3 Things You Need to Know About Job Searching in Today’s Job Market
Job search is not easy it takes time, dedication and patience. This is made more difficult by the poor decisions we make as job seekers.
For example, I had a friend who would not take an unpaid internship because they thought it was a waste of their time and they were too valuable to work for free. Yet, she spent two years searching for a job and complaining about how every job opening she came across required someone with work experience.
Had she taken one of the internships, she would have gained the experience that the employers were always asking for. This was her biggest job search mistake.
Mistakes like these are what make the job search process more difficult for some people. In this article, read advice from a recruiter on what you need to understand about the job market.
Below are 3 things you need to know about today’s job market.
1. Qualifications though important are not everything.
Blame our parents or the 8-4-4 system but since we were young we were made to believe that ‘studying’ is a sure ticket to success and riches.
They went a step further to ‘recommend’ courses that we should pursue. So many people were told that Medicine, Teaching Etc are the best courses.
The end product is you pursuing a profession that has no value in the job market. Some of the courses that are in demand are saturated and graduates don’t get jobs that easily.
Even if the course you were told to take is marketable, if you have no passion for it then you cannot really succeed.
Then you have those already employed and pursuing an MBA to make them ‘competitive’ as opposed to first gaining skills or specializing. Take it from me, today’s employment market is more focused on what you can do more than which school you attended and the certificate you got. Read here on the best time to pursue an MBA
Many of us are fixated on getting certificates rather than taking the time to learn about the job. You become competitive because of the skills you possess or your area of specialization. Bottom line; be open to starting at the bottom and keep learning practical skills.
2. Job Search takes time and dedication.
When I was in campus I was lucky enough to have gotten a part time job. I am saying lucky because the job though not well paying or glamorous was the foundation of my career.
I continued with the same job after graduation and the culture shock of graduating and sending CVs without getting a response did not hit me as hard. At least I could afford bus fare and brown envelopes for making applications.
Job search is a marathon and not a sprint. Unless you are desperate and willing to take anything, getting a new job can take a year if not more. Why? Because it takes proper planning and execution.
Remember this is not the 80s where you could count the number of graduates. Almost all professions in Ethiopia are saturated. It might mean you taking an odd job here and there. It might mean that your first job will not be in your area of training or you will end up working for an SME instead of a multinational organisation. It might also mean taking unpaid internships.
Do anything you have to do but for God’s sake don’t be idle. Desiring a new or better job is very different from doing something about it every day. From what I now know, you should embrace humble beginnings.
3. What do you want out of your career?
I have done an informal survey on what Ethiopian professionals trained for vis-à-vis their current jobs and my finding is that majority are working in careers that don’t match what they studied for or trained on.
In the modern job market, nothing prevents a law graduate from becoming an excellent customer service executive and making a good living out of it. I know of engineers who are excelling in sales and marketing.
Today’s job market rewards those who know what they want and are not afraid to go for it. An undergraduate in whichever field should be considered as a starting point to more than one opportunity.
The above list is by no means exhaustive. My goal is to help you have a different mindset when it comes to job search by understanding the current job market. As the good Bible says, my people perish due to lack of knowledge. I hope you are now informed.
5 Best Job Interview Tips For Entry Level Job Seekers
It is always intimidating looking for your first job as a fresh graduate. As a fresh graduate, your interest at this time is not landing your dream job but just getting into the corporate world.
So you apply for all those jobs and finally, a call comes in that a particular company wants to meet you for an interview.
Sure the job is not even in your line of studies but it’s a good start considering all those other graduates out there still looking for jobs.
Therefore, you start preparing for this big interview, but the worry of failing is too much.
We have all been there and it is very intimidating to attend an interview as a fresh graduate especially when you consider that you will be competing with people who are more qualified than you are.
How then do you ace that job interview as a fresh graduate?
With these job interview tips for fresh graduate, you will be able to handle that interview as smoothly as any other job seeker.
Job Interview Tips You Should Know As An Entry Level Job Seeker
They say the first impression is the last impression, a common analogy that holds some truth.
