The "Not so mentioned" Factor(s)

LinkedIn is a social community for professionals to “show off” what they’ve got. People often come on the platform to showcase their abilities and/or celebrate wins in their careers. This improves their “pull” power as colleagues, both senior and junior, see them as upwardly mobile, and want to be a part of the journey.

However, LinkedIn is also a place where professionals share their schools of thought. Today, I will be doing the latter by speaking about the hand of God (scientists will speak about the alignment of Quantum energy with that of the Universe) in the trajectory of a man’s life.

If you look back at your life and take notes of the major milestones (that (postgraduate / undergraduate) admission, the dream job, that life-transforming contract award, etc.), and you are able to explain how you got them, then you are rare and I must say you have a huge capacity to do great things – which will take you to a point when you will say, “This is the hand of God.”

Yes, you made a 1st class from University, you prepared for days like this, and you know you are amiable, street smart, and follow all the principles available on the internet on how to be a Success. Despite this, you also know there are people with better resumes, who prepared just as you did or even better, who didn’t get the opportunities you did! GOD DID IT!

This reminds me of my OVH Energy - Oando Licensee journey; let me tell you a story:

Immediately after securing my ACCA qualification, I decided it was time to “leave HR” and push my career at Asset & Resource Management Holding Company (ARM HoldCo). to the next level. At the time, I had spent 15 months in the Company and the team (under the leadership of the Great Funke Antoinette Asiru PhD ) had implemented exciting projects which made me get noticed. I had access to Management. They liked me. I was literally in my comfort zone and talks were on to ease me into the Business using the Operations route.

By the way, the HR team at the time was “loaded” with great people like Emmanuel Abarikwu , Ayiti Timi , Midun Akinboboye , Ihinosen Mayaki-Williams Assoc.CIPD, SPHRi , Opeyemi Uthman , Alabi Yetunde , Ade P. , Kingsley Ogirri - ACIPM, HRPL, HCIB , Terese Akombo , my humble self, AkinOla Akinwole , and Daniel Etta (ICF-ACC, SHRM-SCP) Using Spyro’s line on his song “Who’s Your Guy’ - “Se you don see the Formation, Agbalagbi combination,” it was The Dream Team. FA is excellent in identifying talent and efficiently utilizing an individual’s strengths. I had no pressure to leave the company at the time.

On this faithful day, a colleague sent me a link to register for a Career Fair at OVH. They advertised a vacant role in the HR team - HR Supervisor. When I read it, for some reason my brain read “HR Specialist,” a junior-mid role, so I felt I ?had a chance to compete. I applied. Getting my CV to fit one page was a big task but I somehow made it work.

I got an email inviting me to the Career Fair and I was elated. I remember dancing with my wife just for getting the call. On D-day, I left Ajah at 5:30 am (It was 2016, Uber wasn’t the thing then, and I was probably broke?). Anyway, I used public transport – Danfo, because I heard that driving to Apapa was a no-no due to constant traffic.

I got there and I saw a lot of people, I developed cold feet - but as the Hustler that I am, my “Nothing Dey happen” side showed face. The Career fair started with the Company’s management team taking turns to speak to us, then they broke us into groups for interviews – based on our area of specialization. There was plenty to eat and drink, but I couldn’t eat.

I got to the HR stand and then noticed the correct job title - HR Supervisor. I was like “Haa ! abi I should just turn back and go ni”…. but I said, “Tope just do the interview for the experience.”

We were 3 candidates for the role. Introductions started, first up was - 1st class, 8 years of HR experience with a Top Tier Bank, took a break for his MBA at IE Business school. I swallowed spit and encouraged myself, “It’s okay.”

The other lady was a certified FCA, had an MBA, with 10 years of experience at another Top tier Bank.

When they went “…you?, ?I was like “erm Yea, 1st class, newly Chartered with 6+ years experience in HR.” I felt flat, wondering what they thought of me. I decided to distract myself by going to the internet to just read something, while the other 2 kept chatting and sizing each other Up.

Mohammad Dahiru being a good host, came to meet me, asking why I didn’t eat. “Baba leave me, I dey fast!” was what I felt like, but I just “okay”. Later, I regretted not eating or drinking; at least my transport fare wouldn’t have gone to waste.

On the internet, I saw an HBR article on the evolving nature of Performance Appraisals. I took the time to read it - I still don’t know how I got to the page and why I chose to read it.

They started calling us in. The other two candidates spent over an hour each, then I was called. As I got in, I wanted to start by explaining that I mistakenly applied for the role thinking it was a junior role. ?But I kept shut.

The interview started, and I answered most questions using the STARR approach for Competency-Based questions. I fared well answering the questions asked. Then came the last question “Do you think Organizations will still adopt the same approach to Performance appraisals in 20 years?” Ope o (Meaning Thank God ).

I went “It depends, let me start with the recent article on Harvard Business Review…..” they started nodding their heads, I was like “ehen! E finally serve si mi lowo,” meaning “you have played to my area of strength.”

I finished the interview and came out smiling, confident that I gave my best. I then checked the time spent - 39 minutes. “Ha (exclamation) should I go back for the 2nd half? Because others spent over an hour!”

The HR team called a week after, inviting me for a chat with the CEO. After the chat, we started negotiations. That’s how I got into OVH Energy.

The nudge from God to read that article, call it what you want but that’s Mercy right there. I didn’t have better qualifications, I was a tad inexperienced for the role, and I was the youngest, but Mercy said “No, I will give you an Unmerited advantage.”

Sometimes God does these things to make you know He has great plans for you. Acknowledge Him in ALL your ways!

I spent 5 excellent years in OVH, growing, meeting great minds, and leading people actively or passively. I’m sure they won’t say I wasn’t qualified for the role. God helped me.

Summary of Lessons learned:

1.????Read: There is always something to read about, a new article, a journal, or a book. Reading allows you to travel through the minds of others and it enriches your thought process as you have a larger pool to draw from when discussing.

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2.????Don’t Stereotype: If Azeez Omosun had only focused on the JD, I probably wouldn’t have been invited for the role. JDs should be a guide; the interview process should be the core for selecting successful candidates.

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3.????Take the Opportunities you get seriously: You just never know where they will take you to. So “show workings” when you have the chance; put your best foot forward.

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4.????Interviews are not exams. You are meant to share your experiences and how they align with the Job you desire. So don’t go into interviews scared. You are being asked questions about what you do have done already.

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5.????When we focus on things, the Universe aligns with us and gives us what we desire most times. Fill your mind with Positivity, and watch everything align for you.?

As an aside, We need to build a machine, fed with all these soft skill-based algorithms, that helps in identifying Good talent...OR just consult Funke Antoinette Asiru PhD

#interviewtips #grace #hr #careerfair #