Kenya Based Company Fuzu Offers Lifeline to Job Seekers in All Sectors

Kenya based company, Fuzu has launched an internet based recruitment platform akin to Linkedin that is  intended to tap into  both the informal sector and the formal employment sector.

The platform, the first of its kind in Kenya, will offer diverse services. What sets Fuzu apart is its recruitment processed based on experience rather than the education biased system, meaning that there will be considerations on experience, skills, and talent.

LinkedIn steadily facing competition from players ranging from -Facebook for business- to small start-ups like LinkedIn for doctors, LinkedIn for teachers, and the like.

Fuzu automatically matches a job seeker open positions that fit their profile. Through Fuzu, all a job seeker need to do is send an online application, whenever they come across an interesting opening. Once, your application is received you become part of the selection process.

The employers will then have the chance to investigate individuals online and launch recruitment campaigns. Those eligible for employment will be connected to couching, mentorship, reasoning test and English language test.

Though the site cuts across all kinds of skills and employers, it will be the first to keenly consider talent and experience in connecting employees to employers.

INFORMAL SECTOR

A new report by the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Africa ranks Kenya as the country with the highest number of informal sector employment in Africa at 77.9 per cent.

The study attributes the high level of informal sector workers to inability of the formal sector to absorb the huge number of job seekers.

Fuzu is banking on the sector to grow its usage in the country. The site was launched simultaneously in Kenya and Finland with plans to move to Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi as it widens its footprints to the rest of the world.

Already, KONE Kenya, Craft Silicon, Techno Brain, Chase Bank, Equity Bank and M-Kopa are enrolled onto the platform.

Kenyans living abroad will also benefit from the recruitment site since they will scout for jobs in Kenya as they make plans to relocate.

Fuzu now join local recruitment firms Duma Works and Net Consult. However, the new entrant thoroughly profiles job seekers allowing no chance for upload of CVs.

Five Reasons You Just Don't Have a Job Yet

Lack of employment is one frustrating thing graduates go through. Most people have predetermined limit when they intend to accomplish certain goals and this perhaps adds more more pressure leading to our desperation in our job search.

Statistics shows that in a graduating class, only 3 out of 10 graduands get jobs within a short time after graduation.
Many reasons contributes to this endless job seeking menace in the country. While the 30 percent gets jobs early, some graduates have stayed for several years without a job. Some may have given up but many still soldier on.

The following are some of the reasons you could still be waiting in line for your first job.

1. Poor CV:

The CV is the number one tool to  sell you out to your potential employers. Your CV should be structured in such a way to highlight your skills and entice that employer into hiring you.

2. Applying for the wrong Jobs

You may be applying for jobs you do not qualify. This will disqualify you during the initial recruitment stages, you may not even make it to the shortlist.

Apply for jobs that match your skill sets and experience in order to have that edge over your peers.

3. Wrong Attitude:

"Your attitude determines your altitude" is what were told in school. This cliche`e is as applicable to job as is to your career. Steer away from the your mind away from this attitude of “there are no job vacancies in Kenya”. If this is the attitude you will want to take carry with you while job searching, it will surely drain you.

Stay positive even when every odd is against you. This will boost your confidence and determination.

4. Lack of Focus 

If you don`t know where you are going then you won`t end anywhere. Having a goal in your job search and staying focused in achieving this goal will definitely boost your chances of landing that job fast. This may come to narrowing down that extensive job search list and going for specifics. When you can clearly picture what you want, it will be easier to chase down that particular dream. Don't be searching for any job... go for a specific position.

5. Lack of Market Skills

Having that degree alone is not enough. Most employers are looking graduates with practical skills applicable in the market. Internships and volunteering  are excellent ways to bridge this gap and gain these needed skills. Instead of just sitting home frustrated about lack of jobs, do some internships.

If you can't get that internship, perhaps you should think of volunteering. This goes a long way in helping you build skill set that will put you ahead of other job seekers out there.
Landing a job may be hard, and hectic, but try changing the outlook on things. Adjust your job search technique and see how far it will take you.

Why a Government Job is Likely to Stall Fresh Graguate's Career

Working for the government here in Kenya can be a walk in park; ask anyone working under any ministry or government institution and they will surely confirm that to be true. Only a few will genuinely say they are having too much to do and these very few are those who are keen to take initiative.
Most Government workers will leave their work premises at 5.00 PM having done very little or worse, no work, they never understand that there may be a need to work late nights at your job. So, if you are job searching, they will advice you to find one in the government. Why? This is because it is in Government where people are paid to sit around, swing their chairs and do absolutely nothing.

Kenyan job seekers are often enticed by these jobs as they offer the perfect opportunity to earn a living without having to stress on issues too much. It is, however, the one mistake you will want to avoid making.

Why Government jobs is one of the career mistake for fresh graduates

If you have ever been to a government office, either to get your passport, national ID,  NHIF card, Birth certificate, or any other document that is required of you. For every Government office there is the good and the bad; good employees who will take their time to satisfactorily tend to you and the bad employees who will sit at their desk, make you queue for long hours, then close and go for lunch without notice or hurry out at 4.30pm and tell you to come back another day.

It is almost impossible to find a good government, but when you meet one, be grateful. I am a frequent visitor to the NHIF, NSSF offices, Public hospitals, Huduma center and Registrar of persons offices and a part from Huduma centers, which is the best innovation in Kenya since Safaricom, the rest of the government institutions are inefficient and annoying. Nurses at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital will just stare at your dying patient as their listen to music on their China phones. Long queues awaits you at both NHIF and NSSF offices and to be served past 3pm on Friday is a crime in most government offices. Even POTUS Obama alluded to this inefficiency in Government institution in his book "Dreams from my father" where he went to follow up on his misplaced bag only to be dismissed arrogantly by a lady busy chatting with her colleagues at the airport's reception desk.

