By Lisa Osiako

“Two years ago, I had to quit my job and move to a different town to take care of my ailing mother. She is now feeling much better. As such, I would like to get back into the job market. However, I have applied for several jobs now without much success. Not even an interview invite has come my way. Could it be because of the employment history gap on my CV? Do I stand a chance at getting a job as compared to those who have been in the job market most recently? Also, is it possible for me to cover the gap on my resume and at the end of the day make it look appealing to a potential employer?”

Your CV is usually the tool that makes you stand out to a potential employer. It is either the first or last impression you get to make to an employer. You may have left work for various reasons, you could have been fired, you could have decided to travel, or even to take care of your child.

Whatever your reason may be, your CV needs to give you confidence when you are ready to get back to the job market.

Here are a few tips you could use:

1. Be Honest

Whatever your reason for leaving work may be, honesty is the best road to take. You do not have to talk about each and every detail that led to the employment gap. Whatever you decide to say, ensure it is the truth as a lie will only make the gaps stand out further.

As tempting as it may be, do not extend your period of employment in a previous position. Your potential employer might just call your previous employer to verify your time there.

Being honest about your situation gives the employer a sense of your integrity and confidence—two characteristics every employer is looking for.

2. Include experience gained during the gap

In the Kenyan job market, jobs are hard to come by. Rather than blame your employment history as a hindrance to you finding your desired job, be proactive.

You can use this time to take a course, seek professional mentoring, or volunteer. Ultimately, this will set your CV apart as it will demonstrate to a potential employer that you are utilizing your time effectively.

These experiences count as work and can be included in your CV.

List them as you would list your other jobs – with job title, company name, job description, and dates of employment. If you took a class, you could list that in the education section of your CV.

Don’t just sit by the phone, waiting for it to ring. Make the most of your time out.

READ ALSO >>> Here Is How Your CV Should Look Like In 2019

3. Omit the month and indicate the year instead

When stating the dates of your employment on your CV, you can omit the month and only show the year. This is a perfectly acceptable format that will also help keep the gaps to a minimum.

Also, your cover letter can be used to elaborate on the gap, and to suggest why you think you are a perfect fit for the job title.

However, during a job interview you may be asked to elaborate on the dates, so ensure that you are prepared.

SEE ALSO >>> How To Write A CV: Tips For Kenyan Job Seekers

In conclusion,

It is not unheard of to have a gap in your employment history. It will only stand out if you do not explain it. All employers want to see is your enthusiasm for the job title, and your readiness to get back into the job market. Be confident and honest and you will have nothing to worry about.

All the best!

By Lisa Osiako

2018 is coming to an end, and with its end, comes 2019. We all have different thoughts on how the year has been. Some have had amazing years, while others have had not so good years.

Getting into 2019 however, there are some things we need to leave behind, and start on a clean slate come the New Year.

Here are a few:

1. Being conned for jobs

Many of us can attest to the fact that the rise of conmen in the country has risen. Innocent individuals are taken advantage of simply because they are desperate.

“I was once asked for money and without thinking, I simply sent it. I was asked for more, to ‘bribe’ this person’s boss, and make me get the job. I only realized it was a scam when I went to the offices and was told that said man did not work there. By then, he had switched off his phone and disappeared with all the money. I learned my lesson the hard way.”

Never pay to get a job. Counter-check and ensure that the interviews and jobs you are being told about are legit. A job process should be free.

2. Complaining

From time to time, we all find ourselves complaining about things and situations. It could be that you lost your job and nothing is forthcoming, or you have attended many interviews without getting a job offer. The good news is that you are alive to see another day. Leave behind complaining and this will put you in a good place ready for 2019.

3. Comparing yourself to others

Social media has made us want to live lives we see others having. It has trapped us in a place where we are constantly comparing ourselves to others. This has led to a lot of insecurity and the feeling of inadequacy as we all want to be where the other person is.

Everyone has their path, and in due time, they will bud. So let’s remain focused on our goals and follow our path. When we turn our attention to what we want, we cultivate productive beliefs and thought patterns.

4. Unhappy circumstances

Are you stuck at a job you do not like or scared of failure and thus choose to remain in your current situation? Whatever is contributing to your suffering, leave it all behind in 2018. Take risks if you have to, and find your happiness.

