Job Seeker With a Purpose - Some Insights

Jobs can only be as available as the industry demands. The industry may not be knowledgeable about its solutions and therefore some industry needs may not be reflected by the design of jobs being advertised. Many employers are still stuck with empirical job descriptions that do not embrace the required levels of competitiveness. It takes the job seeker to develop ability to challenge the market (not jobs) by growing their command of the market and developing strategies for pursuing such identified opportunities.

There are three levels of job seekers.

Level One – Elementary

They have no connection with the industry needs. All they know is that they have some training and skills that (they heard) the market requires. They will only respond to advertised jobs that correspond to titles that they are familiar with. Many times they will not read the job descriptions. When they come across opportunities, they will always wait to be led and unless someone else does something creative, they do not have a chance to identify new scopes. They are there to be directed and in their opinions, careers grow by the duration one takes on a job rather than what they do in such jobs. They are likely to pursue advanced training not on the basis of tangible skills that they want to acquire but on the perception they want the market to have on them or the potential material benefits that they stand to accrue on that basis.

Level Two – Intermediate

They have no connection with the industry needs beyond the jobs that they are suitable for. They are keen on job descriptions and the type of companies they want to work for – most often they prefer high end employers. They are clear of what it takes to get the job and deliver on the same. They are likely not to be creative beyond the circumstances of their current employers. They apply for advertised jobs or opportunities that are shared through the grape vine.

Level Three – High End

They have a good command of the market beyond the employers that they have worked for. They also have a good command of their career directions. They know what they are capable of, what they need to work on and the skills that the market requires both in the short and long term. They are able to develop position concepts that can lead to the creation of jobs that do not exist. They do not fear losing jobs – in fact they would rather have a job whose purpose they can identify with rather than one that they do not appreciate. They solve market challenges through their careers. They are choosy and have no problem being paid the right salary – they are very compelling. They may not necessarily be highly knowledgeable but they are serious thought leaders with structured problem solving abilities.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

careerpitch@gmail.com

Presentability and Other Risks in a Resume and Cover Letter

Its is common that many job seekers look forward to prospect employers reading through their CVs to establish what their true potentials are. The risk that many often do is to assume that none of the targeted attributes can be picked from the resume. Some of the very judgments that can come from perusing through ones CV without even reading the content are issues to do with language prowess, personality, sense of style, personal organization and resource management orientation. Below are some of the common aspects of judgment that a prospect employer may have.

§ The choice of fonts may distinguish between the extent of formality or otherwise. Some fonts are better reserved for entertainment posters. The same would apply to the choice of bullet types

§The setting of your document and particularly the consistency of your spacing denting or even the variation in fonts may betray ones self proclaimed proficiency in computers. Worse than this, it may as well show such aspects like lack of organization and consistency. This may be very risky for such positions like Executive Assistant or Secretary to the Managing Director

§Whereas many employers are keen to limit the number of pages in a CV, some candidates may stay within such limits but the utilization of space is questionable. The most common type of utilization is that in which the main contents are indented towards the extreme right side leaving a half a page for only headers and reference to dates. This may manifest itself as a potential lack of resource optimization skills or attributes

§That recruiters are people with biases is not questionable. Some employers may ask for photos for applicants while other may not. A photo may attract a bias depending on the viewer’s inclinations. Hair styles, facial expressions or even personal grooming may attract the risk of subconscious bias.

With a CV or cover letter, first impressions really matter. Limit your risks and take every opportunity to impress the reader from the outward presentation.

careerpitch@gmail.com

A WINNING INTERVIEW MINDSET – MANAGERIAL LEVEL

Imagine having been put through a sequence of interviews towards getting into a leadership role in an organization. Sometimes one fails even to project what the next meeting with the Director is all about. All questions have been asked and there is nothing left to your imagination.