As an entry level job seeker, you don’t have much to go on in terms of experience and that can be quite intimidating when you are attending an interview.
However, you can still turn things around to your advantage with these easy job interview tips.
1. Be prepared
There is no excuse for being unprepared for a job interview, whether you are a fresh graduate or not. The consequences will always be the same. There is no leeway now that you are an entry-level job seeker.
How do you prepare for an interview?
You do this by researching the company, going through the job description noting down key skills that the employer is looking for and preparing for common interview question HR managers often ask.
Ensure that you have all the documents you need carefully stacked up in a neat folder.
Also, ensure to make extra copies of your CV just in case you encounter a panel interview.
I will tell you for free that not being prepared will not make a very good first impression and the interviewer will just know this the moment you walk into that room.
Preparation is key whether it’s your first interview or not.
2. Dress to impress
Most entry level job seekers, for some reason, think that they could be forgiven for not dressing the part during an interview.
This will never happen. I know you are just fresh from college and haven’t had time to shop for official outfits since you just stay at home filling job applications.
However, a serious job seeker would buy at least one decent outfit they can wear when called for an interview.
Ensure that your clothes are neat and well ironed. Get a haircut for the gentlemen and ladies make your hair neat and presentable.
3. Research the company
I was talking to Ms. Melody Mwenda one of the recruitment and interview coaching experts and she was telling me how one enthusiastic entry level job seeker when asked if they had any questions at the end of the interview asked, “ What does this company deal with?”
This is a total turn off. A good job seeker who is serious about launching a career will have researched the company prior to the interview.
One of the ways an interviewer gauges your fit for the position is through how much you know about the company.
Your ignorance might just end up being the end of you.
Research the company! What do they do, their history, who is their competitor?
I mean, you can get all this information by visiting their website and using people on the inside if you know any.
4. Work on body language
It goes without saying that body language is very important in any interview.
Work on your body language – you don’t want to just sit there answering yes or no to every question like a log.
Lean forward when answering a question to show interest and incorporate gesture when talking. When you enter the room, give a firm handshake to show confidence.
Smile and nod in between questions and maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
These unspoken yet important things will go a long way in determining whether you get that job or not.
5. Prepare for common interview questions
This is the most important factor to keep in mind when preparing for a job interview.
As an entry level job seeker, there are common interview questions you will most likely come across in the interview.
Get acquainted with them and then prepare logical answers that won’t appear as if they have been crammed.
The best thing to do is to understand what the hiring manager wants to hear when for instance they ask ‘Tell me about yourself’ interview question.
To prepare you, read on Most Common Interview Questions and Answers For 2017.
Landing a job is usually a daunting task filled with stress and a lot of disappointments. Most entry level job seekers freak out when they are called in for an interview. However, you can ace that interview with the job interview tips highlighted above.
Sample Graduate Trainee Cover Letter to use in 2017
By Michelle Wanjiku
Musa* a recent graduate looking to start applying for graduate trainee positions in the course of this year asked how he should go about writing a graduate trainee cover letter.
This is quite common among our readers seeing that most of them are fresh graduates without much experience which always leaves them wondering what to include on the cover letter.
Melody Mwendwa a professional CV writing expert says that due to your lack of experience, your graduate trainee cover letter should put emphasis on your academic qualifications, internships and any extra training you may have had. This, she advises helps sell your suitability for the position.
What to consider when writing a graduate trainee cover letter
1. Grammatical Errors
It is important to remember that a cover letter is an important part of your application and could be the difference between you getting the job and you missing out. Your graduate trainee cover letter should be well written with no grammatical errors.
Always make a point of going through your cover letter numerous times before sending it out.
2. Language
The language used should be simple and should be able to convey your message with ease. The graduate trainee cover letter is your opportunity to show the hiring manager that you are the best possible fit for the position.
3. Content
The first paragraph or two of your graduate trainee cover letter should be about you. Tell the employer why you are qualified for the position.
The next one should state why you are interested in the position and the company.
You should list all your qualifications (the little that you have) in a manner that shows you are the perfect fit for the position.
