Open Letter to Students!!!

Take a minute and ponder on these names and what they signify

-          Oprah Winfrey

-          Aliko Dangote

-          Steven Spielberg

-          Olorode Michael Ibru

-          Bill Gates

The first thing that will come to your mind is wealth. If you are a bit more perceptive, you’ll probably think success and achievement. You’ll probably have also heard stories about how some of them began their ascent on the success ladder. You’ll most probably have missed one thing.

All these hugely successful people were once interns!

Yes, interns. That’s the equivalent of an IT student in Nigeria. Internship goes beyond industrial attachment even in Nigeria, but that description helps to begin understand what these people once were. Whilst industrial attachments appear to be forced upon students of tertiary institutions by schools curricula, internships can be entirely voluntary. Industrial attachments are meant to give students on-the-job experience to complement classroom experience; internships are essentially meant for this purpose too.

In her sophomore year at Tennessee State University, Oprah Winfrey, the richest black woman alive and talk-show host started out as an intern at a Nashville CBS affiliate – WTFV-TV before she got hired as a news anchor in 1973. Imagine it, Oprah Winfrey, the wide-eyed intern.

Imagine the first day you started something, and imagine how that thing has prepared you for where you are now.

Steven Spielberg, aged just 17, got an opportunity for an internship in the purchasing department of Universal Studios. Today (and for a while now), he is one of the most talented film directors that have lived on earth. If you have a rich imagination, you would probably have started imagining how the young Spielberg would wander around the studios, seeing things, asking questions, observing people on the job… learning. Yes, a process you cannot afford to skip if you want to be good at anything.

Nearer home, Olorode Michael Ibru, patriarch of the famously successful Ibru dynasty might appear to be, or indeed is a colossus now. Colossus, he wasn’t born as. After secondary school, bearing in mind the quality of education in those days, Olorode Michael Ibru began professional life as a management trainee on the books of United African Company (UAC). A management trainee is essentially an intern; trainee: subjected to training with a view to achieving organizational goals. He took this training to heart and mind, and when he veered off to pave his own path, he used these skills acquired as a trainee… as an intern.

Do you get the picture now? Final examples coming up.

Bill Gates, former richest man in the world (still may be again) spent a summer as a congressional page as a bright-eyed 17 year old. The budding entrepreneur sold outdated campaign buttons as collectors’ items. This was before Harvard, and definitely before the software behemoth called Microsoft. The internship probably helped hone his ability to organize and lead, as he was near so many leaders at such a young age.

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man first had to garner enough experience as a lowly employee in his uncle’s company, and then, what do you know, he is a magnate to rival magnates today.

If anyone ever tells you experience is overrated, politely tell them where they might wish to go to peddle their opinions.

And to offer a platform to garner much-needed experience of the corporate world is where Sesewa comes in. Visit www.sesewa.org today and lay the solid foundation for a future leader in whatever sector.

Thank you.

Oh! What About Internships?

INTERNSHIPS

Imagine having to plunge into work blind, with no guidance as to what should or shouldn’t be done. Imagine making mistakes people made a hundred years ago all over again today, all because there isn’t any way for knowledge to percolate, filter down, as it is learnt over time. Imagine going to the barber’s, or the hairdresser’s, and you have to subject your hair to the attentions of someone who hasn’t ever handled a clipper, or a hair straightener. 99.9 times out of 100, you wouldn’t subject yourself to a greenhorn’s mercy. This is where internships make a gallant entrance.

Internships bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practice by providing an avenue to witness first-hand, business practices and techniques, technical skills, and activities needed in correct administration.  An internship is defined as any official or formal program to provide practical experience for beginners in an occupation or profession. It is also described as any period of time during which a beginner acquires experience in occupation, profession or pursuit. Therefore, doctors, lawyers, engineers, hairdressers, barbers, tailors, mechanics, technical personnel etc all usually have to go through this bedding-in plus skill-acquisition phase before they are let loose on the world. You may have heard that a multinational company or a “big” company was recruiting graduate interns or management trainees of recent. That’s how the serious boys roll.

