How to Set Out-of-Office Messages

With the summer holidays in full swing, many professionals are setting their out-of-office (OOO) messages. But how do you write an OOO message that is both professional and engaging? Here are a few tips: Be informative and concise. State your absence dates and whether you will have limited or no access to email. If you have an alternative contact, be sure to include their name and contact information. Add a touch of personality. A well-placed joke or anecdote can help your OOO message stand out from the crowd. Just be sure to keep it professional and appropriate for your contacts. Express gratitude. Thank your contacts for their understanding and let them know you look forward to hearing from them when you return. Here are a few examples of OOO messages that strike the right balance: Informative and concise: Hi there! I'm currently out of the office until July 31st and will have limited access to email. For immediate assistance, please contact [alternative contact]. Thank you! With a touch of humor: Hey there! I'm off on an amazing summer adventure until August 15th. Expect a slight delay in my response as I soak up the sun. If it's urgent, reach out to [alternative contact]. Cheers! Professional and accessible: Dear [Contact's Name], I'm out of the office until August 25th, enjoying some well-deserved time off. While I'll be checking emails sporadically, please contact [alternative contact] for immediate assistance. Thank you! No matter what style you choose, make sure your OOO message is clear, concise, and professional. And don't forget to proofread it before you hit send! Crafting a great OOO message is all about balance and personal style. So have fun with it, and enjoy your holiday!

Acing that Interview

Mastering interviews like every other human endeavour takes practice. Some people get to master it almost immediately while for others, it might take some time. In both cases, practice and more practice is important for mastering. I've told some people to apply for jobs they don't want just for the interview experience. There are other ways of course, just don't wait till you want a job to practice. 

In this short piece, I'm sharing some tips from my soon to be published book on career for graduates and young professionals. Details of this will be shared with you soon. Here, I'll talk about preparing for that interview and answering scenario based questions. 

 A. Preparation 

This doesn't necessarily need much introduction, but more on how one should prepare for the interview. I'll share 2 points. 

1. Start again from the job advert, study the job description to ensure you fully understand what's required. You do not have to know 100% of what the job description is about, sometimes even 60% is enough and of course a portrayal of your willingness to learn. This understanding gives you some level of confidence when you are being interviewed. 

2. Research about the company. If it is a public company, download their financials and analyse it, this will arm you with contents to speak about at the interview when it's time to ask questions or when they ask the "why us" question. Whether public company or not, Google the company, check their website, check for latest news about them, check Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Nairaland. You'll definitely find something about the company interesting to talk or ask about. Just find something. Interviewer's are fascinated when they hear you talk about them and ask intelligent questions about things they care about. Whether they are positives or otherwise. However, be smart if the news are negative, don't take sides, just ask! 

B. Use the STAR Method. In my experience on the other side of the interview table, I've come to appreciate more the responses from candidates that use the STAR method. This method is mostly used for scenario based questions. What is the STAR method? Situation - what was the problem? Task - what did you need to do? Action - what did you do? Result - what's the outcome? Google STAR method of answering interview questions for many examples and how to apply it. 

You can still contact me for your CV, Cover letter revamping, career counselling session and LinkedIn profile optimization.

Date of Birth on CV

Many have asked this question again and again, should you add your date of birth to your CV? The quick answer in most part is: NO.

But again it actually depends, especially in our Nigeria environment where age is a big factor in almost everything we do because of our culture.

One is advised to always adjust their CV to suit the employer's advert instructions. Most advert will include whether age or date of birth is required. Otherwise, please don't include it.

There's another reason why we may advise that you add your date of birth to your CV. And that is If you've finished your Degree and ACA and you're still 24 years old or less. Yes, there are some young chap with such credentials and some even with 2 years experience! 

In the US, it is improper to put your date of birth on your resume. The reason is simple. Age discrimination in employment is officially illegal, as long as you are 18 or older - https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-put-my-birthday-on-a-resume. The same applies in the UK.  

The important point to note about CV is that you should highlight the credentials that make you stand out. Something unique about you.

For your CV revamping, LinkedIn profile optimization and career counselling services, please contact me directly. 

Choosing to Live in Iyana Ipaja or Maryland

So you are a single guy, working on the Island, earning at least 100k monthly and you are contemplating whether to live in Iyana Ipaja or Maryland, Egbeda or Yaba, Abule-Egba or Surulere, Okokomaiko or Ikeja? Let me help you break it down.

A lot of factors need to be considered before making this decision. Most young people I see consider the huge rent they must pay to landlords in the “mainland highbrow”. This is where they get it wrong! You don’t consider that first, you need to sit down and do the calculations. Have you considered the transport fare you will pay daily to and fro work? How about the Danfo and Conductor Wahala? Did you consider the number of hours you will spend (waste) on the road to and fro work? Proximity to everywhere? How about the health implications?

It is usually not advisable to spend more than 30% of your salary as rent. So, you have 30k from your 100k monthly salary which is 360k to pay for your rent. I am sure you can get a decent self-contain apartment in the “mainland highbrow” for this budget. You can plan the rest of your budget on the remaining 70% and still live a comfortable life here in Lagos. Please try not to spend more than this except you are willing to make further sacrifices from other areas.

You deserve to be comfortable and you need some time to yourself to think. You need to have time to engage in other of life’s activities and not wasting 5 hours in traffic everyday wishing life was fairer even when you could make it fair for you.

