So your potential new employer has invited you to a panel job interview and tells you that you will be meeting with seven department heads. Do you grasp your chest in fear or do you say to yourself, “cool”?

Panel interviews can be scary as you have to impress a room full of people rather than just one or two. The questions asked by a panel can be broader and more complex because they are coming from many different viewpoints. In fact some questions coming from the panel may contradict other questions.
How do you ace the panel interview?As with any interview, preparation is key. Do not be afraid to ask the HR representative or person organizing the interview for a list of who will you will be interviewing with and what their role with the organization is; also ask for an itinerary for the interview so you know what your time with them will look like and the company’s version of the job description. Be sure to have questions prepared so when it is your time to ask questions they are well thought out and organized. As with any interview, be sure to research the organization and learn as much as possible about what they do, what they contribute to the world and any pertinent information about where they are headed. Chances are that you will be brought to a conference room and when you are introduced to the panel; take the time to shake each and every person’s hand. As introductions are made try your best to remember everyone’s name so you can refer to them by name. You can even request for thier Business cards. This will give you their contact information allowing you to follow up and thank each person individually. You can also place the cards in front of you arranging them in the same pattern that the group is sitting in for easy reference.

Ask the panel starts asking their questions you will be inclined to make eye contact with the person who asked you the question you are answering, this is important. Equally important is scanning the room to make eye contact with everyone else. This will allow you to get a “read” on each of them as well as engaging them in your answer. Do not be afraid to take notes during your interview for any follow up questions you might want to ask.

As the interview comes to conclusion be sure to personally thank each participant, shaking their hand and reinforcing your interest in the position.

Bringing up salary, benefits during the interviewUnless you belong to a select group of people, you need a job in order to survive. Oprah Winfrey doesn't need to work another day in her life. The rest of us will have a hard time paying the electric bill without a job.
yet, when we're going through the song and dance of interviewing for a job, we pretend as if money isn't on the top of our list of priorities.

I hate to bust the bubble but it is and always will be. Job-search etiquette dictates waiting for the employer to bring up salary, benefits and vacation. Conventional wisdom says that if you bring it up, you appear more focused on the perks than on doing the job, which sends a bad sign to employers.

So you interview over the phone and in person, and after days or weeks of conversation about the job, you don't know how much it pays or if you would be able to occasionally leave early to pick up your son from school. These issues can be deal breakers for many job seekers, but they're taboo topics during the interview process.

If time is money, then both the hiring manager and the job seeker should be happy to get the basics out of the way before wasting time with interviews that might not matter if the salary is too low. We decided to find out if there is a way to bring up these touchy subjects in a more reasonable timeline.

Should you do it? Before job seekers can even ponder how to bring up these issues, the primary concern is whether or not they should even broach the subjects or if they are making a heinous misstep. For many employers, as long as your approach is reasonable and tactful, you don't need to worry.

It's definitely fine to ask about the salary, benefits and perks early in the process. Think of it this way: Sometimes recruiters will push candidates to give them a ballpark salary requirement and they'll say they can't proceed without knowing so everyone's on the same page. Shouldn't you also feel entitled to knowing information up front to not waste anyone's time? You're doing everyone, including yourself, by asking and getting an overall idea of the complete package.

You certainly can ruin your chances of being hired by asking the questions the wrong way, but the topics alone won't overshadow your CV and experience. You have every right to know what you will and won't get, so don't be afraid to ask before the end of the second interview," During the first interview, you'll want to get a general idea, ideally from the human resources department (assuming you were interviewed by HR), as these are more administrative questions.

Make this line of questioning one of your last orders of business, but not because it could harm your chances of getting hired. Instead playing the waiting game can help you receive a better salary offer.

Often there is room for negotiation on everything. The more valuable you are as a candidate, the more leverage you have. You are best served to determine how well suited you are for the job before you begin asking about perks.

How to do it. Now that you know that you can safely bring up sensitive topics during an interview on your own timeline, you need to know how to do it. After all, asked in the wrong way, any question can be damaging during a job interview. Here are five on how to raise the questions, get the information you need and stay on the interviewer's good side.

Be assertive but reasonable. Simply ask in an assertive way. You can couch it with a statement such as, 'I don't want to sound presumptuous as if I expect to already get this job, but I would like to know the salary range before proceeding.

Prove why it's in their interest, too [Recruiters] don't want to waste their time, so remind them of that fact. You may ask in this manner 'Mr. Recruiter, I know your time is valuable and that the last thing you'd want to do is waste your time on a candidate who wasn't a perfect fit. With that in mind -- and I acknowledge these questions are difficult to discuss upfront -- would it be okay if we discussed some uncomfortable questions today?'"