More often we have had to put up with the laxity that comes with government offices, and being part of this inefficeint team could impact negatively on you and your career growth as well.
In a bureaucratic work place where services are done according to laid down work standards and follow a certain process, it is hard to become an effective employee, especially when the task requires you to liaise with others who are, more often than not, non coorparative.
While you may want to be singled out and distance yourself from the general perception of government officials, others are bound to drag you down with them. If your colleagues decide to perform a 5 minutes' task in 3 hours, then you get pulled into the ineffectiveness.
If you aim to be an effective and successful person in later days and enjoy being in your dream job, then government offices would not be the best place to start off your career. You’ll hardly have anything to do, which means you will not encounter any challenges to toughen you up for later jobs and the world.
Being that creativity is always lacking in government jobs, you will have a hard time making informed decisions.

Why You Should Never Stay in the Same Job More Than 4 Years

The job market nowadays is tough. Long gone are the days when people used to spend their entire career life in the same or different positions but within a single company.
Today, we’re living in an age of job hopping, where regularly changing jobs is not only accepted, but encouraged.

This shift in the job trends is causing employers sleepless nights. It is becoming increasingly hard for an employer to be sure that his/her most valuable employee will still be with the company tomorrow. They come and go. Sometimes with good reasons sometimes with no explanation at all. 

Why is there rampant job promiscuity? 
 

We all agree that the current employment climate requires job seekers to be more agile. Therefore, you’ll discover that fewer and fewer people stay in one job for longer than three or four years. Here are four reasons you should also join the bandwagon.

1. Rapidly Evolving Skill Sets
It’s human nature to feel comfortable at their job and settle into a predictable routine. When you’re capable of performing your job diligently and competently, you may less motivated to try and improve or update your work skills regularly. If you are at this stage in your career, worry not – you’re not alone. However, it may be just the right time to check out what’s happening on the job market. Companies are constantly changing how they do business and how they recruit their staff. A skill necessary today may be obsolete tomorrow, and vice versa.
Look at the job requirements and see if they match your skill set. You may be astonished how much things have changed, as you may not be in a position to offer what employers are currently looking for.

2. Advancements in Technology
As technology evolves, so does the face of entire job industry. If your job is technical, keep yourself informed on what is what’s happening in your industry. While your current employer may not be adopting new technologies, its competitors out there might be.
If you’ve worked for a company for several years as a Windows systems administrator, for instance, entire lines of software and new hardware may be completely foreign to you. If you do not keep up with these changes, you may find it hard making the next step in your career. You don’t want to become a dinosaur in your industry by staying at a job for too long.

3. Perception
Imagine you’re on your first date you discover that your partner has just come out of a 15-year relationship. Think about how you would view that person and how they may relate to you. Unfair or not, you will start making weird assumption on your dates relationship longevity.  It portrays the person as less ambitious and at times hard to train. The prospective new employer may not be sure if you can adapt to a new culture. (For football lovers you can refer to what happened to Victor Valdes when he joined Manchester United after so many years with Bercelona). Questions like, why did this person leave his job after so many years? Are his skills? Is he motivated? and many more will arise and can be just enough to put off the employer completely.

4. Career Advancement

While you can work in the same company for ages, holding the same position for over four years can be problematic. If you aspiration is to evolve within your company, you should be looking to do so within the first two years. If you have been in the same job job position for four years, you may want to consider other options out there.
For instance, if you’re happy with your boss and the work but stuck in a no-growth position, try branching out to other departments or even fields. Additionally, strive take some courses that can help develop your skills. As usual, consult with your line manager since he’ll be in a better position to advise you on the best courses and the skills you may require to get that promotion. The key factor here is to keep moving forward.

A Word of Caution
Keep in mind that being job hopping a little too much can also be detrimental to your career. Jumping from one job to another, so often, can give the impression that you’re not dependable. Frequent job-hopping can also affect your seniority and leave you feeling that you’re taking a step backward whenever you join a new team.
As with anything in life, think carefully before making any major career decisions. Just don’t let yourself become stagnant where you are. Exploration is vital to keeping you excited and motivated about your work.

Interview Answers: “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?”

One of the most feared interview questions is; Why did you leave your last/current job? Most job seekers find this question a big challenge because the answers given can change how the interviewers sees you.
In Kenya, getting to the interview stage is hard enough, therefore you will not fancy missing chances at interview stage because you did not know how to go about a certain question. In this light, I would like to highlight how to answer this challenging question.

The Best way to answer; Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?

One thing you need to keep in mind when answering this question is not to lie. Sometimes (which is most cases) your prospective employer follows up with your previous company to find out why you left the job.
Whereas saying the truth is fundamental in answering this interview question, people leave their jobs because of different reasons and some can disadvantage you. It could be that you resigned because you didn't get along with your boss, or your salary was too small or maybe the new manager was too much on you or you were fired for one reason or the other.

Whatever the reason for leaving your past job, you will have to give a believable explanation if you really want the job.

You Resigned- How To answer; Why Did you resign your previous job

“I realized I had learned almost everything in my position and was open to change. For this reason, I did not want to lose focus from my job so I decided it was best to leave and refocus on my career. I needed to find a job with more growth potential.”
This portray you as serious job seeker who knows what he wants and is seeking the job as part of his well laid plan rather than being jobless.

You were fired - How to answer; Why were you fired;

“The way I envisioned my roles in the company and the overall direction of the organization was in contradiction to that of my line manager/boss. So, after a number of discussions, we mutually agreed that it would be best to part way with the organization.”
This answer is not a lie, it tells the interviewer that you were fired but also portrays you as someone who knows what he/she wants in his/her career and is willing to work for it.

