If you have ever felt the pressing need to increase your income, then you’ll understand exactly how I felt a few years ago. It was in the year 2017, a year where a whopping inflation rate of 16.5% mocked my position and salary. I didn’t need a soothsayer or a Nobel Laureate in Economics to forecast that my salary would become peanuts in a few years. 

My salary was nowhere near “enough” to live the life I wanted, not to talk of investments or retirement plans. Moreover, in the previous year (2016), the country had already experienced a massive inflation rate of 15.7%. So just thinking about my future made me realize that I had to do more, be more, and earn more – fast!

Thinking retrospectively, I can not help but wonder what would have become of me if I did nothing, hoping my employer would miraculously bump up my salary (and position) as the rate of inflation kept increasing. But, luckily for me, I had the initiative to take some steps and break the status quo. And those steps are what I’m about to share with you. 

So, how did I double my salary two years in a row, and how do I plan to triple it this year?

Making 8-Figures a Year

It’s easy to make an 8-figure annual salary in Nigeria if you know what the heck you’re doing. That’s at least 10 million Naira every year! 

It’s no news that the Nigerian economy has been going through the worst recession since 1984. And it’s been dwindling since then. But, while history has a way of repeating itself (sudden and gradual plunges into recession), we almost always never learn.

Thankfully, I learned something a few years ago that changed my life! If I hadn’t discovered this, I’d probably be somewhere at the bottom of the sea of debt and uncertainties, trying to claw my way out. So here’s the first lesson I learned: 

The value you provide is directly proportional to the income you earn. But you must have a way of capturing that income.

Now, here’s the mistake most people make. They work in businesses where they generate lots of income for the business owners. But, sadly, they are unable to capture a reasonable portion of those earnings. 

How can you capture an income that’s in direct proportion to the value you provide? Let me tell you a true story and highlight some rules that we can all learn from. 

Playing Your Cards Right

By early 2017, I had started taking my career mapping quite seriously. At that time, I worked in a bank and had lots of colleagues who had not had a job promotion in 5+ years! 

Of course, it’s easy to figure that “no promotion” also means no increase in salary (even though the inflation rate kept increasing). But what is a bit more challenging to figure is why the management didn’t promote my colleagues. The simple answer? They didn’t know how to play their cards right. 

Most of my colleagues hoped that the management would decide in their favor and then graciously reward them for all their hard work. But is this feasible? Well, one thing’s for sure: the larger the organization, the less likely it is that anyone at the senior management level would be thinking of rewarding you for doing your job.

If you think about public quoted companies, especially in banking, the CEO is expected to improve profitability amongst other key metrics. In many cases, their stock options and bonuses are dependent on reaching specific performance targets. Knowing this and understanding that salaries are one of the biggest line items in a bank’s financials, I could tell that increasing salaries was not a priority for a bank that had peaked in growth. 

For many of my colleagues and other people working in the banking sector, they either couldn’t put the pieces together or chose to live in denial. And either one of these truths was costing them their promotion and salary increase!

Here are three (3) major mistakes people make in their careers. 

1. Allowing people to dictate their career growth
2. Thinking that their degrees and qualifications are everything
3. Waiting for the right time to start.

Here are some rules to guide you and help you take your financial advancement into your hands.

Rule #1: Never Allow Anyone To Dictate Your Career Growth

Waiting for a promotion is not a good career growth strategy, especially if your company doesn’t have a good promotion track record.

You should review your career every six months in stricter metrics than a company would check your performance. You should also start exploring multiple career options and opportunities at least once a year, especially in the first ten years of your career.

How I took control of my career growth

So how did I go about this? First, I had to develop a 5-year career plan in 2017. Part of my plan was to become the Managing Director of a Fintech Company. At that time, I wasn’t so confident that I would get there, but I did work towards it. And voila! It happened in exactly four years.

And that’s the thing about a clearly stated goal – it helps you do what needs to be done to achieve it. So here’s a bit more detail.

I went for my MBA towards the end of 2017. I took an MBA because I needed a break from work, a change of environment, and a change of mindset. I had spent too much time with people that were not in a hurry to change their career trajectory for too long.

Upon returning, I had two offers, one was for a 40% growth in my previous salary, and the other came several weeks after for a 100% growth in my prior salary (two times what I previously earned). However, both offers did not come on a platter of gold. I did have to employ a proper job search strategy that I had been developing for several months. 

I knew what I could offer a company and how much the company would generate from hiring me. I then articulated this to the hiring managers and negotiated a salary that seemed a steal for each party (for the company and me).

