The old adage, desperate times call for desperate measures, still holds true. Placards, scams and manipulation are the evident reality that a Kenyan graduate is hit with immediately after graduation. Welcome to the reality of job seeking in Kenya.
According to a new study published in the Daily Nation in 2014, it takes a university graduate an average of five years to secure a job in Kenya.
The reality is worse, the study points, as many of those in employment are not engaged in the jobs for which they are qualified. “This significantly dims the prospects of a university trained individual in Kenya,” it adds.
Career Point Kenya spoke to Ellen, a graduate from a prestigious university in Kenya with second class honors in Commerce, who has unsuccessfully applied for job for 3 years. A ray of light dawned on her when she contacted corporate staffing services, a leading recruitment Agency in Kenya, after reading an article about the agency on LinkedIn.
“I have tarmacked for the last three years dropping applications both physically and by sending thousands of emails to open positions that I saw fit for me with no success. If lucky I would receive regret and other times no feedback at all.
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As I look back, I feel fatigued and bitter for the education system and the unwelcoming job market. The experience I got was Thoughts of using a placard were not new to me. Well, others had used those methods and were now happily employed. Why not me?
My name is Ellen. I am 28 year old with one year experience working as an accountant in a leading firm in Nairobi CBD. I thought having undertaken such a prestigious course in campus, my first job was a sure guarantee and by 30, I would be earning a desirable figure.
I learnt about corporate staffing services through an online article on LinkedIn that highlighted the several mistakes that job seekers make when applying for jobs. Since I was slowly related with the article, I decided to hesitantly contact them just to see if I had any chance with them because after all I had nothing to lose.
I remember requesting for CV writing services which was followed by career guidance on what to do and not do while applying for jobs, I was later taken through a thorough mock interview which rejuvenated my self-confidence and believe in the skills that I had acquired while in school.
I registered with their database and got frequent job updates in my industry. However, I was never quick to apply as they required more years of experience and remember I had none.
An entry level position popped up in my email and this is when I knew my chance to shine had come. True to my thoughts, I got called for the interview at corporate staffing services and a year down the line; I am a permanent employee.
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This whole experience taught me a bitter lesson as I recall the 3 years I wasted watering down my chances to get a job by not reaching out to a recruitment Agency. I would advise any jobseeker that is yet to find a job to just reach out to an expert in the industry like Corporate Staffing Services and get a clear guidance on the desirable skills and requirements that the Kenyan employee is looking for.”
Judith Moraa works for Corporate Staffing Services, a leading HR firm that offers recruitment and FREE job placement.
For more information, visit their website: www.corporatestaffing.co.ke
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