Article University
By Kennedy Omondi,
“I am in an internship with a leading service company and would like to have a job with them with at the end of my internship period. What should I do to make this possible?” Asks Kirwa Juma via email.
It is important that in conducting your duties, you come out as resourceful and indispensible. This is according to Justus Ngetich a Human Resource manager.
Here are some of the key ways to effect this.
How To Turn your Internship Into a Job
1. Choose the right internship.
First and foremost, it is important that you select an internship that is in line with your career. This is important because you will be having skills that match that position and will make your work much easier compared to working in an unrelated field.
In addition to this, it must be one that require substantial work. You can do this by going through the duties you are supposed to play in the company and even talking to former interns to get their perspective on their experience in the company.
2. Conduct Yourself As An Employee And Not An Intern.
When conducting your daily duties, you are considered as one of the employees, the difference is very minimal.
Therefore, when conducting your daily duties make sure you do it the same way you would if you were an employee on the same position.
This should not only reflect on the performance but also on your presentation too. This is in the essence of the company’s dress code and office hours.
3. Network With Fellow Employees.
Most interns always shy off and enclose themselves in a circle of fellow interns. This is why most employers do not settle for them as they seem aloof.
On the onset of your internship, engaging with your full-time colleagues actively. Use the internship as an opportunity to network with senior leaders and your fellow interns.
From here you will have vital contact that will boost your chances of getting a job even if it is not on the same company.
On the other hand, they can serve as references or recommend you for a job and alert you to positions at other companies. Do so by attending company events that are open to staff and interns.
4. Develop your skills.
Once you have commenced your internship, ensure that you keep abreast with the new ways the company conducts its activities in the form of skills.
Be it software programs, accounting techniques, or database systems, make sure that you amerce these skills since they are the important to the company in as far as conducting their business is concerned. This will make you an asset to the company.
Get this from projects and through observation and polish those skills. The wider your range of skills, the more valuable you will be to the employer
5. Be a Flexible Team Player.
During your internship program, you should strive to look resourceful. You can do this by accepting a wide variety of tasks, including those that may not relate directly to your.
Your willingness to go the extra mile will be seen as having initiative and help in your path to assuming greater responsibilities.
In doing so, make sure are aware of how your assignment relate to those of your fellow workers and work hand in hand with them. Your success will be gauged on your ability to get along with and interact with others.
By Kennedy Omondi
Contrary to the belief held by a majority of job seekers, the majority of jobs are not advertised. This means that most of the job seekers miss out on jobs since they majorly depend on the newspaper, job sites and agencies.
Most middle and small size companies don not advertise majorly as a result of the cost associated with the advertisement.
This is according to Justus Ngetich, a Human Resource Manager in Corporate Staffing. Here is how to get and apply for that position you want:
1. Target Search and Research.
First and foremost, it is important that you know what you want in terms of your career. After that identify the company that you think you need to work with. Keep your options opened when it comes to the companies you.
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 majority of jobs unadvertised, it is vital that you constantly network. 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 employees and the management 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. Assertively Follow-Up.
When applying for a position that has not been advertised for, it is up to you as an applicant to follow-up with the employers on the progress.
You can do this through occasional phone calls if you have their number or via email. However, this should be done after a week or so.
Remember that since this is an unadvertised position, your application and CV should be tailored for that particular company and position.
By Kennedy Omondi
You have just completed your university or college and after a long search you finally landed your first job. You are at an age where you’re more willing to take risks and maybe even make mistakes along the way.
This is totally acceptable in growing you professionally. Here are some of the things you need to do to your career life before you reach 30;
How To Advance Your Career
1. Set Networking Goals.
Once you are in your first job, the most important thing to do is to network with a wide range of people within your career path.
These should be people in management or even fellow employees in different companies, but on the same career path.
Build a wide contact list as you will need it in the near future since you will need them when you chose to change or advance in your career
2. Amass the skills you need.
Since you are just starting your career, it is important that you amass the necessary skills associated with the job while you are still there.
You can even go a step further and register for an evening or part-time class and advance your educational level to a masters level. This will be of importance when you are seeking to advance your career in future.
3. Identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Your work experiences should be able to expose you to your strengths and weaknesses. Identify the activities that you perform exemplary well at and the activities or tasks that your performance is not at its best.
4. Stretch Your Limits.
The twenties is when you are most enthusiastic and energetic. Make sure you stretch your limits in as far as the duties and responsibilities you handle are concerned.
If on a daily basis, you always close two accounts as a financial officer, try closing four; if as a journalist you are used to tackling four stories in a day, push it to 7. This way you will be able to know what you can really do once you step outside of your limit zone..