Side-hustles and continuous learning

During my MBA program, I also learned the art of creating great CVs and was specific about which companies would demand my services. Therefore, it took me two months to get multiple offers.

In some of my career coaching sessions, people have asked me if they will have results without an MBA. Well, first of all, I was only able to raise the money for my MBA after close to 2 years of having multiple side-hustles and being persistent in driving my career forward. 

Secondly, the MBA degree was not necessarily instrumental in helping me land a job, as I have a few friends who struggled after graduating for many months. Instead, what helped me was my continuous learning about the job market and how to position myself and be attractive to recruiters. 

The conclusion? Keep learning and advancing in your field so that you can become super attractive to recruiters.  

Rule #2: Your Degree is Only Half Of It. Understanding The Job Market is More Important

Lots of people earn new certifications or study for degrees without crafting their career plans. All they think about is how they can land a job with their new arsenal. While certifications are important, more necessary is understanding how the job market works (especially if you’re already in it). 

The most important things to do are:

1. Achieve great things at the company you work for
2. Identify and network with influential people (either hiring managers or senior professionals) in industries/companies you would like to work for.

The first allows you to become more attractive, and the second ensures that the people you’re talking to have confidence in your ability. Because if they do, they will recommend you for job opportunities when they arise.

Understanding the company you work for

When I got my fintech job, I had one goal: to align my big ambitions with that of the company. So, for instance, if the company’s primary goal was to increase revenues and grow the user base, that had to become my goal. 

Now, it doesn’t matter whether you’re working in customer support or engineering. You have to align yourself to what the company wants to achieve, irrespective of what your boss would measure your performance on.

Of course, you need to achieve your performance targets set by the company. However, what they set is usually the minimum expectation. On your path, you must keep doing over and above that for two reasons. First, if you want to seek a raise, you’ll be able to negotiate your compensation better. Secondly, if you’re going to leave the company, other employers (and indeed your employer) will be in a bidding war over you. That’s how much worth and power improving yourself can get you. 

This was what I did, and within a year, I had a raise with 30% growth in my salary. Less than six months after, my salary increased once more by 60%. While I was a bit happy about my career growth, the naira had devalued by more than 55% in the last few years. 

Rule #3: There’s Never A Right Time To Start A Business

Many people keep waiting for the “right” or “perfect” time to start a business. But, if you’re passionate about improving your life and doubling your income many times over, then you must be willing to start early. Why? Because starting early will allow you to learn early enough. And in no time, you’re already doing better than you could have imagined! 

I decided to start a consulting service and a side business for coaching job seekers during the pandemic. This led to me beginning Reventify as I wanted to scale the business and reach many more people who couldn’t afford my 1-on-1 services.

Doing this brought in a lot more opportunities, and that’s why I’ll be having another record-breaking year as per my income. I’m telling this story as there’s a lot to learn about oneself once you’re devoted to a path and are willing to learn from others.

In the last couple of months, I have consistently built relationships with more experienced professionals in the career-tech and fintech space. After you become more valuable by investing in yourself, your ability to leverage is the surest way to earn many times what you currently earn. Why? Because you’re able to do more with less! 

So, if you have a passion, start now, and you’ll begin to attract all the help and guidance you need!

Conclusion

There are two fundamental principles to earning more. The first is to be more valuable, and the second is to master the art of leveraging. Doubling your income is easier than you think! However, it’s not an overnight hack. Instead, it’s a solid long-term growth strategy!

Does the idea of pursuing a career in marketing thrill you? Are you in need of a concise yet, well-packed pocket guide on this subject? You need not look further! Grab a seat, some drink, and get ready to learn all you need to know right on these pages!

It is no news that marketing is fast evolving.  As more companies/firms are being registered, more brands of the same products or services are made available. This means more marketing experts are needed for brand awareness.

With the present state, it is the best marketer, i.e., the one who employs adequate, well-informed, and well-timed marketing strategies that eventually catch the buyer’s attention and sustains such. It is the survival of the fittest.

What Is A Career in Marketing All About?

Marketing involves all activities carried out by a company to promote sales of its products or services. It begins with the products and services rendered by the company or business to its pricing and place, then to its promotion and awareness. Therefore, the marketer’s job is to carry out marketing activities and campaigns. The marketer plays a leading role in:

• Raising Brand Awareness
• Generating about high-quality leads
• Developing and maintaining a good relationship with prospects & customers
• Researching the market trends and price system
• Raising and mentoring brand ambassadors for the company.

The marketer is invaluable with ever-increasing roles. Thus, the marketer must always be at the top of his game by being a lifelong learner.

