There Are More Jobs Than You Think... But There's a Bigger Problem

After sitting on both sides of the hiring table, I realized the real challenge isn't always the lack of jobs: It's the shortage of graduates who can clearly demonstrate value.

Oghenemine Owhatuemuhor 7/2/2026 23 1

One statement I've heard repeatedly from students and fresh graduates is:

"There are no jobs in Nigeria."

Well, for a long time, I believed that too.

After all, every day you hear stories of graduates searching endlessly for opportunities, sending out hundreds of applications, and receiving little or no response.

But then life gave me the opportunity to sit on the other side of the table.

Over the years, I've been involved in recruitment, helped organizations fill different roles, reviewed countless CVs, and interacted with employers looking for the right people and that experience completely changed my perspective.

I realized something that many people may not want to hear.

The problem isn't always that there are no jobs. The bigger problem is that employers struggle to find people who are genuinely prepared for the opportunities that already exist.

That statement may sound harsh, but let me explain.

Every vacancy attracts hundreds of applications, CV after CV lands on the recruiter's desk. Many are professionally designed, the grammar quite impressive, templates look modern and buzzwords are all there.

But after reading through several pages, one question still remains unanswered:

"What can this person actually do?"

And unfortunately, many CVs fail to answer that question.

One lesson recruitment has taught me is this:

A CV should not only tell me what you studied. It should convince me why I should hire you.

One complaint I hear quite often is this:

"Every job requires years of experience. How is a fresh graduate supposed to have that?"

Well, it's a fair question.

But here's another way to look at it.

Experience doesn't always begin after graduation. It begins the day you start intentionally solving real problems.

That's why internships, volunteering, leadership roles, personal projects, freelancing, competitions, research, and even running a small business matter. They give you something every employer is looking for, EVIDENCE.

Sadly, many students treat internships as just another academic requirement. Some count down the days until it's over without realizing they're missing one of the greatest opportunities to build the experience they wish employers would give them later.

Over the years, I've come to believe something simple:

Your degree gets you noticed.
Your skills get you shortlisted.
Your attitude gets you remembered.
Your ability to create value gets you considered
And, your ability to communicate and sell that value is often what gets you hired.

If you're still in school, don't wait until your final semester to start preparing for life after graduation.

Learn a skill, build something, volunteer, lead, write, create a portfolio. Most importantly, solve real problems.

Graduate with more than just a certificate.

"Graduate with proof that you can create value and the confidence to articulate it.Your certificate tells me where you studied. Your work tells me why I should hire you."

Because at the end of the day, employers are not just looking for graduates. They're looking for people who can solve problems, communicate their impact, and inspire confidence that they're worth investing in.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

If you're a student, what's one thing you're doing today to prepare for life after graduation?

And if you're an employer or recruiter, what's one quality you wish more graduates had before applying for jobs?

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