However you decide to go about the reason you left your previous job question, make sure it does not open up grounds for many more questions from the recruiter. You do not want to say something you never intended.

How Hiring That Nanny can drag You to Jail

The newly published regulations setting the minimum wage for domestic workers threaten to make house-helps the preserve of a few rich households, if homes were to stick to the law.

The regulations has set the minimum monthly salaries a domestic worker should be paid in every major town, compulsory weekly off days and/or overtime compensation.

Acting labour secretary Raychelle Omamo has in a legal notice granted all domestic workers in Nairobi a 12 per cent pay increase in their minimum pay, effectively pushing their minimum monthly salary to Sh10,954 from Sh9,781 last year.

Photo credit

TWO DAYS OFF-DUTY

The house helps are also allowed a mandatory weekly 2 day break. Failure to grant this compulsory  paid leave, the employer will have to pay the househelp at the rate of Sh527 per day or an additional Sh4,216 a month.

Adding that to the basic minimum salary of Sh10,954, means domestic workers who do not get 48 hours off a week will earn not less than Sh15,170 a month – nearly matching, if not surpassing the pay of many low-cadre workers in government and the private sector.

These rates apply to those working in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu while those in other urban centers will be required to pay Sh10,107 monthly.

JAIL TERM

Any employer found in breach of the new rules risks serving a jail term of up to three months, a fine of Sh50,000 or both.

Regulations setting minimum pay for domestic workers were introduced in 2011 to align the country with the stringent International Labour Organisation (ILO) proposals, aimed at improving the working conditions for those employed in the informal economy.

Therefore before hiring that nanny you so much need to take care of your baby, be aware of this regulation. And if you can't afford one (which is the most likely scenario) then you better think of baby sitting your child at home alone.

3 Advices To Ignore When Job Hunting

If you are looking for a job, you probably have sought some advice from the more experienced relatives, experts or superiors; those with a better understanding of the job search process and can say something about what to do and what not to do when searching for a job.
All this could be a good thing for you the job-seeker, but when you decide to take in all the advice given without being careful which one will work best and which one will work against you then you might be job searching for a long time.
Not all advices will work for you as they did someone else. Remember professions are different and in the same way, companies are not the same; there are large corporations that will require years of experience and small companies that will not demand much.

So, what advices should you ignore?

1. “Apply to a job that you know will make you happy”
While it is a good thing to want to be happy at what you do and to love your job, this advice may not work to your advantage. Especially if you are a fresh graduate looking for a position that will give you the experience you want to advance in your career.
You will be at a better advantage if you choose to ignore this advice and instead apply to one that you are well qualified for.

2. “Tell your interviewer the exact salary you were earning in your previous job”
When you hear this advice, you are better off not acting on it. Being honest about your salary is as terrible as it gets. You might give a larger fee than what the employer is willing to give and kill your chances, or you might mention a smaller fee than the one budgeted for your position and end up suffering for it.
Entry level candidates, the latter is common. Do your research on how to answer the salary question to avoid being sorry.

3. “Keep your CV to 2 pages maximum”
If this is not a requirement in the job you are applying for, don’t let it become your application headache. If you have done a lot of volunteering or have several achievements, don’t shy away from listing it all down. Employers are different and what is not liked by one may be impressive to another. But also, do not include unnecessary information and bore the recruiting firms or employers.

4. “Apply to every job related to your field, even those with more experience. You never know”
This advice is more likely to lead you into depression than give you a job. Requirements are set for a particular reason and if you keep making applications for jobs you are not qualified for, you’ll keep getting nothing for a reply.
The job searching process can be very frustrating, but it does not have to be. Have a strategy that will work.
Source: CareerPointKenya

Resume Tips: How to Write a Good Resume

Image is everything when you’re a job seeker. In fact, your resume is a prospective employer’s first impression of you. This is especially true of anyone seeking job opportunities in a creative field like graphic design or media production, so it’s important to make that first impression count. Combine powerful content with a professional layout to get their attention and keep your resume from ending up in the slush pile.

Establish Your Personal Brand Early On

Remember that a resume is a scannable document that only gets 10-20 seconds to impress an employer; however, the beginning section is the part most likely to be read in detail. Go for maximum impact by starting off with a strong headline that supports the profession or industry you’re targeting.  Next, write a summary that clearly highlights the benefits of hiring you. Include core competencies employers in your field look for when hiring.  Finally, clearly list other important credentials such as career experience, education, awards, professional organizations and any other relevant information.

Share Tangible Results

All employers want to know one thing when searching for the right candidate to fill a vacant position: “How will hiring you benefit me?” Your resume has to answer that question. One way of achieving this is by listing achievements you have accomplished for each position. The achievements that stand out the most are ones that are in some way measurable. For example, a measurable key achievement on your resume might read, “increased revenue by 37%. “

Keep Things Uncluttered

Even when you’re seeking a creative job, your resume needs to be clean and uncluttered. Make sure margins and tabs are properly set. Keep the font style and size as consistent throughout the resume as possible. Use bold sparingly, and add white space to break up sections and keep things easy on the eyes. Shading, boxes and graphics are ways of increasing visual interest.

Create an Online Presence that Compliment Your Resume

In most cases, resumes are still the primary tool used to secure employment – even for creative professionals. It’s also important to recognized that more and more, employers are using Google and other search engines to learn about candidates before they are contacted for an interview. It’s a good idea to utilize social media sites like LinkedIn to build a professional profile. You can even link to your website or an online portfolio. You can include your LinkedIn web address on your resume hard copy, just as you include your email address or any other  contact information.

How to Use LinkedIn Effectively for Your Job Search

LinkedIn being the 17th most popular site in Kenya (according to Alexa.com) is more popular than any local job sites in terms of ranking. Brighter Monday comes in at number 22 followed by Corporate Staffing's Career Point Kenya at number 33 and other four job sites that don’t rank that well. It is encouraging to see many Kenyan professionals utilizing these platforms.