Career Positions Available in the Marketing Industry

The field of marketing is broad! Therefore, specialization is key. However, general knowledge of the functions makes a marketer versatile. The following are some of the positions available:

Product Marketing Manager

Product Marketing involves communicating products’ benefits to prospects, customers, industry analysts, and to the public in general. Therefore, product marketing managers determine the target market and it’s size. They are also main value propositions and critical decisions makers on positioning and sales performance. Other important roles of a marketing manager include:

• Working hand-in-hand with the product manager to ensure  market-friendly products are released to the market.
• They develop and implement strategies, tools and campaigns that appeal to both potential and regular client’s.
• They develop Marketing Strategy Communication and execute training of sales persons on effective ways to sell the products.
• They create necessary materials and document for product description and Marketing.

The functions of product marketing manager are not fixed, as each is dependent on the organization and products involved.

Growth Marketing Manager

Growth marketing managers are indispensable in most organizations. Growth to a marketer is simply the process of acquiring, activating, retaining, and reactivating both new and old customers. Growth Marketing makes use of the traditional method of marketing and modern/digital marketing tools to support and analyze results. Growth Marketing helps to define customers or prospects by the use of marketing tools that engage and convert customers. Other Critical roles include:

• Technical analysis of data to monitor customer experience and conversion rate, and seek ways to improve it.
•  Use of digital marketing models such as A/B testing, SEO optimization, etc., to measure the growth of a marketing strategy.
• Set company’s sales goals and implement necessary procedures to see that are achieved.

Demand Generation Manager

Demand Generation Managers supervise and control all ideas, methods, and tactics that helps to cultivate and maintain long-term relationship with customers. Primarily, they focus on getting customers excited with the company’s products or services. They also focus on increasing brand awareness and product education. Other important roles are:

• Draft demand Generation plans and goals, and give a feasible approach to ensure they are achieved.
• Seek new market opportunities and strategically launch into it. 
•  To promote products and services and create a Buzz in the existing market for the company’s brand.
• Drive up demand and increase distribution of products to all channels.
• Ensure contents reach the appropriate quarters at the right time.

Content Marketer

Content Marketing is the act of creating and sharing online materials or documents such as videos, articles, social media posts and so on, in order to stimulate target customers’  interest in a product or service. The marketing content is to convince the reader, viewer or listener as the case may be (a prospective buyer), that the product or service being offered is the best. Ultimately, the goal is for them to take an action. A good content must be clear and easy to understand. Only authentic information about the product or service to be offered should be included. Though it could be in any form, educational, entertaining or promotional.

Other career options include Content Strategy Marketing, Web and conversion Optimization, Influencer Marketing, Video marketing, database marketing, and growth hacking. If you consider any or all of these, you are driving your marketing career to a climax.

Things You Need to Do to Advance Your Marketing Career

1. Select your field(s)

If you don’t know what you want to do, you can’t know how to do it. You have to get a seat and think to discover your passion in Marketing. Out of those mentioned or discussed above, which of them matches your current or dream job in marketing or works best for your company’s products or services. Choose your area(s) of specialization but have generalized knowledge of other fields in marketing. 

2. Research and Learn

People who desire growth dig deep. They are those who go beyond what the average marketer knows. Research and continuous learning are very crucial to advancing your career. Things keep changing, and new things keep evolving. If you must select the right marketing campaign and meet the current standards, you must be ready to study hard. You can learn a lot from free or paid marketing courses online or get a personal mentor. Be aware of the latest trends!

3. Creativity

To succeed in Marketing, you have to be creative. Creativity, they say, is the mother of all innovation. As the competition becomes intense, only those who are intelligent enough to bring out a creative copy, generate better keywords for their SEO, think of better ways to avoid their marketing emails being spammed, and so on will make it to the peak.  Think of better ways to bring about brand awareness and generate more leads. Then you will stand out among your marketing colleagues.

4. Networking

This is indispensable for every marketer. There are different ways to network, such as social media networking, casual networking, customer service networking, etc. Your business network will determine the number of people you would have to reach out to. For instance, if you are a social media marketer, make sure you keep getting more followers or connections. This would determine the number of people you can reach via social media. Networking is the only way you can develop a solid local and digital presence.

5. Understand Digital Data Analytics

If you want to be a step ahead in marketing, you should understand how to use data analysis. This would help you analyze customer behavior.  And you can use that to generate new sales opportunities and methods and eradicate ineffective campaigns. Key data analytics tools include:

• The click-through rate
• The bounce rate
• Customer engagement rate
• Customer retention rate
• The Return on advertising spend
• Cost per click.

