Segment: 'White Collar Jobs Don't Pay in Ghana' - Why I Left the Interview Process to Start Selling

Summary

Konnected Minds Podcast — Segment Summary

Episode Segment: 'White Collar Jobs Don't Pay in Ghana' - Why I Left the Interview Process to Start Selling
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Guest: Kingsley (implied from context)
Date: March 1, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode delves into the challenging realities facing young job seekers in Ghana, particularly the systemic barriers within the white-collar job market. Through Kingsley’s personal journey—from going through endless interview processes, facing disappointment and rejection, to ultimately deciding to chart his own path in entrepreneurship—the conversation explores Ghana’s job market, the limitations of formal employment, and the resourcefulness required to succeed outside traditional systems.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Disillusionment with the White-Collar Job Market

• Kingsley recounts his experience applying for a prestigious assistant brand manager position in a large company, only to see the interview process disrupted when the hiring manager resigned. Months later, the position was re-posted without him being called back.
• Despite repeated applications and having requisite experience, Kingsley faced consistent rejection—even for positions below his qualification level.

Notable Quote:

"I did good and they emailed me that I have qualified for the second stage. But unfortunately the hiring manager resigned. ...instead of them to call me back they reposted the job back looking for a new applicant."
— Kingsley (00:13)

2. The Job Search Reality for Young Ghanaians

• Derrick asks how youths feel as they chase financial breakthroughs post-university.
• Kingsley highlights a system that stifles independent thinking, compelling most to chase white-collar jobs—often at personal and financial cost.
• National Service is depicted as a process often corrupted by bribery, where connections, not merit, determine placements.

Notable Quote:

"The system in Ghana is not giving way for the average youth to think."
— Kingsley (01:41)

"Everyone wants a white collar job. But Derek, I can tell you white color jobs don't pay in Ghana. ...Go to Makola. You actually see market women who can buy goods worth of hundred thousand MP with fiscal cash. They have no background education."
— Kingsley (01:44)

3. Perceived Cronyism and Internal Recruitment

• Kingsley describes the recruitment process as a "cartel", where most jobs—especially non-executive roles—are filled internally or based on connections, not open competition.
• He estimates "90% are for internal recruitment", with external hiring reserved for only the highest roles.

Notable Quote:

"Ghana's recruitment is like a cartel....They are just using this interview as a formality to know that they are doing something. But...they already have someone."
— Kingsley (02:56, 03:17)

4. Peers’ Outcomes and the Role of Connections

• Of Kingsley's university cohort, only a handful secured jobs—almost all via family or insider connections.
• He recounts friends in oil, military, and customs, all obtained through personal contacts.

Quote:

"One is working at Tatalo Oil...His father had connections, right? So it was easy for him to get a job."
— Kingsley (04:46)

5. The Shift to Entrepreneurship

• After nearly three years (2021–2023) searching and facing consistent rejection, Kingsley decides to pivot.
• Inspired by an unfulfilling experience in an interview—when a manager refused to answer simple questions unless Kingsley joined the company—he realizes his mindset doesn’t align with the corporate structure.

6. Building from Scratch in Sales

• Kingsley begins working under a local businessman, building a brand from the ground up, facing resistance from entrenched supplier relationships in local markets.
• Persistence pays off: after repeated pleas to a key customer, he finally gets a sale, leading to broader referrals and growing orders.

Memorable Moment:

"...I was just pleading with her, every day I'll be at her shop....So the fourth time...she told me I was worrying her, so I should bring her five packs...I brought her five packs and she told me, go here, go here...tell them Abawa said you should come."
— Kingsley (07:33)

7. Growth and Integrity in Business

• After his first breakthrough, Kingsley continues hustling, dealing with liquidity issues, and negotiating credit with suppliers.
• Through honest dealings, he is trusted with more responsibility—eventually handling larger volumes, managing distribution, and even storing goods in a mentor's warehouse.

Notable Quote:

"But my problem is I don't have any money to buy the goods. But I can promise you if you can give me a week, I will sell and bring you the money."
— Kingsley (09:28)

8. Support Systems and Local Networks

• Kingsley emphasizes the role of supportive peers and established mentors, including a friend, Ebenezer, and Mr. Patrick Osafo Frimpong, who provide encouragement and practical assistance along the way.

