Graduate Trainees KCAA Jobs

Graduate Trainees Jobs Kenya 2013.
Graduate Trainees – Air Traffic Controllers
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is a State Corporation under the Ministry of Transport  Infrastructure, established under the Civil Aviation Act 2013.
The Authority which has a mandate “to develop, regulate and manage a safe, efficient and effective Civil Aviation System in Kenya” and a vision “to be a model of excellence in Civil Aviation” is seeking to recruit fresh graduates as Air Traffic Controllers – Trainees.
The course will be conducted at East African School of Aviation (EASA) Embakasi, Nairobi and will include on-job training at any of KCAA manned Airports.
The ideal candidates should possess the following qualifications:
A first degree from a recognized university
‘O’ Level certificate of at least mean grade c+ with grades (C+ and above) in English, Geography, Mathematics and or Physics.
Additionally, the candidates will be required to:
Pass an aptitude test for Air Traffic Controllers
Pass ICAO Class II medical Test
Be aged between 18 and 28 years
Note: the opportunity is open to both male and female candidates who have recently completed their studies and have no working experience.
No salary will be payable during the entire training period.
Interested candidates should submit their applications attaching copies of relevant certificates, testimonials and a detailed updated curriculum vitae, giving among others, details of day time contacts and full contact of three professional referees to the address below, to be received not later than 7th November 2013.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is an equal opportunity employer.
The Director General
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority
KAA Complex – JKIA
P. O. BOX 30163 – 00100
Nairobi
Only shortlisted Candidates will be contacted.

Sample Cover Letter For Banking Job Vacancies

By Tabitha Makumi,
Landing a banking job in Kenya is envy for many despite the bad bug that have caught up with banking personnel’s in the recent past who chose to go rogue robbing their respective banks millions of cash .
There are several positions that come with the industry.  Some will require you to work face to face with customers on a daily basis while other jobs will allow you to work in an office away from teller lines.
Let’s take a look at a sample cover letter of a person who is applying for a banking job as an Relationship Officer   
Job Seeker
P. O. Box 6754-0002
Konza City
11th September 2013
Human Resource Manager
DEF Bank
P.O. Box 999-0009
Kitale.
Dear Madam/Sir

Customers being served in a Bank.

RE: APPLICATION FOR A RELATIONSHIP OFFICER POSITION
Following a recent advertisement on the Standard Newspaper of the above position, I am submitting my application for considerations in your organization.  I have over two years experience in the banking industry with a degree in Business Management and a post graduate diploma in sales & marketing.
I am currently working as the Relationship Officer for GEB bank and my duties revolve around generating business through client recruitment, training, depositing mobilization and disbursement. It’s also my duty to prepare credit appraisals and presenting them to the Branch Credit Committee meetings. I am interested in the advertised position because of my profound interest in maintaining sound relationships with clients, partners, and institutions with MOUs including the general public.
My strongest skills are being able to take part in business growth initiatives such as marketing activities, new business signed and new partnerships. My CV has been attached accordingly. Thank you for your kind consideration and I look forward to your favourable response.
Sincerely,
Signature
Job Seeker

5 Career Lessons From Churchill aka ‘Mwalimu Kin’gan’gi’

Daniel Ndambuki, aka Churchill or Mwalimu Kingang’i, has grown from humble beginnings, to prove that comedy can really pay for the really talented ones.
From humble beginnings of acting high school literature and Fasihi set books, Churchill has carved a niche for himself as a morning radio presenter at Classic 105, a top MC at Corporate events, and the host of the most watched comedy show in Kenya, Churchill show.
Who better than to pick career lesson form than him? Here are 5 of them.
1. Non- Traditional careers pay.
While many of us would scoff at a person that makes a living from comedy, Churchill has proved that the once looked down upon careers- comedy, music, dancing, and acting, can put food on the table. He, plus musicians like Nameless, Juliani, Wyre, among others, are helping push the envelope for the Kenyan art scene, and proving that one doesn’t have to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or manager to make some good money.
2. Start Small.
While many of us wish to start big, Churchill did start from the small tasks he was assigned in the school plays. A story is told that he used to sleep on the floor in a one room apartment in Mlolongo. Although we cannot verify that, what we can note is that he has indeed come from far.

L-R: President Uhuru Kenyatta and Daniel Ndambuki aka Churchill during a past show.

At the time, he probably didn’t consider that he would rise to the position he occupies today, but currently, he must be looking back and wondering if indeed he is still the same person.
3. Continuously innovate.
As fellow comedian ‘Jalang’o often says, acting is one of the hardest jobs. One has to come up with fresh jokes every now and then or their  jokes will be considered stale.  Churchill has invested in learning his trade, reading wide, and often borrowing and then localizing his lines. Where he has run out of ideas, he has invited others such as Eric Omondi to stand up for him- heck, even Chris Rock runs out of lines and has fulltime writers to help him come up with new jokes. He crafted Churchill live from scratch, and from the show, he has achieved massive publicity.
4. Learn to multi- task.
The era of sticking to one employer is long gone. In a way, we are turning out to be consultants, who sell our skills to our clients- employers. Even though Churchill has a full time job as a co-presenter with Maina Kageni on the Classic FM Morning show, he still manages to perform some other corporate gigs, to supplement his income.
5. Mentor others.
Churchill has brought on board new comedians, something which the audience did not appreciate at the beginning. Through his show, we now know of new comedians, like the Kibra guy with the Luhya accent, the police guy with the Kalenjin accent, and the guy with the Meru accent. Even though these new comedians have taken time to perfect on their act, they are catching up pretty fast, and who knows, one, or even all of them, could surpass Churchill in due time.
(Courtesy-Kenyan Campos)