5. Develop Leadership Potential.
Make sure to develop leadership skills in the course of your stint as a young employee. This can be done by taking up challenges offered in your workplace and even volunteering for leadership roles offered.
Take some time to learn about and develop your own unique leadership style.
Keep it in mind that you are bound to move from your job or position in the next few years and therefore you should strive to advance yourself career-wise and market yourself to future employers.
By Kennedy Omondi,
We all have that one company which we have always wanted to work for. For others, it is agencies within the United Nation while for others it is a corporate company like Safaricom, General Motors, Nation Media Group or even Toyota.
However, getting jobs in those companies can prove to be a tall order. These are some of the steps to take to ensure you improve your chances of landing a job in one of your dream companies.
1. Advance Your Skills and Education.
Bearing your dream job, it must call for a higher level of skills and experiences. Make sure you expand on your skills through short courses and increase your experiences through internships and volunteer work in related fields.
For instance, if you aspire to work for the UN bodies, engage in their volunteering activities.
2. Do Your Research.
Take your time to do background research about the company. This should not only be limited to the work they do, but also to their partners, their policies, their core values or core product.
Look for this information beyond their website as not everything is always availed here, this can be through previous publications and what the media says concerning them.
For example, if your dream company is Safaricom, go over their website, read media articles about them and you could even go as far as attending open events that they hold. The more you know about the company, the more convenient you will be to the organization.
3. Network.
This is basically what most people do not do. Contrary to what most Kenyans think, networking does not mean you solicit for a particular job through a person within the company.
Networking here simply implies sharing ideas and work related challenges with other employees from different organizations. This will serve to give you an insight on what goes on and how activities are handled in an organization.
4. Be top of mind.
Raise your profile in order to attract your employer’s attention . This can be achieved by actively participating in events where they are present. Participation may be in the form of speeches or presentations. Avenues where you can do this include conferences or even the on social media on a professional level. Individuals like Dennis Itumbi appointed to the state house as a result of their previous active participation.
5. Tailor Your Application.
Having done all the above and you are fit for the position,you then should make sure that your CV is not only tailored to match the position you are applying for but also the company itself.
This being your dream company and all, go an extra mile in tailoring your CV to make sure it is a perfect fit for that position and the company as a whole.
Give emphasis to your strengths, experiences and what the company will be gaining from your presence rather than what you will be gaining.
Once you put all this into consideration, go for that job with full confidence.
By Kennedy Omondi
It is a normal routine for a company to carry out formal reference checks at different levels of recruitment.
“The main aim of the exercise is to verify and understand an applicant’s suitability for a position, “ says Justus Ngetich, an Account Recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services
How To Choose Referees
Most job seekers tend to lose their dream job based on the reviews of their referees.
Before considering someone to act as a referee, these are some of the issues you must look into:
1. Availability and Consent of the referees
Confirm their availability before listing them as possible referees. This does not mean physical locations, but availability to give feedback when needed to. It is always advised to always confirm this first and always be in contact.
2. Are you still in the Job with your referee?
When you are looking to change jobs, the choice of putting down your employer as a potential referee always comes up.
It might not be taken well with your employer if he realizes you are planning to leave. Here, you need to consider providing referees outside of your organization who can speak to the quality of your job performance.
3. Your Performance in your previous role
It is important that before you consider putting down a referee, think through your previous performance in that role.
Will the referee provide positive feedback in regards to your performance? What were some of the challenges that you faced in this position and how did you go about it? What sort of feedback did you get from the manager at the time?
These are some of the information they will be sharing with the recruiter, so make sure it is positive!
4. The Relationship You Had With Previous Employers
Look back at the relationship you had with your previous supervisors. Consider those supervisors with whom you shared a positive rapport rather than those you have possibly disagreed or conflicted with.
5. The Work Duration
How long did they know you or how closely did they work with you? Do consider referees in jobs that you have worked relatively longer in. These should be recent positions rather than positions you worked in over 5 years ago.
Keep it in mind that the review your referee gives about you will go a long way in determining weather or not you land that job.
So make sure you carefully consider who to put down as a referee.
By Kennedy Omondi,
The rapport you create with an interviewer, always goes a long way in determining whether you get the job or not. Hence, it is important that in the course of the interview you leaves a lasting impression. This is how to achieve this:
How To Build Rapport With The Interviewer
1.Give a good first Impression.
The way you present yourself in an interview really matters a lot. This is not only limited to dressing, but also the time one arrives for the interview. In terms of dressing, our clothes, hair, facial expressions, and our posture come into question.