According to LinkedIn, there are more than 800,000 Kenyans registered on this Professional network. However, registering is one thing, utilizing its potential effectively is another thing altogether.

As we know, recruiters and employers are constantly hunting for the best candidate to fill a specific position in their organization or the best candidate to present to the client. In this case they have no choice but to come to where these professionals are and LinkedIn happens to be the right place.

Candidates are often judged by how they present themselves online. There is the type that always posts motivational messages and quotes on life, religion or even politics. The type that is always following celebrities and known personalities.

But how about engaging that Human Resource manager, employee or employer from an organization  you are interested in? Instead of following Richard Branson, Aliko Dangote and Bill Gates connect with individuals who can add value to your career.

How to Job Hunt Via LinkedIn

I don’t know why you signed for LinkedIn but I have these two guesses. You could have joined LinkedIn to search for that dream job or to network for your business. If you have other reasons other than these two, then this may not be the right post. If you are looking for a job then why don’t you have a better profile?
Start by uploading a professional photo. What would come out as a good LinkedIn profile photo? Look at ease, look confident and smile. Remove any distraction behind or next to you (that means nothing else in the shot; no kids, no friends, no wife, no hubby, no pets etc). If you can afford one, get a professional passport photo taken.

Brand Yourself.
If your top skill is capital management, describe your capital management proficiency in your summary as well as in multiple work experience descriptions. Don’t be a jack of all trades.

Have a detailed job description.
Where you currently work, your start date and what you do. Update your profile frequently by adding new employments and achievements in your past places of work. Spend some little time on your profile once in awhile as it’s the only avenue recruiters get to know you. Make good that first impressions!
When contacting a recruiter or any other person that you think can be of help, your approach really matters. Bombarding a recruiter's inbox with messages asking for a placement is not going to give you that job. Apart from being unprofessional, this act will only portray you as someone not serious enough. Why not start by engaging him in a personal chat, get to know this person and their organization. Ask about their recruitment process. Do they accept unsolicited CVs? If yes, why not email him/her your CV indicating clearly the kind of job you are interested in. Make the conversation personal as opposed. Don’t just inbox with the message, "please find my CV" or "I am looking for job ABC."

Lastly, engage!
For you to be recognized online, start by posting helpful articles and links about your profession. Don’t do the motivational quotes that every average Dick and Harry is doing. Always post content that will add value to your connections and bring out your knowledge and interest in your field. And if someone sends a message to your inbox , be courteous and reply.
It would be worthwhile joining the numerous professional groups in your field and contributing. A professional group will help you advance your knowledge and skills as members share their experiences. By posting in the group you establish credibility and grow your influence.

LinkedIn is such a wonderful employment tool and as more Kenyan employers and recruiters are turning to this valuable tool to source for candidates, you can count on LinkedIn to offer you that dream job.  Online savvy professionals are now using LinkedIn to grow their networks for jobs and to develop their career. Don’t be left behind.

4 Job Hunting Tips While You Are Employed

There comes a time when your current job is no longer appealing to you either because the salary is in adequate, or the schedule is just too crazy for you. Whatever the reason, job hunting while you are still employed is acceptable.
In fact, it is advisable to conduct a job search while you are still employed because it makes you sell better than when you are jobless.
Are you at that point in your career where you feel like you should change jobs? What is the right and wrong way to do it?
The following are tips on how to actively job search while you are still employed but avoid creating bad blood between you and your current employer.

How To Job search While Still Employed

1.Keep it Secret
If you want to keep your current job, it is wise to keep your job search a secret. Some companies have a policy to fire employees who are actively job seeking. Do not compromise the job that you have on another that is still uncertain.

2. Do not use company resources to job search
Being ambitious is one thing, but using company resources when job hunting is outright reckless. You may want to save on the money to go to a cyber cafe, but honestly, stop being cheap.
Job search on your own time away from the office and using your own resources. Be a smart job seeker.
While networking on professional social sites like LinkedIn, it is advisable to use your personal contact details not company contacts. Emails or phone calls made to the company are more likely to sell betray your intentions and may cost you your job.

3. Schedule interviews wisely
Whether you lie you are going to a doctor’s appointment or a meeting with a client,  interview scheduling should be done wisely. Always be cautious and ensure that the real purpose of your absence is not discovered by your employer. This could cost you your current job.
If you are used casual wears to work and then suddenly show up in in the morning in a suit, chances are that you will raise suspicion. Dress normally to work and make use of the washrooms to change for the interview.

4.Keep your work and job search separate.
Job searching is time consuming and tedious. Do not let your work be affected by using company time to work on job applications. This could affect the quality of your work and could divert unnecessary attention towards you.
Perform your job responsibilities fully and only when you leave work, you can start on the job search. The two should not be done hand in hand.

3 Ways To Overcome The Job Search Misery

In the job search process, you will either be constantly frustrated for not getting to the interview stage or face rejections over and over. If you allow these frustrations to take control, stress start kicking in and then you start moving gradually to depression.
At this point you are in a state of misery and might be leaning towards giving up, but don’t allow yourself to accept defeat. You can refuse to be frustrated and instead choose to maintain confidence. You can kick the job search blues away if you will yourself to.

Here are 3 ways you can overcome challenges in your job search.

1. Avoid Isolation
The potential for feeling isolated and alone is the greatest roadblock any job-seeker can face. Getting out and about as much as possible is critical to your success. Since networking is the most direct route to your next position, you should be meeting people at every opportunity.
Try being active in professional associations and groups relevant to your line of work, Volunteer in a related field or try joining a job search group (these can be online, either in Linked In, Facebook or WhatsApp) where you can engage with other people in your situation.