6 Tips To Bounce Back Stronger When u fail an interview

By Dorcas Karuana,
What shows your strength and depicts you as a success is your ability to bounce back from setbacks; life is filled with them. Aldous Huxley once said; “Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.”
I came across some simple coping techniques that will help you get back on your feet and face whatever life throws at you. These tips should help you develop a thick shell that will be able to withstand anything thrown at you – the shell? Think of the tortoise. Here are seven ways to bounce back from anything.
1: Focus on the positives
No matter how bad a situation may seem, it is always possible to find at least one positive thing about the situation if you really try. Maybe you have gained inner strength and resilience from dealing with a difficult situation, grown closer to a friend through sharing your heartbreak or learned something important about yourself. Try your best to focus on what you have learned and gained from your experience rather than on what you have lost.
2: Take away the emotion
It is obviously difficult to view disappointments and setbacks in life without feeling some sort of emotion. However, being emotionally involved in a situation can mean that we often build things up into something far worse than they actually are. Rather than getting carried away with your own interpretation of how disastrous things are, try to look at the situation a little more objectively. Ask a friend for their point of view or write down exactly what has happened, simply stating the facts. You may find that the situation is not as bleak as it seems when emotions are taken out of the equation, and remember those emotions will fade with time.
3: Be your own best friend
We often see ourselves in the worst light, particularly when life isn’t going how we want it to. However, it is important not to be hard on yourself and blame yourself just because something in your life hasn’t worked out. Instead, think about what you would you say to a friend in your situation and show yourself the same love and respect. Remember that a plan or relationship failing doesn’t make you a failure, and even the world’s most beautiful and successful people have faced failure and rejection at some point in their lives.
4: Get a support system
You may think that dealing with your problems all by yourself is the “grown up” thing to do. However, all of us need support at times, and asking those you love for help is not a sign of weakness. It can help to talk things through and to have someone on your side to make you feel good when life feels too hard, so don’t try to cope with your problems alone. If you don’t have any friends you can, or want to, confide in, it may be worth considering counselling to help you get things off your chest and get you through this difficult time.
5: Look to the future
It is easy to get caught up in the “what ifs” and “why mes” when things go wrong in life. However, dwelling on your disappointment will not help the situation. As Alexander Graham Bell stated, “When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” The situation may not feel great and it may not seem fair, but what has happened has happened, whether you like it or not. Rather than dwelling on what could have been, start planning now where you can go from here.
6: Form a plan B
Unfortunately in life our plan A doesn’t always work out. Don’t be too spiritual and say you’ve got only one plan and since you’ve told God about it and He has given you a go-ahead, you’d stick to the plan no matter what. Sometimes we have to wait a little longer than we would like for what we want, and sometimes those things just aren’t meant to be at all. However, remember there are many routes to happiness and just because one thing hasn’t worked out that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to take its place. Rather than focusing fixatedly on one life plan, safeguard yourself against disappointment by formulating several backup plans in case plan A fails. By being flexible, prepared to adapt your plans and continually striving towards more than one goal, you will be better equipped to deal with setbacks and to get back on your feet in record time.
Always remember that when you are hardest hit is when you shouldn’t give up.

How not to Talk Yourself Out of the Job

Recently this mail hit my inbox.
Dear Angela:
My friends say I speak very fast but I don’t realize it. Could this be a hindrance to getting a job during an interview? If it is, please advise me on how I can solve the problem. Charles.
Dear Charles,
I find it interesting that you write about this just finished interviewing a lady who had all the right skills and qualifications that just went on and on. I was exhausted from listening, at the end I gave up on her! There are a few situations where talking too much can cause problems, work is one of them. You don’t want to be the one “talking” up most of your colleagues time. Try as much as possible in the work hours to keep the small talk to a minimum and get down to business.
That said, here are a few tricks that you can use;
1. Repetition. If you catch yourself finishing people’s sentence, pause, and repeat what they say in you mind. This gives you a second or two to then think of the answer or if they are just talking and you need to listen you will end up not interrupting them.
2. Take a deep breath. When you are asked a question, take a deep breath then answer. But don’t look like you are panting. This will allows you to gather your thoughts then give a good answer. Also it stops you from interrupting people which may be construed as rude. Answering to quickly may also make the person questioning you think that you are “unthinking” or arrogant. Not a good impression.
3. Hush. Sometimes in big formal meetings, you may find yourself answering all the questions and going on about them. This is not very good. It can make people feel that you are not paying attention to them or their opinion.
4. Listen. Also a friend of mine said “You have two ears and one mouth for a good reason!” Listen more and talk less.
5. Consciously slow down. Especially when you are talking with older people, people with authority, or people in general. You will notice things will be a lot calmer and they will respect you more as they feel listened to.
6. BITE YOUR TOUNGE, if all else fails. The first time I heard this, I bit the tip of my tongue. Now I’m pretty sure this was not what they meant, but at that time it worked. The person was really just trying to ask me to keep my mouth shut.
7. Don’t find fault, find a solution.  Many times you may find yourself in a verbal conflict. We normally engage without much thought, but many times arguing can leave the situation worse, and without a solution.
As I engage I always ask two things; 10 years from now will this issue matter? And, do I always have to prove my point/be right. Most of the time the answer is, NO. There is one I heard recently, I think of it when someone is behaving badly. When there is a driver badly and almost hits you let him go have his accident somewhere else.

How to tell if Your Cover Letter Makes You Look Arrogant?

