The Realest Job Interview Question in Lagos: 'Do You Have Your Own Generator?'

Yesterday I was in a meeting with a young man who came for a job. Fine boy, sharp, CV clean. The oga asked him one question that made me laugh inside: 'If NEPA take light for this office, you get your own generator wey you fit bring?'

The boy said yes. Then oga asked another one: 'And if your generator spoil, you get backup?' The boy said he get small inverter. Oga nodded, then asked, 'And if inverter battery finish, you fit work by candle light?' The whole office just dey look at each other. Na so we dey hire people now, we dey test their power supply readiness before their skills.

I just shake my head. In Lagos, your generator don become part of your CV. Before you ask about salary, they ask about your power situation. Before you talk about your degree, they want to know if you get solar panel. The other day my friend told me say him landlord dey ask tenants to provide their own generator as condition for renting. Na wa oh. Soon we go start asking people 'which brand of generator you use for your wedding?'

Anyway, the boy got the job. Not because of his degree, but because he said he get three generators. That one na the real qualification for Lagos life.