Today, we were handling some interviews for new team members, as we all know Kuza Biashara is an ever-growing team and to this, these were my lessons from the last recruitment forum.
Appreciate what you have
Most of us have jobs that we tend to not appreciate or even realize that we are blessed. Lets face it, there is unemployment in Kenya and if you are reading this from the comfort of your employers desk, close your eyes and thank your God. The stories I heard yesterday were heart wrenching, some young people graduated 2-3years ago and have never had a job. You think it was some lousy course? Think again, the people coming in have had awesome academic backgrounds and one look at their transcripts and certificates could put anyone to shame. Pray tell, why do they not get jobs? Here are a few tips I could conjure from my observations.
Write your CV like a professional
Typos and grammatical errors have no place on your CV/resume. Keep the English crisp and clean. Ensure that it is an easy read and does not have too many words, most people are too busy to read the essays that are likely to be presented in terms of CVs. Additionally, one should always make sure the information they present during the interview matches the CV.
Relax during the interview
Breathe in and breathe out. These are human beings too and all you need to do is relate to them. All people like stories, tell them a story about you, what you are about and if nothing else happens they shall at least remember you. Do not be afraid to express yourself it is much better than coming off as a robot
Dress the part
You could even be applying for a position as an intern. This does not mean that you can come in as you please
Research on the company
It will impress the interviewing committee if you can show that you know the company background and can actually put some things together on their objectives etc
Don’t be too emotive
Yes we know life is hard, but no need to move to tears. Keep it together and Man up!
And finally when you have the job here is a very important message to adhere to and you shall forever shine and grow. Don’t make your boss ask the perfect question to get information from you. If you want your character to stand up for you and make life easier for your boss, open up and tell it like it is.