4. Formatting
Ensure the formatting you use is simple enough since hiring managers do not really care about fancy fonts and colours.
5. Avoid Clichés
Avoid generalized clichés in your graduate trainee cover letter as well. For example do not use generic statements such as, “I am a detail-oriented team player.”
Here is a sample Graduate Trainee Cover Letter
Doreen Okoth
P.O. Box 56987- 00100
Ethiopia,
31st January, 2017.
The Human Resource Manager,
GHF Company,
Box 38562– 00100,
Ethiopia.
Dear Mr Maina,
RE: APPLICATION FOR GRADUATE TRAINEE FINANCE POSITION
I hereby submit my application for the finance graduate trainee position at your organisation as advertised on JobWeb Ethiopia. I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce – Finance from Addis Ababa University in April last year.
I am confident that your organisation’s graduate trainee programme will enable me to gain valuable experience in the industry.
I have worked as an intern at KLM Company where I had the chance to work as part of a team in order to meet deadlines. This opportunity gave me the chance to gain excellent numerical & analytical skills that are required to work in this industry.
I was also able to sharpen my communication skills which are important when building professional networks both with colleagues and clients. I therefore, welcome the opportunity to work with you in order to build my skills as well as to ensure continuity of your exceptional service to your clients.
I would appreciate an opportunity to discuss this opportunity further with you. Please find enclosed my CV for your consideration.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Doreen Okoth
Your graduate trainee cover letter is the most important part of your application and as such it should be written with great care and consideration to what the organisation is looking for in a candidate. This is the only way you will be able to show that you are uniquely qualified for the position.
Understanding The Hidden Job Market
We’ve all heard the story that says, 70% of all vacancies are never advertised.
Spending all your time on job portals alone means that you are missing out on the other share of the cake. It is advised that you spare some time to check up on unadvertised vacancies as you may stumble on something more.
According to Ms. Muthoni Ndegwa, Ethiopian job market is not different because not every company has the resources to put advertisements in the dailies.
SME’s have by far the majority of these hidden opportunities. They do not have the financial muscle nor the infrastructure to compete with the heavyweights such as the likes of Save the Children NGO and the Deloitte of today.
We all know of a friend or family member who works for an SME that you have never heard of and you can’t get your head around how they got around to hear about the vacancy.
The question remains, why don’t employers advertise any of their vacancies? You ask?.
Reasons Employers Don’t Advertise Their Vacancies
1.They don’t need to
SMEs are known to have so many people interested in their positions than the vacancies available. Such organizations rely on what they already have. Say that they happen to have an intern who is doing an impeccable job.
Why would they spend all that money advertising for a position when they already have someone who can comfortably fill the position.
This goes without saying, why internships are very important.
2. Other limiting factors
Most of these SMEs, don’t have the finances or human resources to process the high volumes of applications that come into their databases as a result of job advertisements.
This is why they don’t feel the need to bring in an additional hand owing to the cost of recruitment and job adverts.
How Do You Find These Hidden Opportunities?
The job search process can a toll on you. It becomes hard when employers don’t advertise their vacancies. How then do you find these opportunities in order to secure that job?
1.Do your research
“Any employer is likely to take you seriously if you understand their company.” Says Ms. Ndegwa.
As a job seeker, you know the kind of job you are looking for. Research on companies where you are likely to get these jobs.
For instance, if you are looking for a customer service job, you need to research companies like Safaricom or Start Times that are always hiring customer service agents. Get to understand what they do and what working as a customer service agent will entail.
2. Inform people that you are looking
This is called networking. Think about it, if people don’t know that you are looking for a job, how will they recommend you to potential employers?
You need to get off that sofa and get over feeling sorry for yourself for not being able to land a job, a year after graduation and start doing some serious networking.
Look for key players in your industry or friends or family who are already in the job market. They are your best chance at landing a job.
3. Work out a strategy
As Ms. Ndegwa advises, you need to work out a job search strategy that will work for you.
