We know that searching for a job in Kenya can be challenging especially if it is your first time...all thanks to the unemployment rate. Asides from competing with other job seekers; you have to understand what employers in Kenya want from job seekers.
There is no plug and play method to getting a job in Kenya. Searching for a job is a job, a job that requires you to:
Checking the job search boxes above may not be an easy thing for you to do, and we know you have many questions. You don't have to worry about how to go about your job search task because we have you covered.
We have put together answers to the top 100 frequently job search questions in Kenya. We also included answers to all the questions that job seekers ask about MyJobMag.
The answers to these frequently asked job search questions are sure to give you all the tips you need to land a job soon.
If you have been searching for a job, we believe that you may have some confusions about the job search process. Well, the good news is that we are going to give answers to all your job search questions in this article. Here are 10 job seekers frequently asked questions:
The time it will take you to land a job after graduation is not certain because different factors contribute to how soon it will take you to land a job. The earlier you get the right information and tools to land a job (CV, cover letter) the sooner you land the job.
Generally, people believe that an entry-level job search can take up to three to six months. Based on the research done by MyJobMag, we have discovered that it takes a job seeker an average of 9 months to land a job after graduation.
In today’s job market, the internet is a core tool because the world has evolved and anyone you may need to connect with is online. Yes, searching for a job online is a great job search strategy that is most useful when combined with other job search methods.
The truth is that it will be difficult for you to engage in an effective job search without using the internet. The internet is a needed tool, whether you are searching for a job on the internet, connecting with people, creating networks, researching companies, or sending in your CV or cover letter. Not having access to the internet will make your job search a challenging one.
Related post: how to find a job in Kenya
How much you will earn in your first job is dependent on some factors like your skills, the experience you have been able to gather, your negotiation skills, etc.
Gone are the days when companies display their salary structures publicly and when getting a university degree guarantees a high earning power. These days, the job market is more skill-based, this means that the more in-demand skills you have, the more you may earn.
You can earn more than this depending on your qualification, the industry, your skills, etc. The company that you eventually work for will also affect what you will earn in your first salary. You can search for salaries of entry-level staff in any company of your choice on mysalaryscale.com.
Yes, Having a CV is the only way you can be noticed by employers. If you do not have a CV how would employers know that you have the skills and the ability to do the job? Of course, you cannot go around telling employers that you are a good fit without a CV.
A good CV will attract employers that will invite you for a job interview, and then who knows you may just land the job. When you create a good CV, you will be on your way to a job interview in no time. In conclusion, a CV highlights why you are the best person for the job.
If you have not written a CV before, see all you need to write a good CV here.
Landing a job fast does not just happen; you have to do some things to get the job that you love fast. If you want to land a job as fast as after one month of leaving school, then you have to do the following:
It is possible to land a job fast if you have the right information and acquire the right skills.
Employers often lookout for job candidates with work experience because they can get the work done without stress. You can still get a job even if you don’t have work experience.
When some employees want to hire entry-level job candidates, they often look beyond work experience. They look out for the job candidate’s enthusiasm and his/her ability to learn, if you don’t have tangible work experience you can highlight the following when searching for a job:
Your skills (what can you do well?): An employer can decide to hire you over someone that has years of experience because of your skills.
Network: networking is another way you can get a job when you have no experience. Networking allows you to meet with people that can connect you to an opportunity.
Apply for internship/volunteering jobs: instead of struggling to apply for regular jobs with other experienced job candidates, you can simply apply for internship and volunteering jobs. These jobs don’t require you to have work experience, they rather help you build your work experience.
N: B= always make sure you send a cover letter when you are applying for a job with no experience. Writing a cover letter allows you to tell the employer why you think you are the best person for the job even before the interview.
A CV that tells the employer that you are the best person for the job clearly and concisely. How does your CV tell the employer that you are the best person for the job?
You can achieve this by:
In summary, a good CV attracts an employer at a glance. If you have not written a CV before, you can create a good CV with these CV templates for all job fields.
When it comes to getting a job, different factors will determine whether or not you will get a job. Indeed, having a good CV is not enough to get you the job of your dreams, but at least it exposes you to employers.
Your CV is one of the things that you need to get right when searching for a job because no one knows what you can do because they don’t know you. Having a good CV allows you to tell your prospective employer that you can do the job.
This is how the typical job search process works:
When you see a job that you like, you send your CV to apply for the job, if the recruiter finds your CV attractive, you would be invited for an interview, if you pass the interview, you get the job.
You see how your CV plays an important role in your job search.
What you would earn from your first job is dependent on different factors like your skills, your experience, the industry, and even the company that you are trying to get into.
Even if you do not get to earn well in your first job, you should know that you are in a process that can only get better. Keep learning to position yourself for better opportunities.
We know that sometimes job seekers skip job adverts that require them to write a cover letter because they want to quickly apply for the job and move on with their lives. Does it make sense to keep applying for a job for the sake of it?
When you are applying for a job, you are sending in your application because you want to get the job right? This is why you should always write a cover letter when you are applying for a job even if it is not required.
Why should you write a cover letter?
Writing a cover letter when applying for a job allows you to sell yourself to the employer and explain why you think you are the best fit for the job
Yes, you can apply for a job even if you don’t have the requested number of years of experience, but you should do this with reason. It means that if the position requires a candidate with 4 years experience, and you have 2 years experience with the needed skills then you can apply for the job.
You should also weigh your match for a job before applying, how close are you in comparison to what the employer is looking for?
If you are a 10% match for the skills and experience required for the job, then don’t bother. If on the other hand, if you are a 70% match, then you can go ahead to apply for the job even if you are not a 100% match for the role.
