A Nigerian woman shared her frustration after losing a promising N1.6M monthly job to a Covenant University graduate, sparking debates about the influence of university prestige on hiring decisions.
In a LinkedIn post, Nneli Miracle recounted her experience applying for a content marketing position at one of Nigeria’s largest restaurant chains. Despite her strong interview performance, the company hired Chidera, a Covenant University graduate.
Nneli expressed confidence in her interview, where she demonstrated her skills and discussed how emotional intelligence impacts customer retention. She received positive feedback but was later told that the company’s preference for a Covenant University graduate influenced their decision.
“I was told, ‘You have the highest qualifications among all the applicants. But the bosses prefer having a Covenant University graduate on the team,’” Nneli shared.
The post sparked discussions about the role of university reputation in hiring decisions. Some commenters, including Covenant University alumni, recognized the influence of prestigious institutions but emphasized that hiring should focus on skills and qualifications.
Temi SegunOke noted, “School reputation shouldn’t matter at all. However, that employer might have chosen a Covenant University graduate for a couple of reasons.”
Adaeze Anyanwu compared the situation to global hiring trends, saying, “In the US, MBAs from Stanford or Harvard are often prioritized over those from second-tier schools. While skills are essential, institutional prestige can’t always be ignored.”
Some expressed surprise that such biases still exist in Nigeria’s job market in 2024.
Despite her disappointment, Nneli remains hopeful about future opportunities and urges employers to focus on merit over institutional prestige.
She concluded by wishing Chidera success in her new role and advocating for a fairer hiring process.
CREDIT: Allschoolabs, Allschool.ng
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