A PEEP INTO THE MIND OF HR MANAGERS: WHAT DO HR MANAGERS WANT ? By Hassan Olufunso Yusuf

INTRODUCTION Only about 10 % of graduates produced in Nigeria every year will be able to secure employment that they consider satisfactory Therefore, only the best and brightest would be able to secure good employment

HR Managers are looking for candidates who: Can contribute to the organization’s ability to achieve its set goals and objectives Can align with the organization’s vision, mission, and core values Have relevant qualifications, skills, and personal qualities/abilities

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES Positive Attitude : A ”Can Do Spirit” Team Spirit: Ability to work with others Problem-Solving Skill: Determination to overcome barriers and difficulties Excellent Verbal and Written Communication Skills Presentation Skill

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES contd Critical Analysis Skill: Making sense of large amounts of information Planning and Organization Skills: Thinking Ahead Assertiveness/Confidence Strong Computing Skills Driving Skill – for Sales positions Multi-Lingual Skills (Arabic, French, etc)

ACQUIRING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE You can have lots of qualifications, but if you are not motivated and do not have the right attitude, it will be difficult to get a job or keep it When people are sacked from employment, it is often because they do not have the right attitude rather than because they lack the right qualifications and skills

ACQUIRING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE contd. HR Managers want to recruit the very best for their organizations They want to take on the brightest people they can find They want people who can show a passion for the things they get involved in, people who have that sparkle and extra energy, who put that little bit of extra something into their activities

ACQUIRING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE contd Remember that companies all over the world, Nigeria inclusive, are now competing in a global economy. So, they have to produce world-class products and provide world-class services To do these, companies need the best people they can get And that’s exactly what HR Managers want !

THE EMPLOYMENT SEARCH Send your CV to as many prospective employers as possible Respond to vacancy notices, including those published on-line, that interest you Be prepared to attend recruitment tests, most of which are psychometric, aimed at measuring those key abilities that the organization desires

THE EMPLOYMENT SEARCH contd If you successfully scale through the tests and you are invited for interview, note that your success at the interview will be determined largely by your preparation As part of your preparation, do some research about the prospective employer: research shows thoroughness and seriousness. The least you can do is to visit the company’s website for relevant information

THE CV The aim of writing a CV is to get opportunity for an interview with the HR Manager and other Senior Executives. So, relevance and a professional production are the keys to success.

CVs destined for the Waste Bin Scruffy copy with stains CVs with spelling errors Double-sized paper Too many pages Inconsistent layout Handwritten

CVs that stand a chance to be short-listed Crisp, clean, original copy No spelling mistakes One side of A4 paper Keep to 2 pages, if possible Consistent layout Word-processed

CONCLUSION YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES YOUR ALTITUDE

AS-SALAM ALAYKUM WA-RAHAMATULLAH WA- BARAKATUHU