You want to know about this information so you don't waste your time, and they probably feel the same way, too.

Wait for the right moment. Job seekers should wait for a chance to ask their question rather than force it into the interview. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions at the end of the interview and you should consider taking this as a cue to ask the questions.

"You then say, 'Thank you for asking. There is one item I realized we didn't discuss. Always couch and sandwich difficult situations by saying something good and nice to start, hit them with the hard stuff, then end with something uplifting and positive."

Ultimately what matters is that you read the cues of the interviewer and ask what makes you feel comfortable and what suits the mood of the moment. As long as you're polite and ask your questions in a reasonable manner, you can walk out of the interview without any regrets. Please note that questions concerning salary and benefits should never be asked at the first interview unless the interviewer broaches the topic. The question should be left to the second interview.

By EMEKA-MAYAKA GEKARA

Job seeker Aaron Ringera wants to sue because he was not invited for Supreme Court jobs interview.

The former Court of Appeal judge accused the Judicial Service Commission of condemning him unheard by its failure to short list him for the Supreme Court job interviews slated for next week. (READ: Top judges miss Supreme Court jobs)

“Please draw the attention of the commission to these grave and constitutional matters that may, at my option, be ventilated in another forum,” he says in a letter to JSC secretary Lydia Achode last Monday.

In response, the JSC said that Justice Ringera’s tenure at the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission ended in controversy raising doubts on his commitment to principles and values of the new Constitution.

“You also voluntarily retired from the Judiciary and have not given credible reason for wanting to be re-employed,” the commission said.

On Wednesday, JSC member Ahmednasir Abdullahi defended the commission’s decision:

“The position the judge applied for is not anybody’s birthright. The era of entitlement is over. Kenyans should outgrow the culture of entitlement and embrace a new culture of fair competition.”

He added: “There were many qualified Kenyans who applied for the five vacancies and the commission has written to Ringera on why he did not meet the cut.”

But Justice Ringera faulted the commission’s argument that his departure was controversial and questioned the rationale of short listing one of his deputies who resigned in similar circumstances.

He said he preferred to leave his options open with an understanding that the commissioners were able to make “good judgment” on the issues he had raised.

“If it is a matter of a nice retirement job, I’m comfortable,” he said.

Justice Ringera, who used to earn about Sh2.5 million a month as director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, was categorical that he was qualified for the Supreme Court job.

On his exit from the anti-graft commission in September 2009, he took home a package of nearly Sh25 million.

In addition, he is entitled to 24-hour state security at his home, a bodyguard, driver and an official vehicle fuelled and maintained by the government — all for 10 years from the date of his retirement.

He described the reasons for his rejection as “disingenuous.” “The commission has condemned me unheard and my right to natural justice has been violated,” he said.

He added: “An otherwise qualified candidate has been shut out of the interview process with the result that constitutional values for fair competition, equal opportunity and fair administrative action has been subverted.”

When the JSC announced names of those short-listed for interviews two weeks ago, Justice Ringera said he was shocked at the exclusion and thought that his application might have been “misplaced or found wanting”.

Emeka works for Nation Media Group.

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“What are your weaknesses” is one annoying interview question there is. I still do not understand why interviewers ask this question but what I know is that they are not really interested in knowing about your weaknesses but are keen on your progression and the tone of your voice and body language than on the actual content.

How you answer this question really matters. Present your weakness with reluctance or hesitance and you are likely to make a bad impression and magnify the importance of the weakness. It is therefore important, to show that you can cope with difficult questions.

The interviewer may wonder-if you have trouble coping with a question in an interview, how will you face difficulties and challenges at work? And that’s why interview questions are so rhetorical, to test your intelligence.

Weaknesses in an interview are not the bad habits you have like losing your temper every other minute, getting irritated by inquisitive clients and failing to meet deadlines. All these can be explained in a positive way. This question begs for a challenge you constantly face at work or in an assignment but the important part, and the one the interviewer is interested in is how you overcome this challenge.

Therefore, expose real weaknesses you have but be selective, and choose those that are less likely to affect your ability to succeed on the job. You may also wish to demonstrate how you are striving to improve those qualities. Here are some suitable answers that will get you called for the job;

In an interview for a Sales manager position the Interviewer asks Susan who has been in the same position but at a different company, “what are your weaknesses?”