5. Spending Money Unnecessarily

With the festivities comes a lot of spending among individuals. Come January, many of us are left broke and asking for loans to repay other loans. This is a cycle we need to get rid of.

Save up all you can, instead of spending money you had not budgeted for. The saving spirit is one that needs to be inculcated more and more into our way of life. In this, we will get to mid-2019 having saved enough. In the end, it will also prevent you from taking loans that are unnecessary, to sustain you. So make 2019 your year of spending less, and saving more.

I have been working for a manufacturing company in Nairobi as a procurement officer for the last two years. Last week, however, my boss announced that starting January the company will be conducting lifestyle audits on all its employees.

Is this legal and I’m I compelled to give my boss access to my bank details and details on my side hustle?

I don’t want the fact that I have a business to hurt my chances of retaining the job.

In the last few months, lifestyle audits have become a sort of trend, especially in the public sector because of the rampant increase in corruption. This has been welcomed by many Kenyans and some private companies are also looking to implement the same.

First, it is not legal for employees in private firms to be subjected to lifestyle audits unless the company provides a good reason as to why they want to implement one such as in cases of fraud or theft of company money.

However, there are circumstances in which it is completely okay for the employer to ask for an audit on its employees.

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In cases of fraud or misuse of company resources

When an organization is trying to curb misuse of company property or theft, they are legally within their right to conduct lifestyle audits on its employees.

For example, as procurement official if the suppliers complain about the process of choosing suppliers, the company can decide to investigate the claim by looking at your finances to see if you might be benefiting from the tenders you give.

If it is part of the company policy

Some organizations conduct lifestyle audits on employees as part of the company policy. In such an instance, you have no option but to agree to them or refuse the job offer.

The same applies to employees already working in the company, if it is introduced as accompany policy then you have to comply or risk losing your job.

You can only lose your job if;

Your business is a conflict of interest

For example, if you are working at Bata and your side hustle is a shoe store. In such a case the employer will feel like you could be working to sabotage the company while you build your own.

You are a non-performer

If you have not been performing well at your job yet the business you have is thriving, the employer might assume that you are spending all your time and effort on building your business as opposed to doing your job.

Finally,

All in all, if you have not been stealing from the company and don’t have anything to hide then the audit will not have an impact on your job.

If you have nothing to hide, then you should not really be worried, having a side hustle is not grounds for termination; your boss cannot fire you without a good reason.

By Lisa Osiako

“I recently lost my job, and I am looking for one now. I have seen people posting on social media and job recruitment agencies that they are looking for a job. I am not sure what approach to take so as to notify my network that I am job searching. Is using social media a good idea? How do I do that without my contacts feeling like they are doing me a favor?”

It is okay to let people know that you are looking for a job, and what exactly you are looking for in the job. In many cases, it is your networks that will in one way or the other help you. You never really know who in your network may know about an opening that is a perfect match for you. Also your chances of being considered for a job increase when you have someone connected to the company or job. Make the best out of your connections, not leaving behind your social media networks.

SEE ALSO >>> 7 Commandments Of Networking You Didn’t Know You Are Breaking

How then do you go about letting your network know that you are looking for a job, without them thinking it is a favor?

1. Send out e-mails

You can decide either to send out mass-emails or individual e-mails, so long as at the end of the day, you get it done. Individual e-mails are better at putting the message across, simply because individuals are more inclined to help when they feel like you are reaching out to them. In this, there is a feeling of responsibility attached to that individual within your network.

In the e-mail, make sure you explain that you are looking for a specific type of job, and then explain to them what you would want them to do. Be specific and direct. Not only ask them to let you know if they hear about something, but also ask them to think about whether they know anyone who might be helpful for you to talk to. Lastly, attach your resume.

2. Use social media networks

Here, I am not talking about posting that you are looking for a job. This has to be done in a subtle yet more precise way. Show your skills and what you are good at by including it into your bio. Also, include where you previously worked.

If you are not on LinkedIn, this is the best time to join so as to set yourself up for the coming year. When recruiters are looking for someone to fill a role, they search LinkedIn for keywords that indicate someone is looking for a job. Your tagline on LinkedIn is therefore what will either make you visible or invisible to a recruiter.

Some of the keywords you can use include: “Seeking opportunities, looking for a new role etc.” Also, include your industry and the fact that you are searching for a new job. Similarly, you can also use your Twitter bio to become more visible.

