The Job That Almost Broke Me

Lagos city is always looking so busy as usual. Filled with daily activities, cars honking, people hawking all around the street and everything. I was still young then and had just finished university, holding on to my CV and hoping that I would get a job after engaging in job hunting in Lagos.

Even though I have heard that job hunting in Lagos is quite demanding and competitive.

On this particular day, I received a call from an unknown number.

"Hello, please am I speaking with Mr Goshen?"

"Yes I am the one on the call"

"Alright, I called to inform you that you have been shortlisted for an interview at the GoldRack International. We saw your CV, you submitted, and you are expected to come to the interview at 9AM."

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Where I was after the call, I shouted.

GoldRack International. The name is a popular one among the top companies in Lagos.

My roommate who was close to me then, looked at my phone again to be sure who called me

"Goshen, I know there are people, they are not small people, you know. I know their office, is well located around Lekki"

That particular night. I wasn't able to sleep. I was counting down for the next morning. I picked my best shirt from the wardrobe, ironed it, and engaged in some mock interview practice with my roommate, Tope, so that I would not disappoint myself over there.

The next day, I got to the company's building. It was a very tall building that was decorated with polished glass.

I approached the receptionist at the entrance door.

"Sir, are you here for the interview?"

"Yes, ma", I responded.

She took me upstairs, which was the waiting room for the interview. I saw over 100 people in the small hall, which was the waiting room for the people who came for the interview. I saw people sweating in suits. At first I didn't have that little concern, but I waved it up, probably because there were many in the small hall.

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"You all have been selected!" A man announced with a loud voice.

We were confused. That fast. Everyone begins to murmur.

"But before, there is a mandatory training. It will cost 15,000 naira for the materials and for the certificate upon completion. You should pay now and start your journey to start earning 6 figures every month" the man once again announced to us.

"What do you mean?" I responded.

Within a few minutes, people started to stand up and some continued to ask the man more questions.

The man started to get angry.

"If you know, you did not see the value of the training, you can stand up and walk out."

I immediately turned to the lady beside me.

"I know this is actually a scam. This is the pattern everywhere" she told me.

I was speechless at that particular time. I didn't want to believe what was also running through my mind. This can't be a scam.

I did have up to 15,000 naira for the training. During the break, the man pulled me aside.

"Mr Goshen, I can see you have a strong potential. How about I give you a discount? Pay 8,000 naira instead of the 15,000 naira.

His words were really sugar-coated. Even though something within me keeps telling me that something is fishy. But out of desperation, I try to sort out the 8,000 from my friend Tope and the remaining change I have with me.

I joined the training and trust that the next 3 days of the training were filled with so many motivational talks and fake testimonies.

At the end of the fourth day, I realised the truth. Everything was just a lie. There was no job anywhere. It was just one of those other network marketing schemes. It was not gold at the end of the day, it was just mere iron. Truly, not all that glittered was gold. I learnt that hard that day.