After completing my NYSC in 2009, I got an interview call from a tech company in Abuja. Borrowing a suit – probably from my friend Mancha Christopher, though I can’t fully recall – I walked into that interview looking like an overworked lawyer yet to win his first case.

The interview room was intimidating. I saw several elegantly dressed ladies, and for a moment, I wondered if I’d walked into the wrong place. Were they hiring a secretary or typist? I sat down nervously as two well-dressed men reviewed my CV in silence.

Finally, they asked just one question: “How much do you expect us to pay you?”

Without hesitation, I said 400k.

They laughed out loud, and I instantly realized their combined salaries probably didn’t add up to what I was asking for. One of the ladies gave me the polite but dismissive line:

“Thank you, Mr. Daser. We’ll get back to you.”

As I walked out, a security guard came running after me.

“The CEO just got back from Texas and wants to meet you,” he said.

Back in the office, the CEO made me an offer: 300k per month. I stood firm, saying it was 400k or nothing. He appreciated my confidence and promised to reach out via email.

Three weeks later, I got their reply:

“We are sorry to inform you that you were not qualified for the job.”

I laughed at the irony – just months earlier, an oil company had rejected me for being overqualified.

But life has its twists. Not long after, I secured a remote job with a Silicon Valley company paying me three times what I had demanded from the tech firm.

Then, six months later, the same Abuja company reached out again.

They were now offering me the 400k I’d asked for and asked to resume work immediately.

My response?

I politely declined, informing them my worth had since tripled.

Years later, the CEO and I became friends, and we often laughed about that chapter in my life.

The Lesson: Build Value

This isn’t a story to glorify rejecting job offers. It’s a lesson on value. Back then, I was brash, but I was also prepared. I invested in myself. When opportunities didn’t work out, I didn’t sulk – I upskilled.

Unemployment, for many, is a matter of perspective. Opportunities are abundant, but they require preparation. If you’re out of work, don’t just wait for jobs to come to you. Research high-demand skills, learn them online, volunteer, and practice relentlessly.

Just recently, someone bombarded me with calls and messages, pleading for help securing a job in Abuja. I agreed to assist and asked for his CV. What I got was a poorly scanned, graphic, single-page document with no meaningful updates since 2020. No certifications, no skill development – just stagnation. It took him two days to re-send it in PDF format. Needless to say, his lack of initiative made it hard for anyone to help.

Take Charge of Your Growth

In 2025, opportunities are even more accessible. Institutions like the Digital Bridge Institute are releasing 400+ courses and digital platforms nationwide. With learning centers across Nigeria, there’s no excuse for complacency.

Be bold. Invest in yourself. Build an aura of value that makes you indispensable. The world doesn’t owe you anything, but you owe it to yourself to be ready for every opportunity that comes your way.

“When life tests you, look it in the eye and say, ‘I have so much to offer.’”