You are not doing yourself any favors by sending in so many generic CVs to different employers and keeping your fingers crossed that one of them night bear fruits.
Instead, identify different organizations and draw up a list of the best people to contact in this organization.
So many people think that HR is always the best person to contact in any organization but this is far from the truth.
Go to LinkedIn, create a professional profile for yourself and start contacting people in different organizations. Email them your CV, just to let them know that you are looking.
However be extra careful about this. Just network. Don’t become a LinkedIn stalker.
4. Get your CV in order
Before you send out any CV, ask yourself why would a recruiter spend, two-three minutes looking at my CV?
In order to have a shot at the dream job, you need to revamp your CV. Tailor your CV to fit the job you are applying for.
Most job seekers make the mistake of sending in generic CVs to every employer hoping to impress the hiring manager. This doesn’t happen.
If it you are having trouble compiling a CV that is likely to get shortlisted, you have the option of having your CV professionally written. Just go here for CV Writing Services.
The three Ps of Job Search
1.Be Persuasive
If you don’t market yourself well, no employer will take you seriously. Think of your CV and cover letter as your sales pitch. Make it hard for the hiring manager to resist meeting you for an interview.
2. Be Persistent
If you are applying for jobs at a certain company and not getting any responses, it may be a sign that you need to move on. However, you can still put an effort and turn that No into a Yes through your persistent.
Follow up on jobs you have applied through a phone call or an email. You can even go a step further and visit the offices. This will show that you are every interested in the job as well as the company.
3. Be philosophical
It’s never a guarantee that you will get a response with every job you apply for. However, the mere fact that you applied is worth so much more than just hiding behind the fact that you can apply for jobs because you won’t get any.
In conclusion, when it comes to job search, things will most of the time not go according to our plan. Most of the time you will get a No when you were expecting a Yes. The most important thing is to understand where opportunities lie and how you can find them and land yourself that dream job.
7 Very IMPORTANT Documents You MUST Have For Your Job Search In Ethiopia
By Lilian Wamaitha
Searching for a job is a tedious process. It becomes worse when a position you applied for has been filled already. It requires you to have a strategy and to know the dos and donts when searching from a job. You also need to have a clear grasp of the documents employers need to see as part of your applications. At times and employer may require more than your CV and cover letter.
It doesn’t hurt to send in extract documents like your letter of recommendation or certificates unless the employer specifically states that they need a CV and cover letter only.
Supporting Documents You Need For Your Job Search
Employers require supporting documents to better evaluate a candidate. For most employers a CV and cover letter will be enough but some require more information to get a holistic picture of the candidate. Some may do it to act as confirmation of the information you have given on the CV. For instance requesting transcripts is a way for an employer to confirm whether or not you have graduated.
Here are documents that every job seeker need for their job search in Ethiopia.
1. A well written CV
A CV serves as the first contact between you and the employer. It should be a marketing tool for your skills and expertise. In the Kenyan job market, a CV should be tailored to fit the job you are applying for. Read here on Top Tips On How To Tailor Your CV For A Job.
Using a generic CV for every job application may be the reason you are not getting responses from the many jobs you have applied for. There are those key skills that the employer is looking for in that specific position. Have you highlighted that?
2. A cover letter
A cover letter is the best way of summarizing your CV in a few paragraphs. Most employers are able to determine whether you are the best fit for the position just by looking at your cover letter. So ensure that you sell your skills to the best of your ability making them want to meet you in person.
3. Letters of Recommendations
A letter of recommendation is another powerful document you can use to get your foot on the door. This is a letter written by your former employer (s) detailing your conduct and your work during the period you worked there. For entry level job seekers and recent graduates, you can get a recommendation letter from your university or college showing that you were a student and now looking for employment. Attaching a recommendation letter is not only wise but a good job search strategy, according to Ms. Muthoni Ndegwa, a Recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services Limited, a Recruitment firm that offers CV Writing, Job Placement & Career Advice.
4. Educational Transcripts
As mentioned earlier these supporting documents serve as evident that you are either a student or you have already graduated. You should attach them with your job application especially in the cases where the employer has specified on what kind of candidate they need- a recent graduate or ongoing student.