Conclusion

The ball is now in your court! Put your hands on deck, research, learn and grow. Wishing you a successful career!

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Are you seeking the best-paying job but not quite sure if you qualify? You will be happy to hear that many best-paying jobs in Nigeria are interested more in your skillset and experience; not your university degree.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy, with a GDP of just under $450 billion. Projections show that Nigeria has the potential to grow at more than 7 percent annually in the coming decade. How do you think that can be made possible? When a greater proportion of our young population is involved in best paying jobs in Nigeria and contributing meaningfully to our economy. 

Why don’t many high-paying jobs require specific university degrees?

This is the first question that comes to mind. Why would a job pay well but not require a specific university degree? 

Let’s first understand the labor market scenario in Nigeria. 

It is a well-known fact that the demand for a skilled workforce is outpacing the supply of workers with university degrees. In the last three decades, the Nigerian population has become more educated. But while we might have the most educated population ever, these degrees aren’t necessarily giving people the practical work skills they need.

According to the World Bank Document, Nigeria: Skills for Competitiveness and Employability, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand of skills among university graduates in the Nigerian labor market. Many graduates lack workplace readiness and soft skills such as time management, creative thinking, and general communication. 

Additional years spent in university might not translate into skills and thus into higher productivity and earnings. A study reported that the highest return is for people with tertiary education. 

The way technology is progressing and disrupting the world, the future of work won’t be about degrees; it’ll be about skills. With the need for skills and experience for a job, the degree requirements have taken a back seat. With the changing times, employers seek employees with relevant experience and risk-taking ability. 

For instance, you can become a graphic designer without going down the usual degree route. A degree is not equal to excellent graphic designing skills. There are so many successful graphic designers who are not professionally certified. It’s their creativity, vision, and artistic skills that push them ahead. You need to invest in two things: constantly learning and building your portfolio. With the right attitude and discipline, you can learn through online tutorials, short courses, classic books, training videos, and boot camps to guide yourself into the graphic designing profession. New graphic designing tools emerge, and you need to keep pace by learning on the job. 

Looking for a highly paid job in Nigeria but do not have a university degree? A highly paid job in Nigeria is all about your CV. Let’s create a winning CV with the No.1 CV Maker in Nigeria at Reventify to get a job in Nigeria.

University Degree doesn’t mean low skill. 

Historically, university degrees were considered as stamps of knowledge and skills. But times have changed. Rapidly advancing technologies have created an environment where what you learn in college becomes obsolete within a decade. Most of the mundane tasks are taken over by computers, and you need to be doing higher-value work. 

Yes, we know a lot of jobs demand hard skills, however, as you progress in your career, there’ll be a lot more emphasis on having soft skills – the ability to write, listen, and communicate effectively that never go out of date. 

While some jobs require an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or another kind of credential, many well-paying positions do not require a post-secondary degree. Some of these roles require completion of a certificate program, vocational training, or apprenticeship, and others will provide on-the-job training.

In 2017, PwC began a pilot program allowing high school graduates to begin working as accountants and risk management consultants. In August 2018, a jobs website Glassdoor listed 15 companies that no longer require a degree including tech giants like Apple, IBM, and Google. The same website also mentioned that increasingly there are many companies offering well-paying jobs to those with non-traditional education or a high-school diploma. 

The below job ad on the PwC website for non-graduates is proof that having a university degree is not sacrosanct to get a high-paying job.  

Do you know the portion of non-college-educated employees at Google has grown over time? 

Then, there is the gig economy, which is growing much faster in the face of the current pandemic crisis worldwide. Freelancers are prevalent in a range of sectors, from writers and artists to science and engineering technicians.

You need to possess in-demand skills more than a degree. To gain technical skills, you can enroll in online programs such as e-learning sites like Coursera or Udemy.

List of Top Paying jobs Without a Degree in Nigeria

1. Software engineering – To become a software engineer, you don’t need to do a degree course. You can get training and start working as a software engineer within a few months. Looking at the current growth in IT sector, the future is bright for software engineers. Companies are actively searching for talented software engineers to fill their open job roles. According to PayScale, the average salary for a software engineer is Naira 2,934, 412. Check software engineering online courses at Coursera and Codeacademy. There are many other free online courses to learn coding, and programming languages like Python, C++. 