By Angela Wahome,
There was a cover letter which had 13 “I”s in two brief paragraphs. It was so shocking that I had to stop and wonder whether this person as full of himself.  Colleagues also had a look at it and we all decided that it was a good CV and cover letter so we called the candidate in for an interview. He was great. He ended up getting a job. But never stopped bothering me; how do you get rid of the “I”s?
Often a cover letter riddled with many I’s gives the wrong impression. There are three things that a person reading your cover letter could conclude; first, you are arrogant, second you are full of yourself and last you do not know enough English to be able to structure a cover letter effectively for business.
The main purpose of the cover letter is to show that you have the required skills and qualifications to do that job well. Therefore a sensible approach is to make the job or your experience the focus point of your cover letter, not you.
The way to do this is to present experience in the third person;
•    Instead of writing “I worked as” write “This position offered the opportunity to.”
•    Where formerly you may have written “I graduated” or “Graduated from” list yourself in third person “Graduate of.”
•    Pretend you’re writing it for someone else and find professional titles to fill in for him or her such as “candidate” or “Sales Manager.”
•    You may avoid writing of “I am writing to apply for the job advertised” maybe write something like “Enclosed please find my CV regarding the Sales Manager FMCG position.”
I hope this helps bring some perspective to how you may create a good CV to get you that job.

5 Common Errors That Hinders Job Interviews Success

By Angela Wahome,
Looking for work is always incredibly stressful. In the past, I’ve tried to help by providing tips for correcting your CV.
Four key things to remember are;
•    Name your CV. Make sure your name and contact details on the CV.
•    Customize you CV. When you apply for a job make sure you get the details of the job right.
•    Number the pages. This will save you if the pages of your CV get printed out and mixed up with other CVs, as the recipients will be able to put the pages of your CV back together using the numbers.
•    Don’t exaggerate. If you enhance your abilities or lie on your CV you set yourself up to fail. For instance, saying you are an obsessive working machine, or you are the dedicated or brilliant candidate, will elicit a negative response and recruiters may discard your CV.
Here are a few of things to consider that can help you to fine-tune your interviewing technique;
1.Your experience is wide but shallow. Depending on your experience, you might be depicting yourself as a “jack of all trades, master of none.” Having experience in a wide variety of field is positive but you need to be there long enough to develop skills, experience, knowledge that are practical and will be able to help you in the work place.
2. You seem to have a sense of entitlement. Be humble in all things. This has real, practical applications. For example, don’t give the hiring manager or any peer interviewers the idea that there are only certain areas within your domain that you are willing to work in. For instance you do marketing but are not willing to do sales. If you do, this will work against you as your interviewer may feel you will be very difficult to collaborate with.

Job Interview Tips: Need to show passion in the job.

3.  You don’t exhibit any passion. If you exhibit a lack of passion, this perception will be hard to overcome. Be enthusiastic about what you do and the role you are interviewing for. Employers don’t want to hire someone who is only looking for a salary; they want someone who is invested in their career and in the company. Make sure you show passion for the business, the people and the industry that you will be working in.
4.   You don’t know how the rest of your organization works. It’s important to know how the entire organization operates, from end to end. If you’re asked questions about a process at your employer that you weren’t directly connected to and you say, “I don’t know.” Chances are you may not get hired, even if you are enormously knowledgeable in your particular field. There is enormous collaboration in companies today, and you’re expected to understand at least the basics of everyone else’s roles so you can contribute to the company.
5.  Your experience is not transferable. You might be awesome, but if you’ve spent a long time in a single role or company, it might look like your knowledge, skills, or experience won’t transfer to the new company. If possible prepare yourself learn new knowledge and skills. Or learn new skills while you are working to keep stretching yourself. If you have the opportunity, consider planning to learn these skills and address them in the interview.

How Self Confidence Positively Impact Your Job Search

By Dorcas Karuana,

At some point, you have been in that situation where you wish you had a little more confidence, and assertiveness. For instance, that time at an interview where you mumbled and your voice showed you were not sure of yourself or you were shot down by a colleague, with no courage to come up with a comeback. Not to mention that time when at a network meeting where you stood in the corner, hoping some friendly person would come talk to you so you didn’t have to pretend you were writing notes or texting.
Confidence is a key behavioral trait of all high achievers. Action comes from confidence. Confidence comes from action. No wonder, successful people become successful because they truly believe that they will succeed. As such, you need to focus your intention to be of service to those around you. However, do not control people or outcomes, of life.
Am sure you have heard most men look for women who are confident, they can express themselves, and they believe in themselves and are focused. The same case applies to women, they do not like men who beat around the bush and cannot say these words, “I am in love with you.” This comes with confidence.
Having low self-esteem where you work can have a dramatic effect on your job performance and have a negative impact on how others perceive you. When people know that you are not confident in your abilities to do the job then management will start to take notice. This can make you stagnate in your career as you won’t get promotions at work. Also, it impacts on the people who want to socialize with you at the office.
So how do you build your self confidence and be professionally assertive in your work environment?
Building your confidence can take you places. For example, I once entered the office of a CEO without an appointment, without anybody stopping me including the guards and the secretary, just because I talked with confidence, walked in with confidence, and my dressing made me more confident.
You just need to reprogram the way you think about yourself, your image, your abilities and your goals. Positive thinking is not something we are used to doing, but can have huge impacts on your self esteem and in turn your professional assertiveness. Your career, image, your connections and friends and lifestyle are all connected to the way you view yourself. Positive thinking will lead to positive outcomes.
Another factor in building your confidence is to actively pursue your goals. Believe they will happen, and take steps towards this. I am defiantly not saying that by imagining something it will appear, I am saying actively pursue it, work towards it, everyday contribute to it. You need to believe that you will get where you want to go.
Fake it ’til you make it, hold your head high and show how confident you want to be! Even though you might not be there yet. Ask for What You Want. Asking for something can be hard, especially if you don’t feel confident. But sometimes we must put on a brave front even if we don’t feel like it. Make requests so that you get what you want.  If you want a salary increment; say it to your boss. If you need clarification on something, just ask. I mean have the confidence to express yourself.
Dorcas is a Human Resource Consultant at Corporate Staffing Services. Email: dorcas@corporatestaffing.co.ke. Website www.corporatestaffing.co.ke.