Susan knows that she is impulsive, sometimes even aggressive and a little hard on others. She is too self-critical and demanding- a tough and demanding Sales Manager. In response to the question, Susan chooses to disclose only some of these weaknesses – those that do not affect her likelihood of success in the job in this manner;”I am too self-critical and quite demanding at times” but I always make sure that my team understands the nature of the job and it’s demands so well such that even when asking for more sales and higher targets from them, they know it’s all about the job.” Susan’s response is sincere and direct, yet the qualities she chose to present do not affect her ability to perform and therefore they are unlikely to affect her chances of passing the interview – on the contrary.

The same interviewer asks Peter, who’s been in sales for a long time the same question and this is how Peter responds, “ I like working as an individual, I find team work time consuming and too restricting but I just have to work with it because the Sales field demands team work” Peter is as sincere as he can get but reading his answer again, one is left doubting if such a person can really perform and true that his field demands team work but his answer just ruins his chances of getting the job.

Write down at least three weaknesses you have when it comes to work, ones that you are comfortable explaining and ones that will not ruin your chances of passing an interview…and for a mention, avoid as much as possible the “I am a Perfectionist answer” It’s just and too common in interviews. If you must say it, make sure the perfect side really comes out professionally and then explain how that is a weakness and what you have done about it with a practical example.

Just stay relevant to that specific job. Here are more answers you may use;

“I have to work on having more patient and giving myself a break because I want everything done at once and again I realized that things do not just happen overnight so there’s need to make slow but sure moves”.

“My biggest weakness that people have taken note of is that I can be too overfriendly, e.g. a customer my feel too comfortable but then I always make sure it’s within business and that the deal is closed at the end” This answer is suitable for a customer service, sales and marketing interview, it shows your ability to build rapport with the client while still doing business.

All in all, it is important you remember that a weakness is a virtue in disguise. Someone who is “talkative” may be “good at negotiation”, someone who is “unfriendly” may have a “long concentration span.” Someone who has a “lack of eye for details” may have the ability to “strategically manage multiple projects – see the bigger picture”. Someone who is “routine averse” may be “creative” and so on

All the best as you prepare for future interviews! www.careerpointkenya.com

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It`s one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview: Tell me about yourself. Your response to this request will set the tone for the rest of the interview. For some, this is the most challenging question to answer, as they wonder what the interviewer really wants to know and what information they should include.

Eleanor dreaded this question. When it was the first one asked at her interview, she fumbled her way through a vague answer, not focusing on what she could bring to the job.

“I`m happily married and originally from Nakuru,” she began. “My husband was transferred here three months ago, and I`ve been getting us settled in our new home. I`m now ready to go back to work. I`ve worked in a variety of jobs, usually customer service-related. I`m looking for a company that offers growth opportunities.”

The interview went downhill after that. She had started with personal information and gave the interviewer reason to doubt whether she was an employee who would stay for very long.

* She`s married, and when her husband gets transferred that means she has to leave; she did it once and can do it again.

* She has some work experience with customers but didn`t emphasize what she did.

* She is looking to grow. What about the job she is applying for? Will she stay content for long?

The secret to successfully responding to this free-form request is to focus, script and practice. You cannot afford to wing this answer, as it will affect the rest of the interview. Begin to think about what you want the interviewer to know about you.

Focus

List five strengths you have that are pertinent to this job (experiences, traits, skills, etc.). What do you want the interviewer to know about you when you leave?

Eleanor is strong in communications and connecting with people. She has a strong background and proven success with customer relationships. Her real strength is her follow-through. She prides herself on her reputation for meeting deadlines.

Scripting

Prepare a script that includes the information you want to convey. Begin by talking about past experiences and proven success:

“I have been in the customer service industry for the past five years. My most recent experience has been handling incoming calls in the call centre industry. One reason I particularly enjoy this business, and the challenges that go along with it, is the opportunity to connect with people. In my last job, I formed some significant customer relationships resulting in a 30 percent increase in sales in a matter of months.”

Next, mention your strengths and abilities:

“My real strength is my attention to detail. I pride myself on my reputation for following through and meeting deadlines. When I commit to doing something, I make sure it gets done, and on time.”

Conclude with a statement about your current situation:

“What I am looking for now is a company that values customer relations, where I can join a strong team and have a positive impact on customer retention and sales.”

Practice

Practice with your script until you feel confident about what you want to emphasize in your statement. Your script should help you stay on track, but you shouldn`t memorize it — you don`t want to sound stiff and rehearsed. It should sound natural and conversational.

Even if you are not asked this type of question to begin the interview, this preparation will help you focus on what you have to offer. You will also find that you can use the information in this exercise to assist you in answering other questions. The more you can talk about your product — you — the better chance you will have at selling it.

We at Career Point wishes you success with the interviews this week.

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By Joan Ngare.