5. Portfolio
This is a collection of your work and documents that serves as evidence of your skills and expertise. For instance if you are a graphic designer, you may want to attach a portfolio of the work you have done. This gives you a competitive edge over someone who did not bother attaching such documents.
6. Writing Samples
Depending on the job you are applying for, you might want to attach a few writing samples for example essays or articles you have done. Employers nowadays seem to take a keen interest in individuals who possess writing skills. For example if you are a communications professional, writing samples can be your selling point for your skills.
7. Other Certifications
This refers to certificates you may have gathered in the course of time. For instance you may have a certificate from leadership training you attended a few months ago; this will be good for you. In short attach certificates that are relevant to the job application.
While attaching other supporting documents is a good idea to get you the competitive advantage you need. You need to be careful though. Do not send in other documents if the employer specifically says they only need your cover letter. This will just hinder you from getting the job even if you are qualified because it shows that you do not follow instructions.
Do not also send in documents that may be used against you for instance your bank details.
8 Top Mistakes Job Seekers Make In Their Job Search
By Lilian Wamaitha
Do you always send application only to never hear from the employers? You may be making some of the job search mistakes every job seeker makes.
I recently received a call from a distressed job seeker seeking some advice. Anthony – not his real name graduated in 2016 and has been very active in the job search. However, one year down the line, he has not been able to land a job leave alone an internship.
He has applied to more than 300 jobs online and has even dropped his applications physically in several offices. He is however yet to know where he is going wrong with his job search.
I know many job seekers who are going through the same ordeal. It no fun spending your precious time applying for jobs only for that phone never to ring with an interview invitation.
Where are we going wrong as job seekers? Why is it that other people around us keep getting jobs but we remain in the same position of hopelessness? I am going to highlight the top mistakes job seekers make during the job search process.
The Avoidable Mistakes Job Seekers Make
Nobody is perfect.
In fact, at one point in your life, you are bound to make mistakes. It is the nature of life that we can’t do without.
Here are the top mistakes that job seekers make which could be costing you that dream job.
1. You lack focus is among the top mistakes job seekers make
According to Ms. Muthoni Ndegwa, a Human Resource professional in Nairobi, employers hire mostly to meet a specific need. An employer may be hiring to increase a team’s productivity. Before applying for the specific position, get to understand the need of the employer.
Stay focused on what the employer wants and tailor your job application letter to meet that need.
2. Being too desperate
What energy are you giving off to your potential employer? How are you approaching the job search and networking process? According to Ms. Ndegwa desperation is a total turn off to any employer. You may not know but desperation shows even before the employer meets you.
3. Focusing on quantity and not quality
Most job seekers think that they are more likely to land a job by applying to so many positions. This is not true.
The number of the jobs you are applying to doesn’t matter. Instead, focus on the job itself. Which position do you think you can best fit at? Which one can you make a real contribution and at the same time grow in your career?
Some even go to the extent of applying for all the positions advertised by one company. First of all, this shows desperation on your part and it also gives off the feeling that you have no idea what you want in life.
Therefore learn to focus on the job itself and not the number of positions you have applied to in a day.
4. Being lazy about the job search
When you are unemployed, your main job at that time is looking for a job. Treat each day like a regular working day. Wake up early, create a schedule and research companies that are hiring in your industry.
When you are jobless you can’t afford the luxury of staying indoors all day watching one episode of Game of Thrones after another.
Get out there. Create networks and look for places you can even volunteer at before you land a permanent job. Read here on 5 Proven Ways of Building Value-Adding Networks To
Grow Your Career.
5. Exhibiting a sense of worthlessness
Walking around town with an attitude of ‘I can’t get a job because no employer will find me worthy’ is not doing you any favors.
So what? You have applied for like ten internships and haven’t heard from a single employer. Get up, brush off the dust and apply for the next internship or job.
It’s their loss anyway that they won’t get to know what an awesome person you are. Your time is coming so don’t you dare give up.
