I studied Pharmacy at the Olabisi Onabanjo University and finished in 2014 with a Second Class Upper (2:1). I had assumed that because I had a 2.1. , I wouldn’t struggle too much to get a decent job. My assumption turned out to be false. I struggled. I applied to every job vacancy I saw online since grad and didn’t get any response back.
After several months of staying home, I finally got an interview invite from a pharmaceutical firm in Lagos. I “aced” that interview (or so I thought) because I received an employment letter 3 weeks later. I had even done my medicals. All that was left was a prompt from them to resume.I began to make plans to start work.
I planned to stay with my parents in Lagos for a while so I could save enough money to get a place of my own. I was super excited. Although I had taken to blogging and social media management in the meantime, this was very different for me – It was going to be my first actual job after NYSC and it was with a fairly reputable firm. Plus, taking a job meant some extra, stable cash flow for me. Also, I wouldn’t have to rely on my parents or brothers for cash anymore, at least for the foreseeable future. Since I was in preparation mode, I used what was left of my savings to shop for a few office clothes and formal shoes. Needless to say, my parents were also very excited for me.
Well, I’ll just say, that telephone call or email never came. The call from the prospective employer asking me to resume on so so so and so date? it never came. Days turned into weeks and months, I called severally, sent multiple emails asking for a confirmation of the date of resumption. All to no avail. Friends asked me to be patient, that #HR processes in companies will often take sometime. So, I tried PATIENCE. In my PATIENCE, I started to PRAY. Few weeks after, my Patience & Prayer became ANGER!. Why wont they at least respond? Why did they give me an employment letter in the first place? Can they legally do this? Why did they make me incur those costs if they weren’t going to employ?
All sorts of thoughts ran through my mind. I finally caught up with the painful reality that I was back to square one. Jobless, broke and dependent. I finally let go and figured, well, silence can also be a type of answer!
Fast forward to one year plus. I still didn’t have a stable, paying job. Graduates who are at home and have no job know one thing for sure, that, being underestimated and underused, when you actually know what you can do, is one of the most depressing states to be in at any point in life.
SUDDENLY, three weeks ago, a friend recommended me for another interview with a pharmaceutical institution and today I have a decent paying job.
I am also very happy working with the firm as well.
What can I say, – answers to prayers can come S U D D E N L Y ! If you are waiting on God for something, you should be getting ready too, because, sometimes the answer to your prayers will come through when you aren’t even looking! Oh yes and sometimes, we need to thank God for the unanswered prayers.