3. Directly speak to them

If you have someone specific in mind that would be very helpful in your job search, find some time and speak to them directly. Here, you can find out if their company is hiring. Take your outreach a notch higher by seeing if they know other people who might know something. This helps you in networking even more as you are not tapping into just one network, but many more.

RELATED ARTICLE >>> How To Use Networking To Find A Job In Kenya

In conclusion,

There is no shame in asking your network to help you find a job. Many people are willing to help if they can. Use your networks, and you will also build more networks in the process. Good luck in your Job Search!

By Ruoro Kairu

“Hi. My name is John. I’m not sure if I want to be working here in 2019. I really do not like my job, I look forward to leaving work and be anywhere else. And each morning, I get anxious about the fact that I have to go to work. Don’t get me wrong, I work in a decent place, but I just don’t think it’s for me. Should I quit and look for something I like, or should I hang in there since getting a job nowadays is pure agony?”

This message was recently sent to our inbox and I have been pondering on the best way to respond.

Dear John,

Being in a workplace you don’t enjoy can be a dreadful thing. Most of your active time is spent at work, so the bare minimum should be you tolerating your workplace.

Being in the wrong career is not an uncommon practice. According to Africa Check and various other statistic firms, there are seven million unemployed people in Kenya as of 2017. Out of this figure, 1.4 million have been actively looking for jobs. With such statistics in mind, it is only feasible to jump on the first opportunity you get.

However, when you are in the wrong career, there’s a tipping point where almost everything at work won’t make any sense.

Before proceeding, let me try to differentiate a job from a career. A job is basically an activity you do to earn money, it necessarily does not have to impact your working life or future. A career, on the other hand, is a series of twined opportunities that provide experience and fuel the direction your professional future takes.

I shall attempt to look at some of the crosscut signs that you are in a wrong career, and then segue into how you can remedy this.

1. You work hard, but the fruits of your labor don’t excite you

I have met people who are successful in their careers, but when you dig deeper, they are not excited by their achievements.

When you work hard for something, it should feel nice to see it bear fruits. If you’re disinterested when you surpass the targets that have been set, you could be in the wrong career.

When you’re on the right career track, you will enjoy every milestone you achieve. Moreover, you will set higher goals and look forward to achieving them.

2. You don’t feel like your strengths are utilized

When you are at work, you should utilize your key strengths. If you have great interpersonal skills, for instance, you should use most of your time interacting with clients or other workers. For such a person, being given technical tasks might not be the best use of their skills.

When you utilize your skills at work, you get to advance and hone them. This advances your experience and capabilities. Consequently, when you utilize your skills, you are more likely to advance in your career.

If your skills are not engaged at your workplace, they will slowly dim to be vestigial.

However, it is worthwhile to note we should always encourage being challenged at the workplace. When we are faced with new trials, they bring out new and possibly hidden strengths that we might not know we had and could even lead to the growth of new skills.

3. The industry ethics oppose your personal ones

Ethics are what guide us through our lives. They are different for everyone as every person has what they uphold and what they are appalled by.

If the ethics of your workplace or industry are against those of your own, you will have a hard time giving it your very best.

Quick Read >>> 4 Simple Telltale Signs To help You Spot Bad Career Advice

It is important to be in a career that helps you grow, and challenges you to achieve higher dreams. If you’re at a point where you feel you’re in the wrong career, you could use a career coach. A career coach will walk with you, help you in the areas you feel stuck, and guide you along the right career path for you. Email us today to see how we can help you get on the right career path.

By Lisa Osiako

“I had been eyeing a promotion for the longest time. Ever since I got into this company five years prior, I knew I was now ready to advance in my career. Three trials later, I was still at the same place in my career, despite being overly confident that I stood a chance at securing the promotions that were open. Those who had worked in the company for a shorter time came and within two years of them joining the company, they would be promoted while I was left out of it all.

It became frustrating as I did not know what the problem was. Was it me or were my bosses just trying to frustrate me through this whole process?”

These are the words echoed by many individuals who despite feeling they are ready for a promotion, they do not get it.

We take a look at some of the issues that many be the reason behind you missing out on that promotion, and how to counter them:

RELATED ARTICLE >>> How I Landed A Promotion Four Months Into A New Job

1. You do not take initiative

If you are simply the employee who shows up to work and does the bare minimum, you most likely will go unnoticed to your employer.