2. Practice Proactive Stress Reduction

Plan ahead and determine the best methods you can use to make yourself feel better and relax after a tough day. Some of the methods that can work would be to identify close friends you can go to talk to or confide your frustrations to.
Another way to reduce stress is to complete a project where you will see a tangible result such as cleaning out a drawer, or rearranging your closet.
Also, if you can afford to take some time away, perhaps a weekend or a bit longer, do so during your search. Adding some real distance both emotionally and physically to an issue can provide renewed focus and energy. It will also improve your overall attitude.
3. Set Yourself Up for Success
If your skills aren’t current and competitive, it is difficult to feel good about your viability as a candidate. To be successful, you will need to sell yourself with confidence to potential employers. So, if you can afford it try taking a class to improve your qualification and skills.
The job search process is never easy, at least not for most, so try as much as you can to remain confident and energetic. You never know when it is your time.

Four Strategies To Find & Apply For Unadvertised Jobs

Contrary to the belief held by a majority of job hunters, the majority of jobs in the market are not advertised. This means that most of these job seekers miss out on jobs since they mainly depend on the newspaper, recruitment agencies and job listing sites.
Due to high cost of advertisement, most middle and small size companies don not advertise their job vacancy.
 Here is how to get and apply for that position you want but can't find that advertisement introducing its availability:

1. Target Search and Research.
First and foremost, it is important that you know your career goals and objectives. You just have to know what you want in a job. After that identify the company that you think you need to work with. Keep your options opened when it comes to the companies you would like to work with.
You can do this by creating a list of target companies, prioritized by what’s most important to you such as: size of the company, specific geographic area, type of product / services, industry, profit or nonprofit organization, reputation/company culture, and so on.

2. Networking.
With a most of Kenyan jobs going unadvertised, it is vital that you constantly network and keep all your old contacts. This can be done through their employees, companies they work in partnership with among others.
Through this, you will be kept in the know on any available positions that need to be filled and will even be recommended to through the contacts you made.

3. Attend Trade Fairs and Conferences.
The only way to meet a majority of employers and future bosses is through trade fairs. Information about these fairs are always in the press and the companies’ websites.
The fairs are not only limited to trade, but also career fairs that are mostly conducted in universities and attract potential employers and companies.

4. Follow-Ups.
When applying for a job position that has not been advertised for, it is up to you to follow-up with the employers on the progress of your application.
You can do this through occasional phone calls or via email. However, this should be done after a week or so.
Remember that since this position was not advertised, your application and CV should be tailored for that particular position and company.

7 Of The Most Jobless Professionals In Kenya

Are you still searching for a job more than 2 years after your graduation? The frustration is unimaginable. Chances are, you specialized in the wrong course and you are now regretting your choice. Perhaps, you are thinking of pursuing another degree all together.

Not so fast, peruse the following list to ensure that you do not take another course that will leave you more frustrated than you initially were.

Below is a list of the professions with the most jobless graduates.

1. Mass Communication
Walk around and almost every jobless person you see will tell you they studied mass communication. They all want to work in one major media house or another. The field is so crowded and with media houses hiring mostly in-house, it is a wonder most mass communication graduates pursue other courses.

2. Political science
The Kenyan job market just isn’t ready political scientists. Most people don’t even know what a career in political science entails.That would explain the predicament that these professionals face in the job market.

3. Nutrition
Though the jobs in this field are available, they are very scarce. This is why most of the people who are nutrition professionals are still job seeking years on.

4. Music
In a country where Music is considered an extracurricular activity, a music career is almost obsolete. It is not considered a lucrative profession that requires much thought.Those who are lucky get teaching jobs, but for the rest,they tend to find other career paths.

5. Drama
In Kenya, there are those professions that are considered luxurious and those that are considered hobbies. Unfortunately,drama is one of the latter. This is why most of the drama graduates are still in the job market hustling for jobs.

6. Hospitality
This is another job market that is rather crowded. Hustling for years on end seems to be a trend in this profession as some are forced to start up small enterprises to make a living. At the moment, especially with the retrenchments that are taking place in this industry,these professionals have to remain jobless awhile longer.

7. Counseling
As lucrative as a career in counseling it, the available jobs are little to none at all. The graduates in this field will mostly for lack of jobs open up their own practices,but unfortunately this requires a lot of resources.
Go back to the drawing board and assess your career choice. It is wise to check the current job market before pursuing any courses.

How To Resign Professionally

Resigning from a job or a position is something you will definitely face at one time or another. Therefore, it is paramount that you are aware of how to tender that resignation with tact and diplomacy.
You might be tempted to jump or dance your way out of the door, or even get your own back by criticizing your boss to the entire office. But you should resist these temptations, by all means, when the time comes for you to resign.
Being cautious and submitting a polite resignation letter means you won’t burn bridges. You may not want to work for the same company in future, but remember, paths might cross with your ex-boss or other colleagues in a different company in the future. Trying to exit a professional manner will help you retain credibility – even if you’re leaving under a cloud. Below is a stepwise way of tendering that resignation letter.

1. Letting your manager know

It is courteous to tell your boss first. Request a meeting with him/her to say that you’re leaving, following up soon after with an official resignation letter. Do this before you blast out an office-wide email.
Work out how you can ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruption to your employer. There may be a range of things you can do to hand over professionally, such as completing projects, working out the priorities with your line manager,leaving clear documentation or training up your successor in processes or software.
Before the meeting with your boss, write a list of ongoing projects along with status updates and suggestions for completion.Use the meeting to clarify any other points, such as your notice period and leaving date, how you will inform others (colleagues or external clients, contacts and suppliers). Ask about references too; your employer may only supply the most basic type (including dates worked, job title etc) but your line manager might also give you a more personal reference.
Making sure you get a good written reference before you leave (or trying to agree the wording if you leave in less happy circumstances) can make subsequent job hunting less stressful.
 
