How to Succeed in the Kenyan Job Matket Without a Degree

Many times we have come across people in the job market getting frustrated by their lack of a "degree from a recognised University". So compounded is this problem that certificate and diploma holders now feel the Kenyan job market is not for them. No wonder everyone is rushing for that BBA Course.

Just to shed some light on this matter, Diploma courses are still useful and yes very relevant in Kenya. The global labor market paradigm has shifted emphasis from certificate to ability to deliver on the job. So there is no problem if you somehow end up in the labor market without a degree. After all, there are many jobs that are not tagged to a particular discipline, so many people find themselves in jobs they studied nothing related to.

Here are a few things you must understand if that’s the route you are taking.

1. If you must take this route, you must be good at what you do - If you have no degree and you want to get a job, the only test that may be applicable is the practical test of what you can actually do. If you are a graphic designer for example, by the time your prospective employer sits you down in front of a monitor, he will not expect anything but excellence from you if must be hired except of course you are coming in as an apprentice which in itself is not a bad idea. So you cannot afford to appear in the labor market without a degree and still not be good at what you do.

2. You are on your own - If you have no degree and are hoping to be employed in the labor market, it is solely your responsibility to develop yourself. Knowing full well that there are limited spaces available and employers want only the best they can lay their hands on.

3. See if you’ll take some courses - Being good in what you do oftentimes lands you the job but if you really want to keep moving or advance past staying just in one position all your life to a situation where you qualify to have bigger responsibilities committed to your care, then you may have to take some professional courses. If for example you are a welder and you eyeing a position with Shell (SPDC), then you may begin taking professional courses tailored for welders. That way, you’ll reposition yourself strategically for higher opportunities.

4. Entrepreneurship is a viable route - If you have no degree and are ambitious, one attractive route you may consider taking is the business way. Inasmuch as you are young, ambitious and disciplined, being in business for yourself can be very rewarding especially if you have the capital to start with. If you find yourself towing this path, you may want to take some management courses that will give you insight into customer care, business finance, brand management and other basic things you need to get the business flying.

5. Not every job opening is for you- Ruthless as this may sound, to put it bluntly, not every job is for you. If you do not have a degree, it’s not possible that you’d be employed to lecture or fly a plane; it is not for you except of course you are planning on heading back to college to start again, which I seriously doubt, so look for opportunities in fields like graphic designing, computer related fields, photography, entrepreneurship, and the likes.

6. You’ll need a big heart - To succeed, you’ll need a big heart, irrespective of whether you have a degree or not. Truth is, not everyone that wields a college degree is successful and not everyone that appears without a degree in the job market is unsuccessful or poor; so it goes beyond the paper qualification to personal unwavering determination to excel in a world where you are not recognized until you have financially arrived.

7. You can still get that degree - The mere fact that somehow you have ended up in a heartless labor market without a degree does not mean that you it’s over for you. Your being without a degree may be your fault, but hey they still offer admission in universities and they didn’t say you shouldn’t apply. So if you have the means and motive, go back to college and get that degree; those that have them are not better or smarter than you are.
(Careerpoint Kenya)

Acquiring Wealth Through a Saving Culture

The last time I assertively stated that  there is no sure way to financial freedom other than through saving, I was almost burried alive by some of my readers who have become tired of this 'cliche'. However, Unless you are lucky enough to win a jackpot, you are neither going to get out of debt  nor invest something for your retirement, if you do not save.

We all want to be wealthy but we want to reach there through shortcuts such as marriage, inheritance, or even stealing.

To accumulate wealth, you must understand the importance of saving. You need to have your own income in order to be wealthy, invest and obtain assets. It is this saving that will work as portion of your capital when starting a business, investment or the deposit when buying your dream home.

To begin Saving, you must first understand your financial position and  then make sure you are living within your means. Simply put, this means maintaining a lifestyle that you can afford and sustain. No uncessary loans.  Most middle class families in Kenya today are defined as people living beyond their means.  Look at the  amount of  debt they have interms of car loans,  home loans and the rest, and you will understand what I'm talking about. To change this, they need to start saving. And  start it immediately.

