10 things you need to know when Searching for Graduate Jobs in Kenya

Searching for graduate jobs in Kenya? Here are 10 things you need to know

The period between 2012 and 2014 are among the toughest times to graduate. The level of unemployment has gone up significantly, but there’s still something that you can do to boost your chances of finding the best graduate jobs in Kenya. You need to be smart in order to get the jobs and positions you want.

10 tips to find graduate jobs in Kenya

We hope that these 10 pieces of advice will be inspiring and helpful for those of you in search of graduate jobs in Kenya

Unpaid internships don’t always lead to paid jobs

Many graduates will spend years working on unpaid internships expecting to be employed later on. The reality is that there are organizations who are using the internship program to cut down on costs, get free labor and offer no employee benefits to workers. Don’t be cheated to work for anyone for free in the name that you will be employed later on.

Don’t let the news discourage your job search

It’s all over the news that there are no graduate jobs in Kenya. The reality is, there are companies looking for employable graduates. These are people who have the skill, personality and ambition to work. The number of startups is increasing and this means more opportunities for fresh graduates.

Going to get more education could be a waste of time

Many graduates will rush to get postgraduate degrees in order to be paid a higher salary or improve their chances of landing a good job. Doing more education isn’t always the answer so be very careful before you go to pay for an expensive postgraduate degree.

Choose a growing sector

The digital revolution has eliminated a good number of careers so you need to think critically and find out if your chosen field is affected too. There are certain jobs that won’t be there within a few years, so make sure you are investing in skills that will be viable in the coming years.

Don’t obsess over having the perfect CV

You don’t have to have the perfect CV in order to get the best graduate jobs in Kenya. There’s no such thing as a perfect CV. It just needs to be clear and straight to the point. Make a good application and it will be noticed by the recruiter.

Small and medium sized companies have so much to offer

Don’t always dismiss the small leagues because you think they pay less. In fact, these smaller companies usually have the most graduate jobs in Kenya. They may not have the budget to advertise in newspapers so you need to be smart at tracking these graduate vacancies.

Don’t beg for a job in order to get experience

No employer wants to hire someone who is desperate to gain experience. When sending an application, avoid the sob stories and just go straight to the point with what you have. An employer will only consider you if they think you have the skill to help them not so that they help you to gain experience.

Reassess your job hunting strategy

Don’t sit there and complain if you have been applying for jobs without hearing anything back. Reassess your strategy and make a new plan on how to get the best graduate jobs in Kenya. Networking may not work for a job in the public sector, but it will work for a media job. Know what works for your industry and use that approach.

Don’t exclude any forms of experience when searching for jobs in Kenya

It’s always important to include all forms of experience you have- however lame you think it may sound. What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them? This is information you’ll need during the interview.

Be yourself

When applying for a job, you don’t have to sound like a robot. Be yourself and include words that someone can relate to on your application instead of the business buzzwords you see on the web.

The opportunities for graduate jobs in Kenya are massive and that’s why people are getting careers soon after graduating. Know what you are doing wrong and you’ll be on your way to landing the job of your dreams.