It's been long I'm active in careers section of NL, no thanks to the bubbling, once again, of Politics section, my primary constituency. Ever since we put to rest our interesting and exposing threads on 'investment banking in Nigeria', 'career path' and other highly educative threads we had here some months ago, I have not been coming here again.

Like I have always maintained in our previous discussions on NL, this accounting job I'm doing is just 'by the way', a career path which is closely related to Ajanlekoko's 'General Track' in his insightful thread: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=261802.msg3743137#msg3743137

I have always known I'm not cut out to be an Accountant even though those ACA and ACIT certificates I'm pursuing are just to dress my cabinet. I'm more at home with economic analysis than those figures. I have no regret I started with a job in Accounting, at least I now have more than a passing literacy in Finance, another value-added. But I'm still inconvenient with it and want to go back to primary field-Economics. I'm considering joining Central bank of Nigeria or Debt Management Office, and maybe in the nearest future, go a little bit international by giving a shot at World bank or any other reputable global financial and economic institutions.  I've been looking at this  for long and I want to be proactive.

I had a discussion with a close friend that was formerly with CBN and he told me how to go about it. But I have a number of challenges:

1, The step suggested involved writing to CBN Governor himself. My challenge is I am a known supporter of Sanusi and I have argued voraciously and written publicly in support of Sanusi(at least four articles I wrote on the Sanusi debate have been published in ThisDay, Sun, Daily Trust and New Age). I am also a known supporter of SLS on NL here and through my numerous write-ups on Facebook.  Now I'm hesitant to join CBN, especially writing Sanusi himself, as a matter of principle. I'm sure if Nairalanders get to know that Jarus is now in CBN, all my past debates in favour of the CBN governor will be dug out and I will be accused of being 'rewarded' for my 'ass-licking'. Ditto for my friends on Facebook. This is a reputation issue I don't want to take lightly, even though my opinions and public comments on Sanusi and the current reforms were strictly formed on my convictions that the reform is in order, save one or two methodological errors.

2, The career-pay conundrum. Coming from an indigenous, moderately-paying oil and gas company in the private sector, crossing over to the public sector, CBN or DMO, in the name of career pursuit is no doubt not going to be an easy decision, pay-wise. I don't have much experience( just entering 2 years). I bank on my not-too-bad CV and my strong conviction that, except if politics is put into it, I doubt if I can fluff CBN interview. I don't expect a mouth-watering pay package from CBN as a government institution, but I surely cannot take anything less than my current pay.

3, The Abuja factor. I have been planning of moving to Abuja for some time. My current job is a Head Office function(and our HO is in Lagos). The fact that getting a CBN job affords me the opportunity to move to Abuja is another latent case for the proposed move


I'm also considering Debt Management Office as an alternative to CBN.

Now discussions should centre around:

-Is this not a wrong time for me, morally speaking, to join CBN, giving the fact that I am a known supporter of the current governor?
-Does anybody have an idea about payscale in CBN and DMO?
-What are the training opportunities in CBN and DMO?
-Are these institutions really worthy platforms for going into economic analysis and policy inputs?
-What other informed advice do you have for me on this proposed career turn?

What level are you going to be applying for?
Don't we have private sector think-thank organisations in Nigeria that you can use as a side-step to your ultimate goal.

You've raised valid points about your consistent support of SLS but the fact remains that you are viewed as a man of integrity with enormous talent and abundance knowledge at disposal. So if having to write to sanusi is what it will take to get to where you wanna be then please no holding back.

We need intelligent heads at the helm of policy making in our Great Nation.

jay bee:

What level are you going to be applying for?

I don't know the structure in CBN, but definitely not entry level. Something like Assistant Economist etc. Maybe second level or third.

Don't we have private sector think-thank organisations in Nigeria that you can use as a side-step to your ultimate goal.

Economic associates is good, but I'm not so impressed with their pay. There are a few others, but I think I prefer public sector.

So if having to write to sanusi is what it will take to get to where you wanna be then please no holding back.

Having been an insider and seen people that did it and worked, I have been given valuable tips on how to get my papers across to the CBN governor directly, which he will minute on and get across to the Director of HR. But my concern is the morality of this route.

I have had engagements with DMO/IBRD on some projects like that and i like their work ethics and the level of professionalism displayed

i think they are sound people and you'll definitely add more to urself intellectually.
I do not think they'll be able to match your pay package since ure coming from a well recongised independent integratedenergy company which isnt doing badly in the country.

I doubt if CBN/DMO can match the pay at the level they'll give to you.

