Have you thought of death recently? Have you thought of when you will die and what kind of coffin you will be buried in?
I did this last weekend. Not that anything out of the ordinary happened. Yes, there was breaking news of over 10 Kenyans passing away due to road accidents. Very very sad situation but we drivers in Kenya never learn.
Share on FacebookWhile most of us use the terms ‘Curriculum Vitae’ (CV) and ‘Resume’ interchangeably, there is a difference between these two documents. All over the world (except the US), employers ask potential employees for a CV while applying for a position. While both documents are used in the job application process, There is a difference in what the contents of each should be.
Share on FacebookWorried about the direction your career is taking?
Not sure how to handle interviews and job search in today’s competitive Kenya job market?
Share on FacebookThis has to be one of the most common questions we hear as professional CV writers. My answer to our clients is that one size does not fit all. Traditionally, CV are one, two and three pages. (In some industries and countries more than four pages are acceptable, even expected!). While I don’t have a concrete answer I’ll provide you with the information you need to decide which length works best for you.
Share on FacebookHas this ever happened to you? You’ve been instructed to list your career accomplishments, and you can’t think of any. Or you’re asked in a job interview, “What accomplishments are you most proud of?” — and you freeze up. You know you have had accomplishments, but you just can’t dredge them up.
The inability to come up with accomplishments happens to lots of Kenyan job seekers. We know because we ask our CV and cover-letter clients to list accomplishments as part of the process of preparing their CV and cover letters for their next jobs. Although we stress that accomplishments are far more important than duties and responsibilities, a surprising number of clients are unable to articulate beyond the day-to-day tasks they performed in their jobs.
Share on FacebookThe Bible says there is time for everything.There is a time to plant, a time to reap. There is a time to laugh, a time to weep. There is a time to build up, a time to break down. And there is a time to resign from your job (we aren’t sure why God didn’t include that last one in the Bible verse). When this time comes – the time for you to resign from your job, a resignation letter is usually written.
Writing a resignation letter seems simple enough: if you don’t do it correctly, what are they going to do, fire you? Even so, a resignation letter needs to include – and exclude – certain things. You might be quitting your job, but you don’t really want to burn any professional bridges in the process.
Share on FacebookJob searching in Kenya is almost never easy. There are the few random scenarios where jobs can fall in your lap or where you can be super-excited to search without the stress or money or time getting in the way.
But for the most part, especially now with the way the economy is headed, there are fewer jobs available and more competition. And that’s hard to handle if you’re a job seeker. Really hard.
Most of the posts on the topic are all glass half full: “Keep your spirits high. Don’t let the process overwhelm you or weigh you down.”
Fine. I understand. Stay positive! Stay happy! Get motivated! UGH.
Share on FacebookMany Kenyan employers have resulted to asking job candidates to quote current and expected salary. What is the best way to tackle this? Do you indicate salary requirement in the cover letter or on the CV?
Here are the answers.
Asking for salary requirements help employers screen out job-seekers — both the lazy job-seekers who don’t bother to conduct any research and the over- and under-qualified job-seekers.
Share on FacebookI met with a client today to discuss job search strategies and interview preparation. During our discussion she produced a CV and a cover letter.
Ok it was not the worst CV I have ever seen but there were glaring mistakes!
Here are some of the mistakes ….
Share on FacebookBefore reading any further have a look at your CV and note what you have written.
Following on from why CVs are rejected and common CV writing mistakes, please find below some of the most unnecessary inclusions on a CV:
Photos – the most common problem! In Kenya, the only people who should include a photo on their CV are models and actors / actresses. Please note: some other countries do require photos. Contact us if you are unsure as to whether you should use a photo.
Share on FacebookYou have visited Career Point and found a job you like. Do you, like most Kenyan job candidates send an application without giving a second thought to cover letters. Do you use the same boring cover letter…all the time…And you wonder why interviews are not forthcoming.
Job Specific Cover letters are one of the most important weapons in the job seeker’s arsenal, and they need to be very thoroughly understood. Job specific cover letters contain your unique information and important standout material.
Cover letters are short, and every word has to count. You have about 350 words to convince the person reading your application that you’re the person for that specific job, and more deserving of an interview than the average of ten other applicants who may get turned down.
Share on FacebookIn case you are stuck with the cover letter in application for the KRA graduate trainee position you can use this format.
10th September 2009
Share on FacebookApplying for thousands jobs and no interview yet? Your CV could be the problem.
You are confident that you have all the qualifications for the job you’ve applied for, but the translation of your talents, skills and accomplishments may not have been well represented in your CV.
Showcasing why you are the best candidate for the position is the first impression a potential employer may have of you. As CV writers we can help you find a balance between being too humble and bragging.We are skilled at making CVs stand out from the pile stacked on the employer’s desk, which could mean the difference between getting called for an interview or getting the cold shoulder.
Share on FacebookHave you switched employers so much so that your CV looks like a job listing? And this is despite
the fact that you are still in mid-career? If so, your CV may put off, rather than impress, the recruiting
company. To go around this, put the various jobs you’ve done under categories. The CV will be more
presentable.
The shouting paper
Share on Facebook(1) Tailor your CV to answer the one question all employers are asking,why should I hire you out of the 5,000 applicants. Summarise you key competencies as the opening selling line. All employers want candidates who have excellent numeracy and written skills,analytical thinkers,good communicators,team players,self motivated and detail oriented,innovators.
(2) Sex and religion are no longer relevant. remove these from your CV. Imagine you CV indicating that you are a born again christian in an organization whose HR manager is a devout Muslim. Chances are you wouldnt get called for an interview.
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