2. The Resignation letter

Keep your letter short. You don’t need to give lots of explanations or justification for why you’re leaving, or even to say where you’re moving to. Don’t be tempted to address the failings of the company or your boss, either. Instead, thanking your employer for the job and mentioning what you appreciated about it is a graceful touch.

3. Letting others know

As well as telling your closest colleagues in person, you may also want to email others. Again, keep this short and sweet, such as: “As you may already know, I’ve decided to leave the company to pursue other opportunities (in … ) /to take the next step in my career.
I’ve greatly enjoyed working with you all and hope that our paths will cross again in the future.”

6 Worst Attributes You Can Give yourself in a CV

The problem with most of us is that we love ourselves, sometimes too much.
This love tends to be all-encompassing, which means that we often try and encompass everyone else with this self-love.
We fail to realize, however, that sometimes we can sound a little too wonderful and this can put off potential employers. We may also use words that in some cases mean slightly less than we'd like them to. Especially when we're presenting ourselves on a CV.
Below are the 6 worst attributes you can give yourself in a CV. Please check them against your own CV profile. Just in case you think you're that wonderful.

1. VISIONARY. What are you, a clairvoyant? Someone with special powers? Iron man? You probably think that you are. However, one part of vision is envisioning what others will think of your self-attribution. Describing yourself as a visionary in a CV is telling other people (read employers) that you're more existentially exalted than they are. That isn't very visionary.

2. INSPIRATIONAL LEADER. Who said so? Do you have a list of those you have inspired? You're going to tell me that all those people who have signed your recommendation letters actually have the merest tinge of objectivity? Or are you going to tell me that they recommended you because you asked for it? That wasn't very inspired of you.

3. SUCCESSFUL. I've noticed this word couple of times in CVs. I think it's somehow sneaked in there by the typist. Or, may be it is  an inspiration to the candidate. Especially when they need to remind themselves that they're successful. They worry that they're not. They also need to believe that other people are failures.  You might have scored those straights As and graduated with a first class honors, but success and failure are movable beasts. As words of self-description, they actually mean nothing. Except in your shrink's office.

4. THOUGHT LEADER. Someone in marketing must have invented this one. Does it mean: "My thoughts are better than yours?" Does it mean: "People can't wait to hear the next thing that comes out of my brain?" Or might it signify: "I'm trying to make myself sound important here and I hope I get away with it."?

5. CONCEPTUAL THINKER. Please forgive me for asking, but what does this mean? Does it mean that you have a grasp of mental concepts? Doesn't everyone, at least to some extent? Are you trying to say that you have lots of ideas? Or that you think in ideas? Or that when you think you don't just think of ice cream and butterflies and sunny days? Could it be that you're saying that you had no idea what to write and this sounded good?

6. PURPOSE-DRIVEN. I worry. You're driven by a purpose, as opposed to a whim? But what if your purpose is whimsical? What if your purpose is money? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I went to a thesaurus, fascinated by what might be the opposite of purpose. I was given "aimlessness," "neglect" and "oversight." You're telling me you're not driven by aimlessness? OK. So you wrote that on purpose?

5 Things You Should Never Say In A Job Interview

When attending an interview, the interviewee's main objective is to impress the recruiters. However, in trying to achieve this, candidates sometimes get carried away and end up giving responses that only ruin their chances of securing the job

Below are some of the responses should never give in an interview.

1. What do you do here?
This question, if asked by the interviewee, portrays him or her as ignorant and not having no  prior knowledge on the background of the company.
Background checks forms the basis when one is preparing for interviews. Surely you shouldn't express all that interest in a company you don't even know what they are dealing in.You should never walk into an interview not knowing about the position you are applying for or the company. You want to come forward as excited and focused to work with the company.

2. I Did Not Get Along With My Boss.

Yeah, right, things didn't work out with your previous employer. You are not alone, in most cases it doesn't. You might want to be honest in the interview but please keep this to yourself. Under no circumstance should you speak ill of your previous employer. This might make the recruiter think that you are the one who is difficult to work with.

3. I Will do Anything.

Apply for a specific role at each company, and be ready to explain why it’s exactly what you’re looking for and you should be given that role.
You don’t want to come out as being desperate and not focused. Most hiring managers are looking for people who are very passionate about the role they’re taking on. So when you give an open request, it only shows lack of passion.

4. Check it On My CV.
 
When an interviewer asks anything even if already covered in your CV, he/she wants you to expound beyond a written word.
The main purpose of the interview is to gauge how well you can express yourself, therefore any question asked seeks to test or gauge a particular skill. Communication skills, confidence, and honesty are some of the things interviewers gauge.
How you express yourself is key to whether you get that job or not. Your CV has done its part and landed you that interview. The remaining is up to you.

Seven Life Lessons You Will Never Learn in an MBA Class

Experience, they say is the best teacher and when it comes to life; what better teacher can beat life
experiences themselves? Remember, experience is also a school of hard knocks so better learn it from others. Here’s a summary of life lessons a former MBA student documented.

1. Networking: If there’s anything I’ve learned in the 2 months since I’ve been out of school, it’s that I didn’t know a thing about networking. The only thing I learned about networking in business school is that it was important. The reality is, like most things in life, networking is a skill you have to develop. One of the things I made conscious effort to do was to follow the networking strategies of books like Brian Tracy’s Luck Factor and Never Eat Alone.
Perhaps the best networking advice I’d ever come across was volunteering for organizations in your area of professional interest. I started to do that and the interview I had today was purely the byproduct me recognizing the hiring manager’s name when I checked him in at an event. The next day he emailed me about the position even though I didn’t get a chance to
talk to him at the event.
The other important realization I’ve come to is that networking is something you should be doing whether you have a job or not. I’m in the position I’m in because I didn’t network in my last semester at business school the way I should have.