10 Ways To Create a Strong Email Cover Letter

By Dorcas Karuana,
Applying for a job is a process that should be given enough time and careful planning. It is the only opportunity that gives you a chance to express your interest in working for your potential employer and why you are the best among hundreds if not thousands of applicants.
If you are job searching in Kenya, it is likely that you will find most job advertisements being applied online. Where you are either filling in online application forms and/or sending out your CV.  Some job seekers are never aware of what documents to send and will attach their testimonials even when not asked to in the advert. So follow the instructions given.
When making online applications, the body of your email should be the cover letter that you attach on the email. As part of this process one can assume that the person reading what you have written won’t have much time to focus on what you have to say, which is never the case.
This is the sad truth  is that Human Resource Managers have around 30 seconds of time dedicated on your application and draw some quick conclusions from it. This includes the process that starts from reading and opening up your email, and clicking on the attached CV. Therefore your email cover letter is an important part of the process and that it needs to be well thought out, short and punchy!
Here are some tips to get you started:
1. At the top of your email, either in the subject box or before you introduce yourself, you should state which job that you’re applying for.
2. You should assume that you have two short paragraphs before you sign off your email. In those two paragraphs, you should aim to answer the questions – who you are and why you’re right for this role?
3. First paragraph- Explain in details who you are in terms of what it is that you have done with your life so far. Describe this in a way that positions you well in the reader’s mind for the role that they seek to fill. This paragraph is also the place for you to say how delighted you would be to work for this organisation and to be considered as a candidate
4. Second paragraph -Explain why you are the ideal candidate.  Identify the key contributions that you can make in terms of your skills, qualifications and experience, which make you a great candidate for this job. Keep it tight and don’t repeat, where possible, what is coming in the attached CV. At the same time, remember that the reader may not look at the CV at all if they do not think the cover email is interesting enough.
5. Be professional and be authentic. Think about why you are right for the role and why you have chosen to apply for this particular job. You want to get across that you have specifically identified this role as being a good fit for you and the organisation, and by putting this in your own words and being authentic about it, your uniqueness will shine through.
6. Address it to a person by title or much better by name – Find out who will be reading this email and what their position/role is? If you do your research, you can find out what it is that this person is looking for, where they sit within the organisation and what is important to them. The more you can target your note towards the receiver of it the better
7. Include an email signature so that you can easily be contacted. Your CV should also include your contact details however making sure that the email also makes it obvious how to get in touch with you is helpful
8. Make sure you follow instructions and are sending everything as it is required and requested in your email. Check if your CV should be sent as an attachment and if so – if it should be in a particular format e.g. word (check what version) or pdf.
9. Simple, clear and concise is better. Don’t go crazy with fonts and colours. Keep it simple, easy to read and easy on the eyes. Also make sure that the font size is good for your reader.
10. Stay fairly formal. It’s an email but don’t forget that it is an application for an important job that you want to be taken serious as a candidate for. Start your email with a ‘Dear Mr or Ms X’. Avoid any abbreviations
Dorcas is a Human Resource Officer at Corporate Staffing Services. Email: dorcas@corporatestaffing.co.ke. Website www.corporatestaffing.co.ke

6 Quick Tips Of How To Make Your CV Look Good To The Eye

By Tabitha Makumi
How do you explain what makes you reach for a certain product at Tuskys Supermarket or wherever you like to shop?  You probably are used to that product so you stretch your hand and reach for it but what about a new product? Is it the way it’s packaged? The colour maybe? The name of the product?
It’s all about creating the right first impression based on what meets the eye and that’s how most people get to experience a new product.
Think of your CV as a product, does it appeal to the eye? Does it make the recruiter want to reach for it in a bunch of banal looking CV’s and go through it?
I am not advocating for you to go all bananas on your CV and give it some crazy looking back ground colour hoping that the recruiter will reach for it instead of the others. He/she will reach for it alright, but to throw it in the dustbin. How about trying some professionalism and maybe putting some class on it ?
Here are 6 tips of how you can do just that.
1.Be consistent . If you decide to go BOLD on  “Objective” also bold “Education” and “Skills” as well.
2.Use  white space effectively. A page packed with text may suggest a lot of impressive accomplishments, but it’s also no picnic to read. Last time I checked, most Kenyans do not like to read and the recruiter may not be an exception.
A good résumé should be easy to scan and see what’s what. So use one-inch margins and leave line breaks between different kinds of information.
3.Use a good-looking typography  (font )One or two font selections will do; you want a clean, businesslike look.
4.Watch the size of your text. Unless you are using an unusually-scaled typeface, your best bet for body text is size 10, 11 or 12. Too small is annoying to read, too large looks unprofessional.
5.Don’t use a prepackaged cliché kind of résumé template! Chances are, your prospective employer has already looked through fifty submissions using the default settings that came with some word processor.
Change the structure up a bit, sprinkle in a simple graphic elements even by adding small bullet points or a borders just to make your work stand out from the crowd.
6.Balance and organize the information. Solid text as if you are writing a novel won’t just cut it. Remember what I said earlier about Kenyans reading habits? Yep, that won’t cut it.
Think about ways to break up the text by using columns, bullets, lists and centering, and by grouping  relevant information into sections—this suggests organization, logical thinking and demonstrates to the reader that you will be able to deliver professional looking documents.
This pointers will sure give you an impeccable CV. But wait a minute, don’t let your CV be all show and nothing worthwhile to make you the right candidate.
I bet you feel bad when you purchase a product because it looks good on the outside but behold, it’s just crap on the inside.
Make the actual content on your resume worth the effort of following this 6 tips. You can go through out CV writing articles and learn all about CV writing techniques.
Remember, with a little extra effort, your résumé can set you apart from the other applicants right from the moment your future boss opens the envelope.
Good luck catching the eye of the right people at the right job for you!

