“We hope this meets you well. We are sorry…” is the introduction that job applicants dread.
Unfortunately, those words have followed me all the way from Nigeria to the UK.
Recruitment systems have been a constant nightmare. It feels as though those with genuine interest are shut out in favour of people who have mastered the art of promoting themselves. In the last five years, despite feedback and improvements to my CV and cover letters, I have not landed my dream job.
Anytime I look at my experiences and knowledge in educational development, I feel I have all it takes, but every rejection has drilled a nail of self-doubt into me, and moving from Nigeria to the UK has not changed the situation.
For the past ten years, I’ve been stuck in a teaching job that I’ve come to hate. I had hoped that my master’s degree would help me transition into higher education or non-governmental organisations, but every job application has been unsuccessful.
This becomes more frustrating as family and friends point out my supposed lack of seriousness in finding a job that matches my skills and knowledge. I am constantly reminded of my laziness to get up and get a better job. No one saw me queuing under the sun to get interviewed at institutions in Kaduna, Nigeria. They didn’t see the ineffectiveness of the recruitment system in Nigeria.
I harboured the thought that the Nigerian system was the problem. So, when I got a scholarship for another master’s in the UK, I felt my eureka moment was here. I came here with bags of expectations – finally, a more progressive society where my skills and talents would be rewarded. “Jobs are easy to get in the UK,” people chorused as I left.
But the story hasn’t changed. Like many other students, my visa and lack of UK work/job experience create stumbling blocks in the job search. The world still thinks we’re not putting in enough effort. The question is where on earth do we go from here?
Another article you may enjoy: https://thebadgeronline.com/2025/04/trans-women-are-women-the-supreme-court-ruling-is-a-bigoted-step-back/