Some of your more famous names actually started out their careers by learning the ropes as interns. You may not have heard of the not-so-famous Oprah Winfrey. Then again, you may have just crawled out from a prehistoric cave. In her sophomore year at Tennessee State University, Oprah Winfrey, the richest black woman alive and talk-show host started out as an intern at a Nashville CBS affiliate – WTFV-TV before she got hired as a news anchor in 1973. You may also have not heard of the equally not-so-famous Steven Spielberg. He only went and directed some of the best movies since this side of the Milky Way Galaxy. Aged just 17, Steven Spielberg got an internship with Universal Studio’s purchasing department. This paved the way for him to develop into the director he is today. I may have mentioned Dick Cheney, George W. Bush Jnr’s Vice President, who started out by interning for a Rep. in 1969, but his reputation as VP is hardly stellar these days.

Bill Gates, former richest man in the world (still may be again) spent a summer as a congressional page as a bright-eyed 17 year old. The budding entrepreneur sold outdated campaign buttons as collectors’ items. This was before Harvard, and definitely before the software behemoth called Microsoft. Closer to home, the head of the Ibru Organization, Olorode Michael Ibru began professional life as a management trainee on the books of United African Company (UAC). Nigeria’s foremost businessman, Aliko Dangote, started off in his uncle’s company, where he garnered enough experience to go on to become Africa’s richest man today.

All these people are famous, true. However, not everyone has to be famous to be a success. There are hundreds of thousands of people who were first interns out there who have made it in their own right but because needs are needs, they don’t get exalted on the society pages or dailies’ headlines. The aim is to get you to understand that “you may climb on the shoulder of giants” and make that your own starting point, which is exactly what internship is. It is important to note that not every internship post comes with a pay option. Remember that it is the experience that matters.

SESEWA's First Career Fair

We are sharing more of our first experiences... Fun isn't it? SESEWA had her first career fair at the Civic centre.

SESEWA's First Internship Training School

Most times, words can't express what the heart really feels. Let the pictures do the talking...;-)

Trainees in a group photograph with the Executive Director and training facilitators

The Executive Director with trainees after a session

SESEWA Team/ Organizers of the first training school

A training session

Another wonderful session

4 Interview Common Questions

Interview invitations should really come with a warning: Strong feelings of excitement changing suddenly into dread are imminent upon receiving this invitation.

Career counselors will frequently say, “Oh, it’s a two-way street. You’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you.” And while that is partially true—you should definitely use the interview as a way to gauge whether or not you want to work for a company—there is still a power imbalance. Ultimately, the hiring manager will get to decide first whether you’ll get an offer. So, it’s understandable to be nervous.

But fear not! With a little preparation, you’ll know exactly what to say to impress. To get you started, here are four tricky, but common, interview questions and how to tackle them. 

1. Tell Me About Yourself

This completely open-ended opportunity to talk about yourself throws a lot of people off. Worse, it’s usually the first question interviewers ask! The confusing part about this question is that it actually isn’t an invitation to tell your life story. The interviewer really just wants to know why you’re interested in this position and what makes you qualified.

One way to structure this answer is to start with your present, go into your past, and finish off with your future. This approach covers all your bases by answering the question, giving you an opportunity to talk about your relevant skills, and getting to what the interviewer genuinely wants to know: How are you going to perform in this position? Remember to focus your experiences and accomplishments on what’s most relevant to the position and the employer.

I’m a second-year master’s student studying computer science and a research fellow at the Hudson Lab. I have previous industry experience at Dell, where I honed my skills in modeling and data analysis. This experience really piqued my interest in the field of big data, so I’m excited to learn more about your company and the chance to contribute to your data science department.