Yes, you can. Even though having the right connections can facilitate your getting a job, you can still land a good job without knowing anyone or having connections.
If you do not know any ‘big man’ that can connect you to a job, then you need to do the following to land a job without connection:
Once you can check all the things listed above, and then you would be able to get a job without having connections.
Yes, you can get a job even if you don’t know the kind of job that you want to do. From our recruitment experience over the years, we have met many job seekers that don’t know the kind of job that want to do.
When we ask them: What kind of job would you love to do?
We notice that over 80% of job candidates, especially entry-level job candidates usually give us this response: any job! Once we hear this, we just know immediately that the job candidate is yet to discover his/her career path.
If you have not yet discovered the kind of job that you want to do, and you need to get a job, the best thing is to take a volunteering/internship opportunity.
You don’t necessarily need work experience to get an internship job. An internship opportunity will allow you to learn on the job, while learning you will be able to discover the kind of job that you want to do (long term).
Based on our recruitment experience and our experience in running a job board, we can tell you that the best time to search for a job is when many people are not searching.
There are indeed more job vacancies in January because many companies are restructuring, expanding, etc. The competition for vacant jobs is usually high at these times of the year.
The best time to look for a job is during the holidays. Holidays like Christmas is the best time to search for a job because many people are relaxed and waiting to search when the year begins.
Generally, we know that searching for a job can be challenging because there are many job search boxes that you have to tick (write a CV, cover letter, practice interview questions and answers, etc.).
The process of searching for a job can move from having many things to do to be stressful. When you keep putting in effort into your job search and you get little or no result then it becomes stressful.
To have a less stressful job search, you have to change your strategy and stop doing the things you have been doing like:
Then start doing things like:
These tips will help you have a stress free job search
Yes, you can apply for a job in person, but this method of application does not work for every kind of job. Gone are the days when you can go in person to apply for any kind of job, these day companies post their vacancies online or use a recruitment agency.
Many companies do their recruitment online; because it allows them to manage the process easily without too much paper works.
If you are looking for a job that deals directly with the customer (like sales, marketing, etc.) then you can apply in person. If you are looking for a job that requires you to use a computer, then you may have to apply online.
When it comes to searching for a job, there are a million and one places that you can find job vacancies, but you have to be careful about the places you go to look for job vacancies. As much as there are legitimate jobs, there are also fake jobs everywhere.
You should be careful about online jobs because it is cheap for people to post what they like online. That is why you should only search for job opportunities on trusted job publishing platforms like MyJobMag and LinkedIn.
Searching for opportunities on MyJobMag assures that you only get to see job adverts from verified companies.
During your interview, the question about your salary expectation will likely come up, that is why you have to be careful about how you answer the question.
Employers do not ask this question for the sake of it. They ask this question because they want to know if your salary expectation matches the amount they have planned to pay for the position.
They also ask this question to know how much you value yourself (your skills/abilities). This is why you should know your worth.
To answer the interview question about salary expectation, you have to:
You also have to be careful when answering this question. You should avoid:
Sample Answer
“With my expert skill in content development and 6 years of experience, I think I should be offered the compensation that is due to my skills and experience, a range of KSh200, 000 – KSh250, 000 from my research will not be a bad idea”.
You can use the sample answer above to frame your answer to the question.
Yes, you can follow up on the recruiter after your interview, but you need to be cautious not to overdo it. Recruiters and employers are often busy, so they won’t like to be bordered unnecessarily.
Following up after the interview shows that you are enthusiastic about the job, but don’t disturb your potential employer with many messages and phone calls. Sending messages and calling the recruiter every day can turn the recruiter off.
We advise you to wait for about one week after the second or third interview before sending a follow-up message or placing a call.
Finding a second job depends on what you want to do and the kind of jobs that can fit into what you are doing already.
If you already have a full-time job, then your option of a second job should revolve around freelance, telecommuting, work-from-home, evening, weekend jobs etc. You don’t need to limit yourself to your location when searching for a second job.
The best way to find a second job is to:
When it comes to getting a high paying job, your skill is a core-determining factor. There are a lot of in-demand skills that you can position you to earn well. Acquiring a skill doesn’t always equate to good pay, it is how proficient you are that determines your worth in a particular role.
For example, two people can be in the same role, but one may earn higher than the other employee may. These are some in-demand skills that you can learn:
Whatever skill you decide to acquire, what is important is how proficient you become because that is what will eventually determine how much you will earn in the end.
If you often feel nervous during the interview, it is good you know that you are not the only one. Almost everyone feels somehow uncomfortable when they are out of their comfort zone. The interview is no one’s comfort zone.
The one sure way to feel more comfortable during the interview is to prepare for the interview by practising interview questions and answers. The more you practice with your friends/family or even in front of the mirror, the more confident you will be.
The answer is simple; prepare and practice until you get better at it.
You do not necessarily have to work for donkey years to have a robust CV. Even though you have not worked for a long time, you can still structure a good and robust CV that would emphasize that you are the best person for the position.
You can do this by:
The following tips will help you build a robust CV even if you have not worked for a long time.
If you currently don’t have a job and you are currently job hunting, then you may be thinking of how to survive before you finally land the job.
Even while you are job hunting you need money, to attend interviews, buy work clothes, feed, internet access, etc. So the question is what can you do to survive the state of being jobless?
You can survive by doing things like:
You can flip the job search by making employers search for instead of the other way round. To make employers look for you, you have to make yourself visible so that you can easily be found when an employer is searching.
You can make yourself more visible to employers by:
The first way to start networking with the right people in your industry is to first, discover where you can find these people. Some different associations and groups allow you to network with a certain kind of people.
