Graduating with a third class, a $12K prize for students, an entry-level role at MTN, and a paid internship in London!
5 minutes read
Hey sis,
It’s a packed letter with expert career advice and tons of new exciting opportunities, so I’ll keep this brief: I hope this week brings abundant joy, relief, and rest to you.
A snapshot of this week’s letter
Dear Yvonne, I graduated with a third class.
Entry-level roles for recent graduates from MTN, and FSDH!
$12K for grabs in this project competition for final-year students.
No experience? No problem. This paid internship program in London at a global news organisation does not care!
Ask A Career Consultant
Dear Yvonne, I'm reaching out to you from a place of uncertainty and frustration. After dedicating five years to studying chemistry at the university, I graduated with a third-class degree, which has left me feeling disappointed and defeated. Despite my best efforts, I found the course incredibly challenging, and unfortunately, my hard work didn't translate to a better grade. As you can imagine, this has taken a toll on my mental health, and I'm struggling to come to terms with the limitations this degree may impose on my job prospects in this country. I've been advised to explore opportunities in tech, but with so many options available, I'm finding it difficult to identify a path that genuinely interests me.
I'm desperate for guidance and career advice to help me navigate this critical phase of my life. I fear that if I don't get support, I may slip further into depression. I need help to process my feelings and gain a new perspective, explore alternative career paths that align with my strengths and interests, and develop a plan to acquire new skills and enhance my employability.
Yvonne says,
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your journey with me. It’s completely understandable to feel a mix of frustration and uncertainty, especially after dedicating so much time and effort to a challenging course. I want to reassure you that you’re not alone in facing this kind of challenge, and there are real, achievable steps we can take to help you find a path that’s both fulfilling and aligned with your strengths.
Here's how we can approach this together:
1. It’s perfectly okay to feel the way you’re feeling, and working through these emotions is a vital first step. Let’s start by reflecting on what this experience has taught you about resilience, adaptability, and strengths that may not yet feel obvious. Gaining perspective will give you the clarity to see that your degree doesn’t define your future potential.
2. While chemistry may not have turned out as you hoped, your skills and knowledge can be valuable in many fields. You can start by examining various tech-related fields (and others if tech doesn’t feel right) that might align better with your interests and strengths. Researching tech roles like data analysis, customer service, tech sales, design, project management and so on, will guide you in understanding what each option entails. This is both in terms of daily tasks and career progression, so you can make a choice that feels right.
3. Breaking into a new field doesn’t happen overnight, but with a clear plan, it’s very achievable. Once you clarify which paths might suit you best, you can create a step-by-step roadmap for acquiring relevant skills, finding affordable or free resources, and eventually building up experience that will help you find a job.
While challenging, this phase of transition can also open doors to possibilities you may not have considered. With support and a structured approach, you can find a path that brings a sense of purpose and progress. I wish you the best of luck.
FindHer
Our sis is looking for an in-person front-end engineering role - Frontend Developer at Maasai, 54 Collective
FindHer is back! What opportunity are you looking for? Let’s help you find something that ticks your boxes. Remember, the more details you provide, the easier we can find. Start here.
Opportunities
What’s New
Click on each opportunity to apply.
Dalai Lama Fellowship: A one-year fellowship program for emerging changemakers aiming to cultivate leadership practices rooted in awareness, compassion, and integrity. Fully funded to the United States.
Dell Technologies’ Envision the Future Competition: A graduation project competition for final-year students. First place will receive a cash prize of $5,000. Second place will receive a cash prize of $4,000. Third third-place winner will receive a cash prize of $3,000.
Product Marketer at Selar (Remote): At least 5 years of product marketing experience, ideally in a startup or agency environment. N400,000 per month.
FSDH Graduate Analyst Programme: A one-year graduate trainee programme designed to equip fresh graduates with essential skills and competency to kick start their career in the Financial Services Industry.
AfricaCDC BingwaPLUS Y-Health Incubation Program: For public health enthusiasts with demonstrable leadership potential, experience in and passion for improving health outcomes within their communities.
Business Development Representative (EMEA) at Oyster (Remote): 6+ months experience working as a Business Development Representative in a SaaS company. Experience with Salesforce or another tier-one CRM etc.
Clinton Global Initiative Fellowship: Fellows gain access to mentorship, resources, networks, and partnerships. This enables Fellows to compete to secure funding, have access to expertise, and have opportunities to collaborate to enhance the success of their projects.
Nigerian Youth Futures Fund Grants: Grants of $1K - 10K to support and promote youth ecosystem building will be awarded to individuals and organizations working in line with facilitating good governance and resolving fundamental national questions.
Paid Interns on The Economist’s Foreign Desk (Sponsored to London): The internship scheme aims to find future Economist journalists. Previous experience is not necessary.
Campaign and Project Managers - AMAKA: A strong background and experience in creative marketing and agency work is required. Training is provided. NGN 821,395 per month (for 3 days of work per week).
MTN Global Graduate Development Programme: Must have graduated with a minimum grade of Second Class Upper Division (2:1) or HND Upper Credit no earlier than 2022. Must have completed NYSC in September 2024.
The CFA Institute Access Scholarship Program: The exam registration fee is reduced from $1250 to $400. Opening on November 6!
Like these? There’s more where they came from. Recently, we’ve added over 80 new opportunities to our website!
Closing Soon!
Click on each opportunity to apply.
Nov 4: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Toronto, AVEVA EcoTech Emerge Challenge, PhD Studentship Scholarship at the University of Cambridge, Legal Officer - Administrative and Justice Matters at the African Union, Admin Coordinator at GlobalDesigning Cities Initiative (Remote), E-Learning Content Developer at Seefar (Remote), Project Assistant, Large Scale Food Fortification, Innovation Fund at GAIN (Abuja)
Nov 5: Chevening Scholarships, Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies Junior and Senior Fellowships, Labour Rights Researcher - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (Remote), Community Associate - Youth Climate Justice Fund (Remote), Communications and Design Intern at MindWorks (Remote)
Nov 6: Legal Officer - World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Math/ Science Lead Instructor at HiPrep Online (Remote), Enrollment and Client Success Officer at HiPrep Online (Abuja), Product Designer - Talentpoel (Remote), Program Officer - World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (Geneva)
Nov 7: Junior Consultant – Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development at UNESCO (Remote)
Nov 8: United Nations FAO World Food Day Poster Contest, Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program, Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowships, Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship, University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation On-campus Postgraduate Scholarships, The Anzisha Prize, Mountaintop Fellowship, Associate Editor - Tech Policy Press (Remote), Talent Development & Training Analyst at SEO Africa, UBA National Essay Competition, Shifting Democracies Reporting Fellowship for Women Journalists, Future Blue Youth Council, Program Officer - Lafiya Nigeria (Jigawa), Technical Program Manager - Innovations for Poverty Action, Content Marketing & Social Media Manager at Hersynergytribe, Program Manager at Women in Leadership Advancement Network
Nov 9: Research and Project Development Associate - IPA Nigeria
Nov 10: 2025 Mawazo Institute Fellowship Program, People Operations Associate - Open Philanthropy (Remote), Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize, Global Ambassador Fellowship, Union Bank of Nigeria Sales Academy Programme
To-Do List
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