2. What is Your Greatest Weakness?

Surprisingly, this isn’t actually meant to be a trick question. A more straightforward way an employer could ask this question would be, “Are you knowledgeable about the areas that you can improve upon? I prefer to hire people who are reflective about their skills and actively seek to improve themselves.”
And I’m sure you’ve heard the advice to spin this into a strength, but don’t. Don’t say you’re such a perfectionist that it sometimes affects your work. No one is going to believe that, even if it’s true.

Instead, give a genuine weakness—whether that’s delegating to others or attention to detail—but push it back into your past. Talk about the concrete steps you took to address your weakness and show improvement. Mention you’re still working on it, but you’ve made some great progress.
When I first started college, I was a pretty horrible public speaker. I knew this was something I wanted to overcome, so I promised myself to speak up more in small groups. Later, I took it a step further and took a public speaking class. Now, even though it doesn’t come naturally to me, I think I’ve made some big improvements. In fact, I recently presented at a student conference to an audience of over 100.

Not bad, right? Now just make sure you don’t say public speaking, because everyone uses that example.

3. Tell Me About a Time You Failed

Again, this is a time to be real. Talk about real failure, not the B+ you got in Introduction to Psychology. Maybe it was a group project that wasn't meeting deadlines or a miscommunication with your supervisor during a previous internship—the failure doesn't need to be huge. It just needs to involve a mistake that you can reflect on thoughtfully. Interviewers are less interested in making you cry and more interested in seeing how you handle setbacks. Do you bounce back? Ask for feedback? Learn from your mistakes? Talk about the failure and, most importantly,discuss the lessons you learned from the experience.

At my last position, there was a three-month period of time when my supervisor had a very intense travel schedule, which meant most of my communication with her was via email. At some point, there was some Interview invitations should really come with a warning: Strong feelings of excitement changing suddenly into dread are imminent upon receiving this invitation.

Career counselors (and yes, I’m guilty of this, too) will frequently say, “Oh, it’s a two-way street. You’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you.” And while that is partially true—you should definitely use the interview as a way to gauge whether or not you want to work for a company—there is still a power imbalance. Ultimately, the hiring manager will get to decide first whether you’ll get an offer. So, it’s understandable to be nervous.

But fear not! With a little preparation, you’ll know exactly what to say to impress. To get you started, here are four tricky, but common, interview questions and how to tackle them. 

1. Tell Me About Yourself

This completely open-ended opportunity to talk about yourself throws a lot of people off. Worse, it’s usually the first question interviewers ask! The confusing part about this question is that it actually isn’t an invitation to tell your life story. The interviewer really just wants to know why you’re interested in this position and what makes you qualified.

One way to structure this answer is to start with your present, go into your past, and finish off with your future. This approach covers all your bases by answering the question, giving you an opportunity to talk about your relevant skills, and getting to what the interviewer genuinely wants to know: How are you going to perform in this position? Remember to focus your experiences and accomplishments on what’s most relevant to the position and the employer.

I’m a second-year master’s student studying computer science and a research fellow at the Hudson Lab. I have previous industry experience at Dell, where I honed my skills in modeling and data analysis. This experience really piqued my interest in the field of big data, so I’m excited to learn more about your company and the chance to contribute to your data science department.

2. What is Your Greatest Weakness?

Surprisingly, this isn’t actually meant to be a trick question. A more straightforward way an employer could ask this question would be, “Are you knowledgeable about the areas that you can improve upon? I prefer to hire people who are reflective about their skills and actively seek to improve themselves.”

And I’m sure you’ve heard the advice to spin this into a strength, but don’t. Don’t say you’re such a perfectionist that it sometimes affects your work. No one is going to believe that, even if it’s true.

Instead, give a genuine weakness—whether that’s delegating to others or attention to detail—but push it back into your past. Talk about the concrete steps you took to address your weakness and show improvement. Mention you’re still working on it, but you’ve made some great progress.

