Kenyan graduates have continued to receive heavy criticism from
the corporate world despite efforts by Universities to match their skills with
that of the market needs. This has not made things easier for thousands of
graduates whose applications continues to be rejected by their dream employers.
The end result is a population of educated yet frustrated young people full of
bitterness.
As the number of universities
continue to grow in Kenya without due consideration on the plight of thousands
of frustrated graduates, the following tips can help students to avoid
frustrations experienced by the graduates’ hours after their graduations.
1.Get an internship while still
in Campus
Hustling for a job without experience is one of the biggest
mistakes graduates make. Most companies prefer employees with a little experience
in their areas of specialization. Kenyan market have become very competitive and
companies have set aside little funds to train graduates. This leaves space for
limited number of graduates to be absorbed into the available vacancies with
thousands being locked out. On the contrary, little experience will make you
stand out from the crowd and it will make it easier for a company to pick you
to reduce the cost of training.
2.Do not wait for jobs to be
advertised
The cost of advertisement have reached roof top and most
companies would rather do internal job advertisement than external ones. The
headache of handling bulky applications, time and manpower cannot be
overemphasized. Most companies have therefore resorted to cost cutting measures
in recruiting. One of the most notable ones is the sharing of Human Resource
emails on their websites for interested candidates to apply for future
considerations. This is the same database that companies refers to incase of a
vacant position. Take your time to visit your dream employers company’s website
and leave your application. In case it is an email, drop your CV without
attaching any documents unless instructed to do so. Ensure your subject line
remain: APPLICATION FOR INTERNSHIP
as it is easier for the HR personnel to single you out.
3.Begin an early search. As early as beginning of fourth year.
Do not be in the bandwagon of those students who wait after
graduation to begin job search. After graduation, companies look for experience
and there is so much expectations from employers. There is also the category of
students who begin to work hard in their final year. The caliber of these
students waste a lot time in their 1st, 2nd and 3rd
years hoping to recover the time lost in the final year. With the grading
system in most campuses, the final year’s grades have very minimal effect on the
class.
GPA is built in 1st, and 2nd years of
your college life. Use the 3rd Year to get internship and fourth
year to begin forming Networks and listing names of your dream companies in
readiness to begin sending your updated CV.
4.Have an update CV
Have your updated CV as early as Second year. Look around
the campus or college premises for the best formats that will attract the
attention of your employer. It is easier to get different format of CV template
while still in campus as opposed to after you have left campus. It is also
cheaper to find friends who will assist you come up with the best wordings for
your CV while still in campus. You can seek help from career office to help you
make a good CV. Ensure you CV is 3 paged with clear outlines of your experience,
grades and 3 referees. Exclude names of your former primary and High school
teachers and lecturers who rarely visit their emails and pick phone calls.
5.Let payment be the last thing in your mind while applying for
internship
Most of students have turned down internships from various companies
because of lack of remunerations. In fact, some have spoilt their chances of
joining their dream companies because they are so obsessed with money and they don’t
hide it during their interview session. Once employer notices that you are
interested in payment not experience, they will not consider you for a position
even if they were to pay you. Put aside you pride and grades and go for experience
rather than payment. Humility is key.
Writer is the
managing editor writers Guild Kenya and Assistant Business Analyst at Jamii
Bora Bank.
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