9. Self-Confidence and Mindset Shift

• The core message: shifting away from dependency on formal jobs towards entrepreneurship often requires a mindset overhaul, resilience, and leveraging authentic relationships.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ghana’s Job Market Realities:

  "Money is in Ghana but it's in debt…Go to Makola. ...market women...can buy goods worth...hundred thousand MP with fiscal cash. ...our young youth want a job that will…sit in an office with air condition…"
  — Kingsley (01:44)

• On Internal Hiring:

  "Jobs that are posted in Ghana, 90% are for internal recruitment. The only time they go outside is when they want a top manager position..."
  — Kingsley (03:32)

• Decisive Turning Point:

  "I need to start doing something for myself because...how I think is different from how they are thinking."
  — Kingsley (00:56)

• Persistence in Sales:

  "...every day I'll be at her shop...at times she really talk harsh...No, I said this woman will help me achieve my target."
  — Kingsley (07:33)

• Building Trust as an Entrepreneur:

  "I was earning 40 CDs per pack those times. ...I was truthful to the company. ...now I'm still doing that same thing..."
  — Kingsley (09:35)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00-01:20 – Kingsley’s experience with white-collar job interviews gone wrong
• 01:21-03:00 – State of youth employment in Ghana & the reality of national service
• 03:01-04:37 – Internal hiring and cronyism
• 04:38-05:58 – Peer experiences and the impact of connections
• 06:15-06:31 – Decision to pursue entrepreneurship
• 06:32-08:00 – Early sales hustle and market penetration
• 08:01-09:40 – Growth, challenges, and support from friends/mentors
• 09:41-10:00 – Establishing his own distribution and sustaining the business

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Episode Takeaways

• Ghana’s formal job market is exceptionally challenging for young graduates, with networking and connections far outweighing merit.
• Entrepreneurship, though daunting, can offer a pathway to financial independence and fulfillment, especially when built on integrity, persistence, and leveraging relationships.
• The journey requires a break from traditional expectations and demands a confident, proactive mindset.

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The stories shared in this episode provide an authentic look into the realities of job searching, the limitations of white-collar employment in Ghana, and the power of entrepreneurial thinking in overcoming systemic barriers.

Transcript

[A]

If I could remember 2023 I went for an assistant brand manager managerial position in a very big company in Ghana. I got interviewed by a Nigerian and they are Nigerian. The hiring manager, the marketing manager. I actually did good and they emailed me that I have qualified for the second stage. But unfortunately the hiring manager resigned. So the process was disrupted and the parking thought was. So I think five months down the line they, they got a new marketing manager and instead of them to call me back they reposted the job back looking for a new applicant. So because I, I, I, I had my, I had my, I have some feeling I can still work for them. So I just applied and sure they didn't call me, I kept on applying, applying. So one day I was, I, I had an interview with a salesman from another company and I answered. I asked the manager two simple questions about a brand they brought what was new. The manager told me he can't answer. He only answer when I'm part of them. And I said no, I need to start doing something for myself because it's either how I think is different from how they are thinking. Okay. So I, I just needed to start something for myself.

[B]

So this thing about young people finishing university looking for jobs and not getting job. How does it actually make a lot of the young people feel when they are in deep search for what they see as the break their financial breakthrough.

[A]

You see the system in Ghana is not giving way for the average youth to think.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

The anytime the average youth finish university he will be placed in national service. And that national service he will go and pay bribe for them to pick him to a company which like he likes with the aim of thinking like one day they will pick him as a worker. So I, our, our system here actually isn't giving way for us to think. Everyone wants a white collar job. But Derek, I can tell you white color jobs don't pay in Ghana. Here okay. Money is in Ghana but it's in debt. Go to Abu. So go to Kofrida market. Go to Makola. You, you, you actually see market women who can buy goods worth of hundred thousand MP with fiscal cash. Wow. They have no background education. But our young youth want a job that will like something like an official way. They will sit in an office with an air condition and, and the reason why they're actually not being picked is you know Ghana the, the unemployment rate is high than the jobs available too. Too many graduates are home waiting for government or institutions to work with and only death the strong will survive. That's why I see. Ghana. Ghana. Ghana's recruitment is like a cartel.

[B]

I see.

[A]

Yes. Me. That's how I see. Because during. During my interviews I have been with companies. I see. No, it's either they already have someone they won't pick.

[B]

Right?

[A]

So they are. They are just using this interview as a formality to know that they are doing something. But what I. I realize is they. They already have someone. And mostly jobs that are Posted in Ghana, 90% are for internal recruitment. The only time they go outside is when they want a top manager position. Like a marketing manager, like a legal something like a director. That's what they go outside. But this administrative assistant, grants manager, sales manager, they fish it inside. Yes.

[B]

That's how you felt.

[A]

That's why I focus. How can you reject me for a position that was lower for my qualification? They actually rejected me for that position. So. So. So. So let's say if I. I firstly I went for sales manager and I got rejected. And I actually went for a sales executive and I got rejected too. Okay? Yes. So if. If you understand what I'm saying.

[B]

And were they not asking for experience?

[A]

No, they're actually asking for experience, which I had. Okay. Yes. Which I had. But I. I didn't like the idea of rejecting me for a managerial position for. You can reject for that manager position. But a sales executive or let's say a sales rep, you also reject me for that sales job easily.

[B]

Out of your peers, those that came out of university around the same time as you did, how many of them have actually gotten jobs?

[A]

Actually no. Four of them. One is working at Tatalo Oil. That's that friend of mine. His father had connections, right? So it was easy for him to get a job. Another one or two people in the military, some in the customs.