It is everyone's dream to meet their financial obligations and having something little to spare.

The only way of achieving this goal is by identifying the most profitable activities that will help you fulfil your financial dreams. The best way could be through investing and letting your money work for you.

To be wealthy or not can as well be viewed as a choice which totally lie in your hands.
Wait no more, start saving, start investing, roll your wheels the road to financial freedom and success.

Shock as Fraudsters Reload ATMs With Fake Money

Fake currency has found its way in banks, raising concern from Kenyans who now want the matter investigated and the culprits prosecuted.

A cross-section of people interviewed by the Nation say some of their money withdrawn from automated teller machines had turned out to be fake.

Mr Patrick Gichobe, who runs an M-Pesa stall on Moi Avenue, Nairobi, says in September, a customer walked into his stall to make an M-Pesa transaction of Sh2,000 only for the money to turn out to be fake.

“He tabled a bank ATM receipt. I was hearing this for the first time because often those with fake money say they had been sent by other people or they had been paid after selling an item. Unfortunately there was nothing I could do because the money was still unacceptable,” Mr Gichobe told the Nation on Friday.

Mr Norbert Wandera has declined transactions at his electronics shop on Kimathi Lane three times.

“They (potential clients) claimed they had either been sent or just withdrawn from a bank. I suspect it could be a syndicate which sends people with fake monies to try and see if it could be accepted. But my long experience in handling money has saved me,” he said.

“The idea that one could withdraw money from an ATM only to turn out fake looked surprising. But last week, a colleague pulled a one-thousand note from an ATM on Kenyatta Avenue and when he walked into a supermarket to buy a drink minutes later, cashiers rejected the money arguing it wasn’t genuine. When he produced a receipt, they argued, while punching holes in the note, the excuse was now overused, and told him to go show it to the bank which later disowned the note.”

According to figures in a report released last Wednesday by audit firm Deloitte, most of the money banks lose is a result of collusion between bank staff and outsiders.

The report, Financial Crimes Survey Report 2013: Where is the exposure? shows that cash theft is most prevalent in Kenya at 72 per cent compared to cheque, money laundering or credit card fraud.

“In Kenya where banks lost Sh655.6 million, researchers found that non-management personnel were more likely to steal the money or collude and banks were reluctant to publicise the incidents.

Most banks in the country hire security agents to reload ATMs for them. This is where the collusion starts as they replace genuine notes with false ones.

How false money gets to your ATM (According to the report)

-Abundant liquidity in the banking industry lures criminals to insert fake notes in the system

-There is weak financial crimes control and those whose hands are found in the cookie jar are given lenient punishments

-Bank managers and their staff are casual towards financial crimes and give little attention to these incidents.

-Internal staff circumvent IT controls and Banks are pervasive about use of technology to secure money

-There is lack of platform to share these incidents of financial crimes.
{Source Daily Nation}

Fake Currency in Kenya a Ticking Time Bomb

The amount, quantity and quality of fake money in Kenya has been steadily rising, making it hard to be sure whether the note you are holding in your hand is fake or real.
Most Kenyans are suspicious of the 500 and 1000 shillings notes and will take a 200, 50 and 100 shillings note without a second thought. People seem also to trust money from bank ATMs, bank tellers and supermarket tills. However, the fraudsters have become smarter and are targeting unsuspected areas like ATMs, and lower denominations like 200, 50 and  100 shillings notes.
How they succeed in sneaking these fake currency into the banking systems is still a mystery but  it may be during the loading of ATMs, often done by contracted security firms.