The Secrets To Professional CV Writing in Kenya

By Angela Wahome,
Ever uttered the words, “done, phew, now I can print my CV!” Great relief when you manage to prepare your CV and print it but since your CV is a summary of the work you do; loosely translated from Latin. Curriculum Vitae actually means work history.
Therefore, ideally your CV will only be perfectly done the moment at that particular moment, then you find that you need to keep tweaking it to get it to say the right thing.
Here are some things that you must consider as you prepare your CV. Something like a checklist of sorts; there are two main things to consider. Your full name and contact details, relevant personal information as requested on the application of general personal information, education and lastly work history. There are some of the things that you may want to consider including in the CV. Leadership skills, communication skills, problem solving, decision making, project management, time management, and stress management skills.
While you are writing your CV use this time to reflect on whether you have done in career planning and see how you can begin taking steps for career maintenance. This is important as once you get the job you need to learn how to grow, maintain and do well in it. If you focus on creating a good foundation you will find that moving into another area will be simpler for you as you will be more focused and will be used to doing whatever you need to get done to do the job well.
Make sure that you get a good understanding of what you are worth in the job market. The payment of salaries and benefits is extremely random and often people are forced to settle for pay that they are offered. In as much as the economic position of the company that is going to hire you will dictate your pay make sure you know what you are worth and are able to negotiate a salary for yourself to ensure that you get a figure you can live with.
Start reading job advertisements for the position that you wish to end up in eventually. If you make a habit of doing this you will know what you need to do. Growing in that direction will only seem natural. However make sure you are fully aware of how marketable you will be if you get that training. There are some careers that people have trained in but end up extremely disappointed and frustrated because they find there is no employer that needs them.
Take the time to learn how to transition into a new work place. Who can you work with? Do you know how to approach the people you need help from? How much can you ask? Who can you trust? Once you understand the culture, working in that organization should not be a challenge for you as you know what you can expect.  Your CV will no longer be a piece of paper that is static but will be come a living testament to what you are able to do and can help push you to greater heights.

CV Writing Tips For Fresh Graduates

By Tabitha Makumi,
Fresh out of college, no job experience and then you see a job vacancy for a graduate trainee opportunity for a particular company that you wouldn’t mind having your skills honed at and later work for but for the life of you don’t know how-to go about drafting that cv. So how do you go about it? Here’s how.
Most companies nowadays in Kenya in whatever field of career are opting to train graduates and later offer them a job.  For example PwC, KRA, KPMG and even the media houses. So how do you go about drafting that resume keeping in mind that you have zero to nothing as far as experience is concerned? I have put together some of the highlights which will build up your resume.
Your Job Objective.
Why would you want to be trained at the company? Most people want to gain experience and practise what they learnt at the university or college. This is a one time opportunity, so make it count.
For example you can write; I am a business management graduate from the University of Nairobi. I am looking for trainee position in a reputed management from a reputable firm to learn, understand and enhance my skills in business management. I want to work for a company that values diversity, and believes in work-life balance, values their employees and gets involved with the community. I’m a firm believer that if your employees are happy they won’t mind working hard for you.
What’s your Professional Experience?
You may not have any profound experience to write home about but most universities and colleges now offer internship programs before their students graduate. What did you learn at that internship then? You will find that most students now days aren’t just students but part time workers which puts them at a better position when applying for the position. Sports you may have participated in, campus jobs, they all count while applying for a trainee vacancy.
For example you may write;
Management Graduate Trainee
XYZ Company
January 2012-May 2012
Managed Events
Assisted to manage the budget for the company
Was involved in branding, promotion, marketing of the company’s products
Involved in facility management and compliance, etc.
Don’t overlook little events that shows experience in accepting responsibility and demonstrate reliability. Consider the following factors to identify the experience and skills you garnered in higher institution and match your information with the job you hope to land:
When you have no track record to put in your CV.
You are a fresh graduate which means no track record that can to give some weight to your CV. Your CV should include a personal statement or career objective near the beginning for example, ‘Motivated and academically gifted business management graduate seeking to use his management experience’. Only do it if you feel comfortable with approach. The rest of the CV must contain considerable evidence to back up any such assertions.
Another common feature of this type of CV is including a list of key achievements. Only do this if you feel that it’s the most effective way to package your message. The main problem with these CVs is that they can run the risk of sounding phoney or pompous if badly composed.
Last but not least, get rid of unsupportive information; don’t fatten your portfolio with irrelevant data or pictures. Include an activity only if it reveals skills, competencies, accomplishments, results, or other qualification to support your intended job.
If an exhaustive search of your hobbies, campus activities, or community service which do not reveal any skills learnt from such activities, don’t include them.

CV Writing: How to Review Your CV To Target Each Job Application

By Angela Wahome,
We have been through the basics of how to write a good CV. First, the information that should be on your CV should be relevant and positive to help you get that job that you are applying for. Four main basic categories of information must be on your CV for you to be competitive; first your full names, contact details and personal information should be at the beginning. The next section should present you in terms of what you have studied/trained. The third section should present your detailed work experience and lastly is a list of referees an employer can contact to do a background check on you.
Many applicants send out the same basic CV to each opening. There are benefits of having a well written CV is it will highlight the main duties and responsibilities that you were able to handle and emphasize your suitability for the job you are applying for. Therefore it is critical to do a quick review of your CV before you hit the send button.
Consider not only your work but also what you can do that can improve your profiles. If you have a blog and write on it constantly, include a hypertext link to the site. Also when you take time to address the specific needs of the business, you will capture the recruiters’ attention. To be able to do this well you will need to get into the habit of reading various job descriptions for the position that you desire. This will guide you on what you need to say in your CV (and give you buzz words) as well as a goal to work towards if you are trying to target more senior level positions in that industry. This will ensure that your CV will be positively accepted by the Human Resource Manager (if you meet the qualifications).
It pays at times to have your CV professionally written. Yes you may know what you are doing in your work place. Of course you do that… its common sense!  Obviously an Accountant has to work with work with statutory returns and deductions which include but are not limited to; NSSF, NHIF, RBA, DIT, VAT and VAT exempt client, HELB deductions. Do not be overconfident and fail to make note of all your relevant/critical skills.  Remember your CV is your advertisement. You will never find Coca-Cola sending out an advert with abbreviated words, spelling mistakes and a poor layout. No, they maximise on the space that they are using to advertise and use every means possible to ensure that they present themselves in an enticing manner.
As such, we can conclude that it is critical to review your CV. It should not be rigid documents that can go months without being updated. You should adapt and customise your CV for each and every job that you apply for so that it best sells your strengths and qualities to each individual employer and each individual job.