[B]

So you are making this statement as evidence that you believe is a cartel for people to get picked into a job. There's an actual.

[A]

Yes. The. The reason why I'm saying this is I normally visit companies portal to look for jobs and I actually saw one company, it's actually a recruitment company, okay. Having the same job descriptions of the same job job descriptions on it. So let's say they. They do post on LinkedIn that a social company is looking for. Let's see a sales rep. And it's the same line by line with the company's portal.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So I actually don't know if the recruitment company is the one doing the recruitment for the company or the company itself is doing their own recruitment. I don't know if you get what I'm saying? Yes. So the reason why I'm saying Zakata is like most of the hrs in Ghana are friends with those recruitment agencies. So you just have, oh, this, this job is available. Can you please help me get someone? And I think that's how it is done in Ghana.

[B]

I think the system is not fair to the youth that are looking for jobs.

[A]

The system is not fair. No, no, no. To me. To me. Okay. I can't talk for people, but for myself I'll say the system is not fair.

[B]

And how many years were you looking for jobs before you decided to start your business?

[A]

From 2021 to 2023. Almost three years.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. All right.

[B]

And then you said at a point when you had just left the job, the thought came.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

That you should start your own.

[A]

I just start my own.

[B]

What was the first thing you wanted to start?

[A]

I was actually working with a man. Okay. And. And I was actually eager to get working experience. So I accepted mep. He told me he would pay me thousands, so no problem. So I was introduced to a brand that the man had no idea of.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

He had no idea how it's being sold. So I built the brand from scratch. Moving from market to men to market to men, trying to convince them to buy that thing. And in Ghana, or in Ghana, what I've realized with the marketing business, it's difficult for a supplier. It's difficult for a customer to change his supplier. So. Yes, to change his supplier because you actually don't know the kind of relationship he has with the supplier. Okay. So me penetrating to get them to buy their brands was very difficult. I remember one customer called Abawa. I went to the woman and they told me, I have someone who brings me that product so I won't buy. I said, oh, just buy for me. So I was just pleading with her, every day I'll be at her shop, every day I'll be on. So at times she really talk harsh. So he's talking a harsh man about. No, I said this woman will help me achieve my target. So the fourth time he told me, I was. She told me I was worrying her so I should bring her five packs. Okay. So I brought her five packs and she told me, go here, go here, go here, go here. Tell them about what said you should come.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

So the second day I contact 10 people and that was the breakthrough. So I was actually making money for the business. Making money for making money for the business. But when the games get to the time for me to get Paid then actually turns to another story. So that was how, that's how it started. So during that time I actually didn't know what happened between my boss and the company. I think it was liquidity issues. The cash was not coming so they just had to cut the supply for the goods. So I was home for two months. So one day I was talking to a friend, his name is Ebenezer, he also has a business in Kofridia. And I said, Eben, this is the case. Eben asked me, do I get panic anytime I talk about this? They said yes, go for it. We were standing at the roadside, said Kingsley, go for it. So I called the man and told the man, this is what the customers are in my soul is good but don't lose them so you can be taken from the other. Their company actually had a branch in Accra so they normally come to Freedom Mondays for sale. So I contacted the the manager, told him this is the case but now I want to handle the distribution with the consent of my boss. Yeah, yes, he has given me the go ahead first handling. So that time I was not going to get the full profit the company was giving to my boss. But they were going to divide it into two. I said no, no problem. If only the goods will be delivered to me I will supply. But my problem is I don't have any money to buy the goods. But I can promise you if you can give me a week, I will sell and bring you the money.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

So I moved from one customer and then I told them this is the case now. Now I can't be bringing it to you on credit again unless you pay for. And they say we have no problem because we need it. So Saturday I'll call all of them and they will place their order maybe 100 packs, then they'll bring it. Some will pay upright. So the one that they, they do pay upright I just give back to the company and I take my profit. And that time I was earning 40 CDs per pack those times. So I actually did that, did that, did that, did that out of integrity. I was truthful to the company. So it got to a time they increase it to two weeks and the orders were coming. So it got to a time I had a little money for me to also make purchase. So I started making purchase of hundred packs a day. So maybe if, if you actually bring me 100 packs I'll actually not get money to pay. Also pay half and tell them in two weeks time and up to now I'm still doing that same thing in the campaign. Now, I also had a customer. This thing gets me too emotional. His name is Mr. Patrick Osafo Frimpong. And I told him, this is the case. He said, no, if you want to start something for yourself, I have a warehouse. Bring your goods in. So. So it got to a time and a. A new brand came. It was this fabric softener, which, which we call After Wash. After Wash. And this man had already worked with that company that supplied afterwards. Okay. So I told him, saffron Pong. I also want to venture into that business. Can you help me? And so though he can. So we, we called those time the sales manager and he picked. And so this, this Connected Minds podcast.