These decisions will usually be made within the first few seconds of the encounter. It is therefore important to plan your clothes, and practice your posture and etiquette beforehand.
For instance, a dark clothing suggests authority, while on the other hand bright cloths will not reflect well with the interviewers as they do not communicate professionalism.
For an interview it is therefore preferred that one dresses formally and preferably in black, navy blue or gray. Avoid screaming colors like red, yellow etc.
2. Engage the Interviewer.
A candidate that engages the interviewer in the course of the interview comes out as one that knows what he wants. It is therefore advisable to have a back-and-forth interview contrary to the conventional one sided one where it is only the interviewers affair.
However, one should not interrupt the interviewer in the course of the interview but rather employ the turn-taking skills of communication.
The best way to go about this is by referring back to something said earlier. Note that engagement is not pre-planned as it will come out as forced, however, it should come out in the course of the interview.
3. Ask questions.
Asking questions is a way of showing your dire interest in the companies affair and they go a long way in creating a positive rapport with the interviewers.
When asking questions, give precedence in seeking clarification on things you’re not sure you understand. This is usually done towards the tail end of the interview.
Always make sure when you walk out the door you clearly understand what the job entails and the company culture the best you can.
4. Show gratitude.
This usually comes after the interview process. Make sure to appreciate the interviewer’s time. This will go a long way with the panel in as far as shortlisting is done.
5. Avoiding sensitive issues.
Make sure to avoid issues that are deemed sensitive when responding to questions or engaging the interviewer. This includes issues that touch on religion or politics.
Unless it is a job that involves these sectors, you should steer away from these since the interviewers might be having a contradicting opinion.
By Kennedy Omondi
The process of job searching can be a really tiresome ordeal, especially after one has been attending to interviews but has not gotten any job yet. Most applicants despair upon missing that job they were hopping for or that which they had performed exemplary well in.
Not being able to secure that position should not be taken difficultly. Here are some pointers towards overcoming this.
How To Handle Rejection After An Interview
1. Move on From After an Interview.
One of the main reasons why people end up depressed after failing to secure a job is because of their high expectations and anticipations they place on getting the job after an interview. This may be as a result of their perceived performance. Always make sure to move on after an interview to avoid this.
2. Seek feedback.
After an unsuccessful interview, try as much as possible to politely ask the recruiter or employer for a detailed feedback about your interview performance so as to help you improve on future performance.
Let the recruiters analyze your performance and inform you on what you did not a have or how you presented yourself in the interview. Also seek to know about the candidate that got picked and why they selected him/ her.
3. Address the Concerns Raised in Your Previous Unsuccessful Interviews.
The feedback you get from the recruiters is vital and this is what you should sit down and address. The reason might be due to lack of technical knowledge, skills or lack of sufficient experience.
Therefore, improve on these areas to fill the gap. For lack of skills and knowledge, one could address this by seeking to pursue further courses/qualifications. And on the other hand, lack of sufficient experience can be addressed by seeking internships or volunteering roles.
4. Approach Every Interview With A Fresh Perspective.
Once your application for a position has not been successful, it is best you move forward to the next interview without carrying interview baggage around with you.
Approach each new job opportunity with a fresh perspective and a new approach. Learn from your previous mistakes, even as you go into future interviews, but don’t keep it at the forefront of your mind. One company’s perspective of an ideal candidate is not the same as the other.
Job searching is a process and not a one-stop shop. It is from the experience of the various interviews that one polishes on their skills in readiness for the next and in the long run better their professional rapport.
By Kennedy Omondi,
When you secure your first job, it comes with excitement and enthusiasm and one can’t wait to get started. However, as time goes by, as a new employee, you lack the drive to jump-start you in as far as your responsibilities are concerned.
When you find yourself losing passion and motivation, here are some things you can do to boost your attitude:
How To Boost Your Attitude At Work
1. Vary your work routine.
Sticking to a particular routine can create boredom which will lead to a lack of motivation. It is therefore advisable to change things up and work on a variety of things. This does not only imply diversifying your work’ but other activities like lunchtime. Branch out and make more social connections with coworkers.
2. Seek Leadership Roles.
Working In a leadership role will give you some sense of purpose and responsibility. This does not mean promotion, but can also be done on a volunteer basis in projects. Leading projects and people will give you a sense of purpose.
3. Concentrate on Your Objective.
Each position has a role to play towards the success of the organizations’ goals. Besides the organizations’ goal, your personal goals also come into play. Remind yourself how your work is contributing towards meeting your objectives, and that of the organization at large.