6. Being too scared to apply for some positions
Another on one of the top mistakes jobs seekers make in Kenya. You can agree with me that at one point you have held back applying for a position because you felt the competition was too stiff.
This is the worst attitude you can bring into the job search. I got an internship when I was still in the first year of university. And guess what? I applied for that internship with people who were already done with school and several third years looking for attachment. Guess what? I ended up getting being among the only two people who got the internship.
What if I had chosen not to apply because I was competing with guys who were probably more qualified than me? I wouldn’t have gotten the five months experience I got from it.
Think about it. Don’t allow your fear to cloud your dreams.
7. Applying for the wrong jobs
This is one of the top mistakes job seekers make according to Ms. Ndegwa.
“I can’t tell you how many CVs I have had to throw out because they did not match the job qualifications.”
While it’s advisable to go for what you want, when it comes to job search, employers prefer candidates who know what they want and are qualified for the position.
8. Losing focus of your career objective
Losing focus on your career goals is among the top mistakes job seekers make in Kenya. Being unemployed can lead you to take any job that comes by. If you know what you want and what direction you want your career to head, then you will be patient and look for those jobs that match your career objectives.
In a nutshell
If you have been making the mentioned top mistakes job seekers make, you know now where you are going wrong in your job search. Amend these mistakes and you are on your way to landing that dream job.
4 Curriculum Vitae Trends Job Seekers Must Be Aware Of
By Lilian Wamaitha
Change is inevitable. And the same case applies when it comes to writing compelling curriculum vitae. Have you had the feeling that you will get that shot listing only to be rejected by hiring managers? Well, as the corporate world changes so do the ways of writing a CV. You can’t keep using the same old CV year in year out. There is a need to change and keep up with the curriculum vitae trends as they come.
That said, in order to avoid your CV ending up in a trash bin somewhere, there are certain trends as a job seeker you must be aware of and implement to increase your chances of getting jobs.
Curriculum Vitae Trends Job Seeker Must Pay Attention To
1. Old is no longer gold
Any professional CV writer will tell you that, the ages of putting together your names, age, telephone number email address followed by a chronological order of education, work experience, conferences and seminars attended followed by a list of referee is long gone. That was a CV for another age, not for today’s job market.
A resume is supposed to sell you to a potential employer. The chances of getting shortlisted with such a CV are very slim in today’s job maker where everybody is competing for the same limited vacancies.
2. Renewing the identity
CV writing has changed over the past years. It is no longer just a document you present to a recruiter. Instead it is the number one marketing tool. The Kenyan job market today requires one to stand out from the completion. And this said, the focus now is on your work history mostly so that a hiring manger can be able to determine if you are the best fit for a certain position.
3. What comes first matters a lot
While the traditional name and address still remains at the top of a CV, what follows next is what matters. It is no longer a question of education followed by work experience. What follows instead is a profile summary of who you are. It’s like summarizing your entire CV in one paragraph.
With a profile summary, you explain your experience and what makes you the best candidate for the position. With this the recruiter is already sold and will want to go through your entire CV.
An example of a profile summary is
“I am a Biomechanical and Processing Engineering graduate with attachment experience under machines maintenance. I am well versed in the principles and practices involved in engineering tasks including; project management, maintenance and servicing, food processing, hydraulic and pneumatic systems and computer aided drawing and design. With my training in Biomechanical and processing engineering and my attachment experience, I am looking for entry level positions as a Maintenance Supervisor/Engineer or a Processing Engineer, a post that will expose me to the industry where I can gain more skills and experience needed.”
4. Elaborating your work experience
The current curriculum vitae trends demand that a job seeker elaborates on their work experience. Instead of just writing worked as a clerk between this period and that, go ahead to explain the duties and roles you were tasked with as a clerk. This is what the employer is looking for. With a detailed work experience he/she will be able to determine whether you fit the role as described in the job description.
Curriculum vitae trends If your are a 21st century job seeker, you must keep up with the said curriculum vitae trends to increase your chances of getting a job. This is what will set you up from other job seekers.
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!