Stand out by being an employee who gets things done will enable your boss see how hardworking you are. If you have some free time you could also ask for more projects and assignments. It will demonstrate your high commitment to the job. Also, if you help out your colleagues, it will show just how much of a team player you actually are.

The more you show your willingness (first) and then the results (second) to take responsibility in your organization, the more visible you become. Hiding in the herd will not get you promoted.

2. You Miss Work

There are days we all feel like we do not want to leave home for work. It could soon get into a habit that will see you miss work more and more times.

An employer has to see how capable you are of handling potential advancement in your career. If you are one to miss work on a regular basis, it will portray you in bad light and obviously take away any chances of a promotion that you previously had. To stay in good books therefore, ensure you take your work seriously and show up when required to. You can also offer to show up when you are not required to, just to show your commitment to your work and the organization as a whole.

3. You are too comfortable

Despite seeking a promotion, you may be very comfortable with where you are at, education wise. Always seek to better yourself more and more.

As a promotion comes with a lot of responsibility, many times requires more knowledge is required. As such, before you ask for that promotion, ensure that you have gotten yourself started on a higher diploma course, another degree course, or that master’s degree. Your eagerness to learn will sell you out as someone who is serious with advancing not only in your career, but in life in general.

SEE ALSO >>> What To Consider When You Are Eyeing A Job Promotion

In the end,

You are the one who is in charge of how high you go. A promotion comes with better pay and perks, among other advantaged. However, with it comes more responsibility too. Work on using the above tips and before you know it, you will get that promotion you have always dreamed of having. It is always the best way to advance in your career without having to change jobs. It will also look good on your CV!

Would you say 2018 has been a successful year for your career?

Maybe you have been putting in the hours, meeting your targets and following the employee handbook to the letter. Still, as the year draws to a close, your efforts seem wasted because you didn’t get the promotion you were hoping and your performance review results were just average. If this sounds like you, it is important to realize there are things you can do as an employee that will give you the kind of results you are looking for.

Over the years, as an entrepreneur, I have come to identify a few characteristics that my most valuable employees share.

1. They Think Like Managers

When you think of yourself as your own boss, you begin to take charge of your career in a powerful way. Your goals become more defined and you find a way to plug into the company’s goals so your contribution is noticeable. My best employees have self-drive, they show initiative and they like to put themselves in my shoes, coming up with solutions for my most pressing business problems.

2. They Look For Opportunities To Shine

Over and above your job description, it is important to position yourself in roles that give you a chance to showcase your skills. For example, one employee I had would volunteer to send out an in-house newsletter, updating colleagues on the latest news and sharing motivational resources. He was an entry-level employee, but he went the extra mile and soon his talents were noticed and he was promoted. Another employee volunteered to take the lead on a project whose leader was taken ill.

Read the full article here…

Getting a job at Red Cross Kenya is a big dream for most people. This is mainly because they offer a work-life balance, pay well and give amazing benefits.

However, getting a job there is not an easy thing. I spoke to Brenda who managed to get a project assistant position at Red Cross and this is what she had to say about how they managed to land a job there.

How did you start working at Red Cross?

I had been a member of Red Cross throughout University so when I was about to graduate I decided to volunteer at the organization.

I studied Psychology so I knew I wanted to work for an NGO. The first thing I did was find out what they needed in order for someone to become a volunteer.

They wanted a CV and certificates but in my case, since I hadn’t graduated yet, my transcripts.

So I just dropped them at the office in Kisumu and hoped for the best.

Well for the volunteer post there was no interview really, what happened was after dropping my application I had to wait for around two to three months before I heard back from them.

They send a message to the people they had selected for the volunteer posts. I was lucky enough to pick which area I wanted to be in, so I ended up working with women living with HIV in the area.

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Was there any payment?

No as a volunteer you are not really entitled to any payment but if you go to the field then you are given a sort of allowance.

So how did you get the project assistant job?

I was a volunteer for about five months and then I saw they had advertised the position and I applied.

I think I got the job not only because I was already a volunteer at the organization but because I was also working on the same project.

That means I had knowledge and experience doing what they wanted the person to do. If I didn’t have the volunteering experience I don’t think I would have gotten the job.

What was the interview process like?