When you join a group or make a connection, you have to do the following to maintain the relationship:
The best way to get only freelance/remote jobs is to search for only these kinds of jobs. Consider signing up on freelance and remote jobs platform to get the latest job update. Freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork are the best options if you are a Kenyan or reside in Kenya.
You can also get the latest verified remote jobs in Kenya on MyJobMag
No, you do not need to move to Nairobi to get a good job. The world has changed, and the way that things are done has equally changed too.
Gone are the days when you have to physically go to Nairobi to search for a job, these days you can search and apply for job opportunities from anywhere with the help of the internet. You can even work completely from your preferred location.
So you can be anywhere and still get a good job.
When it comes to getting a job, working with a recruitment agency can be an option too. Sometimes, using a recruitment agency can make the job search easier for you, but you have to be careful about the recruitment agency that you use.
Before you choose a recruitment agency, you can ask the following questions:
If you need a piece of advice about choosing the right recruitment, then MyJobMag is the recruitment agency that you should use.
No, you don’t need to work in a bank to earn well. Many people that earn very well don’t work in the bank. You don’t have to interface with cash to earn well, these days there are skills that you can acquire that will make you earn better than many bankers do.
If it is your dream to get a high paying job, then you can consider acquiring the in-demand skills that we talked about previously. You can acquire in-demand skills like:
We understand that it feels disappointing when you put in your best to landing a job, but all your efforts are just not clicking. The best thing to do at this stage considering the frustration that you may be experiencing is to take a break and come back refreshed.
Taking a break does not mean you have to stop searching. It is giving yourself some time to think things through and change your strategy.
Three situations can make you give up on searching for a job:
No matter what the situation is, giving up on searching for a job may not be the best approach for you. You can take a break, and then come back refreshed.
It may not be easy for you to get a federal government job in Kenya considering the level of corruption in the country. Everyone believes that you need to have a connection before you can get a government job in Kenya.
While that may be true, you can do the following things to get a government job in Kenya:
Pay attention to news reports: many times government opportunities are announced on local TV and Radio stations. You may not get these kinds of information on social media.
You need to have the following documents to apply for a federal government job in Kenya:
NB= You have to ensure you have the original copies of these certificates.
Yes, going for an interview when you already have a job is one of the smartest decisions to make to advance your career. At this point, you are not desperate and employers like to hire people that are currently doing something.
Going for an interview when you have a job can also be stressful, so you have to be careful so that your employer does not suspect you. If you have a current job, then you have to follow these tips to attend an interview:
If you follow the tips, you will experience less stress attending interviews when you are currently employed.
If you are actively searching for a job, then you may have to tailor your CV to the role that you are trying to fill. Doing this may require you to make some minor changes to your CV. Tailoring your CV to a particular job increases your chances of getting the job.
Well, many people believe that you have to update your CV at least two times a year if you are employed. This will allow you to add new skills and certificates that you may have acquired.
If you are out of work and actively searching for a new place, then you should update your CV as often as possible to increase your hiring chances.
No, you must not follow the company you want to work for on social media, but you can simply apply for the position that you are interested in with a good CV and cover letter.
On the other hand, following them on social media helps you learn more about them, as well as keep you in the loop as regards job opportunities.
Yes, you can take notes during the interview. Taking notes during the interview shows that you are interested in the job well enough that you are fascinated by some things. Taking notes during the interview especially when the employer is talking about the company can help you stand out.
Before you start taking notes during the interview, make sure you ask the interviewer if he/she does not mind before bringing out your notepad or IPad to take note.
Asking for their permission before taking notes shows that you are cautious. You should also be careful not to write down answers to interview questions in the name of taking notes. If you do that then you are trying to cheat your way through the process.
You don’t necessarily need to use a different CV for each job application especially if you have a good CV. You can simply adjust your CV to fit into the job description for the role you are looking to fill by making some updates to what you already have.
If your CV is not good enough, then you may need to create an entirely new one to apply for the job you want.
The secret to applying for fewer jobs and landing more job interviews is for you to see the job search process as an intentional, research-based, and calculated process that your 100% commitment and effort.
The following tips will ensure you apply for fewer jobs and land more job interview invites:
Once you have checked this list, another secret you need to know is; try to apply early when you see an opportunity that interests you. Stop applying for jobs 2 months after seeing the job advert.
Read related post: Job interview checklist
This is a common job search question. If you have taken your time to tailor your CV and cover letter to a job that you are interested in, then weeks pass and you hear nothing from the recruiter.
As annoying as this may be, you are not the only one in this situation. The truth is that employers and recruiters don’t get back to you for the fun of it. There often don’t get back to you for the following reasons:
These are some of the reason you would probably not hear back from the recruiter after sending in your application.
Ideally, a recruiter should send you an email to inform you whether or not you will make it to the next stage of the interview. The sad thing is that many recruiters/employers don’t send a regret mail after the interview.
As much as this puts you in a confusing position, some do this for the following reasons:
Regardless of the reason, if you don’t hear back from the recruiter after a while, you can go back to check your CV, cover letter, and application to see the adjustments you can make in preparation for next time.
Just like we responded to a similar question earlier. Yes, you can take a note with you to the interview, but make sure you seek the consent of the recruiter or employer before making use of the note.
You should take a note with you to the interview with good intentions. If your reason for taking a note is because you noted down some questions that you would love to ask the interviewer, then that is a good reason. If on the other hand, you are taking a note because you wrote down some answers to the interview question, then that is wrong.
Taking a note to the interview is not wrong, but your motive matters a lot.
Usually, the average length of your CV should be between two to three pages. Even if employers/recruiters do not have a strict restriction on the length of a CV, you don’t want to bore your prospective employer with a long CV.