4. Seek Feedback From Supervisors And Fellow Workmates On Previous tasks.
Positive feedback will make you feel good; constructive criticism will help you set goals. Always seek feedback to gauge and motivate yourself to succeed.
5.Have A Positive Perspective.
Always realize your accomplishment as they will motivate you to work even harder. Notice positive aspects of your workplace rather than con centrating on the negative. Besides this, also connect with coworkers who inspire you.
A motivated employee will always strive to give his/her best to the tasks at hand. In all these, keep it in mind that your motivation will start within you.
Source : careershift.com
If you’re in the job search, you’re probably feeling a range of emotions. Whether you’re transitioning careers on your own accord or were let go by your employer, the job search is a tough sea to navigate — and your ship can be hard to steer when you’ve hit the metaphorical iceberg.
It’s easy to feel disheartened or unworthy when your job search is going nowhere. While you may go through many emotional stages, such as inner self criticism, feeling anger toward employers, or disbelief, it’s important to understand when your job search methods are working and when they should change. After all, if you’ve only been applying through LinkedIn, but have yet to see a response, it may be time to switch things up.
When you feel as if your job search has hit a brick wall, don’t give up hope just yet. Revamp your job search by utilizing these six cool tactics:
Virtual career fairs
Career fairs are a great way to meet with employers face-to-face and sell yourself as a professional — virtual career fairs take this job search tactic up a notch. Not only can virtual career fairs expand your job search by targeting employers from different regions, you can attend these virtual career fairs on your own time and connect with employers through different devices.
Online job search campaigns
If you want to stand out, why not try an online job search campaign? That’s what Matthew Epstein did with “Google Please Hire Me,” a viral campaign used to gain the attention of Google. Lindsay Blackwell did something similar with “Dear Lisa Rudgers.” Both campaigns showed potential employers how far these candidates were willing to go in the job search, while presenting their expertise and experience in a different way.
Interactive resumes
Your resume is the first indication of who you are as a candidate. If applicable to your industry, try something different, like an interactive resume. Dawn Siff, supposed inventor of the first Vine resume, did just that and it helped her get her foot in the door. Other interactive resume examples include videos, infographics, and even video games.
Approach employers directly
Did you know that 46 percent of successful job seekers applied directly to the employer? When you apply directly, instead of through a third-party channel, you increase the chances at getting noticed. Plus, if you take this one step further and apply directly to the hiring manager or even the department head, you open up the doors to communication. However, if the job description explicitly asks you to apply in a certain way, make sure to follow the rules. You don’t want to make the process harder on anyone.
Connect with alumni
Sometimes, it’s all about who you know. Linking with alumni is great way to land a connection, find relevant opportunities, and gain mentorship from someone with a common background. Try checking out alumni networking events or looking on LinkedIn for alumni who have similar experiences. More than likely, alumni who’ve had the same history as you will be willing to help.
Use a job search management program
Job search management programs, like CareerShift, can be your best friend in the hunt for the perfect career. For example, they can provide you with tools and applications to search, store, and manage your activity. Ultimately, a career management program can help you to organize your job search a little better, while giving you some key insight into what’s working and what’s not.
If you feel like your job search is going nowhere, I encourage you to switch up your strategy. Check out virtual career fairs, online job search campaigns, interactive resumes, alumni, and job search management platforms in your quest for the perfect job.
By Kennedy Omondi
Moving from one career to another is normal. However, when frequently done, it poses serious concerns to potential employers when one is seeking a new job.
It is therefore important to employees that have moved from jobs to put emphasis on the positive aspects that come with it.
1.You have Questionable Skills.
Many of short stints in jobs on your resume will undoubtedly raise questions about your skills and work ethics.
Employers will be hesitant in hiring people who have held several positions for over short time lines.
This is because it shows that their skills were either inadequate or even not a matching their current position. It might even be perceived that the skills in your CV are not practical in you.
2.You will be seen as Not Having a Career Objective.
When one starts a career, he/she has a particular objective he/she has set for their career paths. Therefore, when someone moves frequently from one job to the other, he is seen as not being focused or lacking purpose in their career.
3.Employers will be hesitant to invest in you.
Employers are concerned that with an employee that keeps moving from job to job, he lacks a sense of security on him and cannot be depended on.
Loyalty goes a long way and from the employers’ perspective gives them dependability that they can count on.
4. You Might Be Perceived as not Dependable.
The employer will wonder if you jump ship at the first sign of trouble, or if you always think the grass is greener someplace else, a potential employer likely wants to see some history of loyalty and the ability to be part of the solution when the going gets tough something that the company cannot guarantee with you.
