards Regularly

This is probably the most effortless option. Mainly because all you have to do is check job websites regularly for job opportunities and apply for suitable options. If you want to stay ahead of the pile, we advise that you subscribe to job alerts and newsletters. Through these alerts and newsletters, job boards send periodic roundups that highlight the latest available job opportunities.

Warning: Beware of fake recruiters. These fake recruiters parade themselves as who they are not and make job promises they cannot keep. Only visit trusted job boards like FastHire Nigeria, a reputable job board for entry-level, and mid-level professionals.

3. Be Professional About Your Job Search

As you conduct your job search, don’t allow it to affect your commitment to your current employment.

Ensure you deliver on your job responsibilities, stay productive, and be punctual.
Be discrete about your job search. Don’t go about telling everybody who cares to listen that you are searching for a new job. No organization likes to lose employees.
If you are invited for an interview, do well to take work leave to attend to it. An invitation for an interview is not automatic employment.

4. Put Some Money Aside For Your Next Move

You must start putting together an emergency fund once you start nursing the idea of making a job switch. You don’t know what it’ll look like on the other side when you make that job switch. You can find out more about how to prepare financially for a career change here.

Experts advise that your emergency fund should be able to last you anywhere from 3- 12 months. If your monthly expenditure is =N= 30,000, then you should be able to save an emergency fund of =N=90,000 – =N=360,000.

Why put aside an emergency fund?

Upon resumption, you may need money to do some things for yourself perhaps it could be to buy new clothes or any other thing that’ll help you fit in properly into the new work environment and position.
Let us face it, you could change jobs, and for one reason or the other, your salary is not paid when due.
You could change jobs, and find out that you don’t like the job and have to quit. With your emergency fund in place, you will be able to survive the proceeding days when you get to search for a job.

After Your Job Search

Congratulations! You have secured a new job, and it’s now time to quit. Here is our final advice for you on “how to job hunt in Nigeria without quitting your job”; ensure you resign officially.

Most importantly, inform the necessary authorities that you’ll be taking up a new career opportunity. See this checklist, it contains important steps that will show you how to resign in the right manner.

Conclusion

We strongly advise that you hold on to your job until you have gotten another one, however, we admit that different things work for different people. That is to say, the final decision is yours to make, you can choose to do the opposite of our advice, and still succeed. Cheers to your success! (There is a free ebook below that will guide you before, during, and after your interview to speed up the recruiting process.).