You do not need anybody to make you feel bad cos you wanna work in CBN, ive read where u have mentioned it clearly how you'll love to work in CBN even b4 Sanusi was installed. If you have to write to Sanusi describing how brilliant you aare brandishing ur impressive CV, then do it.

I also wanna work in Abuja but CBN and DMO cannot pay for ma lifestyle.

Nice one bro and do what you have to do to get what you have to get

Hi Jarus,
As regards writing to Sanusi for the job, I think he might not bulge due to the sensitivity involved considering what he is doing in the sector(the reforms). For if one of his enemies should be aware of what he did for you(assuming he helps) then he will be verbally attacked because he acts like an upright man. But nevertheless, you can still try as there is no harm in trying.

Cheers!

Absolutely nothing morally wrong about it. He his not going to be the one employing you, he will only recommend you in which you will still be tested by HR.
Stuffs like this goes on all the time. The highest paying jobs in public sector in the UK always get filled over tea&coffee by padi padies.
As long have you have the mental toughness and intellect needed to do the job then absolutely nothing morally wrong about it.

Would you steel have moral doubts about the whole process if you haven't spoken about Sanusi on NL?

while i'm not in the accounts sector, i do know a bit about the public service seeing as my folks have more around 60years experience combined, while the pay may not be mouth watering the truth is that if you're good at what you do(and i mean good not mediocre) the exposure and access you'll get in the public service'll trump what obtains in the private sector anyday, plus CBN and DMO are not federal ministries so the pay'll be better than what civil servants get.

you might want to think matters through before moving to abuja though, i live there presently(i dont work there though. . .for now) and the costs esp accomodation et al are not really "user friendly".

all the best in making your decisions though

netotse:

while i'm not in the accounts sector, i do know a bit about the public service seeing as my folks have more around 60years experience combined, while the pay may not be mouth watering the truth is that if you're good at what you do(and i mean good not mediocre) the exposure and access you'll get in the public service'll trump what obtains in the private sector anyday, plus CBN and DMO are not federal ministries so the pay'll be better than what civil servants get.

you might want to think matters through before moving to abuja though, i live there presently(i dont work there though. . .for now) and the costs esp accomodation et al are not really "user friendly".

all the best in making your decisions though

i beg to differ on the bolded part

what exposure can you possibly get from CBN that will trump what obtains in private sector? pls elaborate

kokonets:

Hi Jarus,
As regards writing to Sanusi for the job, I think he might not bulge due to the sensitivity involved considering what he is doing in the sector(the reforms). For if one of his enemies should be aware of what he did for you(assuming he helps) then he will be verbally attacked because he acts like an upright man. But nevertheless, you can still try as there is no harm in trying.

Cheers!

I think there is a misinterpretation here. I'm not seeking his favour. I'm not seeking anybody's favour. It's only that I don't want to use the usual channel of dumping CVs in HR, which will be treated as just any other CV. I'm sure CBN HR receives tens of CVs daily and there will be a dedicated file where they are being dumped without even being gone through. But the one that has CBN boss' minute or came from CBN governor's office will surely be taken seriously. I have a quite rich CV that is highly unlikely to be dumped if gone through, but having the HR go through it rather than treating as just any CV is the only reason I'm using the Governor's office route. It will be accompanied by a strong-worded introductory letter to the governor, expressing my genuine desire to join the organization out of conviction that it's a platform for achieving my long-sought ambition of being a trained Economist and not an Accountant. I will be absolutely silent on my debates/publications on the current Sanusi reforms.

tkb417:

I have had engagements with DMO/IBRD on some projects like that and i like their work ethics and the level of professionalism displayed

i think they are sound people and you'll definitely add more to urself intellectually.
I do not think they'll be able to match your pay package since ure coming from a well recongised independent integratedenergy company which isnt doing badly in the country.

I doubt if CBN/DMO can match the pay at the level they'll give to you.

You do not need anybody to make you feel bad cos you wanna work in CBN, ive read where u have mentioned it clearly how you'll love to work in CBN even b4 Sanusi was installed. If you have to write to Sanusi describing how brilliant you aare brandishing your impressive CV, then do it.

I also wanna work in Abuja but CBN and DMO cannot pay for ma lifestyle.

Nice one bro and do what you have to do to get what you have to get

I have also heard about DMO and the level of professionalism there and that is one of the reasons I'm seriously desiring moving there.
The pay package is still a concern and that is in fact the main thing making me hesitant, but if I look at the opportunity of rising, and find it okay, then I may have to trade the pay scale in the short run for long term career rise and growth.

jay bee:

Absolutely nothing morally wrong about it. He his not going to be the one employing you, he will only recommend you in which you will still be tested by HR.
Stuffs like this goes on all the time. The highest paying jobs in public sector in the UK always get filled over tea&coffee by padi padies.
As long have you have the mental toughness and intellect needed to do the job then absolutely nothing morally wrong about it.