Sometimes some interviews are not intended to gauge what you can do but rather the mindset that you adopt in doing whatever you choose to do. Higher level positions are for thinkers, facilitators and analysts who doe not shy from giving way to opportunities and ideas that have not been envisaged. It is not easy to define the mindset of a departmental head or a CEO, but in terms of interviews one should project a personality that;

• Demonstrates focus on the strategic goals of an organization
• Cherishes delivering results through people as a leader, a facilitator or coordinator
• Who is consultative and empowers their supervisees and does not feel shy to have an alternative idea winning the day
• Cherishes a structured though process and does not feel embarrassed exposing their thought process in addressing an issue. Straight answers given in interview questions where there are variables to consider may go against this mindset. This is why answering questions by stating assumptions may sell at this level
• Demonstrates a balance between their areas of specialization and alternative wholesome management perspective
• Sees controversies, conflicts and disputes as realistic and reasonable challenges in any pursuit of an objective
• Does not become vulnerable to emotions, biases and opinions
• Questions issues from first principles and objectively puts trust on market best practice
• Demonstrates awareness of the current state of events and can project possible future developments.

These are aspects that may be picked out from the tone of speech or even answers related to case studies. They are aspects that once polished, a candidate does not need to overly prepare for the interview – instead, an interview becomes just an enjoyable sesson or perhaps even a chat.

Can your mindset, as evident from your presentation, win you a job – especially at a stage when all technical interview questions have been exhausted?

Kenyans 4 Kenya

Many Kenyans and Africans in the horn of Africa are facing severe famine due to drought. They need special food at the moment and not just the normal food we take in ordinary time. That is they need unimix and other nutrient rich clinically prepared food. You can be part of the solution by sending money through M-PESA PayBill number 111111 or to KCB Account Number 1133333338


Act now and chase the fox later. Many Kenyans and friends of Kenya are already doing it follow it all in twitter @kenyans4kenya

Great Cast no Story

It has been long since I last watched Heartstrings Ensemble on stage. I stopped being an ardent fan when their bedroom farces became repetitive and predictable. The same storyline in which cheating spouses end up meeting  at the end was becoming a drag to me. I was absent for quite a while and when I last tried again, I found they had gotten quite a following and that time I missed a seat. All the shows that weekend were sold out both matinée and evening shows.

However one thing the directors are HE are good at is casting. They get some of the biggest talents in the city. This week they are running Churchil (Dan Ndambuki) concept 'play' called men are from Kenya women are from pluto'. The tittle is juicy and the Churchill brand sold this one so well that they had to do a rerun. However if you are a thespian or if you love the real theater then 'Men are from Kenya ... ' thing is a big waste of your valuable time. The man has cobbled up a few scenarios based largely on stand up comedy about Kenyans and their mannerisms. disjointed scenes with forced jokes about ocampo six, Sammy wanjiru , fuel shortage and anything imaginable in between. Larry Assego does himself a disservice talking funny internet collectibles as a break against darkness as the acts change. Just spitting all manner of nasty insults we only read in pun sites.

Bottom line its not a story, its not drama and there is nothing talking about why men are from Kenya and women are from Pluto. Its nothing you can define really and it took more than 2 hours. At the end I was more tired than entertained. But the cast are simply perfect putting their best into this. It just shows how hungry and full of talent Kenyan youth are for real shows. And this week I already have an invite to culture spills production in luo. I can imagine another empty script for they are still stuck with the predictable bedroom farces only that in luo they sound funnier and more novel. maybe just a few more before they become a drag too.

Google Chromebooks

This cloud based pc will hit the industry hard like a hammer in my view.

Michael Shikuku

Michael Shikuku is a young man of 16 years. He sat his KCPE last year and came tops at Uringi Primary School. Quite quick in Mathematics, English and Business studies, he has again topped his class at St. Mary's school Yala during  at the end of the first term examinations. St. Mary's School Yala is one of THE schools in Siaya county , in Nyanza region and indeed in the country. Its a school full of history  and promise. I remember that as a young man, I had dreamed of going through this school but had to settle for KB (dalawa) due to tough competition. It is therefore easy to understand why Shikuku's joy was great when he got the calling letter from the great school. One problem existed though, Shikuku had lost his dad when he was quite young and his mother, a frail looking, peasant with no formal education having been left with 4 children to bring up has reached the end of her tether. I met Shikuku last February when I had gone visiting in the village. And I met him due to his sheer determination to better his situation. He literaly smoked me out hoping and believing I could bail him out. The young man doesn't talk much but what he told me melted my heart.