Just Yesterday, we had interviews for a client requiring a candidate to fill a vacant Marketing position in their company. Those shortlisted for the interview went one by one in to the interviewing room and gave what they had prepared. There is this one candidate I took keen notice of. The guy was very presentable, fairly qualified and well organized. To me, he understands extremely well that interviews do not have to be dull and tensed up.

The guy made himself comfortable viewed the interviewer as just any other person he’d pick a conversation with same way you’d walk in to a shop and chat the guy at the counter up so freely and before you know it you both sound like you spent the past five years together. That was the most relaxed interview. With such an approach, and get this from a firsthand witness point of view, the interviewer is most likely to give you the job.

Tensing up in an interview is expected but not for more than 5 minutes. The moment you run out of words and ideas no matter how well you had prepared for the interview, everything else including your confidence disappears. This is mainly so if you are walking in to an interview without having done enough background research on the company and what services or products they offer.

Interviews are very tricky. While most people base their thinking on the job and its requirements, the interviewer is more interested in your personality. This is not to say that qualifications are not used to gauge you in an interview, of course they are and that’s why you were invited in the first place, but now that the interviewer already knows you have the qualifications, they’ll focus more on your presentation.

If you are a customer service or administration professional, your secretarial, communication, computer and people skills will be the short listing determinant but then how you present these skills at an interview matters more. You must have heard of someone who got a position not because they had the academic qualification and the extensive experience stated in the job advert, but because they were very convincing through their aggressive answering of questions and having the facts right.

Know what the position requires and the best skills to portray. Avoid bragging too much about your achievements saying how no one ever seems to get it right but you. Show interest in the interview. I’m surprised by candidates who have to be pushed to open up while they are the ones in need in the first place. If you find the interviewer asking you to speak up, elaborate or use better examples, consider yourself out. Funny how all CVs read excellent communication and interpersonal skills while most people can barely initiate or engage in a conversation.

In addition, It’s always good to engage the interviewer mainly through asking questions during or after the interview depending on how the session goes. Asking this question gives them a chance to clear up anything that’s niggling them about you, including any doubts or misunderstandings. It also shows that you are interested in the position and portrays you as updated and ready to learn.

However, this is no time to bring up money or any other benefits for that matter, neither is it a chance to confess all your mistakes and shortcoming in life, S– it makes you look like you’re motivated by all the wrong things. Let the interviewer raise such first if they have to. Play your cards right, stay relevant.The questions you ask could help propel you to the top of the interviewer’s shortlist. Try and have at least three really good questions prepared – here’s a few you could consider in your preparation;

After the interview, ask the interviewer if there is anything they’d like you to clarify or explain in more detail. Asking this question gives them a chance to clear up anything that’s niggling them about you, including any doubts or misunderstandings.

“What do you see as the priorities for this job in the first three months? is there any sort of training or induction for the qualified candidate?” is another question you could ask. This allows the interviewer to go into more detail about what the post actually requires within the first couple of months. It’s a chance for you to agree (if appropriate), look enthusiastic and if possible even explain why those priorities are ideally suited to your background.

Third, ask the interviewers view of the company’s growth in the next five years or so. This shows you’re serious about staying with the company and forging a career path. Interviewers generally like to hire people who they think can grow and develop with the company, so asking this question demonstrates you are willing.

Lastly, ask when you should expect to hear about the job invite. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask when you might hear if you’ve been successful. First it shows that you already have your expectations for the position and second, it essential for purposes of planning. Take for example the interview is In Mombasa and you live in Nairobi. You may need to travel immediately.

With these few tips and self belief and confidence, interviews should be more of a discussion than an exam. Polish up in your weak areas and pap…you’re good to go!

Joan Ngare is a HR Officer At Corporate Staffing Service. www.staff-kenya.com

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Free Interview Advice For Customer Service Jobs.

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Consider this, you have been called for a customer service job interview or a position requiring someone with good customer service skills either because you are good at it or you have it well highlighted in your CV and cover letter, so how will you present yourself in the interview?

Most of us tend to think that customer service is all about, answering client’s questions and handling their complaints. So you walk right to the interview room and there you are, you voice suddenly goes down, you barely keep an eye contact with the interviewer and all you can say to support your customer skills is “I am good with people” how? Being talkative and social is beside the point.

Customer service jobs require maturity, an engaging mind, good listening skills and ability to identify customer’s needs and assist as appropriate.

Juzi juzi I happened to go to the bank to make a transaction so when my turn came ,I presented myself at the counter and guess what, the lady Teller barely looked up to acknowledge my presence and goes on to work on her computer for about five minutes before she finally looked up with capital attitude and waited for me to speak…well, I simply said Hi, gave her my bank slip and forgave her for what I may never understand .