Making the length of your CV around two to three pages gives you enough room to list your work experience to your prospective employer.
If you are a fresh graduate or you have limited work experience, you can summarize your CV to fit into a page. Always make sure you take a look at the job description so that you can list the skills and experiences that are most useful to the job.
Yes, you can see job adverts for only the jobs that you are interested in even if most job publishing platforms publish job that cuts across different job fields.
If you only want to see job adverts that you are interested in, then you have to do the following:
If you want to work for a particular company, you can follow them on their social media platforms, subscribe to their newsletter to get first-hand information about their job vacancies.
We know that searching for a job has its challenges especially when your results don’t match the efforts that you put into your job search.
Doing everything thing that you have learned to do, and you are still yet to land a job interview not to talk of a job. Experiencing series of disappointments can make you feel like giving up, but you have to remain motivated to get the job that you want.
How can you stay motivated when job hunting?
You can stay motivated when searching for a job by doing the following:
While you are searching for a job, always remember to take a step back and assess your effort especially when things are not working.
While you are doing your best to get your act together so that you can land a job, some criminals are out there patiently waiting to take advantage of you in the slightest opportunity they can get. This is why you need to protect yourself from scammers pretending to be recruiter/employers.
If you are new to job search, you may not be able to easily tell a fake job from a scam job. These tips will help you differentiate a legitimate job from a fake job:
There are many employment fraudsters these days. Always check every job advert and interview invite carefully before accepting or applying.
Click here to learn more about scam jobs
The truth is that just as you are searching, there are thousands of job seekers surfing the internet in search of job opportunities. It is good you also know that these job candidates are qualified Just as you are or even more than you are.
Since many other candidates are as good as you are, so how can you distinguish yourself from other candidates:
These tips will ensure you stand out from other qualified job candidates.
In the world that we are in today, almost everything is done online including job search. Recruiters post their job adverts online because they want to reach a larger audience without much stress. The internet allows recruiters to reach millions of job seekers in any part of the world from their location.
Even as a job candidate, you can view many job adverts from anywhere from your location when you search online. If you don’t want to search for job opportunities online, then you are left with the option of networking.
Networking activities like connecting with friends and family, and attending networking events like a career fair, meet-ups, etc. You can consider working with a recruiter to help you find a job.
Gone are the days when people only posted funny pictures and followed their favourite influencers on social media. Social media is not just meant for people to connect with their family and friends. These days, recruiters are using social media platforms to search for job candidates.
Studies show that 92% of companies are using social media for hiring. It is no news that many hiring managers search for job candidates’ social media profiles.
Since many employers use social media for recruitment, then see what you have to do to search for jobs on social media:
Stop underusing/underestimating social media. You can land a job on social media by highlighting your skills and giving recruiters a peek into your personal life.
Many job seekers treat the job interview section as a questioning section. This means that they only get to prepare for the questions that the employer/recruiter will ask. You have to prepare for the questions that you will ask the recruiter/employer.
Asking the employer some questions shows that you are enthusiastic about the job, it also shows that you know what you want. If you are confused about the kind of questions to ask the recruiter, then these questions will guide you:
Many job seekers keep applying for jobs without tracking their applications. Tracking your applications helps you keep a record of your job search activities. Keeping track of your job search activities prevents you from falling into the hands of employment fraudsters.
How can you track your application?
Tracking your applications may require you to organize your job search process. To ensure you achieve this, we created this you can use a job search tracker to monitor your application.
Sometimes it is difficult to say who makes the final decision in the hiring process because companies go about their recruitment differently.
Although, most times the HR managers and recruiters do not make the hiring decisions. They help facilitate the process and select the best candidates to meet with the CEO, MD, or board of directors as the case may be.
Even if the HR manager or recruiter may not make the hiring decision, they can influence the process since the CEO or MD will likely respond to their recommendation. This means that they can facilitate or hinder you from getting the job.
In some cases, the HR manager can make the hiring decisions if the CEO or Board of directors trusts the HR manager enough to do a good job based on previous success.
N: B= as a job seeker, knowing who makes the hiring decision may cause you to want to impress that one person which is not a good approach. You should always be at your best regardless of who makes the hiring decision.
Each company’s hiring process may vary as regards the time it takes them to fill a vacant position. While it can take a small company a few hours to make an offer after an interview, it can take a bigger company a couple of days or even weeks to hire you depending on the number of job candidates that applied for the role.
Based on surveys done by different companies, it is believed that it takes 2 to 4 weeks for a job offer to be made after the interview.
Knowing how long it will take before the company makes you an offer can help influence your job search decisions. You can simply find out during your interview by asking the interviewer how soon they are willing to fill the position.
Asking this question will give you an idea of when you are likely to hear back from the interviewer.
The job interview is one aspect of the job search process that largely determines whether or not you get the job. We know that it may not be easy for you to tell if a company is interested in you after the interview, but these signs will give you a hint that the hiring manager is interested in you:
These are some of the signs that show that a company is interested in you. Although these signs are not cast in stone. It is possible to get any of these signs and still not get the job. The best strategy is to prepare well for the interview.
Once you successfully get an interview invite, the next thing that comes to your mind is how you can increase your chances of being hired over other job candidates. Since you have crossed one hurdle (attracting an employer with your CV).
To increase your chances of getting hired after the interview, you have to prepare well enough to impress the interviewer during the interview. You can prepare by:
These tips will help you increase your chances of getting hired after being invited for an interview.
When we talk about skills many people think about hard skills. Employers indeed love to employ people that have certain hard skills that is why they put up vacancies for their vacant roles. When a job is advertised, many qualified people apply for the job.