First some background; Well Shikukus mother's only economic activity is crafting payrus reed mats. It a back breaking job that involves going to the nearby Raombo swamp, cutting down semi mature papyrus and spreading them to dry. You then make small ropes using sisal fibers and use the sisal fibre to 'saw' together the mats. The swamp itself is a very dangerous place since many African pythons live there as well as leopards which target the monkeys in the bushes around it. Each mat which takes about a day to finish would go for about 50 shillings.

So what melted my heart was that Shikuku's fees was about 34000, he was also required to carry with him 2 towels, a spoon, eating knife, a mattress, pair of shoes, pair of sports shoes, metal box, dictionary,scientific  calculator (kids these days carry those to school! no more log tables) etc. not to mention a full school uniform which was to be bought in pairs for everything. the cost came to just over 10K shillings before you factor in pocket money. Now the young Shikuku had been accompanying his mum to the swamp and working his heart out and between the time he got his results and the time he was being called to join form one he had raised enough money to buy all those things required by the school. All he now needed was 34K for his first year in his dream school. That's where the A student wanted me to come in. A number of people often ask for support but I must say very few if any normally has a proposition as compelling as Shikuku's and so even though I was neither prepared nor ready I was won over. Now the hard part. Will I be able to sustain it for the next four years now that the fees keeps on going up? The Principal has already increased the second terms fees by 7000!

Marketing and Selling your Skills.

Last year I read a review about the brands that fill up our media year in year out. It emerged that they were some of the most recognised brands eg Safaricom, Raila Odinga, Mwai Kibaki, EABL, OMO, Coke etc. You would wonder why those very well recognized and loved brands would still care to spend so much money on advertising and product placement. You would ask why, if they were that good would they bother to spend so much. Well for the simple fact that competition is high and the field for selection is very wide. So it gets down to the basic question. If you all offer the same thing in terms of content, why should I choose you and not the other? The basics of human intelligence just goes down to presentation beauty, novelty, package etc. We do this with most other things. We even dress to kill in order to be ahead in the dating game, we apply make up and lotions etc. 

What of the resume. For most professionals, the resume is often a quickly done just before the application. Sometimes its the same resume spammed to thousands of employers. And you cant blame them really. Most times they are professionals in their own fields, say IT, engineering, HR, Finance, name it but they are not resume writers. They are not skills or human resources marketers. No wonder no call ever comes. But not with everyone. Career Pitch (careerpitch@gmail.com ) headed by Mr. Charles Adhola has started a very targeted marketing and product placement specifically targeting professional skills. The company works closely with the professional and creates a customized CV and cover letter directly and accurately targeted at the exact job. 

In fact they go further and try to bring out the whole person, market both the obvious and the hidden attributes. What the company would need now and what they would benefit from and which the professionals personality and traning provides.

The whole thing actually includes Resume Review and Cover Letter Designs; Interview Drills/Preparations; Career Coaching; and design of relevant Career documents (application for salary review, promotions, conflict arbitration etc). Mr. Adhola even has  two columns on Daily Nation - Get It Right on DN2 on Monday and Ask Charles on Friday.

In my view its just what the present busy and result focused professional needs for his career advancement. We seek professional help for such simple stuff as changing oil in a car, how much more do we need an expert to change careers and accelerate growth?!

