HR persons are involved in the day to day business of hiring and firing of people. In most cases, they know where to hit and what is needed for the job at hand. This piece brings together ten thoughts from some top HR persons.
It answers some basic questions; what do you have to do and what do you need to know..
In no particular order, the responses gotten from each of these HR Professionals are thus presented below. Each advice also carries the name, job position, company, LinkedIn Profile, and the image of the HR professional. They are as thus as follow;
1. Ezra Anajonu
Ex. Head, Resourcing and Workforce Planning
Lafarge Africa Plc
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
Determine a discipline that you are passionate about, understand current national/regional/global trends and the implication for your particular discipline. Then acquire the necessary skills and experience around that discipline to gain competence and position yourself for opportunities.
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
From my experience, a key indicator of success is one’s ability to think through a problem, collaboratively design a solution, execute and build a process around the solution. This is a rare skill but one that can take an individual places, either as an intra-preneur or entrepreneur.
2. Rabi Adetoro
Senior Talent & Career Manager
MTN Nigeria
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
Stay positive and be prepared always. As Zig Ziglar rightly puts it: Success occurs when preparation meets opportunity. Keep honing your skills around your area of interest and you will succeed.
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
Have a great attitude. With a great attitude you will be humble enough to learn, unlearn and relearn your way to the top. It is true that best in class organizations hire for attitude and train for skills.
3. Eyintayo Ogunmola
Country Director
Utiva
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
Get out there. Change your LinkedIn profile, change your Resume, Change your shirts and Volunteer or Intern
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
For me, the greatest factor is knowing what others do not know. Learning what others do not know and delivering rare values.
4. Jessica Akano
Country Talent Acquisition Manager
Andela
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
Know what you want and get your CV right! Do not be that job seeker that seeks just about ‘any’ job. Identify your job or career of interest and then apply accordingly. You’d find that if you keep applying to any and every job, you’d tend to experience difficulty in getting a job or even getting interview opportunities. Additionally, once you have successfully identified your job(s) of interest, ensure you create a great CV/resume that gets the attention of recruiters.
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
The greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career is a ‘sense of direction and continuous self and professional development’. This simply means if you want to be an Accountant, be an Accountant. If you want to be an HR professional, be an HR Professional etc.
Do not hop roles. For example, if you have 7 years’ experience doing different things that are not particularly connected, you almost can’t grow or succeed in your career because you don’t have one! But if you have a steady work experience alongside evident consistent professional development, the sky is your starting point
5. Emmanuel Michael
Head of Human Resources
Letshego MFB
100 Most Influential Global HR Leaders Award Winner
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
There is nothing called “any job”. Be specific, know exactly what type of job you are searching for, be prepared for it, go for it and get it.
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
Never stop learning new things in your career, developing your skills, and updating your knowledge. Doing these three will guarantee success come rain, come shine. However, the day you stop, be rest assured that your career has just started a downward journey that will lead to its death.
6. Ibilola Pearce-Isiade
Recruitment Manager
African Management Services Company
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
As a Recruiter, I have over the years come across candidates with “drive” and those who don’t have it. Therefore I will advise a first-time job seeker to follow his or her passion and pursue it with organizations where he/she can get it. Because your first job will determine where you build your career and it also pays to start where you have passion in.
For experienced job seekers, don’t just look for “any job” to earn a living, build your capacity by making impact where you are coming from, and spend more time to develop yourself on roles you anticipate. A little knowledge will go a long way.
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
The greatest factor needed to be a career success is to become a “Problem Solver”. Most organizations have specific challenges hence the need to hire strategically to solve the problem. If you have a good track record with solving major problems for your old employers, your reputation will proceed you as a quality hire.
7. Olawale Odunlami
Regional Recruitment Coordinator
Integrated Corporate Services Limited (ICSL)
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
Do your research, know what you want and be sure of it; no dilly-dallying!
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
Self-discovery and discipline!
