Test Yourself and Your Skills!

A fortnight ago; I received the most unexpected phone call inviting me to an interview for a job I couldn't recall applying for. Aside from an E-Mail inviting me to an interview over a concept note I had come up with for an advocacy video at work, this was the second best thing to happen to me, this year.
I am a firm believer in not turning down interviews unless your mental, emotional and physical state are compromised in a manner that makes it impossible for you to give it your all. I was in that kind of state and knew I would not be able to make it for the interview while the details were being given to me over the phone. I immediately declined and thanked the person for the call.
You would not believe the joy I felt after that phone call. As much as I had to turn down the break of an interview, I could not help but be happy over the fact that the application I sent in on a whim got me that far.
When I sent in the application: a week to the day of my accident, early June according to LinkedIn, I was not looking for a job. I was testing my skills and credentials. During our volunteer workshop for Interns and Volunteers, a former Supervisor once said that always try for a job if you meet 3/5 requirements of the job description. I realized that LinkedIn made this so easy with its system because all a person has to do is press "apply" when a position of interest comes along. However, this piece of advice is not restricted to technology. One can take the traditional channels available to them and apply for any position as long as they meet half the requirements. You do not necessarily have to be looking for a job. Take the time out and periodically test your skills and credentials of your professional field to ascertain that you earned your position and that your current and additional skills are good enough to get you an interview elsewhere.
To make up for the lack of experience in the other half of the job description requirements, take advantage of the internet and its vast resources to learn. Teach yourself some of these things. Invest in yourself and your career especially if you wish to grow. Personally, I never knew anything about creating a newsletter until I was thrust into the role without help. I watched tutorials on how to use MS Publisher, downloaded the manual and practiced until I got the hang of it. If you have free access to the Internet make it beneficial to YOU and your career growth.
Another thing; once in awhile, ask a friend of yours to anonymously call up the people you list as referees on your job applications. When a friend of mine said this, I could not get over the sneaky yet cleverness of it. Sometimes, the people we do use as referees sabotage our career development because no one wants to lose a good employee but what about you when you feel that it is time for you to move on? Getting your friend to find out if your referees sell you or curtail your chances is a good way to be sure that nothing stands between you and your next place of employment.
Like I mentioned earlier; I am a firm believer in not turning down interviews unless your mental, emotional and physical state are compromised. Over the course of my young career, I have had to turn down two interviews on account of my health. The first turn down in 2016 hurt me a lot because I was sick, unemployed and really needed the job. I almost asked for a postponement until I remembered that appealing to the emotions of a Messenger was not the way to go. I sadly apologized and hang up. I contemplated going for it but the memory of me taking my final exams under the grips of poor health with the cold sweats randomly popping out did not seat well with me. I would have done more harm than good. The last thing you want to display to the interview panel is you at your weakest. They might empathize but will not take pity on you for showing up in that state. Always show up when you are at your finest and can think on your feet.
Truthfully; I have experienced a lot of failures in my pursuit of development programs to enhance my skills, knowledge and experience in my current field of operation but this invite to an interview even if it never materialized restored my spirit, faith in myself and capabilities.

Image Credits: googledotcom

Work Firsts

With the Gomba district police

I think every job brings with it little new lessons and experiences to make you appreciate it more. Like I am doing of late. The more I learn, the more appreciative I am for the experiences because most of it is so new to me.
Recently, I was tasked with the creation of a weekly newsletter for the organisation I work with. To say it was daunting would be putting it mildly. I know nothing about content creation, lay-out and design. The newsletters I read are usually brief and to the point. On top of that there were design issues to consider. Aside from the content within the newsletter, the design has to be appealing as well.
This was serious food for thought. How do I have it created without incurring design costs? Why should it even dip into funds when it is for staff consumption? They do say ‘where there this a will there is a way’, right? Indeed. For the first time in my life, I looked into what MS Publisher is and what it does through the attainment of a manual. I downloaded the tutorial and after a skim of the first page on publisher, I dived right into the practical.
Going about its development brought this feeling of satisfaction I never expected. I enjoyed every little step of the way and could not be more proud. converting that baby into pdf added the finishing touches that brought it all together beautifully. I certainly feel confident in my creative abilities. Who knew? At this point, I can definitely hack it in the magazine world.
I also got the chance to go to a far off village for fieldwork. To sensitize the district police on handling women with disabilities in cases pertaining them. The officers were so young! Literally fresh from University and as smart as can be in their uniforms. Looking at them with the jaundiced eyes of a city born, I wondered if this is what the girls wanted out of life. To be district police officers in an undeveloped district going nowhere. It brought to mind the local officers we read about in novels whose only achievement in life is being the law in a two-bit town as they call it. Generation to generation.
Much as it was an educational experience, village life is so simple and so basic. People have to do a lot to get out of there if they want more out of life.

@NuwoduAdvocacy