The day I had bad encounter with my boss.

I look at my life and say “I am blessed.” Even when faced with adversity, I still came out stronger and better.

It was fun and happy mood when I got a job in one of the big Paint company in Port Harcourt. I had always dreamt of working in a big oil company but immediately after my NYSC, just a month, I got a job in this paint company as an assistant auditor. I was so lucky enough that I was so loved by my colleagues and bosses. Even though It was not an oil and gas company I dreamt of. I still moved on. My boss I answer directly to is the chairman of my department and I also heard he’s one of the shareholders in the company. And the pay I was offered was okay.

A year and 6 months into the job, a female colleague of mine came to my desk one Friday morning as usual. We were chatting when she told me that she applied to a multi national oil company in that Port harcourt. Na so I come dey vex say she no tell me nah. She said she doesn’t know that I would be interested. And she felt I was comfortable in our present company. I had always wanted to work in an oil company. Infact I don even see the thing for vision say one day, I go work for oil company. My colleauge told me it wasn’t too late, I can still apply though the job positions were not advertised. It was an insider that told her. Na so I reach house that day, brought out my CV were I kept it, dusted the thing and repackaged it.

Two days later, I took permission from my office and went to submit my CV at the other company. I applied for the post of an assistant financial officer in the company. Three weeks later, I got a text on my phone inviting me for an interview in the oil and Gas company. Na so I happy oooo. I prepared so well for the interview. I even did a research on the company and the pay that comes with the position I applied for. Mehn the pay was way more that my salary in my company. It was N100,000 more. Who no like better thing! Plus the other allowances and packages attached. Sure, I and my female colleague was invited for the interview too. Both of us were so happy. The day of the interview, I took permission from the office that I won’t be coming to work that day. I was just so confident. Something in me was telling me that I was going to get the job but I was still calm and prayed to God. Infact I even made a vow that if I get the job, my first salary, I go give am to God. I got to the company for the interview that day. Fortunately, my colleague came before me and she was number 7 and I was given 14. We were 20 I counted that came for the interview. Na so all of us sit down for waiting room. A lady came in and addressed us. She told us that we would be going into the interview room by our numbers, one at a time. Though there was fear in me but I tried to wave it off, being confident not over confident. Na so the interview start. No. 1 entered and came out and two entered. As no. 1 came out, you need to see the way some other applicants rushed up to her. They were asking her how it went and what they asked. Me, I no even move. I just stayed were I was, focused and composed myself I was thinking and remembering what I have read about the company. It got to the turn of my colleague and she entered. About two minutes time, she was out. But as she walked out, her countenance, her face was not looking good. I immediately stood up from my seat and approached her as we went outside the room. I asked what was wrong. Na so she drop the bomb shell. “Boss messed up my interview,” she said. Boss keh! Because I didn’t understand what she was saying. Na so she tell me say, our Oga in the office who I work directly under was part of the HR team conducting the oral interview. “How come,” I thought to myself. I know my boss is indeed a great human resources manager. He had help hired for some big companies. But I didn’t know he would be part of that process of the company. I was totally diverstated. The confidence I had just went flat. It looked as if the devil has poured me cold water. Goose pimples all over my body. I wondered how I would face him. Infact, he was the first person I told the previous day that I won’t be coming to work that day. I told him I would be traveling to my village to see my grand mom though would come back. Now he would see me at the interview. It will look as if I am not loyal and comfortable at the company. I told my colleague that I was considering backing off in the interview
so my Oga will not see me. But she said he (Oga) has already seen me. That the name of all the applicants for the job posts had already been submitted to them. Its on their desk at the interview office. And they had already gone through our CVs and documents before we come into the room for the interview. So my Oga don already see my credentials and passport photographs attached to it. My colleague also said that there was CCTV in the interview room. So they were watching us in the waiting room. So what is the need of walking away! Nothing. But my colleague said that my Oga didn’t give the second guy chance to asked her questions. He was just bombarding her with questions like, “What makes you think you are good enough for this company?” “ Why do you want to quit your former place of work?” Hmmmm, I braced myself. My colleague was not happy at all, neither was I. it looked as if our jobs are at stake. The current one we are applying for was not even sure, we don’t even know our fate. “Infact with this my Oga, there was no fate in this,” I thought to myself. I went back to the waiting room quietly with my confidence, poise smashed. It was almost getting to my turn. The number 11 had gone in.It got to my turn and I went in. And our eyes met, I and my boss. Chaiiiii, I tried to maintain my cool. I greeted him and the second man. The weird way he was looking at me, it was just scary. Something in me was like, “Guy just forget about your job in that company. Your Oga go sack you.” That eye look that kind that says, “I will finish you.” The other man asked me to sit and I did. I could see that my Oga was holding my file. I tried to compose myself. “Why do you want to leave your present job,” was the first question my Oga asked me. As if I wrote that I was presently working CV. But I didn’t. I began feeling uneasy. E be like say na there my downfall go start. I had to choose my words, what I speak and how I do it. The other guy might not understand what was going. Well I told him that I wanted to test new waters, take up another challenge from another sector.

