How to Make Quality Job Applications on BrighterMonday

by murika Comment Closed
Are you using BrighterMonday to its fullest to get a job? Employers use BrighterMonday to shortlist candidates daily. This article shows you how to make job applications that land you the ultimate interviews. Every job seeker wants to land the next dream job, this is why we are making adjustments in our jobseeker application flow process. Here are some tactical tips on how you can leverage BrighterMonday and make job applications that work for you: 1. Keep your profile up to date   Recruiters need authenticity. This is why applicants with profiles updated to 100% have a higher chance of getting noticed and shortlisted for new roles. A candidate should list their experiences, skills and career objectives to stand out to employers. It is not just about the comprehensiveness of the candidate profile – it is also about the continuous activity on the site. An outdated profile will no longer serve as a way to shortlist applicants. A user must update his/her profile to make job applications. Each user will...
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Why Are You Not Getting A Job?

by murika Comment Closed
A vast majority of people who want to be in employment long for the day they will land their ideal jobs. An even bigger percentage of people long for the day they will land their first jobs. Statistics show that about 50,000 Kenyans graduate from tertiary institutions every year but one in every five Kenyans aged between 15 and 34 is unemployed. On the other end, the Kenyan job market is now experiencing what is known as under-employment in which people hold jobs that do not match their skills. Professional recruiting firms are increasingly seeing more and more people applying for jobs, with BrighterMonday receiving a job application every 17 seconds. A look at these statistics indicates that the job market in Kenya is highly competitive and you need to do your best to get ahead. It has become a common occurrence for job seekers to make numerous applications with no call for interviews or to attend numerous interviews without clinching...
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How to Get Your Years of Experience without a Formal Job

by murika Comment Closed
How many times do we fail to apply for jobs after looking at the experience section of the job advertisement? In many cases, the advertiser asks for 2 years and more work experience that the average graduate does not have. Even for those that have worked for a few years after college or university it is not always straightforward. Experience is an employer’s way of saying that they do not want to baby-sit a new hire. However, there are solutions to this problem. This is how you can get your years of experience without a formal job; Sharpen your Skills Entry level jobs usually major on qualifications and transferable skills. Skills required in entry level jobs are among other; Communication skills Customer service Writing (Business English) Microsoft office Sales Teamwork dynamics Telephone and email skills English (Written and Oral) Organizational skills The list above is not exhaustive. Sometimes different companies require a unique set of skills. Constantly work to improve these skills as...
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Characteristics of a Great CV to Help You Stand Out

by murika Comment Closed
Do you think your CV can stand out from a pile and catch the attention of a hiring manager? If the answer to that question is a no or a maybe there’s quite the work to be done. Your CV should represent you fully to a hiring manager and give you an opportunity to meet the interviewer. Here are 10 characteristics of a great CV you should check your CV against; It Grabs the Reader’s Attention This is the most important aspect in a CV. Your CV should stand out from pile and intrigue the reader enough to want to read it. On average, a recruiter or HR practitioner takes about 7 seconds to decide whether or not your CV is worth their time. A great CV captures the attention of it’s reader right away. It tells the Reader the Kind of Job You are Looking For Your CV should immediately state the job and industry you are interested in. This information can be entered in...
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Characteristics of a Great Company to Look Out For

by murika Comment Closed
You go to work to earn a living. You have invested in your self academically and experience -wise to ensure you become a professional in your field. This should ideally reflect on the kind of compensation you get once employed. Great companies offer competitive packages for their employees. A salary that is equal to or higher than the industry standard is a vital determining factor when looking for your next employer. Job Security When looking for a job, how long you last in the company is important to you because it basically dictates the kind of life you live. Job security is crucial. You need  need to know your job’s security status because you have responsibilities, hence the higher the job security level, the better. Career Growth Opportunities You join a company with the hopes of growing and advancing your in your career. Growth is an important factor to consider when choosing an employer. During an interview, seek to find out the growth opportunities and...
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Remote Interviewing: How to Tell If the Job Is Right for You

by Judith Kiruja Comment Closed
Whether you’re interviewing in-person or remotely, there’s always a lot to think about when judging whether an opportunity is the right one for you. Below, we’ll cover what to think about when going through the interview process, from considering your skillset to testing the culture and more. Many people prefer to work from home, particularly if they have children, or just like the freedom. If a job description includes remote work, that’s great news for you! But before you jump in and apply, here are some things to consider: 1. Is it remote? You might be a perfect fit for the job, but the fact that it’s remote might not mean what you think. Many employers advertise their jobs as “remote” even though they require you to work in an office one day per week. This could be a deal-breaker if you can’t take a day off of work to go into the office. It sounds silly, but it happens all the time! 2. Will...
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Show your team some love, or don’t manage people at all

by Judith Kiruja Comment Closed
Successful managers build confident and cohesive teams by making a conscious effort to engage. They do it consistently, too. Balancing the state of work with life at work One-on-one meetings are not always meant for status updates on the state of work. There are many better ways to address your agenda without having to meet in-person all the time (see: Flock's Channels, Notes, To-Dos, and other tools). It's a people update. It's a set time for them to share with you what's on their mind and wax poetic about their current and future life at work. Too often, managers forget what it was like when they were new and junior. There's psychological and emotional inertia (in the "an object at rest stays at rest" sense) for employees who have something important to discuss. It's easier if they don't have to make a special effort. It’s partly incumbent upon you to initiate discussions in their best interest, especially for introverts who need help coming out of their shell. The employee...
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Don’t Manage People—Lead them