CV Writing Tips: 5C’s That Make Your CV Catchy

Writing a successful resume can sometimes prove to be a hard nut to crack. Maybe the reason why we hire people to do it for us or decide to do it ourselves. Whatever path we choose to follow, CV’s are fatal documents which should be treated with the care that they do deserve.  A CV will help in facilitating you nail that job, so make it count.
Here are some of the tips that might help in making it easier to write that important document.
1. Customize - Being specific is all about personal branding and being unique. It all goes down to making yourself stand out in the face of thousands of applicants.  For example, if you’re applying for a Sales and Marketing Vacancy in The Mumias Sugar Company, you should categorically state why you are the ideal candidate for the said job and how your skills exactly fit the requirements and taste of your would be employer.
2. Complete- It’s advisable not to leave any gaps in your CV of places you’ve worked before otherwise there will be gaps in your resume which will need to be accounted for. If you’ve worked in any other company before as their sales persons, it’s advisable to include all your historical background lest you get caught up in an interview when asked to account for the gaps in your CV.
3. Clever- You don’t want to be just another Sales applicant. Use clever connotations in your CV and be sure to wow the
hiring manager with how much you know. Cleverness might just do the trick especially in the Sales field where you are bound to encounter with people from all walks of life who you need to see goods to. Sometimes being a know it all candidate can pay off.
4. Clean and Professional- Resist the urge to use flashy fonts to impress the hiring manager. Truth is, there’s nothing special about fonts. We all can use them, so it’s not a special skill that you need to portray.  Otherwise, you resume will find itself in the dustbin and you will never get that call.
5. Consistency- From the layout of your CV everything in the CV should be in a consistent form that will spare whoever goes through it some time. The grammar be it the spelling mistakes should be thorough. Take time to go through your resume with afresh eye. Take time off from it and return to it in a day or two. Sit back and correct the hideous mistakes which might cost you that job.
CV’s are vital documents, well written and you might just get that call. Dubiously done and the dustbin becomes their resting place.

10 Ways to Pimp up Your CV

By Angela Wahome,
Whether you are looking for a new job or just keeping your CV updated. Here are some tips to get you CV to stand out and to get noticed.
1. Write it all down
Start with a big list on a sheet of paper on which you shall include all your duties and responsibilities. Keep this list separate, it will come in handy when you need to adjust your CV To highlight different and responsibilities that you had in the workplace. Keeping a work journal is a great way to keep track of these things.
2. Do not write unnecessary details
Marital Status: Married with 3 children. The part in italics is completely irrelevant on a CV.
3. Avoid over used phrases
Honest, hardworking, God fearing young lady…..Most of the time you write a CV you present the information in front of the people that are going to recruit you. They are the ones that need to make the decisions.
4. Quantify your application
Make sure you are able to indicate on your CV the information that shows you are able to do your job well. For instance, increased profit for the organization in two months by 50%.
5. Ensure you CV has key words on it
Make sure that you write your CV well. A sentence like , Pick up the phone and talked to callers, differs greatly from, Answered clients enquiries and directed calls to the relevant department.
6. Proof read your CV from the bottom up
This makes sure that you get a different perspective as it makes you pay attention to each individual word.
7. Use different CV for different jobs
This is important as you will target each company and present yourself the best way that you can for each opportunity. Writing CVs can be tricky. If you find that you get stuck you may go to a professional for assistance.
8. Know what problems that company has
This will allow you to present yourself as the solution. This will be an advantage, especially if you can understand the industry, company, job and the economy. Capitalise on being the solution for this organization.
9. Make sure you include trainings
Often people take for granted the in house training, or on the job training that they receive. This is practical and can help you secure a job as you are able to convince employers that you can do the job well.
10. Test your CV before you begin to use it
Find a person or two, that you can take your CV to and ask them to tell you about what they believe you do after reading your CV. This will give you an indication about how easy your CV is to understand.
CVs are one of the key building blocks of a job search create your well and you will find that you will outshine.

Common Areas People Lie On Their Cv’s…Don’t Do It!