My Oga--- What kind of challenge? Does it mean you are not comfortable the ones (challenges) at your job before? (my Oga saying it harshly.. chaiii. I don enter am) The Other man tries to cut in, to talk but Oga told him to wait first so I can answer his questions.
Me – Well, different jobs with different challenges. I love challenges. My current job offers challenges I can bear because they make me better person. But my reason for this job…
My Oga cuts in.
My Oga—Or its not challenging enough or?……
Chaiii. This man was really ready for me. And it’s making me scary and losing control. I just want to be in control of myself. Not to say what I don’t want to say.
Me – Not at all sir. It is challenging and I really
loved it and..
My Oga cuts in again
My Oga --- Then why do you want to leave to join
this one?
Me – (At this time, I had become confused) In my present job, I am an assistant auditor, but here, I am applying for an assistant financial officer which means I want to swap from that auditoria role to the main financial services role. Not that its not a good job and place but I just want to test another form and sector of the financial service role.
My Oga—Are you just testing or you want to do the job? Are we just here for job testing!

By this time, the other interviewer became interested in what was really going on between me and my Oga. Apparently, he doesn’t know that we know each other. As I was trying to answer the testing question my Oga asked, the second man asked where I currently work because my Oga had been referring to that. I no even know the question wey I wan answer again. My Oga had to intelligently asked the man to wait first so he could finish with me. And my answer to Oga…
Me – I want the Job, I am not testing. I am only referring to the challenges. Me moving from my auditorial role to financial and managerial role.
The Other Interviewer—Hmmmmmmm. You said you are an auditor for ….
As he was asking that, my Oga immediately cuts in.
My Oga --- If this company decides not to hire you, will you still test other companies?
Me – (This man sef) well, I will still remain in my company. Cuts in……
My Oga --- Remain in your company and looking else were? As at this time, this man don put me confusion for head. I just felt like leaving the place.
Me – I will stick to my company but still trying out other spheres of financial service roles. As Oga wants to hit me another question, the other interview asked me to go.

Well, I left feeling sad. I don’t know what my fate would be. Maybe I would be sacked in the next couple of days. When I got home, I was restless. It looked as if one heavy headache came upon me. I couldn’t sleep. I resumed my job the next day. I had already given up on the interview at the oil company. I felt nothing would make me have it. When I came to the office, I met with my female colleague, the one that we had the interview together. She herself was restless. I normally report directly to my Oga directly every morning before work starts. That morning I went to his office when he came. I pretended as if nothing happened. Greeted him very well. I had put everything behind me and was ready to take what happens. After greeting, he answered me. Unlike before that he would tease me, he didn’t in this case. Well, me sef no ask him unnecessary questions. We did our usual audits and flows.

Days turned into weeks. I didn’t hear from the oil and gas company. I believed everyone had forgotten what happened during the interview at the oil company. Only for me to come to work one faithful morning and was told that the company was laying off workers. This is a company that has finalized bringing out advert that the are recruiting. How come they are laying off workers. My female colleague that we went to interview at the oil company, she was part of the people that was laid off. They said they were laying off just 8 people from the company and every department must release somebody. The first list in which contains my female colleague has just four people. She wasn’t lucky enough. So we began waiting for the second list of 4 other persons. Na so fear dey catch me. I felt I was the one going to be discharged in my department. When the second list came out. No one was dismissed in my department. But rather my Oga retired from the company and I was promoted. I was very happy but I still want the oil and gas job ooo.

Story by Onismate.

Job Interview tricks you need to know.

Hi Fellas, i came across this and it is too good to ignore so i decided to share it here.
The journey into the world of employment can take different forms. For some, it can be easy while for others it might be very difficult. Finding that particular job that resonates with you; that brings out the best in you; that makes you be on top of your game at all time is not child’s play. Job interviews are critical parts of this journey. In some cases, you might have to appear at different stages of interview – first interview, second interview and third interview. Even more in some cases.

The higher the level of the interview process the more difficult the questions you are asked. And your ability to tactfully answer these questions will put you in a vantage position over other interviewees. It is important to note that apart from the regular interview questions, some other questions may pop up that are not even related to the job you are applying for. Sometimes interviewers do this to see how you can think on the spot and make decisions when you have a short time to decide. And also know that it is one of the ways to separate the wheat from the chaff. So what are some of the hard questions you may likely be asked at your next interview? Let us consider 10 of such questions.