Most times employers are after job candidates that have some soft skills. Many employers believe that hard skills can be learned while some soft skills may not be easily learned. So they will rather hire a job candidate that is not so competent in hard skills but has some soft skills that will guarantee their success like:
These are some of the soft skills that employers look for in job seekers. As much as you want to acquire hard skills, it is good you build your soft skills too.
Well, you may have been searching for the highest paying jobs in Kenya because you want to earn well. While you can earn well in any job role (by building your proficiency/competence) there are still some jobs that will make you earn well.
Below is the list high paying jobs in Kenya and their salaries:
You can search for the salaries of top roles and companies on mysalaryscale.com
What an employer wants from job seekers varies with the kind of job that the job seeker wants to get and who a particular employer considers as an ideal candidate. Asides from the requirement on the job description, there are some things that employers want from job seekers.
Employers love to hire a job candidate that:
These are some general skills that employers want from job seekers. You can research the ones that are specific in our industry.
Yes, you can get a job by sending cold emails to employers. Even if many people feel that it is a risky job search strategy, you can still land good job opportunities by sending cold emails to the right person (HR manager, CEO, etc.).
Even while some employers frown at job seekers sending cold emails, others see it as the job seekers showing enthusiasm and willingness for the job.
Even if you can land a job b sending a cold email, you should also make sure you follow some guidelines to do it properly like:
Searching for a job can indeed be challenging, but when the challenges now become recurring, then you may be tempted to fall into frustration. If you put so much effort into your job search but get little or no result then it may start to get to you.
Once you notice that you have started feeling tired of searching for a job, then you can consider doing the following to deal with the frustration:
Many job seekers are confused about the difference between a cover letter and an application letter. Even if some people use the two terms interchangeably, they are different. These are some difference between a cover letter and an application letter:
Rejection is often inevitable when it comes to searching for a job. The truth is that for every job interview invite that you get, there are many that you would probably get rejected for. If you have searched for a job for a long time, then you may wonder why you got rejected.
There are many times when you would apply for a job and you may not get to hear anything from your applications. It is possible for you to apply for 100 jobs and not get a response from the 100 applications.
Sometimes you may not know why you did not get the job, but these are some reasons why your application got rejected:
No matter how many rejections that you may have gotten, the best thing to do is to retrace your job search process to see where the problem came from. This will help you discover areas that you need to work on so that you can do better.
Considering the rate of unemployment in Kenya, many Trainees look forward to being retained in their place of duty after their industrial training. While it may not be easy for you to get retained after your industrial training, the following tips can help you:
a. Develop a great work attitude
Developing a great work attitude is one thing that will ensure you get retained after your industrial training. Great attitudes like being committed to your work, being positive regardless of the challenges, offering help to colleagues at work, etc.
b. Be punctual
Being punctual at work is an indication that you take your job seriously and that is one thing that the HR manager or employer will notice easily. If you want to be considered for a role after your industrial training, then you should look forward to always be punctual.
c. Create a good work relationship with colleagues
Building a great work relationship with your colleagues will go a long way to ensuring that you get retained after your industrial training. Since you are temporary staff, you never know which employee’s recommendation you need to be retained after your industrial training.
d. Set goals you want to achieve with your work
If you want to get retained after your industrial training, then you should start setting goals that you want to achieve with every task. This way, your job will not just be a routine, but you will be able to add value to the company with your role.
e. Develop professional skills
Most times, working as a corps member, you may be treated as an intern which means that you will be allowed to learn on the job. Make use of this opportunity to develop your professional skills. Developing your professional skills will increase your chances of being employed.
Whether or not you get retained after your industrial training make that one year count by learning and developing yourself.
If you are passionate about helping other people or being part of an organization that helps others in one way or the other, then getting an NGO job is the way for you to go.
How can you get a job with a non-profit organization?
Many NGO job opportunities get advertised regularly. Therefore, before you apply for any NGO job, you need to find out the ones that best fit your interest and drive.
Once you have decided on the kind of NGO that you want to work for, then you can go ahead to look for opportunities in that area.
These tips will guide you in finding the NGO job that fits you:
To get a job in a non-profit, you have to acquire skills like:
Yes, there are good jobs in other counties in Kenya asides from Nairobi. Although Nairobi remains the economic capital of Kenya with the highest number of job opportunities, there are also job opportunities in other counties.
Even if the number of job opportunities in other counties may not be as much as in Nairobi, you can still get good-paying jobs in other counties in Kenya. With the changes that the world has experienced, you can get a remote job in Nairobi from wherever county you are.
If you want to know the kind of job opportunities that are available in other counties, then click here to see the jobs that are mostly available in different counties in Kenya.
Yes, you can get a job with your KCSE certificate. Many people believe that an KCSE certificate is useless, but that is not true. You can still get a job with your KCSE certificate while you wait to further your education.
Even if it may not be easy for you to find a 6-figure job with your KCSE Certificate, with hard work and consistency you can make a good income for yourself.
Are you looking for KCSE jobs? See the latest SSCE jobs today.
Being a student does not stop you from getting a job. You don’t have to wait till you graduate before you start looking for employment opportunities. If you are still studying, then you can find a job by doing the following:
Start volunteering: You can take up volunteering opportunities during your free time and holidays to boost your experience. Most volunteer jobs don’t require you to have any work experience, you can also be given stipends that you can use to supplement what you have already.
Apply for internship jobs: During the holidays, you can apply for internship opportunities. Internship opportunities allow you to build your work experience while you make some money for yourself.
Start freelancing: Freelancing is another way you can get work and make money while schooling. You don’t necessarily need to have a university certificate to do freelancing, you just discover what you can do that another person needs. Freelancing gives you time to balance your work and study.
