There are various career opportunities for available for people in the job market. This topic will provide useful information for commercial school certificate holders, degree holders about the various opportunities in the public, private and teaching sector.
Career Opportunities In the Public Sector
There has been increase, in quest for job placement in Government establishments because of security and good fringe benefits. The salary has become more competitive with those paid by business organisations,
The Federal Government is the largest employer of labour in Nigeria. There are various categories of jobs available for graduates of polytechnics and universities. These include’ Budget Analyst, Chief Executive Officer, Higher Executive Officer. Principal Executive Officer Personnel Officer, Administrative Assistant. Purchasing Officer, Secretary. Director of Finance, Director of Administration, Accountant etc. School certificate holders also may work as Clerical Officers, Secretary Grade IV. Office Assistants, Drivers, Cleaners, etc.
At the slate and local government levels, career opportunities arc abound for university graduates and diploma holders. They can serve as: health care workers, highway managers, safety control officers, clerks, administrative officers, hook keepers, accountants etc Employees in the civil or public service are referred to as civil servants.
Career Opportunities In The Private Sector
A lot of clerical and management occupations are available in the private sector. These are categorized below as:
Marketing and Sales
Many people who have pursued and completed a course of study in commercial studies can be employed in different fields of marketing and sales such as, retailing, wholesaling, transportation, warehousing, and communication and research industries. Some of the posts available include:
- Research Assistants
- Research Supervisors and Directors
- Sales Analysis
- Agents
- Advertising Client Service executives
- Managers
- Artists in Advertising Agency
- Salesmen
- Sales Representatives
Production and Materials Management
Job positions available and production management are:
- Traffic managers
- Inventory Officers
- Purchasing Agents
- Purchasing Officers and Managers
- Quality control analysis
- Industrial designers
Financial Area
The environment and work in financial institutions in Nigeria have changed drastically in the last one and half decades. Many new jobs have been created in this area because of the tremendous increase in the number of financial institutions. The various job positions in the financial sector include:
- Rank Officers
- Loan officers
- Accountants
- Cashiers
- Trust officers
- Investment Banker
- Financial Analysts
- Treasury Officers
Management as a Profession
Management has become a profession and as a result, it has become obvious that good management is very important in all kinds of organisations.
There are many types of management positions. These are:
- Personnel Officers
- Management Trainees
- Middle Level Managers
- Top Level Managers
- Record and Statistics Officers
- Administration Officers
Insurance Industry
There are various clerical under positions in the insurance industry. For clerical jobs, the usual skills in typing and filling are essential. There are great opportunities for the following:
- Claim examiners
- Underwriters
- Claim adjusters
- Actuaries
- Agents
- Brokers
Accounting and Management Information System
The demand for accountants is on the increase for expansion of firms. A good accountant must be a logical thinker. Accounting is a rewarding and challenging profession which provides a great deal of job opportunities for accounting professionals as:
- Book Keepers
- Account Clerks
- Accountants
- Auditors
- Tax Consultant
- Financial Managers
- Credit Analysts
- Cost Accountants
- System Analysts
- Data Based Computer Operators.
A rigorous background in mathematics if required to undertake a course of study in accounting and management information system
Requirements For Engagement In Commercial Field
- Basic requirements for unskilled jobs: All unskilled jobs in the various categories listed above are reserved for holders of first school leaving certificates (primary 6). E.g. messengers. Office assistants, etc.
- Basic requirements for semi-skilled jobs: Semi-skilled jobs such as clerical jobs in account, administration, insurance, banking etc are reserved for holders of secondary school certificates and national diploma certificates, depending on grade level.
- Basic requirements for management trainee, top management or executive level: Holders of first degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) are offered appointment for middle level management and holders of second degree for top management level. In the public service, a graduate is employed as a grade level 08 officer.
- Commercial courses: Graduates of the following professions are offered employment in all the career opportunities explained above, depending on one’s area of specialization this could he;
- Economics
- Insurance
- Management
- Banking
- Finance
- Actuarial science
- Accounting
- Industrial relations
- Personnel management
- Public administration
- Marketing
- Secretarial administration
- Professional Examinations: In some of the professions listed above, there is need for higher professional examination to be taker so as to attain lop management level in an organization.
Some of the institutes conducting professional examinations are:
- Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)
- Nigerian Institute of Marketing (NIMARK)
- Chartered Institute of Taxation
- Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM)
- Chartered Institute of Insurance
All graduates of commercial courses arc eligible to sit for the examination of the various institutes listed above. Candidates must have a minimum of five credits, including English. Mathematics and Economics in O’level examinations.
Test & Exercise
- The following are the types of management positions except ……. (a) Personnel Officers (b)Management Trainees (c)Security personnel (d)Middle Level Managers
- Which of the following is not a job opportunities for accounting professionals? (a)Fashion designer (b)Tax Consultant (c) Financial Managers (d)Cost Accountants
- One of the following is not among institutes conducting professional examinations. (a) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) (b) Nigerian Institute of Marketing (NIMARK) (c)International Monetary Fund (IMF) (d)Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)
- Career opportunities in the private sector include the following except …… (a) Managers (b)Budget analyst (c) Cost Accountants (d) Account Clerk
- The Basic requirement for top management or executive level is ……. (a)Master or Second degree (b)first degree (c)Senior school certificate (d)Testimonial