Would you steel have moral doubts about the whole process if you haven't spoken about Sanusi on NL?

Yes, I know there is nothing absolutely wrong in it. Small boy as I am here, I have submitted CVs of guys I trust and recommended them to my Head of Dept, and those that proved themselves at selection process got the job. It's as easy as that. If I fluff the selection process, the SLS I know will never intervene on my behalf. It's purely a belief in my ability that I can prove myself if given the chance. My fear is the susceptibility of such move to misinterpretation, as an open Sanusi defender. Nobody will take time to ask how he gets the job, what will be bandied around is that that boy that wrote about Sanusi in newspapers has been 'rewarded' with CBN job. In fact, when a colleague of mine saw my 'Guest Columnist' article on Sanusi in Sun newspaper in October, the joke he cracked with me was 'this man, you want CBN job abi'. This is teh moral dilemma.

You do not need anybody to make you feel bad cos you wanna work in CBN, ive read where u have mentioned it clearly how you'll love to work in CBN even b4 Sanusi was installed.

Thanks for this, TKB. My interest in CBN dated back secondary school and I have mentioned it on NL far before Sanusi.


Finally, this thread is for the records. By the grace of God, I'm taking highly proactive steps towards realizing my dream, starting from next week.

tkb417:

i beg to differ on the bolded part

what exposure can you possibly get from CBN that will trump what obtains in private sector? pls elaborate

dunno abt d finance market specifically, but in the public sector u hv more access to the ppl that matter, i've seen my parents pull some strings that money can't pull o and its all because of who you've worked with.

sometimes money isnt the most important thing. esp in a country like naija influence is more important than money, u dont even have to do anything illegal, if you work somewhere like CBN the perks might not manifest in CBN itself.

@ Jarus

You don't know me but I know you from your posts which are generally insightful and well written, devoid of the usual drama one sees on Nairaland. Not to say I agree with everything you write but I believe you are a very sensible young man with a level of maturity far ahead of your peers so I'm sure you will do the right thing.

Too many of the youth in this country no longer dream, all too often it's all about striking wealth at the shortest possible time. Sad but true and I for one, would not stand in judgement of such individuals because the terrain is rough but it's refreshing to see a young man aspire beyond the usual.

Please work at your dream, I have no doubt you can achieve it and never let what others will say about you decide your course in life.

wwheelz:

@ Jarus

You don't know me but I know you from your posts which are generally insightful and well written, devoid of the usual drama one sees on Nairaland. Not to say I agree with everything you write but I believe you are a very sensible young man with a level of maturity far ahead of your peers so I'm sure you will do the right thing.

Too many of the youth in this country no longer dream, all too often it's all about striking wealth at the shortest possible time. Sad but true and I for one, would not stand in judgement of such individuals because the terrain is rough but it's refreshing to see a young man aspire beyond the usual.

Please work at your dream, I have no doubt you can achieve it and never let what others will say about you decide your course in life.

Do you know me in real life?

@Jarus,
As per the 'writing a letter to SLS' stuff, things like that do happen. You can give it a shot sha. I don't think it is in anyway unethical. I would not do it anyway. I like to earn whatever I get, and choose my terms along the way.

Aiming for a job in CBN or DMO still sounds more like the General Track to me. A job is a job, until when you manage to transit from being a 'hired hand' to a 'hired gun'. I mean, when you can choose your terms of engagement, instead of having to write a top shot to 'plead' for a job.

Apart from Bsc Economics, have you done anything else? You should consider going to do a graduate degree, and I am sure more opportunities will open up, and your chances will be much more enhanced, whether CBN, DMO, or the World Bank. Since you want to do more of economics that accounting, maybe you should consider returning to an investment banking job.

Try to see beyond your current skill set, environment, and range of opportunities, and concentrate more on adding to your cognate experience and exposure. BTW, why are you not writing the CFA, instead of ICAN?

@tkb and netotse, I think you guys are both right. But for me, public sector only provides exposure after you cross a certain threshold. But a good parastatal like the CBN, NNPC/DPR, NCC, FIRS, and so on, has reasonable pay, and good career opportunities, better than the gung-ho private sector.

Tanx 4 dat valuable advice, ajanlekoko. I'll reply 2 d points/questions u raised in due course.
Tanx

good point ajanlekoko

Jarus shld start thinking about CFA

CFA is a good stuff.