She might have had a bad day, a quarrel with her supervisor or just in low moods which can happen to anyone but did I have to suffer her wrath? I mean, she must know customer service that’s why she’s at the front counter in the first place.
A Customer Service Representative says the right things and transacts the business not only with efficiency but also with an air of difference and like everyone else, customer service Officers/Representatives ought to treat clients you with courtesy and respect and be show the same in return.

On the other hand, if a customer service provider shows a sincere willingness to serve and makes an earnest attempt to get it right but misses a few of the key skills, you’ll still appreciate their efforts and in most cases, feel satisfied.
Customer service-whether that means selling clothes or fixing electronics is an intrinsically rewarding profession.

The people who understand this fact are the ones who excel and who help to distinguish their company from its competitors. If you have served customers before you know how crazy it can get, because it means dealing with people of all backgrounds, some rude, some polite others just stubborn but at the end of the day, your job should matter more.

Your boss is certainly aware of the things you have to go through that even he himself wouldn’t know how to handle therefore they are relying on you entirely to project the company’s image in the best way possible out there.
Professions that deal directly with clients can be very successful.

How many times have you referred your friends to a certain boutique, restaurant and even estate kiosk because the people in charge are very friendly and helpful to customers? If you are in sales for example, the only way to close a deal is by saying the right words to your prospects and even when they were not for the idea to buy your products or services, your approach does the magic.

Every time you apply for a job that requires customer service skill, be assured that the interviewers will focus more in finding this skill in you than on the papers you’ll present to them. Better still, customer service does not focus more on the academic qualifications. If you are good at it but lack the papers, consider using the skill itself to your advantage.

Related posts:

FREE FREE. Job Search, CV, Interview Skills Seminar.Executive Customer Retention Mombasa Jobs.How A ‘Chama’ Can Help Improve Your Interview Skills.How To Rise From That Small Job To The Big One.

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View the original article here

Consider this, you have been called for a customer service job interview or a position requiring someone with good customer service skills either because you are good at it or you have it well highlighted in your CV and cover letter, so how will you present yourself in the interview?

Most of us tend to think that customer service is all about, answering client’s questions and handling their complaints. So you walk right to the interview room and there you are, you voice suddenly goes down, you barely keep an eye contact with the interviewer and all you can say to support your customer skills is “I am good with people” how? Being talkative and social is beside the point.

Customer service jobs require maturity, an engaging mind, good listening skills and ability to identify customer’s needs and assist as appropriate.

Juzi juzi I happened to go to the bank to make a transaction so when my turn came ,I presented myself at the counter and guess what, the lady Teller barely looked up to acknowledge my presence and goes on to work on her computer for about five minutes before she finally looked up with capital attitude and waited for me to speak…well, I simply said Hi, gave her my bank slip and forgave her for what I may never understand .

She might have had a bad day, a quarrel with her supervisor or just in low moods which can happen to anyone but did I have to suffer her wrath? I mean, she must know customer service that’s why she’s at the front counter in the first place.
A Customer Service Representative says the right things and transacts the business not only with efficiency but also with an air of difference and like everyone else, customer service Officers/Representatives ought to treat clients you with courtesy and respect and be show the same in return.

On the other hand, if a customer service provider shows a sincere willingness to serve and makes an earnest attempt to get it right but misses a few of the key skills, you’ll still appreciate their efforts and in most cases, feel satisfied.
Customer service-whether that means selling clothes or fixing electronics is an intrinsically rewarding profession.

The people who understand this fact are the ones who excel and who help to distinguish their company from its competitors. If you have served customers before you know how crazy it can get, because it means dealing with people of all backgrounds, some rude, some polite others just stubborn but at the end of the day, your job should matter more.

Your boss is certainly aware of the things you have to go through that even he himself wouldn’t know how to handle therefore they are relying on you entirely to project the company’s image in the best way possible out there.
Professions that deal directly with clients can be very successful.

How many times have you referred your friends to a certain boutique, restaurant and even estate kiosk because the people in charge are very friendly and helpful to customers? If you are in sales for example, the only way to close a deal is by saying the right words to your prospects and even when they were not for the idea to buy your products or services, your approach does the magic.

Every time you apply for a job that requires customer service skill, be assured that the interviewers will focus more in finding this skill in you than on the papers you’ll present to them. Better still, customer service does not focus more on the academic qualifications. If you are good at it but lack the papers, consider using the skill itself to your advantage.

Related posts:

FREE FREE. Job Search, CV, Interview Skills Seminar.Executive Customer Retention Mombasa Jobs.How A ‘Chama’ Can Help Improve Your Interview Skills.How To Rise From That Small Job To The Big One.