Great Thoughts on Marriage

Recently when I 'stood' as best man for my long time friend in his wedding, I 'heard' something strikingly new about marriage. The priest preparing the couple for this age old life long commitment was using some really old statements but his way of expressing them and his explanation of those very plain words got me thinking and gave me an insight that I have not had all these many years of my existence. He indicated that when two people get married, they 'empty' themselves into each other and that is why no third person can come in since the two persons have already emptied or fused into each other. Tonight, while scouring the web for live stream on the most talked about wedding, I stumbled on these thoughts of The Arch Bishop of Canterbury on the institution of marriage of course based on William and Kate and I have been richly blessed by them. His thought and regard of marriage commitment as an aspect and sign of generosity is both novel and spot on at a time when the world is so obsessed with individualism.

Stop sending girls to Europe to be sexually used and abused

I read this from my friend Stephen Ogongos website. I feel we all need to be aware of this. I wonder whether the au pair thing also works this way

Stop sending girls to Europe to be sexually used and abused

Tumechukiwa!

Two days ago a young girl of about 18 confronted me during our market visit in Dar es Salaam and asked me why we Kenyans kill each other. She could not understand why 'mandugu wanaweza kugeukiana na kuuana' (that brothers could turn against each other and kill one another. She went on to say that in Tz, the worst their leaders did was to squander and steal but that they would never do such a thing as kill another Tzdian. She continued to say that for that we Kenyans 'wamechukiwa kweli humu Tanzania...' (we are despised and loathed!) The young girl was not letting me answer or get away, she told me that if she were born  Kenyan she would never let anyone know she was a Kenyan. She would die of shame and self pity! And she could be right, we were shocked to discover that to visit any tourist site, the locals insisted on treating us like absolute foreigners while we could see clearly that other nationalities like Congolese and even Rwandese were being treated as locals. So we would pay like the Europeans or Asians e in the tours. Quite a lesson for me there.

anyway let me share with you this consoling video posted by my fb pal Ogongo after such a depressing talking to!

More Bragging rights!

Remember my post sometime ago about bright girls from challenged back ground? well the first such girl who we sponsored cleared her KCSE last year at Moi Girls Eldoret and the maiden scored a fantastic A plain! Am more than excited and this girl has given to us the best 'thank you' anyone can ever give in these circumstances. A plain was a great achievement. And now the next thing we are looking for opportunities for sponsorship in top universities both at home and abroad. Would you like to be part of this success and assist us in getting her admission to these Ivy league universities?

Are you the Next Kenyan?

A number of Kenyans have been shocking me and living outside of expectations of all and sundry. Baffling both friend as foe as our media puts it. Justice Waki really did shock me with what he did bearing in mind that he was a political appointee after all. Then came one Dr. PLO Lumumba, then Dr. Nyachae of CIC however the one man who keeps on insisting on working for the nation amid pressure , influence and threats and who keeps on baffling me is this Hon Marende!

Fun of History

When I was younger, or should I say young and in school I never like History as a subject of education. Or precisely I hated History. I never did well in it and I never enjoyed it. Our teachers for History were however quite good people very loving and supportive but the subject was just boring! I enjoyed working with figures, numbers and chemicals more. However these days I find myself being continuously intrigued by history especially of development, leadership, the church and so on. May be two great writers and thinkers have had something to do with this change of mind. After reading Leo Tolstoy's war and Peace sometimes in the nineties, Ken Follets Eye of the needle and Dangerous Fortune only made it better. Now I have just finished his epic Pillars of the Earth and I find myself even more interested in the earlier peoples lives.

However what this novel showed me more than anything else is the similarity of the European world in those days to what we observe these days in most parts of Africa. It seemed to answer my questions about lawlessness, respect, worship and generally peoples attitude towards hard work. All these short cuts tried out by most people in our land, the corruption, violence and rape all have a meaning and a reason. In fact recently during my visits to Europe, I was more drawn to historical sights such as the castles, the Kolner Dom (the most striking construction yet that I have seen), city of Trier, etc.

Study of history is a sweet thing.  Maybe being examined in it is not since everyone of us picks a different thing from reading history.

Unacceptable!

I have no idea what this cop did but this is unacceptable to me whichever way I look at it. no one should beat a cop this way!