2. Digital marketer – Digital marketing is an evolving career path. The digital marketing career involves many niche jobs. There are various digital marketing roles like online content developer, social media marketing, brand management, content marketing, inbound marketing, SEO specialist, web designer, professional blogger, email marketer, SEO analytics specialist, and UI/UX specialist. The starting salary of a digital marketing manager in Nigeria may be as low as Naira 180,000 per month but after few years of experience they can earn over Naira 350,000 per month. 

3. Data scientist – Data scientists use mathematics and programming to collect, clean, and explain data. They use mathematical and statistical models to acquire data and then convert it into actionable insights. They employ machine learning, artificial intelligence, and analytical tools along with solid interpersonal skills to do this. According to Salary Explorer, the salaries of a data scientist in Nigeria range from 168,000 NGN to 481,000 NGN per month. While it is common for data scientists to have a degree, a degree is becoming less of a requirement for data scientist jobs. For most companies, it is more important to demonstrate your skills and experience, rather than a specific degree. There are several data science and artificial intelligence bootcamps and certification courses like Datalab to get hands-on experience in gaining the right skills. 

4. Brand influencer – Influencer marketing is a marketing tactic adopted by most companies these days. Most brands are leveraging the power of social media influencers to market and promote their brand products and services. Ever heard of Ademola Ogundele? He is a writer, blogger and founder CEO of NotJustOk, a popular music website with a mission to spread Nigerian music around the globe. Another famous brand influencers are Nosa & Folly who visit restaurants around Lagos, eat their food and write reviews. Check out the Top 1000 Instagram Influencers in Nigeria in 2021. Choose your niche and the social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok). Write and create posts to build an audience. Brands pay $10-$100 per Instagram post to nano-influencers with 1000-10,000 followers. This may increase upto $10,000 per post for mega influencers with 1,000,000+ followers. 

5. Actor – Nollywood has experienced notable growth in recent years, especially with the success of movies streaming of Netflix and YouTube. Average Nigerian movie stars earn between N100,000 to N500,000 per role, while the big names in the industry earn between N1 million to N5 million. If you think you are talented and have some background in acting, then do give acting profession a try. Create an acting portfolio with all the relevant work done so far and join a talent agency. A talent agency has the right connections and information about the upcoming acting opportunities in Nollywood. You may also attend acting classes to hone your acting skills. Be active on social media and build your personal brand. 

6. Sales Rep – As sales is the core of every business, it’s bit natural that there are a plethora of sales jobs. Sales representative (in short sales rep) is a person who demonstrates and sells a product to a government agency or a private company, instead of selling directly to consumers. For example, sales rep of pharmaceutical companies selling products to doctors. You don’t need any specific degree. If you have the right attitude to sell, strong communication skills, and patience, you can easily become a sales rep. The average salary of a sales rep in Nigeria is around 217,000 NGN per month. Typically, salaries range from 99,700 NGN to 344,000 NGN.

7. Real Estate Agent – You don’t need a college degree to become a real estate agent. Real estate is considered to be a lucrative and highly profitable career. You need strong persuasion and negotiation skills. Start with working for a real estate agency to gain experience and understand the industry. It will help improve your communication skills and you will learn how to build a strong network with brokers, sellers, buyers, and real estate companies. You will also have more information on things happening in the real estate sector. You may choose to work independently or associate with a real estate company. The average salary of a real estate agent in Nigeria is 294,000 NGN. 

8. Personal Trainer – This is a brilliant career for those interested in exercising and promoting healthier lifestyle. Transform your passion for exercise into a rewarding career for yourself. There is no need for a college degree. You need to enroll with a reputable training provider to receive personal trainer qualification training and first aid certification. Personal trainers typically earns around 250, 000 NGN per month. 

“Formal education will make you a living. 

Self-education will make you a fortune.”

 – Jim Rohn

Developing the required skill set for such jobs

A skill set is a combination of your abilities, qualities, and experiences that you can apply to perform a task. Each person has a unique skill set depending on individual interests, personality traits, and technical knowledge. 

First, determine your current skills. Spend time answering the following questions: 

• What do you enjoy? For example, interacting with people, solving problems, writing, etc. 
• Are you complimented for any specific ability? For example, ability to solve problems, resolving conflicts, etc. 
•  Do you have any past accomplishments? It could be anything big or small. For example, you completed a community project, volunteering, or won an award. 
• What skills helped you deliver results? 