To Receive daily jobs In Kenya in your inbox,please subscribe here below.

Are you sick and tired of sending out CV for jobs you know you’re perfect for, but you get no response from employers?

Have you tried networking for job leads and found that it’s NOT working?

Are you worried you might have to take a lower-paying job if you don’t find work soon?

Then we have a solution and its FREE.

This coming Saturday, from 10Am to 1.Pm come and learn from seasoned HR managers for FREE on what it takes to make a successful job search in Kenya.

What will this seminar teach you?

First of all you learn how to prepare and go for an interview. What type of questions may come your away and the best way to answer those questions. We’ll also teach you how to answer questions if you have been laid off.

We will speak to you about how to write an effective CV and cover letter so that you can stand out from the rest. You will also learn how to get the correct references and from whom.

We shall also train you on how to present your skills to the company you are applying to during the interview stage. Depending on the type of education and work experience you have we shall tell you how to highlight your skills and present yourself as a package to the company.

Who should attend?

The people to benefit from this seminar will be individuals who have never worked before and don’t know anything about how to go about making a CV and basically looking for a job. People who want to change employers after many years and are not aware of current trends can also attend. And finally, People who have been fired from their previous jobs and don’t know how to get it across to employers can also gain a lot of valuable knowledge.

Date: Saturday 12th March 2011.
Time: 10.30AM -1.00PM
Venue. YMCA State House Road. Right up from the St Paul Chapel. University Way Round About Next to Main Campus Hostels
Cost: FREE, FREE….Unless you want to buy a soda or tea and some books for yourself.
Booking. We only have spaces for  50 candidates. Send your CV and contact details to Juliah Karimi Email: Juliah@staff-kenya.com to book  a seat.

Carry your latest CV and writing materials.

Organized by Corporate Staffing Services. www.staff-kenya.com. Recruitment and HR Professionals.

Related posts:

How A ‘Chama’ Can Help Improve Your Interview Skills.How To Rise From That Small Job To The Big One.The HR Manager We Love To Hate!

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View the original article here

By Juliah Karimi.

When someone hears of the word ‘chama’, I know the first thought that comes into your mind is of a group of women sitted in someone’s house gossiping and basically chattering about their husbands and at the end asking each other for a ‘kasmall kaloan’.

That is the old school of thought. There was definitely some good that came out from such groups if only you took a closer look. Consider this; your mother goes for a ‘chama’ and on coming back she tells you that this and such a firm are looking for and Information Technology trainee.

The lesson here is that, from that little meeting, a job was advertised although in a less formal manner.

My question is what can we learn from these informal groups and how can we advance our careers through these groups. Joining a ‘chama’ is not beneath you. A ‘chama’ is an avenue to not only develop your career but also learn some new skills in the process.

These are the groups that mould our leadership skills. Note that certain jobs require at least some form of leadership roles that you may have performed or may be performing. If your chosen career is accounting, why not take up a treasurer role to enhance your accounting skills and also applying those accounting procedures and principles you learned.

The same case applies for a Business Management graduate or professional. The managerial aspect in maybe being the chairman of the group would add a feather to your cap.

Too often I hear people say that the gossip in the ‘chama’ is what they want to avoid. If indeed the gossip is too much, then probably you are in the wrong ‘chama’ and you need to re-evaluate your options. Join a forward thinking group that would get you links to various people in your chosen career.

More often that not word of mouth of a certain multi national firm looking for creatives’ would be first circulated within the company and who better to be in the same group than the director of creatives in the firm. joining a group that comprises of creatives would not only enhance your skills and knowledge but you would learn new and innovative ways of handling situations and also brainstorm and get criticism in the ideas that you bring to the table

What else can we learn from the chama? Our communications skills are one thing. If you are a member of a chama and you could be struggling with how to express your self in interviews. Why not try and address the group members first. That way when that dream job finally materializes, not only will you have added skills but communicating those skills will be a walk in the park.

A marketer needs to have excellent marketing and customer realtions skills, if your chama mainly deals in selling eggs in the nearby, why not be the marketer and enhance those skills that you only learned about.

My main point is that the chama is not a gossip group as we all thought and not only can they be of help when we are searching for jobs but the skills we get from either the leadership or just the interaction with like minded individuals is enough to set us off in the right career path armed with all the necessary armor.

It not only applies to the 55 year old retired civil servant but to the 25 year old recent graduate looking to achieving those lifelong dreams.

Establishing contact is important, organising events through your ‘chama’ can be beneficial. The contacts from these events can act as a link not only within but outside the group. Most importantly, go and join a group, ensure you have skills, knowledge and possibly hold a leadership position in that group. I hope a light bulb just went on in your head.