When I first started college, I was a pretty horrible public speaker. I knew this was something I wanted to overcome, so I promised myself to speak up more in small groups. Later, I took it a step further and took a public speaking class. Now, even though it doesn’t come naturally to me, I think I’ve made some big improvements. In fact, I recently presented at a student conference to an audience of over 100.

Not bad, right? Now just make sure you don’t say public speaking, because everyone uses that example.

3. Tell Me About a Time You Failed

Again, this is a time to be real. Talk about real failure, not the B+ you got in Introduction to Psychology. Maybe it was a group project that wasn’t meeting deadlines or a miscommunication with your supervisor during a previous internship—the failure doesn’t need to be huge. It just needs to involve a mistake that you can reflect on thoughtfully. Interviewers are less interested in making you cry and more interested in seeing how you handle setbacks. Do you bounce back? Ask for feedback? Learn from your mistakes? Talk about the failure and, most importantly,discuss the lessons you learned from the experience.

At my last position, there was a three-month period of time when my supervisor had a very intense travel schedule, which meant most of my communication with her was via email. At some point, there was some miscommunication over who would be the point person for a new client, resulting in some confusing interactions and repeat memos to him. Ultimately, it wasn’t the best customer experience. From then on, I personally made it a point to clarify what information I was sharing with each of our clients on a weekly basis to my supervisor if not in person, then over the phone. I definitely learned the importance of frequent and clear communication.

4. Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

In other words, “How long are you going to stick with us? Are you worth the investment of training?” Ethically, you don’t want to say that you’ll stay with their company forever, because you probably won’t. Maybe you want to eventually move on to a smaller company or you want to go get your MBA—whatever your plan is, it’s probably not going to line up with what your interviewer has in mind.

The good news is you can still answer this question thoughtfully and with specifics without lying. After qualifications and fit, interviewers usually care more about your ability to make an impact at their company than anything else. So, play to that, but also bring up your excitement to join their company.

Well, I’m definitely really excited about the associate consultant position at Midnight Consulting, and I can see myself growing professionally in this role. I think, generally speaking, within the next five years I would seek to make a significant impact at Midnight Consulting, particularly in the energy sector. I’m also looking forward to eventually taking on additional managerial responsibilities and possibly taking the lead on some projects. Another big part of my life is mentoring, so I would hope to incorporate more of that as my knowledge of this industry develops.

As with all things, practice makes perfect. Make sure to practice answering these questions aloud several times for maximum confidence during your interview. over who would be the point person for a new client, resulting in some confusing interactions and repeat memos to him. Ultimately, it wasn’t the best customer experience. From then on, I personally made it a point to clarify what information I was sharing with each of our clients on a weekly basis to my supervisor if not in person, then over the phone. I definitely learned the importance of frequent and clear communication.

4. Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

In other words, “How long are you going to stick with us? Are you worth the investment of training?” Ethically, you don’t want to say that you’ll stay with their company forever, because you probably won’t. Maybe you want to eventually move on to a smaller company or you want to go get your MBA—whatever your plan is, it’s probably not going to line up with what your interviewer has in mind.

The good news is you can still answer this question thoughtfully and with specifics without lying. After qualifications and fit, interviewers usually care more about your ability to make an impact at their company than anything else. So, play to that, but also bring up your excitement to join their company.

Well, I’m definitely really excited about the associate consultant position at Midnight Consulting, and I can see myself growing professionally in this role. I think, generally speaking, within the next five years I would seek to make a significant impact at Midnight Consulting, particularly in the energy sector. I’m also looking forward to eventually taking on additional managerial responsibilities and possibly taking the lead on some projects. Another big part of my life is mentoring, so I would hope to incorporate more of that as my knowledge of this industry develops.

As with all things, practice makes perfect. Make sure to practice answering these questions aloud several times for maximum confidence during your interview.

5 Reasons to consider changing your careers

Ever feel like there has to be more?

That there’s a career out there that would better suit your skills, passions, talents, and lifestyle than the one you’re spending your days at now?