Being a student does not limit you, in as much as you have acquired the skills that people need.
As important as creating a good CV is to landing a job, it is one thing that many job seekers find difficult. If you have been struggling with creating a good CV, but still haven't gotten it right you can save yourself the hassle by using these editable CV templates.
These CV templates ensure that you create a CV that you would be proud of in 5 minutes. The CVs are created with MS Word which means you don’t need any special software to edit the content.
If you want a professional to help you with your CV, then click here to use a CV review service.
No doubt, the interview can be the most nerve-wracking aspects of the job search process because this when you finally get to put a face to the name(s) you must have heard.
Getting an interview invite usually feels like a level of job search success, but you may start to doubt the success when you wait a couple of days after the interview without hearing a word. This can be frustrating and we know you have wondered what the reason is.
Well, you may not know if you performed poorly in an interview, but these tips will help you know if you performed poorly:
a. If the interview ends up being shorter than you expect: When the interview is very short, there is a possibility that the employer does not see you as a potential candidate and does not want to waste any more time.
b. You meet with only one person or fewer people: If the first person you meet with does not see you as a good hire, then he/she might decide not to waste the time of others and just send you home.
c. You were not given details of the role/position: if you meet with the head of the department or the CEO and the person did not discuss the details of the role and what the company is doing, then it is a sign that you did poorly in the interview.
d. If the interviewer did not ask for your availability: If the interviewer did not ask you for your availability that the end of the interview, this may mean that the person does not see you as a great fit for the role.
e. If the interview has some concerns about your skills/experience: If the interviewer repeatedly asks you questions about your skills and work experience in a way that they express some negative concern, then that is a sign you should watch out for.
f. If you notice the interviewer energy is low: Sometimes, you can notice that the interviewer is not interested in you with the way they respond to you. If they show no form of excitement or happiness then maybe you are not a great fit.
We have heard many job seekers complain about not getting an interview invite after sending out loads of job applications. Well, there are some reasons why you may not be getting interview invites for your applications. While you caused some, others are not entirely your fault.
Sometimes sending your applications late after seeing a job vacancy can limit your chances of getting a job. When some recruiters get the number of applications that they need, they don’t look at new ones coming.
Asides from recruiters not adding the expiry date of their job vacancy, there are some other reasons why you don’t get interview invites like:
There are several other reasons why you may not be getting interview invites, but most times employers reject candidates that they cannot find any value in. So if you want to get more interview invites, invest in building yourself and acquiring the right skills and experience.
To make a great first impression during the interview, you have to prepare before the day of the interview. Don’t wait till the day of the interview to impress your prospective employer, start preparing as soon as you get an invite.
To make a great impression during the interview, you have to:
These tips may not guarantee that you get the job, but at least they can help set your feet on the right path. Once your foot is on the right path, responding to tough interview questions will not be an issue for you.
LinkedIn can help your job search in many ways that you may not even expect. Asides from providing you with a platform to network with people in your network, LinkedIn gives you the platform to find/follow companies and employers that you would love to work for.
According to the survey carried out by Jobvite, 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn as part of their candidate search. Since many employers use LinkedIn to find talents, so how can you position yourself to be found by recruiters.
These tips can help you take advantage of LinkedIn for your job search:
These are some of the things that you can do to use LinkedIn as an aid to your job search.
When it comes to searching for a job, rejection is one of the baggage that comes with it. Even when you think you are the perfect candidate for a position, employers may still reject you.
When you get rejected by an employer, don’t feel down or think that you are not good. It may just mean that you need to change your approach to your job search to appeal to the recruiter/employer that you would love to work with.
When you get rejected for a job, you should do the following:
You may not need to study all the job assessment questions to get a job. The truth is that not all organizations use job assessment in their hiring process. Big companies mostly use job assessment when hiring to shortlist candidates easily.
Even if you are looking at getting a job with one of the big companies that use job assessment to recruit talents, the best approach is for you to study the questions to understand the logic behind the questions rather than memorizing the answers.
If you are new to job search, going straight to studying assessment questions may be a wrong move to make first. You should rather start with:
No knowledge gain is lost, but ensure you have checked off some job search boxes before studying job assessment questions.
The key to accessing unadvertised jobs is networking. According to research, over 75% of available jobs are unadvertised and the only way to gain access to these jobs is to network with Family, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues that are open to these jobs.
It is not enough for you to network for the sake of it, you need to network the right way by:
There are amazing opportunities that you may not see on job boards. Opening yourself up to networking will open you up to even bigger opportunities.
Many job seekers are concerned about getting any job regardless of the company value, interest, etc. It may be easy for you to feel like all you need to do is to get a job to be able to pay your bills. The truth is that the moment you start working, you will start to notice other things that are involved.
Before you accept a job offer, you need to check the prospective company for the following:
Before you accept a job offer, make sure you have researched the company to a point that you can say that the job is good for you.
When we talk about getting a job that you love, many job seekers often think that we are talking about getting a job that will pay in 6-figures.
Everyone indeed wants to be well compensated for the work that they do, but the truth is that many people earn well, but are not happy with their jobs. These kinds of people remain in these jobs because of the pay.
How do you get a job that you love that will also pay you well?
The key to landing a job that you love is to discover yourself. You need to know what you want so that when you see something that looks like what you want, you would be able to recognize it.
It may not be easy for you to find yourself if you are new to job search, but this book 72 hours to the job you love has all the tips you need to find a job that you love that will pay you well at the same time.
Yes, companies use ATS even when many job seekers see it as a theoretical concept. The truth is that more than 90% of big companies make use of ATS to screen job candidates CVs. Many times, the CV that you send never get to the eyes of the employer.