A warning though, if you decide to join the group, get like minded individuals and possible the larger the better with a variety of fields to represent the group.

Juliah is HR Officer at Corporate Staffing Services. Reach Her at Juliah@staff-kenya.com Website. www.staff-kenya.com

Related posts:

How To Rise From That Small Job To The Big One.

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View the original article here

Consider this, you have been called for a customer service job interview or a position requiring someone with good customer service skills either because you are good at it or you have it well highlighted in your CV and cover letter, so how will you present yourself in the interview?

Most of us tend to think that customer service is all about, answering client’s questions and handling their complaints. So you walk right to the interview room and there you are, you voice suddenly goes down, you barely keep an eye contact with the interviewer and all you can say to support your customer skills is “I am good with people” how? Being talkative and social is beside the point.

Customer service jobs require maturity, an engaging mind, good listening skills and ability to identify customer’s needs and assist as appropriate.

Juzi juzi I happened to go to the bank to make a transaction so when my turn came ,I presented myself at the counter and guess what, the lady Teller barely looked up to acknowledge my presence and goes on to work on her computer for about five minutes before she finally looked up with capital attitude and waited for me to speak…well, I simply said Hi, gave her my bank slip and forgave her for what I may never understand .

She might have had a bad day, a quarrel with her supervisor or just in low moods which can happen to anyone but did I have to suffer her wrath? I mean, she must know customer service that’s why she’s at the front counter in the first place.
A Customer Service Representative says the right things and transacts the business not only with efficiency but also with an air of difference and like everyone else, customer service Officers/Representatives ought to treat clients you with courtesy and respect and be show the same in return.

On the other hand, if a customer service provider shows a sincere willingness to serve and makes an earnest attempt to get it right but misses a few of the key skills, you’ll still appreciate their efforts and in most cases, feel satisfied.
Customer service-whether that means selling clothes or fixing electronics is an intrinsically rewarding profession.

The people who understand this fact are the ones who excel and who help to distinguish their company from its competitors. If you have served customers before you know how crazy it can get, because it means dealing with people of all backgrounds, some rude, some polite others just stubborn but at the end of the day, your job should matter more.

Your boss is certainly aware of the things you have to go through that even he himself wouldn’t know how to handle therefore they are relying on you entirely to project the company’s image in the best way possible out there.
Professions that deal directly with clients can be very successful.

How many times have you referred your friends to a certain boutique, restaurant and even estate kiosk because the people in charge are very friendly and helpful to customers? If you are in sales for example, the only way to close a deal is by saying the right words to your prospects and even when they were not for the idea to buy your products or services, your approach does the magic.

Every time you apply for a job that requires customer service skill, be assured that the interviewers will focus more in finding this skill in you than on the papers you’ll present to them. Better still, customer service does not focus more on the academic qualifications. If you are good at it but lack the papers, consider using the skill itself to your advantage.

Related posts:

FREE FREE. Job Search, CV, Interview Skills Seminar.Executive Customer Retention Mombasa Jobs.How A ‘Chama’ Can Help Improve Your Interview Skills.How To Rise From That Small Job To The Big One.

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View the original article here

By Juliah Karimi.

When someone hears of the word ‘chama’, I know the first thought that comes into your mind is of a group of women sitted in someone’s house gossiping and basically chattering about their husbands and at the end asking each other for a ‘kasmall kaloan’.

That is the old school of thought. There was definitely some good that came out from such groups if only you took a closer look. Consider this; your mother goes for a ‘chama’ and on coming back she tells you that this and such a firm are looking for and Information Technology trainee.

The lesson here is that, from that little meeting, a job was advertised although in a less formal manner.

My question is what can we learn from these informal groups and how can we advance our careers through these groups. Joining a ‘chama’ is not beneath you. A ‘chama’ is an avenue to not only develop your career but also learn some new skills in the process.

These are the groups that mould our leadership skills. Note that certain jobs require at least some form of leadership roles that you may have performed or may be performing. If your chosen career is accounting, why not take up a treasurer role to enhance your accounting skills and also applying those accounting procedures and principles you learned.

The same case applies for a Business Management graduate or professional. The managerial aspect in maybe being the chairman of the group would add a feather to your cap.

Too often I hear people say that the gossip in the ‘chama’ is what they want to avoid. If indeed the gossip is too much, then probably you are in the wrong ‘chama’ and you need to re-evaluate your options. Join a forward thinking group that would get you links to various people in your chosen career.