by Judith Kiruja Comment Closed
Managing people as projects can achieve results but leading people goes far beyond the immediate results. Leading people develops teamwork, shared vision, and a common mission. A few years ago my wife and I were binge-watching episodes of The Good Wife. We loved to hate it. For me, one of the shows glaring flaws was the almost total lack of leadership skills. Time after time the “managing” partners ignored the needs of their staff, pitted employees against one another, played favorites, and attempted to use fear and intimidation as motivators. Either the writing staff has a warped view of leadership, or they’ve purposely created a dysfunctional operation. I’m not certain which. Regardless, it’s a good example of what not to do....
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Last-Minute Interview Tips That Can Land You the Job

by murika Comment Closed
With everything happening online, it is easy to get invited to a last-minute interview, with not more than just a couple of hours to prepare. Don’t freak out when this happens. Stay calm and focused, as you would for any other interview. Sometimes your interview will come at a time when you are only scrambling to stay still. Your response will determine the difference between a failed interview and a job offer. Here are some tips on how to land a job with a last-minute interview: 1. Read the company’s website Getting a last-minute interview does not exempt you from knowing what the company is about. If you are interested in working for them, you must show interest in joining the team. Find their website and do a deep industry search. Learn as much as you can about the company and the services they provide. How are your skills going to add value to the company? Do you understand why they need someone like...
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Do What You Love! How to Identify & Pursue Your Passions

by murika Comment Closed
I spent nearly 15 years working in nonprofit management, mostly in fundraising and marketing. I was good at it—people told me so all the time. It came easily to me, paid the bills, and was a very comfortable career path. Don’t get me wrong—it was okay. I learned a lot and worked with some great people. But I envied those folks who had a spring in their step on the way to work—people who absolutely loved what they did and couldn’t wait to roll up their sleeves and get busy on the job. I always wanted to be one of those people. I finally went for it. I left my mediocre non-profit job and started my own corporate communications business. It’s been nearly a year, and while there have been many bumps along the way, I can now say with full confidence that I really love what I do. As Confucius said, “choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day...
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Tips for Practicing Your Investor Pitch Ahead of the Big Meeting

by murika Comment Closed
In the early days of your startup, investors can make or break your business. Failing to bring on new investors can mean pushing back the launch of your service or product, or delaying a major hire or purchase. That's why it's so important to connect with investors from the start and to pitch your business in the right way. Here, nine Young Entrepreneur Council members share tips for practicing your pitch to potential investors and what to keep in mind before the big day....
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Why companies need a robust enterprise risk management plan

by murika Comment Closed
Organisations face numerous risks that could potentially jeopardise their operations, reputations, and financial performance, and must be prepared to face them in order to achieve their goals and maintain long-term success. Risks can arise from a variety of sources, including operational issues, fraud, cyber-attacks, regulatory non-compliance, governance failures or natural disasters. Without a robust enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, organisations may struggle to identify and mitigate these risks, leading to severe consequences. Read More...
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Should You Venture or License Your Invention Idea? The better question to ask is, are you more of an inventor or an entrepreneur?

by murika Comment Closed
There are two main paths for commercializing a new product idea. At some point, you're going to need to decide which one you want to take. Some product ideas are clearly a better fit for one path, but more often than not, the decision is a matter of personal preference. I speak from experience, having achieved success doing both. For most of my career, I utilized the licensing business model to transform ideas in my head into products on the shelf. When I had the idea to change the shape of guitar picks, I experienced the ecstasy and the agony of venturing by starting and growing a business to bring it to life. These two paths are very different, and each has pros and cons. In our society, venturing gets all the glory. To venture a new product onto the market is to go into business for yourself -- meaning start a company, likely raise money, and do all of the necessary research and development, prototyping, manufacturing, marketing, sales,...
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You Don’t Have to “Speak Up” to Contribute to Meetings

by murika Comment Closed
We’ve all been there. The meeting is about to end and that incessant need to say something — anything — just so people know that you’re present, grows stronger. You hit the “end call” button (or get up to leave the room) with a quick, “It was a great meeting everyone. Thank you.” You leave thinking: What value did I bring to that conversation? Imposter syndrome takes over and you start to spiral. Are you in the right role? Will you ever be able to make an impact? Here’s the thing: You don’t have to speak up in every single meeting to contribute to your team. Sometimes, active listening is necessary to give you the context you need to reflect and provide input in the future. Often, however, people equate value with “speaking up,” and if you struggle to do so, you may feel like you’re failing. Read More...
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5 Things That Change When You Become a Leader

by murika Comment Closed
When you are promoted from an individual contributor role into a leadership position, your job is going to undergo some fundamental changes, both in a practical day-to-day sense and in terms of the emotional and psychological impact. To make a successful transition, you will need to adapt accordingly. This will require a shift in your focus and mindset, as well as a commitment to adopting leadership disciplines that will underpin your success. What exactly is going to change? Let’s start by looking at five key areas. 1) Your friends are no longer your friends. If you’re promoted to lead the team that you were once a part of, a relationship reset may be necessary. Effective leadership demands that you be even-handed in your treatment of every team member. Playing favorites (on any basis other than performance) will erode your team’s motivation and commitment. Read More...
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