Smaller companies have also started adopting the use of ATS in their recruitment processes. So, if you want to get noticed by these big companies, then you will have to make your CV ATS friendly.
Thankfully, making your CV ATS friendly is not a difficult thing to do, you just need to do some tweaks to your CV to make it highlight the things that the bot has been programmed to search for.
To beat the ATS, you have to:
Whether or not your prospective employer makes use of the ATS. Always ensure you tailor your CV to the job by using buzz words included in the job description.
Well, most employers will not disclose the salary for a position before the interview, but you can still find out. If a company’s salary structure is one of the things you will consider before accepting a job offer, then you don’t want to waste time on a company with a low salary budget.
Even if a company does not want to disclose the salary for the position that you are applying for, you find out easily by searching for the company on mysalaryscale.com.
This information will give you an idea of what you would likely earn in the company. This can also influence your decision on whether you would honour the interview invite.
Many job seekers make the mistake of under-negotiating a job offer because they want to be modest or because they are desperately in need of a job. Regardless of how much you need a job, once you discover that you are underpaid you will not be happy doing the job.
To avoid being underpaid, you have to learn how to negotiate your salary well. Negotiating your salary well does not just happen; you have to prepare for it. To negotiate well, you have to:
Asides from these two tips, you can ask the following questions when negotiating your salary:
These are some of the questions that can help you get started on negotiating your salary well.
Although remote work is still trying to gain popularity in Kenya, some companies in Kenya have adopted this mode of work as the new normal.
If you want to get a remote job in Kenya, you have to streamline your search even when you are searching on general job boards. Job boards like MyJobMag have remote job categories.
When you click on this job category, you will see the latest remote jobs in Kenya. You can also search LinkedIn to see available remote jobs in Kenya.
Yes, it can. No matter how skilled or qualified you are for a position, the personality trait that you display during the interview can either help you get the job or stop you from getting the job. If your skills and qualification are all you need to land a job, then you should be offered a job after the recruiter views your CV.
Asides from your skills and qualifications, a recruiter wants to know the kind of person that they will be working with. Many recruiters value candidates that possess some soft skills, your demeanour can show that you possess the soft skill needed to thrive in the position.
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, you should know when to talk and when to be quiet during your interview. During your interview, you should be able to communicate your intentions clearly without being forceful and express your thoughts without raising eyebrows.
Employers are attracted to candidates that show: team spirit, great communication skills, and problem-solving skills. Etc.
Even if employers these days are more concerned about what you can do (your skills and experience), the way you dress when attending an interview still matters
Just like we said earlier, the recruiter will make some conclusion as regards your personality from the way that you dress. Even if you have the skills and your appearance does not show that you will be a great fit for the company, then your chances of getting a job are slim.
We know that many start-up companies don’t care so much about how you dress during the interview, but it is good to be safe because you may not be able to tell when your dressing will matter.
Putting on a simple and corporate cloth when attending an interview is always safe.
Many job seekers think that because they have been scheduled for a video interview, then they don’t need to prepare as much as they would for an on-site interview.
Your video interview section is not the time for you to throw on anything because you are in the comfort of your home. If you want to impress your prospective employer during your video interview, then you have to prepare for it.
To prepare for your video interview, you have to:
When you get a job offer you often feel like the battle is won. Yes, it is to an extent, but you also have to determine if you would like to work in that particular company because your satisfaction will determine how productive you will be.
Yes, you must have done your research and found out everything about what the company does publicly, but this is not enough for you to determine if the company would be a great place for you to thrive.
These tips can help you find out if you would fit into a company before working there:
You can also look at what other people are saying about the company you are looking to work for on mysalaryscale.com. You can see company reviews here.
Gone are the days when landing an internship opportunity was a no brainer. Now, just like jobs, there is also stiff competition for internship positions even the unpaid ones. Sure running an internship program allows you to build your work experience, but how can you land one?
To land an internship opportunity, you need to:
You can also learn about how you can land an internship opportunity by talking to other interns.
If you have been searching for a job and finally you got multiple offers. As satisfying as this may be, it can also be confusing because you want to make the best decision as to the particular job that you would choose.
When you are trying to choose between multiple job offers, you should not make your decision based on the salary or benefit packages. You can compare the offers based on the following:
Before you decide on the offer that you want to take, you should also take your time, ask for advice, and negotiate the offer to suit your needs.
It is simple. Even if there are many job seekers profile on MyJobamg, employers find their preferred candidates by searching for them on the platform. The more complete your profile is the more visible it will be to employers searching for great talents.
Sign-up and complete your profile here to be seen by employers searching for talents on MyJobMag.
Asides from the fact that millions of job seekers search for the latest job opportunities on MyJobMag every day, MyJobMag has provided a recruitment solution that employers in Africa can trust for more than 10 years.
MyJobMag’s blend of top-notch technical background and its impeccable recruitment service makes it a go-to place for employers in Kenya and other African countries.
To be more visible to employers searching for job candidates on MyJobMag you need to do the following:
Creating a job seekers account on MyJobMag is one of the smartest things for you to do if you want to make the best use of Myjobmag to land a job. When you create a job seekers’ dashboard on MyJobMag, you would be able to do the following:
a. Use the ‘job setting’ feature: The ‘job settings’ feature allows you to filter your search by setting the kinds of job vacancies that you see based on your job field, job experience, qualification, and location. This feature saves you the stress of scrolling through all the available job vacancies before clicking on the ones that you are interested in.
b. Build a great CV with zero stress with the ‘CV builder’: with the CV builder, you can build an industry-standard CV without sweating. You only need to fill out a few boxes, and then you would have a good CV. The good thing is that you can download this CV and use them in other places or even print it if you like.
c. Use the ‘saved jobs’ feature: With the ‘saved job’ feature you don’t have to worry when you see a job advert that you are interested in but too busy to apply straight away. You can simply save the job/jobs and then come back later to apply.
d. Asides from the fact that it allows you to save job vacancies, it also saves you the stress of scrolling to find the jobs that you are interested in. With this feature, you can save the job and then come back to it later.