Next, you must expand your skillset to take advantage of the opportunities. Here are several ways you can develop the required skills for top-paying jobs without a degree: 

• Set goals for yourself – Once you’ve decided what you want to do, you need to set specific goals with timelines to achieve them. 
• Learn from online resources – There are free online training programs, YouTube videos, e-books, and blogs. Dedicate few hours every day to acquire as much knowledge as possible. 
• Practice your skills – List down the technical skills you’ll require. It could be the ability to use some digital tools or subject knowledge. 
• Freelance (if possible) – Register on online portals to get freelance jobs. Some popular freelancing portals are Freelancer.com, Upwork.com, and Fiverr.com. 
• Find a mentor – Look online for experts in your chosen field. Connect with them. You may find their email ids, subscribe to personal blogs or follow social media profiles. 
• Review related job descriptions – This will give you an idea of what skills are required. You can use this to evaluate your own skillset. Look for opportunities in your network to acquire the necessary skill set to transition into that position. 
• Join a professional association in your field – There are many professional associations on local, state, national, and international levels. This will help you connect with like-minded professionals, gain resources and expert knowledge to enhance your skillset. 
• Work hard – There is no limit to what you can achieve when you work hard. 

When you come across a job that seems like an ideal fit for, don’t put it aside if the “education qualification” section says “degree desired.” Some hiring managers fill this section because it is the “norm.” 

Finding Best Paying Jobs in Nigeria

However, if you can prove that you have the skills needed for the job, some employers won’t hesitate to hire you even if you lack a formal university degree. 

Here’s what you can do to find high paying jobs

1. Analyze the job listings – If the job description degree is desired or recommended, the hiring manager is open to considering an applicant without a degree. Analyze the skills and knowledge required. Ask yourself do you have those particular skills or experiences. If yes, go ahead with full confidence. 

2. Step up your education – Even if you cannot get a university degree, you can go for short certificate programs and online courses. You can add these in the education section of your resume. 

3. Show you are a good fit – Match the skills listed in your resume to the job listing. Connect your knowledge, skills, and experiences to the job description. For example, suppose the job listing says applicants need to have “experience in social media marketing”. In that case, you might mention in your resume the social media marketing projects that you’ve handled in the past. 

4. Networking – It is always good to know people from your industry and profession. For example, if you are a web developer, attend professional events in your region. Connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and stay active and visible by sharing relevant industry news or opinions. If you come across a job opening, see if any of your connections is willing to write you a recommendation.

5. Focus on “haves” and not “not haves” – In your cover letter, highlight how your skills and experiences are the perfect fit for the job. Avoid focusing on your lack of a university degree. Explain how you can add value and be a success in the position. 

Conclusion

Times have changed. People without a university degree are entering high-paying jobs like web developers, graphic designing, hair stylists, personal trainers, etc. Of course, there are professions like doctors and engineers which ask for a formal qualification. But, several best-paying jobs are willing to hire those with no university degree. 

So, don’t waste your time and energy feeling sorry for not having a university degree. Take control. Utilize technology to boost your skillset and direct your career. 

Interested in a well-paying job in Nigeria but do not have a university degree? The key to getting a high-paying job in Nigeria is your CV.  Make a winning CV with the No.1 CV Maker in Nigeria at Reventify to land your dream job in Nigeria.

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The HR profession is a gratifying one filled with numerous exciting challenges. Being an HR professional in the 21^st century requires you to play critical roles at conference tables, make real business decisions, and ensure the company reaches new heights. So, an HR is no longer a mere tactician who seeks solely to maintain a company’s budgets. That said, the opportunities available to people who want to become HR professionals are unlimited. 

Have you always wanted to become a successful HR professional who takes different companies to great heights? If yes, then the thought of it might lead you to ponder what qualities successful HRs possess and how they live. So, if you want to be a successful HR professional, I’ll share with you some practical tips on how to go about it. 

Who is an HR Professional?

Before we proceed into the practical guide to becoming a successful HR professional, let’s first consider what it means to be a professional and delve into some of the must-have skills. More often than not, people opt to become HRs because they are a “people’s person” and enjoy helping others. While this is a strong passion, it is nowhere near an exhaustive list of all you need. 

Today, HR managers serve as a bridge between the corporate leaders and the employees. And they are indispensable when it comes to recruiting employees that will move the company forward. As mentioned earlier, an HR manager is no longer restricted to just the business’s administrative arm alone. Now, they plan alongside the company’s top executives. 

HR managers also ensure that the employees’ productivity is at a maximum. They ensure this by providing the right working conditions, suitable working environment, limiting employee turnover, increasing job satisfaction, and maintaining healthy relationships. Therefore, in addition to being a “people person,” there are many other skills you need to have. Here’s how you can become a successful HR professional!