8. Alaba Femi-Johnson
HR Manager
Philip Morris International
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
My Advice to those seeking employment: Unemployment should not justify idleness. Occupy yourself whilst waiting for that dream job. Participate in volunteer organizations, learn a craft, start a small business, teach students for free/token etc. and be proud to include these in your Resume. Experience does not come only from paid employment; you gain experience and new skills when you engage your mind and “hands” every day.
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
The workplace is a market and you are a brand (amongst others). Working hard or smart is no longer enough; you need to create value! Identify the need of your ‘market’ and align your skills and behaviors to meet that need. In everything you do and how you do it, focus on making a positive and valuable impact! A high-value brand remains highly sought after and continues to appreciate. These are the individuals we call Top Talent.
9. Kayode Ogunjobi
Resourcing Officer
Action Against Hunger
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
Well, one thing stands out from every advice I can give. Discover yourself first to be discovered by the world. When you discover yourself (talents, skills, habits, weakness, strength), at that very time, you will know your purpose and you will never ever settle for less until you fulfill your purpose. When you discover yourself, your self-worth is at an optimum level and you know your value and will never settle for less.
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
I would say, Luck! My definition of luck is preparedness meeting opportunity. Over the years, I have seen hardworking people, overly-religious people, intelligent people but not smart people (one without the other is a major minus). It takes one stroke of luck to change everything! I have been privileged to enjoy this and trust me, I have missed a lot of opportunities too. Instead of dwelling on the pain of failure/missing out on opportunities, I learned from them and got stronger. There are ways to increase the likelihood of luck happening to you. The most potent is networking. As they say, your network defines your net-worth. Associate with people of like or superior minds always. The benefits are infinite. Build healthy relationships with people, be in the know, increase your knowledge; knowledge attracts people and opportunities to you like bees to honey.
10. Sandra Anyiador
Associate CBS/HR
Ernst & Young (EY)
LinkedIn Profile
What’s the number one advice you would give to a Job-Seeker any day, anytime?
In today’s competitive job market, it is imperative you present yourself in the best possible light. Whether pursuing a new career or a new position with your present employer, getting the job you want starts long before the interview begins. Find what makes you passionate. If you don’t focus your job search on something you are passionate about, you won’t stand out enough. Your networking, your résumé and your interviews all have to show a spark to get attention, especially in a tight economy. The good news is it’s a great time to tap into what you love and then match that to the job market. It’s possible and essential.” I am an Engineer but never practiced, I am so passionate about customers satisfaction, have been a customer service professional for 7years and HR professional for 5years.
What do you think is the greatest factor for success in the pursuit of one’s career?
Committing Yourself 1000%
To be successful in life and work, it takes commitment that doesn’t wane. It takes believing that you can create movement in your life and business, I am a wife and Mother of three but was committed to achieving my goal with a very supportive husband. I studied Engineering from University of Benin but never practiced, I developed passion for HR/Customer relation.
I put in 100% work in customer relation and knowing that my focus and goal is to become an HR professional, I started taking courses in HR, attending conferences and meeting, I started networking specifically in HR, I have worked with global Organizations (MTN/Ernst&Young). Hard work pays, today I have my own firm (Gresadat HR Consult) and a certified recruitment professional even when the waters are still and the three dimensional world is giving evidence that you’re not going to make it to your destination, all you need is a little push, focus on your goal, think it, dream it, declare it, visualize it and it will surely come to pass.
You commit yourself to your goals without doubt, without reservation, and do what’s required, while at the same time learn to be flexible and avoid overly attaching to how it has to look or one particular outcome. Professionals who realize they have vulnerabilities and gaps in their knowledge and ability, and work diligently and committedly to close these gaps, succeed at a much higher level than those who hide their heads in the sand.
Highly successful professionals and entrepreneurs are typically very captivating storytellers. They know how to talk about their businesses, or their endeavors and visions in ways that inspire others to follow and support them