Job seekers need resilience, focus for career growth, says Repton CEO

Otunba Olayemi, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Repton Group, a Nigerian-based conglomerate, says job seekers need to sharpen their employability skills and be resilient to stay ahead of competitors.

Olayemi spoke while delivering a keynote speech at the recent Lagos Career Fair 2024.

The businessman listed passion, focus, diligence, the acquisition of special skills, positioning, and resilience as key factors for career advancement.

Olayemi said the skills have become imperative because applicants are now faced with stiffer competition from their counterparts in the current expanded job market.

“You need to sharpen your employability skills, strategically position yourself, and be resilient to be able to stay ahead of the competition and achieve accelerated career advancement,” Olayemi said.

He added that employers now look beyond technical skills and have steered towards interpersonal development.

“They are the skills that employers value more in prospective and existing employees, as specialist or technical skills associated with different roles are less important for business success,” he said.

Olayemi said some of the skills include effective communication skills, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, problem-solving and analytical skills, creativity, and innovation.

He listed others as planning and organisation, self-management, ethical awareness, leadership skills, curriculum vitae and cover letter writing skills, and job interview skills.

Olayemi also advised job seekers to look beyond vacancy adverts and instead focus on pitching.

The businessman said strategic self-positioning can be achieved through self-marketing, building a personal reputation, requesting additional work in the workplace, having a mentor, maintaining cordial relationships with your boss, and having a strong online presence.

However, the career expert noted that the absence of resilience could threaten the probability of career advancement.

“Development of employability and technical skills as well as employment of strategic positioning may still not quickly guarantee career success in some instances as expected,” he said.

“This may lead to the boundary of your patience being overstretched. One potent tool you need to survive such a situation is resilience, the mentality of a winner.”