1. Thought Leadership

A thought leader is an informed opinion leader in a field of expertise. Thought leaders are the go-to people when people have problems in a field. Thought leaders are also trusted sources for innovative ideas that move and inspire people. They bring ideas to life and also show people how to replicate their success. And over time, thought leaders amass a group of friends, fans, and dedicated followers, spreading their influence and capability in an industry.

To become a thought leader, you need to clarify your area of expertise and focus on it. Consistent work in a given area of expertise helps you build your brand and establish credibility. So, go deep on a few topics rather than trying to do something on every topic. Also, you can steadily build your reputation as a thought leader by attending source interviews, charity events, and the like. 

Thought leadership requires that you keep learning about your industry and stay on top of what’s happening. Doing this will help you become a forward thinker who proffers solutions to real-world problems. You also have to listen to others because no one has all the answers. Boost your social media presence and online reputation on platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn. Work with other influencers, continue to network and keep at it until you become a trusted thought leader! 

2. Professional Development and Certification

To become a successful HR professional, you must learn to develop yourself professionally so that you can stand out. If you do not learn and evolve, you can become old school fast. The profession is becoming more competitive! Getting professional certifications is also very important as this proves that you have acquired new skills or knowledge. You can obtain professional certifications in addition to or in place of advanced degrees. You can check out these 12 types of HR Certifications for different HR professionals levels and get to know the requirements and costs as well. Globally, the SHRM-CP is one of the preferred certifications for HR professionals, however, If you’re based in certain regions of the world, you may be required to be certified by the country’s prominent HR professional body. For example, in Nigeria, it is the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM). 

3. Network Building with Other HR Professionals

Nobody is an island of knowledge. And this is also true for all HR professionals. To succeed in this profession, you have to build a strong network with other HR professionals. Connect with other HR professionals on business platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter and get to know them better. Doing this is in many ways beneficial to your profession because you’re steadily building an army of loyal friends and teams. You can collaborate with them on different ideas and get featured in their posts, talks, and the like.

In addition, getting to know other HR professionals will go a long way in keeping you updated on emerging trends and loopholes you should either avoid or capitalize on in the field. Do this and prepare to be light years ahead of your peers who don’t! 

4. Keeping Up to Date with HR Technology Trends and HR Policies 

Keeping up with the technological trend and policies trend will go a long way in helping you become the successful HR you want to be! So, don’t hold back on the following strategies:

• Listen to podcasts
• Go to the source 
• Attend local events
• Take professional and development classes
• Become obsessed with improving

5. Empathy 

Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t have to like everybody to become a successful HR professional. However, you need to be able to show empathy and compassion. Compassion is a key ingredient in the recipe for becoming a successful HR. And since HRs regularly deal with employees and other people in the company, lack of empathy may be a stumbling block to progress. It would help if you showed people that you care about them, listen to them, and want to see them perform excellently at their duty.

6. Multi-Tasking

In most companies, an ideal HR would have a lot of holes to fill. A professional HR may have to switch from recruiting and training to planning in a matter of seconds. You could be consoling an employee this minute and taking a performance report in the next. Your ability to transition smoothly will significantly impact your success as an HR.

7. Recruiting Employees

For professional HRs, recruiting is more than just displaying the company’s vacancy for people to apply. It also means finding the appropriate candidate for the position. Depending on the company’s value and goals, finding a suitable applicant could be one of your worst nightmares. It would help if you had excellent interviewing and shortlisting skills. The ability to read people and to study both their verbal and non-verbal communication is essential. Therefore, work at becoming the best recruiter there is and take your company to greater heights!

8. Talent Pipeline Development

As an HR, you should be concerned with developing a talent pipeline because you might need them sooner rather than later. What happens if a crucial space becomes vacant, but you have no replacement? You can’t wait for that to happen before you start searching for a replacement. So, talent pipeline development is a proactive approach to getting hired fast. Developing your talent pipeline will save you time and minimize losses to the company.

9. Alignment of Culture, People, and Company Goal

People and companies have their individual goals. And if employees cannot align with their company goals, there will be an imbalance, and employees will not be unable to perform to the best of their ability. Your role as an HR is to ensure that you can marry the company’s culture and goals with that of its employees.

10. Mentorship

Every great leader needs to mentor and be mentored. So, if you want to become a successful HR professional, you need to seek successful HRs as mentors. You can learn boatloads of things from them in a short time. It would also be best if you mentored upcoming HR professionals to keep your mind fresh. Each one, teach one!

Wrapping It All Up

You can become a successful HR if you have the right attitude and knowledge. Fire ahead, and don’t hold back! If you still have thoughts in your head about how to make good career decisions, you may want to read our article on how to decide on which career is best for you.