2. Ego: There really is no class in
business school that teaches you how destructive the power of your ego is, although there should be. I made an error in judgment early in my business school career, which completely changed the trajectory of my MBA experience. I indirectly violated someone’s trust and never managed to earn it back. My ego-driven desire to get ahead was what caused that decision and in the long run, it didn’t even pay off.

3. Enlightenment : I’d love to see the
day when a business school offers a course on enlightenment. Just imagine a bunch of MBA students sitting in a room meditating and contemplating life while the professor appears to be some sort of monk. This kind of coursework is highly unlikely, but enlightenment is an important quality of all important leaders. In fact at the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy is self-actualization and thus in my mind essential to effective leadership.

4. Goal Setting: To say that business school doesn’t teach us how to set goals might seem ridiculous to some. But, if you ask some MBA students what they want to do they will most likely reply “find a job after graduation and make 6 figures.” While that’s a noble goal it’s really more like a task. It’s only through my study of personal development that I’ve come to understand the power of goal setting.
If MBA programs offered a course on goal accomplishment for one semester, it’d be really interesting to see how much more effective people would be. If I could go back and do it again, I would have kept a visible reminder of my goals somewhere all during business school.

5. Perseverance: Nobody teaches you this in business school. This is a lesson that you can only get through the school of Life. Unfortunately we’ve been conditioned to believe failure is bad. But it’s times like these you have to remember that Michael Jordan said” “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

6. Detachment: If we could master on skill that would forever change the quality of our life experience is becoming detached from outcomes Business school is a goal driven environment where everybody is trying to get a good job, make good money, and end up doing what they love. So being detached from all outcomes would be almost looked down upon.
However, if we did become detached we would find peace of mind inside ourselves that would allow us to sail through our personal and professionallives.

7. Patience: Wayne Dyer, in A Course in Miracles says somewhere that “Infinite patience leads to immediate results.” I personally am not the most patient person in the world. But, there is something I’ve noticed in my moments of patience. Usually after I
surf, I’m often stuck in traffic, but I’m so wiped out and mellowed out that I’m completely patient no matter how bad the traffic is. This kind of peace where nothing phases you is an ideal place to'operate from.

Coudtesy: theskooloflife.com

5 Things to Avoid as a Young Graduate

Graduated from collage? Congratulations and welcome to the world.
Every year our universities caugh out thousands of graduates into the job market. With the introduction of double intake, coupled with Kenyans' ever increasing desire for higher education and the university management's appetite for privately sponsored student's money; the number will continue to rise.

When you graduate from collage it is joy impregnated with ambitions. You are finally through with the suffering in collage - assignments, eating USA (ugali, sukuma wiki and avocado) daily and the prohibition of co-habiting. However, the world out here is just another collage, if not worse. The pride of holding a university degree will soon be replaced by utter desparation to find a job and cater for yourself.

Therefore, to orient you to the world, once more, let us look at some things you must avoid as a young graduate to survive the heat out here:

1. Pride: I know it is a great achievement to graduate out of collage and be handed a certificate of completion. This may be the sole reason your certificate has honours attached to it. However, when you venture into the job market, try as fast as possible to forget all the achievements you had in school. Accept that you are a fresher again and there be ready to learn from those who have made it out here. You are a degree holder and so are thousands of your graduatemates. It doesnt matter if you were awarded a first class honour, your success depend on how you perform at work and how how smart you are out here. So put your head down to work, be humble and willing to learn.

3. Being too choosy: The fact that you have graduated doesn't mean you are entitled to a good job, a 6-figure salary and a better life. With the 40% unemployment rate in Kenya today, you can count yourself lucky to get a job even with a PHD. Get hold of the small job you have got, earn the little you get for your survival. Out here, experience matter more than your university degree.

3 . Too much ambitions. I know you are dreaming of driving a laxury car, living in Muthaiga, joining the millionares club. However, I would ask you to write these down but treat them as what they are, dreams. Do not overburden yourself wondering when you will accomplish this. With a monthly gross pay of 30k or below and a couple of insults from your boss, your ambitions of owning a car within the first two years of work are a mong the few things you would want to avoid as a young graduate. Expecting a 6-figure salary for a start is being over ambitious and unless your parents reside there, you're not going to live in Karen, Runda or Lavington very soon.Therefore, be ready to start small and work hard to build your career, reputation and wealth.

4. Extravagance: In college you were used to throwing parties, drinking yourself silly, buying trendy clothes and shoes with your HELB loan or your parent's cash. You trained to be a good spender. However, life out here requires that you save. Your parents expect you to take care of yourself and HELB is nolonger a gift from government but a loan to be repaid. Avoid partying, trend seeking and excessive consumption of alcohol for your pocket's sake.

5. Cohabiting: In campus dating was rampant and inviting your partner for an overnight stay was the norm. It was sometimes tempting to live together in the spirit of sharing and love. The authorities were against this and thats why you kept apart. Now you are outside and feel you should accomplish your missed desires, but please don't. In the real world, no body will stop you from cohabiting but when you do it, be ready for the consequences. Unplanned marriage, unplanned babies are not the things you want to bring into your life as a young graduate.

Three Tips on How to Land a Job Fast in Kenya

For most job seekers in Kenya, chancws of landing that much needed job are slim.

Many young Kenyans have invested their, money, time and energy in education but are yet to reap the benefits. The streets of Nairobi are littered with graduates trecking from office to office droping their resumes hoping to get their dream job.

The reality is that  the Kenyan job market has little to offer to the majority of job seekers. To start off, not all job seeker went to the big school which most employers would like hiring from and worse still, most job hunters do not have godfather connections in the industry they  want to work in.