How Can You Evade the Fake Money Scum?
At some point in your life you may have handled fake money whether knowingly or unknowingly.
Being in possession of counterfeit money be it in local or foreign currency is a grave offense in Kenya which attracts a jail term not exceeding 5 years.
So in-order to be on the safe side, keen hawk-eyed, some measures should be taken when handling money to determine whether it is genuine or fake currency.
How do you detect if "money" is real or fake? You may wonder well……. here are pointers in detecting counterfeit money.
1. Portrait Watermark. A three dimensional portrait of a lion’s head can be seen when the note is held up to the light. The watermark has a three dimensional appearance with areas in varying tones of dark and light. Below the watermark is the value numeral of the banknote. This number can be seen when the note is held up to the light. Both the portrait and value numeral depict some brightness when held up to the light.
2. Serial Numbers The serial numbering style is asymmetrical and has progressively larger digits in adjacent positions. One set of serial numbers appears horizontally, the other vertically. The vertical serial numbers on the left hand side of the banknote glows under UV light
3. See Through Feature Each of the banknotes has a see through feature which forms a perfect complete elephant when held up to the light. When looked at from one side, the image does not form any recognizable feature unless when looked at up to the light.
4. Security Thread All genuine banknotes have a distinct interwoven thread running vertically down the right hand side of the notes. When held up to the light, the thread appears as a continuous line and it shows a series of text featuring the denomination numeral of the note and the letters CBK. The current generation of banknotes features two types of threads:-
For the 1000 and 500 shillings denominations, the thread is thicker and portrays a colour shift when viewed at angles. The 50, 100 and 200 shilling denominations have a thinner thread silver in colour and do not depict any colour shifts when viewed at angles.

Survey: Best Firms to Work for in Kenya 2013

Technology provider Craft Silicon has been rated the best company to work for in Kenya.
The ranking, further demonstrates
Kenya’s  growing stature as
information, communication and
technology hub in the region.
According to the survey Deloitte Best Company to Work For Survey 2013, Proctor and Gamble, was rated second with Kenya Finance Women Trust coming third.
Craft Silicon, is a financial solution
provider in banking and micro-finance software, mobile and switch solutions.
Grand prize founded and headed by Kamal Budhabatti, the company won an Sh85.4 million ($100,000) grand prize at the 2010 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship.
The survey analysed input of employees from 17 companies to
ascertain which company they
consider to be the best employer to
work for.
Themed, ‘War for talent’, the survey
provided a glimpse into the ability of companies to attract and retain talent.
Out of the various categories,
commercial banks had four entries.
Family Bank was rated as the best
employer in the industry.
The bank has undergone numerous
strategic changes since the appointment of Peter Munyiri as the
institutions chief executive in 2011.
Speaking during the announcement of the winners in Nairobi Thursday,
Deloitte South Africa consulting partner Jack Sellschop said this year’s survey theme focuses on talent in a rapidly changing business environment.
“Increasing numbers of companies are expanding into the continent. These companies are becoming aware of the need to understand the perceptions of their employees towards their institutions and what they value in the employer or employee relationship,” he
said.

Key parametres
The survey looks at several
parametres such as remuneration and work life balance, confidence in the organisation, operational effectiveness and job satisfaction.
In addition, the survey also looks at the employee’s sense of confidence in the organisation, organisational ethics and integrity among other parameters.

The report measures the rating by
employees in terms of operational
effectiveness and employee
relationship with immediate
supervisors and sense of inclusion in the organisation. Others include overall job satisfaction and career
development prospects among others.
The report also reveals interesting
trends that are at the heart of winning and retaining talent.
The pace of organisational growth is at the top of winning talent. Other key aspects are talent development,
transformative human resources and proper workplace branding.
Deloitte East Africa consulting partner Kimani Njoroge said the findings from the survey would assist employers develop strategies to improve the working environment for employees.
“This gives employers the opportunity to develop insights into what motivates people, what attracts them to their firms, what they value and also collect
the hard data required to make these judgments,” he said.
Deloitte Chief Executive for East and
Central Africa Sammy Onyango noted that the war for talent in Africa goes beyond the traditional borders of the individual States, adding that it has become regional, Pan African and will eventually be global. “It is mandatory for businesses to regularly engage employees to create a strategy to address their motivation, behaviour, productivity and business results,” he said.
Engagement initiatives
Onyango urged employers to
constantly consult employees on
determining and applying engagement initiatives that are relevant to the unique needs of the organisation’s diverse workforce rather than on-size fits all approaches. “Work environments now have multi-cultural, multi-generational and cross-geographical aspects,” he said. He
advised companies to identify the right employees and engage them in the right organisational behaviours.
This, he said is a critical ingredient of how they manage the diverse
economic conditions facing their
organisations today.
The survey will extend to Uganda and Tanzania from next year.
(Source The Standard)

Bill Gates: Lessons You Don't Learn in School

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, one of the richest people in the world, is well known for the nuggets of wisdom he occasionally imparts on the young and old alike. At a speech he gave at a high school graduation, he sought to bring them back down to earth by correcting some of their misconceptions about life in the real world. No political correctness here – just one big reality check that, if taken to heart, will help us on the real life after school.