New Form 1 Selection

The businessmen are crying foul! The Minister Ongeri has just thrown a spanner to the works and disrupted their business plan by doing one simple thing: Changing the manner in which form 1 selection is done at least for National schools. The business of private schools is based on just one thing , national school enrollment. remove that from he equation and private schools become irrelevant. 

Am sure the good minister knows that the better solution would have been to increase the number of chances in these top institutions. eg like it was suggested that every constituency puts up 2 centers of excellence. But the prof is cleverer than that. He still wants more top schools but not at the govts expense. By blocking most of these 'rich' kids from the national schools, parents will be forced to opt for top private schools. meaning more and better private high schools will have to be set up. Which in my view is good for business. 

I think if Prof. Ongeris method is adopted, national schools will become less attractive as better equipped private high schools with better delivery will come up. Just like it has happened with early childhood education. Almost all parents take their kids to private schools at this level and they pay quite a tidy sum. Kids in some of those schools start learning primary school material way early and by the time they join class one they are miles ahead. the same may just happen with high schools. 

In my opinion the ministers move is good and should be adopted. 

My Blackberry is not Working - Hilarious

Happy New Year!

This year looks optimistic. Like the sages say siku njema huonekana asubuhi. This one sure does look promising. I hope no funny politician will rush in to spoil the party now that they are being hunted in every corner. I sure do hope that this once, Kenyans will not be drugged into ethnicity to defend thugs who lie to them that their ways benefit the whole tribe.

And I pray that Mr. Gbagbo really does get thrown out. It will be the best new years gift to Africa. Africa will have shown itself that bad leaders and losers must be shown the door. It will prove to us that no one is invincible. I also hope that the referendum in Sudan succeeds in creating a new Nation of the Southern Sudan people (cant they get a new name?) It will show the guys in the north that racial discrimination like annihilation is a very archaic practice and never works.

This is the year I hope old football rivalry between the revamped Ingwe and Gor Mahia will come a head. Ingwe should stop those leadership wrangles and concentrate on the pitch to get even more fans to the stadia. we want the passion, the fire the energy that exists when they play arch-rivals Gor. Already Sofapaka boss is making me real proud. I was happy when I heard him say he doesn't want excuses. The coaches ask for resources and good pay for players. He gives it so why are there no results! The non-performer was fired. Way to go Mr. President. I also hope finally those busy bodies of KFF will be defeated in the polls and no corrupt FIFA officials will conspire to keep them in office like they always do.

I hope the economy will expand even more. By 7% ? why not 10% ? If we moved from 2.6 to 5 why not from 6 to 10? Its possible. We just have to tone down political rhetoric and attract more innovation, creativity, business tourism, the works. But as far as business is concerned , am hoping that those ridiculous loterries on TV will fizzle out. They are not helping much by encouraging quick wins and a culture of gambling. Nations grow by the sweat of the brow not by peddling luck and chance to its citizens. Right now every channel seems to be promoting some funny get rich quick chance schemes. What of that ministers idea of organizing matatus into SACCOs? Good idea, just needs proper implementation. right now they are getting around it by registering fictitious SACCOs and companies. I hope they get a little more serious. public transport will work better if run by organized teams as opposed to individuals. It will be a good year if this is done.

Happy new year

While You Were Away, the Economy Expanded

They said it just before Christmas that the Kenyan economy had expanded by more than 6% for the last 3 months. A number of my friends were skeptical given that the previous months in the year hadn't been that good. What we had expected was maybe 2.5, 3% but 6?! That is almost equal to the magic year of 2007, the best and worst year in recent memory. But statistics also showed that even tourism arrivals were higher than even the best tourism year of 2007. Still most of us refused to believe doubting even the revised inflation measures that show us doing pretty good.

Maybe the main reason for our doubts is the fact that our own micro-home based economy actually shrunk! When the country was growing we must have been asleep. However whichever way you look at it, all indicators of improved financial situation in the beloved country abound. For how would you explain the fact that rents for residential houses in our neighborhood keep going up and also still finding takers. The place I moved to when rents were as low as 25K-30K a month now fetch anything between 45K and 50K. some landlords (and ladies) are even audacious enough to demand 60K for a 4 bedroom maisonette. Some say the expanded Red Cross offices with their new high class hotel in the neighborhood is to blame. In fact some house owners are now asking for rent in dollars. There is also a high influx of foreigners from neighboring countries Sudan and Somalia though.

