Want to help your friends secure the bag and get ahead in their careers? Here are some ways you can do so:
Share opportunities and vacancies with them
This is one of the best things you can ever do for your friend(s). If you see openings for job roles that match their skills and experience, and you know they’d be very good at it, don’t hesitate to share it with them. What are friends for?
Recommend them for roles and job opportunities
Secondly, if you are approached with a job offer and you aren’t particularly interested (because it does not align with your next steps or you have no intentions of leaving your current job anytime soon), you can refer the employer to your friend and tell them why you think they’d be a good fit. When doing this, however, ensure that you have verified the validity of the job and you are certain that it is an offer that is worth your friend’s time.
Also, if your friend has a business and you come across someone in need of a service that the business provides, do your friend a favour and recommend them. Tell the prospective client/ customer why you think your friend’s business is their ideal choice. Hype them up, spread the word!
Plug them into growth and funding opportunities
Many investors and initiatives are looking to invest in small scale businesses and startups. Some organisations are aimed at helping businesses and startups expand and grow, with support and aid. If you see such an opportunity, hook your friends up by sharing it with them. You’ll be helping them write their success stories!
Endorse their skills on LinkedIn
Now, this is one of the easiest ways to help a friend. Go to their LinkedIn profile and endorse any of the skills you know they are adept at. If you’ve worked with them or currently work with them—and can attest to their strengths and abilities— put in some kind words in the ‘recommendation’ sector. This ‘small’ act can go a long way.
Support 👏🏾 their 👏🏾 hustle
Does your friend have a business? Help them grow and expand by supporting them! Buy their products, patronise their services, talk about them on your social media platforms, share their posts and do whatever (legal thing) you can to give them the support they need. Starting a business in Nigeria is a daunting task but it’s made easier with solid support systems. You can be one.
Give them feedback and constructive criticism
Another fantastic way to help your friends get ahead in their careers is to give them advice, feedback and constructive criticism.
Suggest ways in which they can improve and offer words of advice that they will find beneficial. When they share their work with you, don’t ignore or leave them on ‘read’. Tell them what you think and how they can get better: Do they need to tap into a new market? Do they need to leverage a new social media platform? Do they need to improve on their designs? Did they make a grammatical error in their article? Tell them about it. However, be constructive and avoid talking down on them.
Help them upskill
If you come across a course or certification course that might be relevant to them, share it with them and motivate them to be consistent with them. You can even take the course or write the exams as well, as a way of encouraging them.
Also, paying for some of their courses isn’t such a bad birthday gift idea (if you can afford to, of course)
Motivate them when they’re down
Are they feeling down and demotivated due to job rejections, slow-moving business, a pay cut or any other issue? Try to be there for them. Give them words of encouragement, take them out for lunch and see if you can help out in any way. What matters is that you offer support in any way that you can.
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