Lesson 1: Life’s not fair. Get used to it You could be the smartest, hardest working most noble person alive and still not get that A. Or promotion. Or the girl, whatever floats your boat. The sooner you stop expecting life to hand you the things you think you “deserve”, the easier it will be to bounce back in those times when life knocks you down and just keeps kicking. You could earn your way to that promotion and still have it snatched from under you – get over it. That doesn’t mean sit back and take it. It means that you need to learn from those ugly situations and better position yourself to reap the benefits of your diligence.

Lesson 2: The World Doesn’t care about your self esteem “The world expects you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself” … so get on it. Start making something of yourself today. Right now. That idea you’ve been pushing to the back of your mind might be just the thing to propel you to the limelight, so get on it. You only truly fail if you never try.

Bill Gates, Microsoft co-

Lesson 3: You will not make six figure salary right after school “You won’t be a vice president with a car phone until you earn both.” This addresses the entitled behavior that young people display on a daily basis. It’s not a good look for anyone to act like the world should unfurl a red carpet at their feet just because they showed up. You have to work hard for what you get – I’m talking sweat and blood here, and don’t expect anyone’s gratitude for it.

Lesson 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you meet your boss All those deadlines you think are unreasonable at best, those times she locked you out of class because you showed up late? Ten times worse with a boss. Only, instead of chewing you out infront of a classroom, it’s a whole office. Teachers are legally mandated to show some restraint, bosses aren’t. He’ll call you all sorts of names your teacher only dreams of saying to your face, then show you the way to the unemployment line. This isn’t to scare you off of gainful employment, just to encourage you to practice dealing with difficult authority figures, to better prepare you for the future, so you can avoid an emotional outburst at the office.

Lesson 5: Flipping buggers is not beneath your dignity “Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping – they called it OPPORTUNITY.” So get over yourself and take that job that you think is beneath you. A waiter/waitress position opens up at your favorite restaurant? Swallow your pride and take it. Use that as a stepping stone. The richest men in the world started off as paper boys – remember that.

Lesson 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents fault “So don’t whine about your mistake – learn from them.” Too many people fall into the trap of claiming “mommy” and “daddy” issues when they mess up. According to Bill Gates, you need to stop spreading the blame around and take responsibility for your failures. Only then do you earn the right to own your successes as well.

Lesson 7: Your folks know something you don’t know “Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you think you are. So before you save the rainforests from the parasites of your parents’ generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.” Self-explanatory.

Lesson 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not “In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as many tries as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.” Only the strong survive. This doesn’t mean that it’s okay to do whatever it takes to come out ahead – the end does not justify the means. It just means that you need to keep the big picture in mind – to remember that while it’s okay to do your best, it’s better to always ensure that you go the extra mile to prove yourself.

Lesson 9: Life is not divided into semesters “You don’t get summer off and very few employers are interested in helping you “find yourself”. Do that on your own time.” This is one thing most students don’t realize. The real world won’t give you time off to recoup your strength. Once life starts it just goes on and on, and on. The sooner you shift your way of thinking from seeing your holiday as time off, but as time to be spent making something worthwhile of yourself, the easier the transition to real life will be.

Lesson 10: Television is not real life “In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.” This applies to more than just an episode of friends. Life seems a lot easier on TV than it is in real life. Sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many people expect to sleep in every morning and still be able to afford that dream holiday.

Lesson 11: Be Nice to Nerds “Chances are you’ll end up working for one.” Laugh all you want, but he showed that this is a very real possibility. That book worm you keep picking on for choosing the library over a twerk session could end up being your boss in the future, so be nice.

(Source: Dig Philosophy)