By Tabitha Makumi,
How many times have you seen a job advert on the dailies  or on line and you have this feeling in your gut that you are the right candidate for that job if only you had a degree and not a diploma ?  Chances are pretty high that you will be tempted to lie on your CV.
You know, embellish it a little bit to make you seem like the perfect candidate but resist the temptation because sooner or later you will get caught and you won’t be smiling then.
Here are some of the most common lies that people write on their CV’s not knowing that eventually the HR Manager will notice them.
1.Level Of Education
So you want to match the qualifications on that job advert by saying you have a high education level? You may even have  a Riverroad made Degree to show for it…
Read this keenly, while it may be a little difficult for the HR to spot this,  a simple call to the institution that you allegedly studied will provide the recruiter with knowledge of whether you actually studied there and if you completed.
How awful would it be for you if you get that job only one month later it’s discovered you are a ‘fraud’? I am sure you have heard of how people lose their jobs when the management of the company they work for goes through a transition and the employees are required to provide their documents and Alas! It’s discovered their documents are forged? Don’t be that guy.
2.Salary details
This is a major offense by most job seekers who feel they will be offered more salary by a new company if only they said they earned more in their previous/current job.
So, whenever you are tempted to quote a little more than you actually earn, it’s  very easy for a recruiting company to find out what are being paid. How you ask? They will just ask  the previous company you worked for to give them your salary details or simply, they will ask you to provide three current pay slips.
3.Your Work History
Most people do this to cover up the working  gaps in their CV’s.  If at all you have employment gaps in your job history, your resume should address this in a straightforward manner. Don’t lie to cover holes in your resume.
4. Criminal charges if any
People who have faced criminal charges may feel that they may not be the first choice of an employer. For this reason they may be compelled to lie about this.
You may be tempted to lie on your CV but what about that interview day when you are required to show up with a certificate of good conduct to show you are ‘clean’ but you don’t have one?
Some lies you may get away with, they are harmless and wouldn’t affect you as a professional but it’s important  to remember that a lie, even a little one points to a larger issue.

Graduate Trainee Jobs Kenya. Geothermal Devt Company

Graduate Trainee Vacancies
The Geothermal Development Company (GDC) is a 100% state-owned company with the mandate to fast track development of geothermal resources. To achieve its objectives, GDC is seeking to recruit suitably qualified and highly motivated staff to support the development of steam equivalent to 5000 MW in the next 17 years.
The candidates will be responsible for undertaking surface exploration and working on drill rigs in sites including Magadi, Suswa, Bogoria, Arus, Lake Baringo, Chyulu, Mwananyamala, Homa Hills, Menengai, Barrier, Namarunu, Emuruangogolak, Silali, Korosi, Paka, Badlands and Chepchuk.
The ideal candidates should be able to work in camping environments in remote areas and have the following attributes: team player, high integrity, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, flexible and willing to work long hours.
GRADUATE TRAINEES – ENGINEERS (Age: 21-25 years)
Ref/GDC/HR/07/13/GT/EM: Trainee Engineer, Mechanical
Reporting to the Rig Drilling Engineer, responsibilities will include; providing mechanical engineering support in all rig drilling operations, execution of drilling programs, repair and
maintenance of rigs and associated equipment safety and offering logistical support in drilling operations.
Qualifications:
BSc in Mechanical Engineering (Upper 2nd Class Hons.)
Trainee Engineer, Electrical
Ref/GDC/HR/07/13/GT/EE:
Reporting to the Rig Maintenance Engineer, key responsibilities will include; carrying out electrical repair and maintenance of rigs and associated plants for drilling operations, engineering support in all rig drilling operations, execution of drilling programs, safety
and providing logistical support in drilling operations
Qualifications:
BSc in Electrical Engineering (Upper 2nd Class Hons).
Trainee Engineer, Steamfield
Ref/GDC/HR/07/13/GT/ES:
The Trainee will report to the Senior Engineer, Steamfield.
Qualifications:
BSc in Chemical/Mechatronics Engineering (Upper 2nd Class Hons).
GRADUATE TRAINEES – SCIENTISTS (Age 21-25 years)
Ref/GDC/HR/07/13/GT/G: Trainee Geologist
The Trainee will report to the Senior Geologist.
Qualifications:
• BSc in Geology (Upper 2nd Class Hons) Ref/GDC/HR/07/13/GT/GP: Trainee Geophysicist
The Trainee will report to the Senior Geophysicist.
Trainee Geochemist
Ref/GDC/HR/07/13/GT/GC:
The Trainee will report to the Senior Geochemist.
Qualifications:
BSc in Geology (Upper 2nd Class Hons) Must have also taken chemistry units in the undergraduate studies.
Those pursuing MSc (Numerical methods & fluid thermodynamics based projects) will an added advantage.
PERFORMANCE ANALYSTS (Age 21-25 years)
Ref/GDC/HR/07/13/GT/PA: Trainee Performance Analyst
The Trainee will report to the Performance Analyst.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Statistics or Economics – (Upper 2nd Class Hons). Certification in SPSS or other statistical analysis tool, Project Management and/or Monitoring & Evaluation will be an added advantage. Strong Analytical skills and IT skills are
required.
If you feel your career objectives match any of these roles, please submit your application letter together with a detailed CV, copies of certificates, and other relevant testimonials, email and telephone contacts, to reach the undersigned not later 5.00 p.m. on 15th August, 2013. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The Managing Director & CEO,
Geothermal Development Company Ltd
TAJ towers 9th Floor Upper Hill Road
P.O. Box 100746 – 00101, Nairobi, Kenya
Email: careers@gdc.co.ke

Graduate Trainees Jobs. Tezza Business Solutions

Trainee Jobs in Kenya 2013.
Software Testing Trainee Program (positions In Nairobi, Kenya)
Tezza Business Solutions Ltd is a leading Software Quality Assurance and Testing Company based in Nairobi, Kenya. We are a Software Quality Assurance and Testing Services provider company.
Our primary goal is to be the “go-to” company in Africa for all services related to Quality Assurance and Software Testing.
Our ideal candidates have a Software Development background, they are outgoing, strong problem-solvers, out of the box thinkers, possess strong logical reasoning abilities and are not scared to work in a challenging and fast paced work environment.
In addition, they must possess the following:
•    University graduate with a degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or related fields
•    Must have completed at least 1 technical Internship program
•    Knowledge of programming languages such as PHP, C, C#, Java, .NET, and Visual Basic
•    Exposure to Mobile Application Development
•    Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills
•    Team player with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment
•    Demonstrated outstanding level of professionalism in providing administrative support, including ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy
•    Sound business ethics, including the protection of proprietary and confidential information
•    Superior interpersonal skills including courtesy, professionalism, and a cooperative attitude
•    Proficiency in MS Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel)
Click the link below to see the full Job description http://tezzasolutions.catsone.com/careers/

