One thing that most people across culture forbid is idleness of any kind; we love to be involved in activities; we love to make our contributions to the growth and development of our families, organizations, cities and countries. We often consider inactivity on our part to mean uselessness; hence, most people desire to be useful - to themselves, their families, their communities, their organizations and their countries.

Being useful is good; but we could miss a whole lot, if we forget the essence of usefulness. It is very certain that a man cannot be useful in nothing; everyman desires to be useful in some productive ventures. The question then is, how can a man or woman become useful for a product venture, if he or she is not presented to be enlisted? And beyond that, how can an enlisted man or woman become useful for any productive venture, if he or she has never been prepared for the demands of the productivity.

In this article, my job is to help you see beyond the facade of presentation for job interviews; to the nitty-gritty part of securing your best job. While in a church service, a young man came forward to share testimony of how God helped him to secure a new and highly lucrative management job. Due to some reasons (perhaps untenable to many hearers), he went for the interview "undressed" on a rubber slippers. He went in to meet the panel who were shocked to see a man so “unpresented” - who ended up showing his depth of preparation for the job offered. The truth is, after the interview, he was asked to resume work immediately - at the expense of the best presented ladies and gentle men outside!

It is often said that you are addressed the way you are dressed; but that is not a rule without exceptions. When it really matters, your presentation may not go beyond giving you a chance to prove your preparation. Imagine the men and women at various tertiary institutions learning Medicine - they spend years preparing (not presenting) for the work of Medicine. You will ultimately be appointed to be useful; hence, the surest path to becoming useful is to prepare to be useful!

At a time in ancient Israel, God sacked (dethroned) a king called Saul; and instructed the Priest to go for a "hunt" for the new king. The outgoing kind was found incapable of executing God's will to the letter; therefore, God Himself sought out a young boy who was always at the backside of the desert, preparing to lead - while shepherding the flock of his father! The boy's name is David. The key distinction between David the emerging king, and Saul the going king was not in their presentations; but in their preparations. 

Saul was a "pampered" son of a rich man, who had servants and all manners of things - in our days, we could say the he was born into an elite family. He had whatever he wanted, was never confronted with serious life-threatening experiences - in short, no story of his preparation was ever written. Instead, it was said of him that no one was taller and more presentable than him in the whole of Israel. He was good looking and well-built.

David on the other hand, was the last born of his father, who was saddled with the responsibility of shepherding their father's flock of animals - daily, he leads them out to feed; and he protected them. In fact, he had to fight a lion in one instance; and in another instance, he fought with a bear who attempted to attack the sheep. And beyond all that, he was skillful in musical instruments and a good fighter.

....Then one of the servants answered and said, Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valour, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him. Therefore, Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep".

1 Samuel 16:18-19

If you watch the words very closely; you will see that before David's handsomeness was brought up; his skillfulness was well articulated. Before every effective presentation is a deliberate and focused preparation. In short, you do not deserve to be recommended, if you have not being prepared. Your preparation speaks for you in places you cannot be; hence, the best form of presentation any man or woman can be involved in is thorough and sincere preparation.

The only way to avoid shame is not better presentation; but more preparation. In fact, I have discovered that a man or woman can never be over-prepared for anything; however, any person can be underprepared.

...Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. So it was, when they came, that he (Samuel) looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him!" But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance (presentation) or his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.".......And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is keeping the sheep."And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." So he went and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

If what Eliab experienced is not shame; then what is it? Right before his eyes, his far youngest brother (David) was anointed king over the nation - he became a leader over him! What a shameful experience for the unprepared Eliab! Consecration is good - crash programmes such as quick pep talk, quick positive thinking, quick positive confession and the like are good; but they can never replace the place of preparation.

If I may ask; if there are two people sitted; one claims to be a Medical Doctor, well presented, good language communication and good comportment; but the other does not claim to be a Medical Doctor and not dressed; however, he has successfully performed countless operations and known by many to be excellent in his work - who would you give yourself to for treatment? The self-acclaimed Medical Doctor or the renown Medical Doctor?

When you are prepared, your work announces you; when you present yourself, you announce yourself - and really, people can exeggerate themselves! So, spend more time to get yourself prepared for your prospective job. The preparation may take you off the labour market or job market for a while; but if well done, will make you a market leader in time! Love to say more, but time is not on our side. Do enjoy your productive time!

Thanks for the gift of your time, A. Joshua Adedeji!
Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond as soon as possible!