I will leave you with this conversation between a guy and his girlfriend.

Girlfriend: Do you drink beer?

Guy: yes, I do

Girlfriend: how many bottles per day?

Guy: 3 bottles

Girlfriend: How much is a bottle?

Guy: 300 Naira

Girlfriend: That’s 900 Naira every day, 6k every week and 25k every month?

Guy: Yes, that’s correct

Girlfriend: How long have you been drinking

Guy: 20 years thereabouts

Girlfriend: That would have been 302k annually amounting to N6m and with interest in a savings account would have been about N10m to buy a brand new car!

Guy: Do you drink beer?

Girlfriend: No

Guy: Where is your brand new car?!

Girlfriend: ???

Understanding Finance in Relationships

Finance has been identified as a major factor in any relationship and more so in a marriage relationship. If not properly checked money issue can trigger arguments, fights and ultimately separation/divorce. It is important to discuss this issue as soon as you are getting attached to that special somebody to avoid unnecessary toxic air.

From my little experience and observation in life, I have identified three (3) different ways I have seen families manage their finances.  I will only highlight the three ways while you determine which you prefer and what will work for you. Since you are in a relationship, I have assumed that you love (you noticed I did not use trust) each other.

First of all, we have the relationship where the man is the all-in-all. This category is where the man’s money is our money and the woman’s money is her money. A lot of women prefer this as it gives them undue advantage even when they earn as much as their man (if not more). To this categories of women, #wehdonema. That said, this actually works well for many “already made” men and men that have full time house wives.

The joint account relationship. The individuals in this relationship practically open an account they call, “John and Jane” account, where they contribute a portion of their monthly earnings into. No one is bothered by the balance in the other person’s account (?).This works well for couples that do not want their spouse to know what they earn or just want their personal space.

The last but not the least is the relationship that manages their monies together. They both know what the other person earns and plan their spending around the “our money”. Here, there is no hanky panky, no suspicion, no “my money”, it is everybody’s money and everybody know the plan and the limits. This works only when there is TRUST (you noticed I did not say love?) in the relationship.

There you have it. It is good you understand your relationship and what will work for you. You actually need to have some conversation around this and decide on the best option. There is always room to adjust and readjust until you get the perfect option.

Bless you.

Finding The Balance - Work And Life (Part 2)

see part 1


In this part, I will be highlighting some of the activities you can engage in outside work. If I may add,t you can also choose to close early from work and do some of these activities.

Travelling/Vacation: Someone once said, traveling is a form of learning and I totally agree. However, that motivation is good for those who don’t like travelling for the fun of it. Just before you mention the financial constraints, note that you don’t need to travel far away. You can travel to the next street, just leave home and be away!

Do Sleepovers: Do you really need a breakdown of this? Okay, this means sleep anywhere other than your house. You could go visit a friend, family or hotel. This breaks the routine, helps you to interact with others outside your regular cycle.

Eat out – I know you do this sometimes at work. However, do this more regularly even when you are outside work. At least ones in a quarter, have dinner/lunch with that special somebody at a five star hotel (anyone you can afford), you won’t die! What are you earning the pay for?

See a movie – I know you can watch it online for free. I know you also have the latest home theatre in your house, but please, go to the cinema! The cinema is meant for people like you. Don’t forget to buy popcorn and a drink. It’s more fun to go with that special somebody but if there’s no “that special somebody”, select from any of your random acquaintances or even a colleague, you will be surprised at the outcome.

Learn a new skill – you can enroll in a vocational school. Learn cooking (I know you can cook, but can you cook all the foods in the world yet?), try a new recipe. Learn a (another) musical instrument, etc. You can also learn to do for yourself some of those services you pay for. If for nothing, just do it for the fun, life is short!

Others include; going to the spa, gym, beach, events (parties, karaoke, hangouts with friends, window shopping, sporting activities etc.). You will be shocked at the beneficial relationships you can build from such activities.

With these few points of mine, I believe I’ve been able to convince you and not confuse you that a life without balance is not worth living…J

Shalom!

How to Make Money Quickly!

I have seen many people; old and young make the same mistake every now and then in the quest to be make money quickly. I will attempt to show you how.
 

 

 

Firstly, let’s deal with your GREED! There is an element of greed in everyone, no matter how small. However, you must try to tame your greed level by first thinking with your BRAIN before anything else. Otherwise, you will end up frustrated or swindled.  Think about this, someone else already has the money you are aiming at. Guess what? That person is not satisfied! Ask the richest persons in the world if they are satisfied. So, even if you are Bill Gate you will still want more. Capisce?

Why do you need the money? This is probably a silly question. Is it? My grandma will always say, when motive is not defined, idea is distorted. Define your motive truthfully and justify why you think you really deserve to go on with the decision. Don’t try to deceive yourself. This self-examination will gives a clear mind to strategies on the best decisions to make.

The truth is, there is no quick way to make money. You need a REAL plan that needs to be nurtured gradually daily, monthly and yearly until you achieve your plan. Don’t be deceived by any quick way, I call them the "buy-one-get-one-free" schemes. True wealth is built overtime, it takes time. Save yourself the headaches, sleepless nights, high blood pressure, anxiety, fear and even untimely death.

Thank me later.