But its not only in housing, even a visit to capital shopping center and even Nakumatt Mega reveals changed fortunes for most people. Strong cars with new plates dot the expansive parking on most days. Xmas day was another pointer. Most entertainment joints which had been a preserve of the upwardly mobile just a couple of years before are now everyones take as more people begin to afford the luxury. This time places like Village market, Panari sky centre, splash etc had so many people you would have thought it was free entrance! Uhuru park itself was full like gikomba with people looking for fun. Or is it the benefit of alcohol ban? But the rich have moved on and these days the in thing is full extended family mini camping. Some sharp Maasas have put up a brilliant day camp site on Kiserian - Isinya road. On an expansive 200 acre piece of rolling grass and wood land. You drive your family there in your new fuel guzzler, order enough goats to  lose their lives and play hide and seek with your kids as you wait for the animals to be roasted on open fire. Its a perfect getaway. Most people are getting together say 3 or 4 families for a family or friends mini team building. The area also teams with wild herbivores eg zebras and impalas but those are not for roasting , sorry. Since its some distance from nairobi, it will take some time before all of us rush there and spoil your fun. By that time you shall have moved on again!

Being the Best, the Top, the First

Yesterday, the minister for education performed the annual ritual of announcing the best and the first among the top in KCPE. The very first exam that Kenyan children will use to determine their social status as adults. It showed like it always does just how competitive getting  the national cake is  becoming. Kids are working harder and smarter and the winner doesn't have much room. This time the top spot was occupied by two boys as was most other spots. In fact only 3 marks separate the very best and the the tenth kid! These kids have now been set on the path we all have traveled. That of fighting hard and smart for the little and diminishing world resources.

I hope though that they wont get into our madness of competition. Seemingly in this country people compete for everything from the great to the utterly mundane. Like on the road where drivers fight  to be ahead whether they have right of way or not. All you have to do is force your bonnet ahead and block anyone else. Or the competition for entry into a packed football stadium.

Some other competition which I found bizarre was when census results were declared and people from various places started complaining that their numbers were not as suggested. They declared the census biased (or political as they say) Indeed  our leaders often amuse me though when two aspects of competition are up. On the one hand they want their 'regions' to be declared among the wealthiest, with good education, infrastructure, health care etc because it shows the great leadership they have shown and provided for those areas. But on the other hand being declared thus means you get allocated less money for development, so the leaders go back to the press to state that their regions are the poorest etc. Its all about being the first and the top. Being the richest and poorest in equal measure!

But are the top guys having it nice and easy? A friend of mine who is a medical doctor by training and profession has decided to change her career because she says its a lie. She doesn't get the money and privilege she was promised. She had worked had , missed her holidays, play and party times to get the grades to first attend an 'ivy' league high school and then after take medicine in the university. Right now she says her age mates who took less prestigious courses are way ahead of her since for a medical doctor you need some more years of practice and more reading before money starts to know your GPS coordinate. well maybe her decision is also guided by the fact that she is a generation Y.

But thinking differently, I have always wanted to meet someone who attended St. Andrews Turi or anyone who took his kids there. If for nothing, just to satisfy a curiosity since I thought the school was ridiculously expensive. Well this past Saturday I did meet someone. A very kawaida someone! In fact we had a kawaida lunch at Galitos and he is not sending one kid there but 4 kids. They pay just about 0.5m per term per child aside from other requirements which go with your kids schooling in such an environment. And if going for an excursion in hells gate Naivasha was a game changer for me in high school, then for them its the grand canyon in the US! But then again they told me in Pembroke school, during visiting days, instead of top of the range four wheelers packed around the compound, its choppers of the parents who mostly reside at the coast. How is that for being at the top of the social stratum?