There were two interviews, the first one turned out to be a panel interview and a week later I attended the second one which had only two people.

This was very scary considering the candidates were a bit older than me and I had only 5 months experience.

How long did it take before you heard back from them?

It took around two weeks to get feedback.

What exactly did your job entail?

The job was basically similar to what I did as a volunteer which was, counseling women living with HIV around Kisumu.

What was the salary range for the position?

The position at the time was paying 45-70K.

There were allowances given on top of the salary, to cover transport and lunch costs.

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What is your advice for job seekers out there aspiring to join Kenya Red Cross?

It would have been very difficult for me to get the job if I was not already a volunteer at Red Cross. So if you want to work for a certain NGO, you should start by getting a volunteer position.

You also need to be patient because it took months for me to get the volunteer position but I did not give up.

Remember that you are competing with people who are just as qualified as you are and because you don’t have a lot of experience you should ensure your CV and Cover Letter show you are a good candidate.

In his 24 years of ruling the country, he was a man everyone revered and feared. Nobody wanted to cross his path for fear of facing the music. However, just like every coin, he too had his other side. There is much more to this man than what we knew.

At 94, Kenya’s second president Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi has for a long time been believed to be living healthy by having vegetables from his vast Kabarak farm as his meal. However, sources reveal that is not the case. In real sense, he is a ‘carnivore’, slaughtering a sheep every day for his meal. One would therefore wonder how at his age, he appears to be so strong. Perhaps his longevity can be attributed to genetics, and not food. His family is after all known for longevity.

Diet aside,  Lee Njiru  shares some of the valuable lessons he got from his boss, Moi:

Laughter is the best medicine

He laughed very often, even in public. Whenever comedians such as the late Ojwang came to perform at State House, he laughed heartily.

And then there were also presidents who used to make Moi laugh. One time we went for a State visit to Cyprus, whose President, Glafcos Clerides, was over 80 years old at the time.

During the State dinner, he made a few jokes which made Moi laugh — although he was slightly embarrassed, but all the same he laughed.

Listen to people’s advice

There was a man called Amos Kandie. He wanted to be MP for Baringo Central, challenging Moi for the seat.

The international press was there on the eve of presenting nomination papers, not to cover the presentations, but the expected manhandling of Kandie for challenging Mzee.

Because I knew what was happening, I went to Mzee’s presidential suite. I stood at the door, waiting for him to wake up. “What is it?” he asked me when he finally opened the door to head for breakfast.

“Your Excellency, give me one minute.” “What?”

“Just one minute Mzee. Last night I threw a party for a battery of international journalists. They are here, but they have actually not come to cover you presenting the papers, they have come to cover your security people beating up, molesting and tearing Kandie to pieces … that is the news they want,” I told him, and then continued.

“Mzee, don’t let the security people spoil your name. And when you present your papers, just greet him. You will frustrate all these journalists.”

“OK, leave it to me,” he responded. At breakfast he pretended we had not met. “Can somebody call the OCPD for me?” he asked. “Also, call the DC here. And where is my security chief?”

When they came, he told them not to rough up Kandie. “Don’t touch him. If anybody touches him, I will sack him. I want him to be given VIP security. Do you understand?” “Yes Sir,” they all responded.

Mzee went and presented his papers, and as he was coming out, he met Kandie. “If you have done something commendable for Baringo people, they will elect you,” he told Kandie. “But if you have not done anything, I am sorry, you will not get any votes.”

That man, he got … I don’t think he got even 1,000 votes, but Mzee got over 35,000. So sometimes we intervene to save situations, because he did not know what was being planned.

Let your guard down sometimes

One time, while visiting the late GG Kariuki at his home, one of Moi’s jacket buttons fell off. The entire presidential team had guns of all types, including rifles and grenades, but we did not have a thread and a needle.

GG Kariuki’s daughter Nyakinyua came to the rescue but she was full of fear. How do you touch the president’s jacket, you can get shot!

So Mzee asked: “Nyakinyua, wewe uko na sindano? Do you have a thread?” She said yes. “Can you fix it for me?”

Mzee removed the jacket and handed it over to the lady. She went into one of her rooms and fixed the button. We were overwhelmed and ashamed because we had everything, but we could not fix a button!

Lee Njiru remains indebted to the man who has protected him. For that he is forever grateful.

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Source: The Daily Nation