Accountant Job Interview Questions & Answers

By Angela Wahome,
Here are sample job interview questions and answers for an accountant position.
What accounting packages are you familiar with?
When I was studying CPA I did two accounting packages being Sage and QuickBooks. I also became familiar with ERP when I joined the first organization where I worked for a year and three months. The organization that I am in at the moment uses SAP, which also has and accounting module in it.
Describe an accounting process that you sought to improve.
In the last organization I worked at the owner was never in the office as he did a lot of field work. He preferred to work on paper.. After we ran out of toilet paper, petrol and airtime for the company sales team on the same day. I suggested that we may sms him the requisition for approval which he would later come to the office to sign.
Describe a time when you faced a particularly demanding deadline to prepare a financial statement or report. How did you react? What was the result?
The time to create an initial budget was drawing near. We had been given a 6 months count down and a break down of all the expenditure for the previous year together with the possible activities. I created a budget that was very frugal based on the expected return for each Marketing activity or event having studied both accounts and marketing. The Marketing Department had all the figures ready and when we presented our budget the Management were grateful that we were able to use much less than the previous year. The sales increased and a profit was realised that year of 30% more than the previous years.
How do you ensure that you do not forget details and ensure accuracy when you prepare monthly journal entries, record transactions, etc.?
Working in a team and directly reporting to two Managers as well as the CEO, made this a bit of a challenge. There were times I had to reallocate work, or juggle work while keeping everyone in the loop. Eventually I began coming in early in the morning to gain an additional 3 hours, which allowed me time to focus on the difficult activities, before the office got extremely busy. I kept a diary with a list of things to do and a summary of the days work. The most important skill I gained was the ability to be flexible and to switch tasks without losing focus.
Describe a time when you had to use numerical data or a graph to convince a manager.
We had an exhibition to go to one time as one of our clients decided to cancel and since they were not able to get a refund offered us the stand at a fraction of the original price. I quickly made a decision to take the stand and took it upon myself to get all the marketing material ready. With some hand written calculations, of basic expenses which required a lot of skipping on traditional expenses (like expensive lunch and transport) I was able to convince the Finance Manager to provide money for lunch for two people and the stand. We washed the banners, table cloths that morning. Then early that afternoon we piled everything including banners, cloths, books, all the brochures old and new and anything that would help us make the stand look nicer in a little car which went to the event. This included 2 office chairs. I paid for a decorator and bought a flower arrangement but had it put in a borrowed flower pot.  The CEO was furious, but when he arrived took a picture of the stand. The event was a success we ended up selling our products and services for more than we paid for the entire exhibition.

Managing Your Attitude: Why Positive Attitude Is Your Best Motivation

By Dorcas Karuana,
“The discontent and frustration that you feel is entirely your own creation.” Stephen Richards, is perhaps the best way to demonstrate how attitude affects our success or failure. Your attitude can be your greatest asset or your greatest liability. Our attitude affects our behavior, which in turn is demonstrated by our performance, and it’s no wonder that attitude is so important in our life’s as it determines how we relate to others, how we do our jobs and even how we fell about ourselves.
In the workplace, employers and organizations have the right to expect that an employee’s behavior and performance will have a positive impact upon their organization. You will agree with me that an organization comprised of employees who have a negative influence on their customers and co-workers will not be in business for very long.  But organizations whose employees have a positive impact on their co-workers, their customers, and their company will enjoy many years of success.
To Stay Positive, Avoid Negative People. Attitude, whether positive or negative, is contagious.  From your own experience, think about how you feel when you have to work with a negative person. Do you remember times when someone else’s negativity influenced your own performance that day? Even though you may love your job and you’re proud of the products and services you deliver, you probably felt that you and your organization weren’t doing their best. And if you had to work with a negative person for a long period of time, their poor attitude may have even made you want to quit your job. That’s the power a negative attitude can have on us.
If you have to work with negative people, try to limit additional interactions. You are not obligated to carpool with them, go to lunch with them, or spend time with them after work. Part of your responsibility as a professional is to be the kind of employee that others are not trying to get away from, but rather, to be a positive person with whom they enjoy working and seek out.
Your Positive Attitude is Your Best Motivation. Unaware of this, some employees often say, “My job is hard work. And my organization doesn’t even try to motivate me to do my best.” You may not realize it, but your performance has the power to make or break your organization.
A positive attitude is not taught but self acquired. It is not the responsibility of your employer to motivate employees because motivation cannot come from the outside. Motivation is “an inside job.” This means that employees should not have to be coddled or coerced into working hard and doing an excellent job. A valuable employee, the kind an organization would work hard to hire and retain, is self-motivated.
Most people do not separate attitudes from actions. They find it difficult to display a positive attitude even if one is feeling sad, depressed, or angry.  At one point, employees may find themselves in situations where they simply cannot let their internal feelings influence their actions.  But just think of this; ‘would you like your lawyer to argue your case poorly because she didn’t feel like talking today?’ S/he is required to behave in a certain, prescribed way regardless of their attitude.  And you certainly expect them to do that-no matter what.
But how do you stay enthusiastic and excited about your job if you’ve been at it for a while and things at work or at home are not going perfectly?  When actors are on stage, they know they must be so good at what they do that their performance will set them apart from the rest of the cast and make them memorable.  Be eager to take over the role the moment that actor begins to deliver a performance that is less than top quality.
Attitude is contagious, analyze your attitude and determine whether or not you’re helping to create a healthy home or work environment. Always try to have positive influence on your friends, colleagues, customers and your organization.
[Adopted from ‘Living Life Fully’]