The Role of Sales in Any Business

1. Business Growth: Without sales, there can be no growth. Making sales and landing deals is the primary source of income for most companies. So, when there is an increase in sales, a business will grow and expand without holding back.
2. Customer Retention and Referrals: Making sales helps a business meet new customers and interact with them on many levels. While most customers tend to be on-off buyers, a good salesperson turns most customers into frequent buyers. And not only that, they make these customers become advocates for their business! These customers will then inform their friends and family about your product. And before you know what hit you, your business will become a household name!
3. Product/Service Improvement: You can’t know how well your product or service fares in the real world if you don’t sell to customers and have them give you feedback on the products/services. This is why you must go all out to make sales to as many customers as possible. All great salespeople understand this and therefore meet more people than average. And they don’t stop there – they ask for specific feedback on the product/service after some time. 

Ten Qualities of a Good Salesperson

1. Confidence: Good salespeople are confident. They trust in their ability to sell anything. Confidence is an important trait that helps others trust you. When you appear and talk confidently, people will believe you. So, don’t be afraid to express yourself when you have to sell. Remember two things: one; if you don’t sell, you will not eat! And secondly, if you start with confidence, you have won even before you start. 
2. Networking Skills: The top 1% of sales professionals are great networkers. And as Porter Gale wrote, “your network is your net worth.” When you network, you invest in your sales career. The more you meet people, the greater your chances of advertising your products or services. And the more people you promote to, the higher the number of sales you’re likely to make.
3. Resilience: Usually, things may not start as smoothly as you expect. Except you’re a natural salesperson, you’ll have to start by closing one sale for every ten people you meet. And according to the legendary Jim Rohn, when you get better, you can close four deals for every ten people you meet.
4. Good Listening Skills: Good salespeople don’t do all the talking. They listen well to what their customers want and what complaints they have. To be a good salesperson, you must be an active listener and make customers feel important.
5. Honesty: Don’t expect loyal customers if you can’t provide honest service. When people discover you are truthful, they build confidence in you and even refer you to their friends and family.
6. Enthusiasm: Enthusiasm is a light that reflects in the face of your customer. It’s a magnet that attracts them to you. According to Napoleon Hill, spoken words without enthusiasm are often ineffective. The most successful salespeople aren’t necessarily the most knowledgeable about a product. Instead, they are those who infuse what they know with enthusiasm!
7. Competitiveness: Good salespeople are aware that there are other products or services out there. Therefore, they don’t just sell their best but also make sure that they are the best out of all salespeople in their industry.
8. Creativity: Good salespeople think creatively. They focus their thoughts on value creation which makes them find better means of driving sales.
9. Ability to conduct proper research: Good salespeople don’t just wake and get into sales. They do the necessary research such as market surveys and then make their sales pitch from that.
10. Tech Savvy: The 21^st century salesperson must take advantage of the latest technology and social media trends. In essence, he must be socially and technically inclined. One-on-one sales strategy can only take you this far. But when you leverage the internet and meet millions of people at a time, you can imagine what that will do to your business. 

The Difference Between Sales and Marketing

The Different Types of Sales Jobs

1. Business Developers: Business developers deal with finding the appropriate market segment that fits a company’s product. Their roles are to identify new business opportunities, leads, pitches, etc. They also seek the establishment of new products and communicate them to potential customers.
2. Growth Hackers: Growth hackers create strategies and plan to acquire and retain customers so that the businesses grow. They focus on finding low-cost strategies that optimize business opportunities for the company.
3. Enterprise Salespeople: Enterprise sales are also called complex sales. It’s the kind of sales made by large business organizations. The decision-making process usually involves two or more people, and the deals could take a long time. Enterprise sales occur in businesses purchasing a large contract of goods or services.
4. Account Managers: Account managers are responsible for overseeing individual salespeople. They focus mainly on retaining new and old clients, and they look out for business opportunities.
5. Sales Managers: Sales managers are responsible for planning and developing strategies to meeting sales targets for a set period. They are responsible for how sales progress and work hand in gloves with other sales teams.

Building A Career in Sales

1. Start early
2. Start small
3. Build a network and enlarge it gradually
4. Build yourself, your communication skills, and resiliency
5. Build your CV and cover letter.

How to Carve A Niche and Become Known as A Top Salesperson?

1. Think and act for long term 
2. Manage and invest your time judiciously
3. Avoid sure distractions and focus on one thing at a time
4. Believe in yourself and your product or service
5. Think of rejections as opportunities
6. Don’t ever quit.

Final Thoughts