More often that not word of mouth of a certain multi national firm looking for creatives’ would be first circulated within the company and who better to be in the same group than the director of creatives in the firm. joining a group that comprises of creatives would not only enhance your skills and knowledge but you would learn new and innovative ways of handling situations and also brainstorm and get criticism in the ideas that you bring to the table

What else can we learn from the chama? Our communications skills are one thing. If you are a member of a chama and you could be struggling with how to express your self in interviews. Why not try and address the group members first. That way when that dream job finally materializes, not only will you have added skills but communicating those skills will be a walk in the park.

A marketer needs to have excellent marketing and customer realtions skills, if your chama mainly deals in selling eggs in the nearby, why not be the marketer and enhance those skills that you only learned about.

My main point is that the chama is not a gossip group as we all thought and not only can they be of help when we are searching for jobs but the skills we get from either the leadership or just the interaction with like minded individuals is enough to set us off in the right career path armed with all the necessary armor.

It not only applies to the 55 year old retired civil servant but to the 25 year old recent graduate looking to achieving those lifelong dreams.

Establishing contact is important, organising events through your ‘chama’ can be beneficial. The contacts from these events can act as a link not only within but outside the group. Most importantly, go and join a group, ensure you have skills, knowledge and possibly hold a leadership position in that group. I hope a light bulb just went on in your head.

A warning though, if you decide to join the group, get like minded individuals and possible the larger the better with a variety of fields to represent the group.

Juliah is HR Officer at Corporate Staffing Services. Reach Her at Juliah@staff-kenya.com Website. www.staff-kenya.com

Related posts:

How To Rise From That Small Job To The Big One.

To Receive daily jobs In Kenya in your inbox,please subscribe here below.

View the original article here

By Juliah Karimi.

When someone hears of the word ‘chama’, I know the first thought that comes into your mind is of a group of women sitted in someone’s house gossiping and basically chattering about their husbands and at the end asking each other for a ‘kasmall kaloan’.

That is the old school of thought. There was definitely some good that came out from such groups if only you took a closer look. Consider this; your mother goes for a ‘chama’ and on coming back she tells you that this and such a firm are looking for and Information Technology trainee.

The lesson here is that, from that little meeting, a job was advertised although in a less formal manner.

My question is what can we learn from these informal groups and how can we advance our careers through these groups. Joining a ‘chama’ is not beneath you. A ‘chama’ is an avenue to not only develop your career but also learn some new skills in the process.

These are the groups that mould our leadership skills. Note that certain jobs require at least some form of leadership roles that you may have performed or may be performing. If your chosen career is accounting, why not take up a treasurer role to enhance your accounting skills and also applying those accounting procedures and principles you learned.

The same case applies for a Business Management graduate or professional. The managerial aspect in maybe being the chairman of the group would add a feather to your cap.

Too often I hear people say that the gossip in the ‘chama’ is what they want to avoid. If indeed the gossip is too much, then probably you are in the wrong ‘chama’ and you need to re-evaluate your options. Join a forward thinking group that would get you links to various people in your chosen career.

More often that not word of mouth of a certain multi national firm looking for creatives’ would be first circulated within the company and who better to be in the same group than the director of creatives in the firm. joining a group that comprises of creatives would not only enhance your skills and knowledge but you would learn new and innovative ways of handling situations and also brainstorm and get criticism in the ideas that you bring to the table

What else can we learn from the chama? Our communications skills are one thing. If you are a member of a chama and you could be struggling with how to express your self in interviews. Why not try and address the group members first. That way when that dream job finally materializes, not only will you have added skills but communicating those skills will be a walk in the park.

A marketer needs to have excellent marketing and customer realtions skills, if your chama mainly deals in selling eggs in the nearby, why not be the marketer and enhance those skills that you only learned about.

My main point is that the chama is not a gossip group as we all thought and not only can they be of help when we are searching for jobs but the skills we get from either the leadership or just the interaction with like minded individuals is enough to set us off in the right career path armed with all the necessary armor.

It not only applies to the 55 year old retired civil servant but to the 25 year old recent graduate looking to achieving those lifelong dreams.

Establishing contact is important, organising events through your ‘chama’ can be beneficial. The contacts from these events can act as a link not only within but outside the group. Most importantly, go and join a group, ensure you have skills, knowledge and possibly hold a leadership position in that group. I hope a light bulb just went on in your head.

A warning though, if you decide to join the group, get like minded individuals and possible the larger the better with a variety of fields to represent the group.

Juliah is HR Officer at Corporate Staffing Services. Reach Her at Juliah@staff-kenya.com Website. www.staff-kenya.com

Related posts:

5 Sure Ways To Be Assertive In Jobs Or Work Place.How To Rise From That Small Job To The Big One.

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