You can also upload your CV, create, and save your cover letter so that you can easily use it when you want to apply for a job. With the edit cover letter feature, you can create and go back to edit your cover letter whenever you please.
Creating a job seekers’ dashboard on MyJobMag opens you up to amazing features that will facilitate your landing a job soon.
It is simple, you can get notified of the latest job vacancies from MyJobMag without visiting the website. All you need to do is to input your email address and subscribe to the free job alerts. As soon as you subscribe to the free jobs alerts, you will receive email notifications on the latest job vacancies directly to your email.
There are different ways that MyJobMag can help you land a job no matter the level that you are in your career. The following are the ways that MyJobMag can help you land a job:
a. Notify you of the latest job vacancies: One of the ways that MyJobMag can help you land a job is to notify you of the latest job adverts. The job vacancies on MyJobMag are verified, meaning that you only get to see legitimate job vacancies.
b. Answer your pressing questions and provide solutions to your Job search challenge: Asides from the jobs adverts that you get to see on MyJobMag, MyJobMag is also concerned about your career. We take our time to craft informative job search/career articles that provide you with all the information you need to land a good job, advance your career, as well as excel in your current job.
c. Help you to be more visible to employers: Many employers search for job candidates on MyJobMag. Since these employers are looking for great talents like you, MyJobMag frequently suggests job candidates to employers that are currently hiring.
To ensure that you get suggested by MyJobMag to employers, you have to sign-up to create a job seekers account on MyJobmag, and then make sure your profile is complete. When you complete your profile up to 100%, you become 4 times more visible to employers on MyJobMag.
Asides from the ways we listed above, MyJobMag organizes events that helps job seekers find jobs, connect with employers, HR managers, and other job seekers
MyJobMag is different from other job boards in many ways. While other job boards assist job seekers to find job vacancies, MyJobMag takes it further by adopting an end-to-end approach to assist job seekers to find the jobs they love.
What do we mean by an end-to-end approach?
It means we follow a process to ensure that job seekers find jobs.
First, we publish the latest verified job vacancies (this means we make legitimate job vacancies accessible to job seekers).
Second, we provide job seekers we the right information they need to become A+ job candidates (CV tips, cover letter tips, and other useful career advice.)
Third, we ensure that job candidates have a great experience when searching for jobs on MyJobMag by making the system flexible and customizable.
Finally, we are always open to answers your questions on our social media pages and your questions to article topics that we have discussed on our blog.
Yes, MyJobMag is a recruitment company that works differently from other recruitment companies in Kenya. With over 10-years of experience in recruitment, MyJobMag’s recruitment goal is to match great employers with great candidates.
We ensure that employers that use MyJobMag recruitment services get the best talents for their open positions. At the same time, we also make sure that job candidates are matched with verified employers.
This is what makes us different
We ensure job candidates find jobs by matching them with the right employers at no cost. Yes, you heard it no cost. This means that the job candidate does not have to pay a dime to get matched with the right employer.
Yes, there are. MyJobMag only lists legitimate jobs from legitimate companies, and this is because every job on MyJobMag passes through a verification process. We have a team of dedicated and cool guys that ensures every job passes through MyJobMag verification process before it is upload on the website for job seekers.
With this strategy in place, we are 99.9% sure that all the jobs on MyJobMag are legitimate. With over 10-years of experience in publishing job vacancies, we have not received a complaint as regards fake/scam jobs on our website.
If you only want to see legitimate jobs, then you should visit myjobmag.co.ke
Yes, MyJobMag provides a career counselling/CV guide to job candidates. We have seasoned and experienced HR experts that are happy to help you succeed in your career. Your career level does not matter in this context; our HR experts are willing to grow with you all the way.
We also have expert HR CV writers that always give their best to every CV that they write. Most of the CVs that they have worked on have impressed the owners over time. You can click this link to get a CV re-write service.
Feel free to call the number displayed on the website if you have any questions for our HR managers
Applying for a job on MyJobMag is simple. With these few steps, you are done with applying for a job on MyJobMag:
Once you have followed these processes, then you are done with applying for a job on MyJobMag.
No doubt, a CV is an important job search tool that every job seeker needs to land a job. If you do not have a CV how can you apply for a job on MyJobMag?. If you don’t have a CV, you don’t have to worry you can simply create one with MyJobMag CV builder.
With MyJobMag CV builder, you can create an amazing up-to-date CV in few minutes. The good part is that you can also download the CV you created and use it in other places.
No, you don’t get a salary reduction if you get a direct job through MyJobMag recruitment. MyJobMag does not charge job seekers for any reason; rather the employer pays us to help them find great talents like you.
Working with MyJobMag recruitment, you are sure of not getting a salary reduction when you eventually land a job.
No, you don’t need to have a laptop to get access to the latest job openings on myjobmag.co.ke. With your mobile or tablet, you can access MyJobMag without stress. You also don’t have to visit the website to search for a job if you are busy or in transit.
You can simply subscribe to the job alert and then get job vacancies sent directly to your email. You can also follow MyJobMag on social media to get notified of the latest news, campaigns, and direct job adverts.
Information is key when searching for a job; this is why we are answering all your job search questions. We are concerned about your job search journey, hence the reason we are supporting you by providing you with answers to your job search questions.
myjobmag is a great site for job seekers