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2022 CareerCon Summary

The 2022 NGNL CareerCon themed “Be the Edge” was a huge success. Here’s a summary blog post on the how the event went down, enjoy!

Day 1 of the event , an intelligent line-up of speakers took turn to inform and educate participants

Session: Positioning for the Dutch corporate space and attracting the right opportunities as a Nigerian Expat

keynote Speakers: Adams Multilingual (Ata and Theophania)

Here are major highlights from this session:

  • know your pre applying tips
  • Set your goals : Know what’s important to you and set your goals accordingly.
  • Have an idea of the Dutch culture : know the pros and cons of working in a Dutch culture.
  • Know your employers expectations.
  • Ask for advise : Don’t underestimate the value of connections.
  • Preparation Checklist: Make sure your abilities match job description
  • Agency: Agencies help with making the recruitment process easier.
  • First impression : Always be prepared for online and offline interviews.
  • Difficult questions: This helps interviewers know more about you and if you’re good fit for the role.
  • Questions to ask : An opportunity for you to ask potential employers .
  • Useful Tips : modifying your CV, have an independent mindset and know how to negotiate salary.

Session: Seeking and Showing Up for Work that Matters

Financial Planning is an ongoing process that accommodates changes due to circumstances.

Keynote Speaker: Caroline Murigi Kurijer

Here are major highlights from speakers experience. she gave a list of factors that do not hinder your job hunt in the Netherlands:

  1. Language: inability to communicate in Dutch doesn’t hinder your chances of getting employed.
  2. Qualifications: Whether or not your educational qualifications are from the Netherlands, Europe of first world country institutions this doesn’t affect your chances of getting a job.
  3. Lack of foreign work experience.
  4. Over education or over experience
  5. Toning down experience level to increase chances at new job.
  6. Race: Being black or African doesn’t hinder your chances.
  7. Gender & Age: Your gender or age grade does not stop you from getting employed in the Netherlands.
  8. You do not need to lower your qualifications to get your foot in.
  9. Not having a PR or citizenship does not hinder you.

To move ahead , do the following:

  • Stop making excuses
  • Take action : decide to succeed or not
  • Know how to position yourself in the job market
  • Take advantage of the opportunities around you.

Session: Graduating Students Special Session: Strategic Tips for Easily Transitioning from the Classroom to the Corporate World, as a Nigerian Expat

Keynote Speaker: Oreoluwa Adedokun

Here are tips from this session:

  • Change your mindset ( Classroom mindset vs Corporate mindset and Nigerian Mindset Vs International mindset)
  • Communication is key
  • Failure + Persistence = Success
  • Be flexible, open minded and study the job market.
  • Prayers
  • Work on your LinkedIn profile
  • Don’t give up, continue applying

Session: Building a Personal Brand that Stands you Out at Work, as a Nigerian Expat

Keynote Speaker: Okem Molokwu

Here are insights from this session:

Your personal brand is simply what people know about you, or your reputation or what associations they make when they think of you.

Okem recommended the following:

  1. Understand who you represent: Have an image you represent beyond your name and job title.
  2. The work place is a Game that has a system to it: It goes beyond the work, it’s also about been strategic about where you are in the organisation.
  3. Build your professional connections : Be deliberate about knowing people personally i.e. beyond the workplace . “The longer and wider your professional connections are, the larger the airplane you can take off from it. The narrower and shorter it is the smaller the airplane”.
  4. Test your theories: put yourself out there and be tactical about it.

Session: Key Insights Needed for Nigerian Expats to Successfully Start & Switch Careers/Jobs in the Netherlands & Europe

Keynote Speaker: Jess Bamtefa

  1. Acknowledge that you need to give yourself some grace with the pressure that comes with relocating or moving into a new environment.
  2. Restructure your mindset to your new environment: Set and manage your expectations.

Tips for Career Switch

  • Think about the transferrable skills that you’ve got.
  • Tailor your resume to highlight things you’ve done in the past.
  • You may need to start small in terms of the scope of your work.
  • Move with people who inspire you with success stories.

Session: Fitting into the Future of Work & TECH even if You’re not Techie

Keynote speaker: Samuel Ufomadu

Notes from this session. There are tech and non-tech roles in tech:

Non-Tech Roles in Tech Include:

  1. IT Product sales
  2. Project Management
  3. Business Analyst
  4. product Management( Technical Product Management)
  5. Customer Success Manager
  6. Agile/Scrum – Scrum Master/ Product Owner
  7. Technical Account Manager

Core Tech Roles

  1. Robotics Process Automation – (RPA)
  2. Low Codes and No Codes Technology
  3. Technical Writing
  4. Programming/Software Development- Front End, Back End, UI/UX and more
  5. Cloud Computing – Cloud Administrator/Engineer/Architect/DevOps
  6. Data Analytics/Data Analysis (analyst)/Data Engineer

How to Fit In:

  • Make up your mind
  • Research and test the waters
  • Learn by Doing : Attend Bootcamps, Online Training or Volunteer
  • Do personal projects and certifications
  • Set a goal with milestones
  • Join Meetups
  • Write LinkedIn Articles
  • Make effective contributions to other people’s articles.
  • Start applying from 70% preparedness
  • ATS is real , but you can beat it.
  • Know that interviewing is a job in itself.

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