Looking for a job in Kenya is likened to looking for a needle in a haystack; it has simply become next to impossible. The competition has become very tough and employers are looking for relevant experience in the positions they are looking to fill.All in all, there are new hires joining new companies every day; how do they do it? Here are tips on how to find a job in Kenya
How To Find a Job in Kenya
1. Start with self-assessment
When looking for a job, start with understanding yourself. Get to know your strengths and weaknesses and the type of work you like accomplishing.
Also, analyze the positions you are applying for, some of the positions require a candidate to work shifts which would include night shifts others also want a person who can weekends.
Well, if you have classes or volunteer somewhere over the weekend then such a position might not work for you unless you are willing to drop some of your other engagements.
Over and above, the better you know yourself, the more likely you’ll find a job that provides you with greater satisfaction.
2. Update your CV
Once you know what kind of jobs you want, it’s time to work on your CV.
A CV is the only document that gets you invited for an interview. Make sure that its updated to the most recent position and that all your achievements are included on the CV.
Simply wow the recruiter.
3. Apply directly to an employer
Once your CV is ready you can start making applications online and also applying directly to employers.
So how do you do this? Find out companies you would want to work with, look for their contacts and send your CV which will be considered first in case they have an opening.
This may be considered shooting in the dark but it beats sitting on the couch waiting for something to come up.
4. Ask relatives and friends about jobs where they work
Another tip on how to finding a Job in Kenya is keeping in touch with friends and relatives, they could be having openings at their places of work and they could easily recommend you.
This is especially with entry-level positions such as attachments and internships where the graduate might not be well connected in the job market as they are fresh from school.
5. Search hidden job markets
There are a lot of jobs out there that are never advertised, so if you are relying only on the online job platforms to look for work you are missing out.
As a job seeker, you may then wonder how one gets to know of those hidden jobs; you do this is by simply networking with professionals in your industry where you get to know of open positions in their companies that have not been advertised.
The advantage of applying for such a position is that the competition is less as only a few people get to know and apply for the jobs.
6. Concentrate your job hunt on smaller companies
It’s obvious that all job seekers want to work for Safaricom, NGOs and such. It's not wrong to be ambitious but then the competition becomes tougher as everyone is applying to the same companies.
Smaller companies equally have good positions and one gets exposed in almost all departments and here you have a chance to grow and climb the career ladder very fast.
7. Prepare for all job interviews
Well, the worst mistake job seekers do is forgetting to prepare for interviews and end up not getting the job they have been waiting for all their life.
It’s wise as a job seeker to invest in interview preparation as it’s a one-off training that you can use in all your interviews, you do not need to be trained every time you get a new interview invitation not unless you feel there is a need.
8. Accept a temporary position or volunteer work
When looking for a job, do not be choosy, you can accept temporary positions as you wait for a permanent post.
Rarely does one become successful overnight; you have to go through the system like everyone else which means starting with attachments, internship, and volunteer work.
Do not take these positions for granted as they equip you with the necessary skills and experience.
9. Expect the job-search to take much longer than you can imagine
Lastly, expect the job search to take longer than you expected, so don't give up.
Prepare mentally and physically for a long wait and then you can be happily surprised if you are lucky to have a short job search journey.
There you have it, in case you have been wondering how to find a job in Kenya now you know the steps and preparation you need to take.