So how can you manage it? How does one make that journey from the jobless corner to the office corridors? Is it possible to land a job in Kenya within your first year of graduation?

The answer is a big YES. You can land your dream job straight from Campus.

Is it luck? True, some people clear school and within a few months they already have a good job.. so yeah, luck may play a part here.

But, you know what? it takes more action, determination, hard work, and willpower, than anything else. Luck, remember, only comes to people who do not put it in their plans. So, don’t join the spring of entitlement where most youth tend to think the world owe them something  ..…you really want something…you gota work for it.

Here are THREE tips on how to land more job interviews in Kenya and hopefully land that dream job.

1.Job Search is in itself a Job and should be treated so. I know you've heard  this phrase a dozen times ‘Kutafuta kazi ni kazi’. (Looking for a job is a job). What you need to do is set a time DAILY to focus on your job hunt. The early morning hours are particularly the best because you are fresh then but if that doesn’t work for you, go for afternoon or evening and dedicate it to your job hunting process. Make job search a habit.

Sacrifice and direct all your effort consistently on the one thing you want, a job. Browse the numerous job sites such as careerpointkenya.co.ke, olx.co.ke, Brighter Monday, Joblink Kenya etc. Subscribe to their job alert emails. Peruse through the dailies and see if there are job vacancies you qualify and apply.

If you dedicate a time daily, you will not miss an opening since you are always looking. Keep looking until you find it. Don’t be that guy who sees and applies for a job month after it was advertised, expectung to get the job.

Rely on your contacts too. Someone somewhere may know of a vaccancy. Open your eyes and ears wide enough to make sure you do not miss any opportunity. Check back the places you did your internship, network online, follow companies you are interested in on twitter, facebook and linkedin, Check back and connect with alumni and former collegues.

And if you are a serious job seeker whom you say you are, then you should know almost all recruitment agencies, in Kenya, who are hired by several firms to recruit for them. Stanza Solutions, Corporate Staffing, are just but two of them. It’s your duty to check their websites DAILY for any vacancies for which you are qualified.

2.Focus on volume and Relevancy. Apply to as many jobs as possible. Applying for two jobs in a span of three months is not going to help boost your odds of landing a job.

But in as much as you strive to put a large number of job applications out there, be sure to be applying for positions which you are qualified and are relevant to you. Otherwise this method will simply backfire on you.

3. Pray: Most people will forget to tell you this, but always remember to put God first in all you do. He knows you need a good job so put it in His hands. You will be amazed by His deeds.

And while you are job-seeking, make sure you have  your tools ready…what do I mean? Copies of your testimonies - both softcopy and harfcopy, a well written CV accompanied by a perfect cover letter.

Good luck in your job search.

10 Overused Resume Phrases You Should Avoid

Lately I’ve noticed a trend—the use of phrases that have been creeping their way into resume career summaries and just killing any chances candidates have of presenting any individuality or distinctiveness. Isn’t the goal of a resume to set you apart from your competition? Shouldn’t it present you as uniquely qualified and unmatched by seeming rivals?

Let me tell you something: YOU are an exceptional individual. There is no one else on this planet just like you. You deserve a resume that proclaims your incomparable talents, achievements, and expertise. Your resume is the chief evangelist of your career and best instrument for securing employment. So please, take care to ensure that you’re presenting yourself in a distinguishable and favorable way.

I encourage you to review your resume (especially the career summary—where these phrases so often appear), and eliminate any instances of these worn-out phrases that dull the shine of your individuality:

- Demonstrated excellence

- Proven ability to

- Accomplished professional – or any statement that includes professional

- Demonstrated success driving results and hitting goals in challenging and fast-paced corporate environments

- Confident leader

- Uniquely skilled at

- Team player

- Able to exceed in fast-paced environments

- Works well independently or with a team

- Excellent communicator (or its counterpart: Excellent verbal and written communication skills)

- Results-oriented, results-driven, or proven ability to deliver results

OK, that was more than 10, but once I got started I got a little carried away. The point is, most of these are such blanket statements they fail to substantiate your value to potential employers. Whenever you’re tempted to utilize one of these vague statements, try replacing it with a fact or figure unique to you. Here are some examples:

- Instead of saying accomplished professional—use the actual job title you’re targeting: Customer Service Manager, Project Manager, or Chief Executive Officer, for example.

- Instead of saying demonstrated success or demonstrated excellence—prove you’ve been successful by articulating it. If you led a team of 200+ customer service representatives to exceed their quota by 20% —bringing in an extra $5 MILLION in revenue —USE THAT INSTEAD! See how specific that information is to you? And how it speaks to your success? It tells me you’re a great leader and that you drive strong financial gains. But it tells me in a very specific way, without making a vague statement such as: drives strong and sustainable financial gains.

- Confident leaders don’t have to state they’re confident. If you’re a confident leader, use facts and figures that highlight your results to show me how you’ve exuded confidence to your team.

- Team player, thrives in fast-paced environments, strong communicators (most of us are these things). Employers don’t assume you’re not a team player or a great communicator because you didn’t write this on your resume. They’ll interview you and determine your communication skills at that time. They’ll ask you specific questions about how you functioned within a team, the role you played, and the outcome of a project to ascertain your ability to be a part of the team. Use examples, facts, and figures to be more specific and set yourself apart.

- Try to avoid using the word: results. If you ever feel tempted to use this word on your resume, ask yourself: What WAS that result exactly? Then write about what you delivered instead of just the word. Think in terms of outcomes; this will help you to write about facts and figures as opposed to generalities.

No other candidate will have your exact, identical set of experiences. Use this to your advantage, and be exact; prove yourself with examples and metrics whenever possible.
(Great Resumes Fast)