1. How did you or will you deal with a non-performing colleague? This is a human relationship question. The essence is to test your ability to work with people and be a team player. Definitely there will be times that colleagues fail in their duties and your own work is affected, but how do you deal with such situation? Tell the panel that you will find out if all is well with the colleague provided everything necessary to do his/her work is available. Tell them you will ask if there is something disturbing this colleague and if anything, how you may help so that his/her work and yours does not suffer.

2. Describe your relationship with your last boss or supervisor: The truth is that you can never have

a perfect boss or supervisor. There will always be areas where you disagree with him/her. And these

disagreements sometimes can be awry and leave much to be desired. However, you don’t have to tell the panel how you hated your boss or supervisor, because doing so will give an impression of how you will be relating with your new boss or supervisor should you be hired.

3. How do you get along with older or younger colleagues? The world of work is dynamic and you will meet different people with different ideologies and age ranges. Your colleagues could be older or

younger. Except if there are laid down policies that stipulate how to relate in terms of addressing each

other, for example as it is in some corporate organisations where they address each other by their first names, then how you relate and get along becomes critical. Mention that respect is a virtue that you have (hopefully you do), and that giving everyone their dues is how you deal with people, whether they are younger or older.

4. What is your main weakness? This is a tricky question and many interviewees fail it because they

unwittingly give answers that focus on their inability to deliver on the job. Remember that always, during interview focus should always be about your strength and that is what you should always project. So in a situation like this tell them you have tendencies to over work. Or that you can’t stand it when targets are not met. This way you have turned ‘weakness into strength’ by giving such reply.

5. What salary do you expect? Many job applicants fail at this stage of the interview. Many make the

mistake of talking money at the first stage of the interview. Doing this may project you as being money conscious. Do all you can at this stage to show what value and how you will add that value to the company. But when it gets to the salary part, be careful not to be the first to mention a figure, because you may mention an amount lower than what the company is planning to pay. You should wait and let them give you a range that they are willing to pay and then pick a figure that is slightly above the median amount. But if you are not sure, you can tell them you will get back to them so you can go and do your research to know the industry's standard as it relates to the job you are applying for. You can do an online search.

6. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Another very knavish question that requires some level of dexterity in answering. Interviewees who are not skilled will fall into this trap easily. When you answer this question you must show how this job will help you build a career. Don’t say you are going to switch careers and move on to something else that might suggest to the interviewers that you are not committed and focused. Mention where you see yourself in five years and how this job is key to take you there, not the money, but the challenge, experience and opportunity that comes from doing such a job.

7. What kind of a leader are you? A novice might be caught napping here. Someone who does not know that leadership is not about the position but responsibility will goof with this question. Basically, there are two types of leaders (but further breakdown exist), autocratic or democratic. An autocratic leader does not listen to team members. He just issues commands and everyone must obey without questioning. But a democratic leader is one who carries team members along; listens to their views and opinions and then accepts when he makes mistakes and as well make amends. He also does not arrogate all the glory to himself but acknowledges the efforts made by other team members. So this question is seeking to find out if you are a team player. So watch your steps before you slip.

8. If you find money or any other valuable within work premises that the owner cannot be traced, what will you do? Before anything, you should know this is a question about your integrity. Can

you be trusted is what they want to know (Hopefully you can be). Tell them since the money is not yours and the owner cannot be traced immediately you will hand it over to the company for keeps in case the owner shows up later, or as the case may be, hand it over to the police. And if you have an experience that can back that point give it.

9. Why should I hire you? Many job applicants freeze at this question. Naturally you would have thought that the interviewer should know why you are there facing the panel in the first place, so why

the question “Why should I hire you?” You are expected to show the panel that you have the necessary set of skills and experience to deliver on the job. That is why you should have done your homework to know what the job entails and then go there and tell them you are well equipped with the skills and experience you have garnered from past jobs you have done.

10. Why do you want to work here? “Why do you want to work here” is similar to “Why should I hire you”, but they are not the same. At this question of why you want to work here, you are simply to tell the panel of your admiration for the organisation. Point out some noble projects they do, some CSR projects, how they treat their staff with high regard and make working environment conducive and how their activities are helping to make life better for people and so on. There you have ten of some of the hard interview questions that you may be asked during your next interview. Remember that the interview session is not primarily set up to look for ways to disqualify you, but for you to proof to the interviewer that you are qualified. I wish you all the best at your next interview.