The most important thing is to be able to demonstrate that no matter where you worked or for how long, that you were someone who was critical to the success of a project or the company as a whole.
This should be brought out clearly in your accomplishment within the CV.
Interview Tips
By Kennedy Omondi,
Regardless of how gruesome interviews might be, they are a necessary part job search. How one performs in the interview will be key to whether they get the position or not.
“ A candidate’s performance is gauged on their education, skills and knowledge of the field they are seeking to work in.
However, how one summarizes the interview is also of key importance in securing the job.” Says Justus Ngetich, the Recruitment account manager at corporate staffing services.
These are some of the key elements to focus on when concluding an interview.
How to Conclude a Job Interview Well
1. Ask questions.
It is important to ask a few questions to the interviewer but only when the interview is winding up. How do you know that an interview is concluded?
When the interviewer asks you if you have any questions for them, this is usually an indication the they interview is being finalized.
Make sure you are prepared and have questions in mind that you want to ask. However, if the questions have already been addressed by the interviewer, asking it again will make you appear inattentive.
This is a time to show that you are interested in the job and curious about the company itself. Your future employer wants to see someone who is engaged and inquisitive rather than passive.
Not having any question to the interviewer portrays you as not being the right candidate for the job.
2. Address concerns.
Any concern that might have come up in the course of the interview, that may pose as a threat to you securing the job should be ironed out.
These concerns include frequent switching of jobs, large gaps in employment history, reason for leaving your previous job.
These concerns if not addressed might leave the employer thinking twice about whether to employ you. Approach this politely without coming out as being defensive.
3. Ask when to expect a call
Candidates always shy off from asking this question, but it is important that as an applicant, to always seek the next step the interviewers will be taking in regards to filling the position.
Here is where you can ask when to expect a call should you be successful in the interview.
4. Restate Interest.
It is important that before you leave an interview, the potential employer is convinced that you are still interested in the position.
If this is not made clear, the interviewers could assume that through the interview process, you changed your mind and are no longer interested in the job.
5. Show Appreciation.
This is one of the basic steps before walking out of the interview room. Make sure to thank the interviewers for their time. It may seem basic and simple, but being considerably polite goes a long way.
Remember that the same weight given to the first impression is also passed down to the last impression you leave. Therefore be sure to leave a lasting one as this will serve to better your chances of securing that position.
Cover Letter Tips
By Kennedy Omondi,
Recruiters in most cases will determine from the cover letter whether or not to go through a CV. This is because the cover letter forms the platform on which he/she sells himself to the employer.
The same way a cover letter can secure you a job is the same way it can cost you one as well.
Here are some pointers on how this is possible:
Cover Letter Mistakes To Avoid
1. You Regurgitated Your CV
Your cover letter is meant to complement your resume and not reiterate it. Therefore, it would not make sense for you as an applicant to copy the skills in your CV and repeating them in your cover letter.
A job application is supposed to be a representation of you as a well-rounded potential employee, so aim to convey a variety of pertinent information.
Instead of just repeating yourself (“I was in charge of reviewing invoice disputes”), use your cover letter to describe additional details that you weren’t able to fit into the single page of your resume: “By resolving invoice disputes, I gained a deep analytical knowledge.”
2. You Used a Generalized Version.
Just like the CV, each cover letter should be customized and structured in their own way to suit the desires of the job one is applying for.
Composing a unique cover letter for each job you apply for is therefore fundamental. For example a cover letter addressed as ‘Dear sir/madam’ when the name/gender of the recipient is availed indicates a generalized cover letter.
Write a cover letter that’s specific to the job and company you’re applying to, explaining why you’re interested in that particular position.
3. You Highlighted Your Weaknesses.
When making an application to a job and do not meet part of the requirements, you should not reflect this in the cover letter as this is a document that is supposed to sell you to the potential employer rather than spoil your chances. This should be left for the recruiters to determine from the CV.
This means you don’t need to begin your letter by stating, “I know I don’t actually have any coding experience or know much about computers, but…” Focus on explaining how your past experience—regardless of how unrelated it may seem—will translate to this new role.
4. You Focused on What the Company Can Do for You.
Recruiters want to see what a potential employee would do for her company rather than what the job would do for you. This includes the unique skills and expertise you’d bring to the team and how you’ll help the company grow and succeed.
Shows how your enthusiasm will directly benefit the company. For example, one could say, “My thorough understanding of your company’s background and mission means that I can jump in and make contributions to your marketing team right away.” Rather than “I’ve wanted to work for your company since I was little and it would be my dream job.”
Remember that the cover letter is your selling point to future employer and therefore emphasis should be put on its development.