Maybe you have—but if you’re like many, you also may be feeling held back and wondering if a career change is even an option. After all, abandoning a professional life you’ve worked hard to build for something totally unknown can be really, really scary.

But, I’m here to tell you that it can be done—in fact, the average person will change careers at least once in his or her lifetime. So, if you’re not totally satisfied on your current path, you shouldn’t feel guilty about exploring other options. In fact, here are five scenarios in which it actually makes sense to consider trading in your current profession for something new.

1. You Fell into Your Current Career

For some of us, our career “choice” wasn’t really a choice at all. Perhaps a family member helped you get a job because you just needed to pay the bills. Or maybe you landed your job because of a particular skill you have, but you can't see yourself doing it for the next 20 years.

If your career is the result of a series of random twists and turns rather than something you consciously pursued, it’s worth thinking about whether it’s really suited to you—or if there might be something better out there. Consider taking a career test to assess your personality and interests and identify careers you'd enjoy. Also, figure out what transferrable skills you already have and determine those you need to acquire. What excites you and brings you joy? Can you see yourself turning it into a meaningful career?

2. A Life Change Has Sparked a New Interest

Major life-changing events can change our perspective and cause us to re-evaluate our choices. But you don’t have to wait for the birth of a child or a marriage proposal to shake things up—lots of everyday experiences can lead to life-altering shifts in our priorities, too. For example, the puppy your roommate adopted might inspire you to work at an animal shelter. You might make a friend in a different department in your company and realize you want to learn more about what she does. A vacation overseas could get you thinking about a career that lets you live abroad.

Pay attention to the encounters or changes in your life that trigger an interest in pursuing something new. They might just be signs that you should try out a new path.

3. The Job Outlook in Your Field Has Worsened

It happens a lot these days: Prospects in your field once seemed plentiful, but changes in technology or the economy have limited your opportunities. If this is the case, it’s not only an option to find an occupation with a better forecast—it’s probably a good idea.

Consider a profession that fits your personality and skills, but also research the labor market to see if you’ll be able to build a new career in your chosen field over time. (For example, the number of Americans over the age of 65 is projected to nearly double by 2030—so nurses, physician’s assistants, and other healthcare professionals and administrators will be seriously in demand for the foreseeable future.)

Find out which industries employ people in the jobs that interest you, what training you need to become qualified, and whether there will be opportunities in this field after you’ve completed that training.

4. You've developed an Interest in an Evolving Field

On the flip side, environmental concerns and changes in technology have created jobs and professions in industries that didn't exist a few years ago—think environmental consulting, alternative power, social media management, and app development.

Do you see yourself as a pioneer in one of these new and evolving industries? If so, don’t be afraid to make a change. While many of these fields require new skills, you can often combine your existing experience with some updated training to succeed in new fields. For example, if you’re skilled in project management, getting some technical know-how would make you a great candidate for product management roles at tech start ups.

5. Your Current Career Isn't Aligned With Your Core Values

Core values are the important beliefs and conventions that guide the way you live your life. Values such as altruism, intellectual stimulation, leadership, and creativity affect how you make decisions and how you interact with others, both at work and at home. They’re also a significant factor in job and career satisfaction—it can be difficult to be happy at work when you’re not living out the principles that are important to your life.

Take some time to understand what your own values are and whether your current career path is letting you live them. For example, is your sales job giving you the creative fulfillment you imagined for your life? Will your client services gig offer the leadership potential you crave? In the long run, a career path that’s closely aligned with your values is the key to professional fulfillment, so if you’re not sure about the path you’re heading down, it’s worth considering a change.

Shifting gears in your career—especially if you've been working in the same field for a long time—isn't easy, and it’s never immediate. But do know that, these days, career paths are rarely linear. And no matter what your reason for looking, the right career is out there for you. Research your options, evaluate your strengths, learn new skills, and fortify your resolve to make change, and you’ll find the path that’s right for you.

                                                                                                                           Michael Peggs