These simple tricks will help Kenyan graduates land promising jobs immediately

After graduation, securing a good job may prove a nightmare for many young graduates.

One of the ironies in job market today is that while young graduates can’t easily secure favourable jobs, employers on the other hands are equally lamenting lack of right entry-level skills.

One of the biggest challenges recruiters face is sifting through applications and end up with a few or none.

Sometimes securing employment in Kenya is as a result of luck but there are several job hunting skills which fresh graduates are not armed with. If you are jobless and wondering how you can easily get a job in Kenya, below are tricks you should employ.

Seasoned recruitment experts advise that students need to focus on developing a portfolio and employability profile for the course they are pursuing.

Attachments and internships are the starting points for some professions. Internships are positively perceived by employers because they provide opportunities for industry to contribute to training and the implicit curriculum as well as provide an informal probationary experience for prospective employees.

Two, students can look for avenues to participate in part-time employment while studying. Combining work with learning can open doors to move into careers in the same industry.

For instance, those training as teachers can volunteer to teach during their long holidays; those studying law can do research in law firms and those pursuing journalism can send unsolicited articles to editors.

Engaging in extra-curricular activities and community engagement can also enhance graduate employability.

screen gems television GIF

The student is able to develop industry skills and soft skills such as team-building and professionalism. In areas like education, such certificates prove that one is a sportsperson and earns one marks during recruitment.

Also getting involved in volunteering opportunities can be a transformative experience. It is often seen that volunteering is strongly linked to a values-based approach and enhances an individual’s leadership and teamwork skills, including resilience, courage and recognising one’s impact on others.

Another minefield is the harnessing of the online social networking. Graduates can improve their employability with extra skill set of targeting social networking for career development.

This include social network primary online vehicle for employability like LinkedIn where CVs can be posted. A great CV can attract the best employers.

quit m&m GIF by Man Of The People with Pat Tomasulo

Job boards, newspaper classifieds and print ads only offer a small fraction of the total number of vacancies. Recruiters use a variety of other social media platforms like LinkedIn, job sites, forums and databases to reach the targeted graduates.

Below is a detailed summary of employability tricks that you need to employ.

Develop and grow a network

During job hunting process you should not isolate yourself from fellow job seekers. Always be close to them so that you can get information where jobs exist. One thing you should know is that there are other job seekers who have ‘big people’ out there, they can use them to offer you a job.

Avoid overlying on newspapers for jobs-visit online sites

One mistake job seekers do is relying heavily on newspapers- I was one of them a decade ago. You find a fresh graduate buying Nation Newspaper daily and applying for the jobs, even those he is less qualified to do. Then he sits back and wait for interviews. After 2 years he starts complaining that there are no jobs in this country.

Statistics show that every job advert on Nation Newspaper attracts over 10,000 applicants. If the company had a single vacancy, do you think you will get the job?

its always sunny in philadelphia job GIF

One secret I should reveal to you today is to stop visit online sites for more information on job vacancy. There are thousands of job opportunities online that are not advertised on newspapers because advertising on blogs is easier and cheaper than on newspapers.

Be ready to spend some money

This is unethical but I must say, point blank. Over 50 % of Kenyans are employed because they paid something. We have reached a point where Kenya is for those willing to pay in order to get employed. If you are convinced you can secure employment genuinely then be it…but you might wait forever

Pursue professional certificate course

Due to the large number of graduate in Kenya, a wise student should enroll for professional certificate alongside a degree in order to secure employment faster than other job seekers.

Even if you pursued Medicine or law, a professional certification is important.

Always stick to town even if you are going hungry

More than 90 % of job opportunities are in major towns. Which is why a job seeker should stay in town in case of any interview, he will not need to travel all the way for the interview.

Most job seekers give up after unsuccessfully applying for employment for a year. They decide to go to the village and wait for mana from heaven. The moment you go to the village, you chances of getting employment become very slim since there is plenty of food and less stress, therefore no need of looking for a job.

Blind application

reality GIF by WE tv

This is the best method of looking for a job. Simply identify companies you intend to work for,then write nice application letters and drop at their offices. The method works very well in Kenya.

And if you are in college?

You are in in college, almost completing your studies but you are not sure how your life will turn after college.

Perhaps you see some of your seniors struggling to get employment and you wonder what your case will be.

As you keep on wondering, remember you are your own driver, ensure that you prepare yourself psychologically and professionally before you graduate.

It’s sad that many Kenyan graduates are not well prepared by their lecturers concerning the level of employment in the country and how hard it is to secure even internship. The moment they step out of college, many end up being depressed and eventually lose hope simply because they lack vital information.

Students in a lecture room

The fact is that currently, the level of unemployment in Kenya is worrying and if the government does not do something, soon a degree will be useless. Graduates are suffering due to lack of jobs.

However, as much as the situation looks gloomy, there are graduates who secure jobs immediately after graduation. Many ask what secret they use. These are the secrets.

If you want to avoid being jobless after college, implement the following ideas.

1. Ensure you pursue a professional course while in college
There are several professional courses offered by different bodies. Immediately you join college, ensure you pursue a professional course which will add you mark during future interviews and career.

If you are pursuing Economics and business courses and you don’t plan to do either CPA, CIFA or ACCA then you are planning to be jobless for a number of years.

2. Attend career coaching training while you are in college
Career coaching is very important to step for fresh graduates as well as college students because they are trained on how to handle interviews as well as get informed job hunting techniques.

3. Get in touch with friends and course mates


These people may look insignificant when you are in school but you later realize that they are important and more connected after college.

Friends do help, they have helped many. Ensure that you always communicate with them and make it clear that you are looking for a job, they might help you.

Image result for professional courses kenya

4. Don’t always rely on jobs being advertised on newspapers.
One problem with fresh graduate rely on newspapers to find jobs, you will wait until the end of the world. There are many blogs which advertise jobs that you won’t see on papers.

exciting heidi montag GIF by The Hills

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *