Be like a tree, you will get the job you want

   By ABJ

A lot of us want to be employed, in government or NGOs or companies or anywhere else. We have written quite a good number of applications, yet we haven’t been called for interviews.

A simple advice for all of us: Be like a tree, and you will get that job you ‘desperately’ need.

Look at a tree near you, observe closely what that tree is made up of. From our primary school science, there are roots that hold the tree and supply it with water and other nutrients. Then there are branches, leaves, flowers and fruits (in some trees, at some point in time).

For employers to invite us for an interview, we need to demonstrate to them that we have roots that hold and supply us with our professional or career nutrients. The roots are our passions, the motivation that drives our life. Others would say, the purpose or mission of our lives.

Our passions distinguish us from the crowd. If one wants a job as a Child Protection Officer with Plan International, for example, you need to show Plan International that your life exists for children: you have passion for children’s wellbeing, rights, etc.

Everyone can say, in their application letter, that “I have passion for children and I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Studies. I believe I will make a good Child Protection Officer…” or anything along those lines. But what would catch the attention of the HR Manager reviewing your application is how best you show that you live your passion(s) for children’s rights or wellbeing.

Have you seen what happens to a tree if you cut its roots? It dies. The HR Manager has to be convinced that depriving you of your passion in children rights or wellbeing will kill the very core essence of your existence. See the example below…

     “…My passion for children rights makes me to look at the world from a child’s perspective and this inspired me to study for a Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Studies. For the past four years I have been committing 60% of my vacation time to volunteering at Community Based Child Care Centers (CBCCC) and raising awareness in my community on the need for everyone to guard children from abuse, child labour, and to ensure children do not walk alone at night. This makes me confident that I effectively deliver as your Child Protection Officer.”

This is not the best example, but it somehow aligns the applicant’s passion with his or her lifestyle. Here, the HR Manager would see you as someone who lives his or her passion. Don’t just tell employers that you are passionate about something, show them that you live that passion.

Ask yourself How best do I know myself? Who am I really? Remember, should you be called for an interview you will be asked to “Tell us about yourself”. Your cover letter gives you an opportunity to tell your potential employer about who you are. You are a Child Protection Officer, and your passion and experience should demonstrate that you are the one. Once you get this right, you will be called for an interview and subsequently offered that position as a Child Protection Officer… because that position belongs to you.

For today, let’s stop here. Next time we will talk about branches. What kind of branches should we have for us to easily secure employment? We will answer this next time.




ABJ is a graduate of the College God loved the most (amatero eni akewo) and a Masters in International Law student at the University of Leeds.