How to get the Interview questions right; Guide to your dream job

 
Getting called for an interview can be the most exciting moment for a job seeker, however, a good number of people has no idea what to expect from the interview panel or what is expected of them. Here are a number of questions you will have to deal with and how to go about them.

1. What are you bringing into the organization?

The question tests your ability to apply your experience in the job you are looking for.

In your answer, ensure to mention a few skills you have from your previous experiences and how you intend to apply to the job

2. Tell us about yourself

This question is meant to test your ability to communicate and sell yourself to the public. Mostly, they expect you to take at least a minute.

Focus on: Pull points from: Education relating to job, what you have been doing lately, a few technical and soft skills you have including anything that qualifies you for the job.

3. What attracts you to this organization?

The question tests your familiarization or if you assessed the organization culture and its sector of operation and why you think you fit in. The question is used to find out your connection with the organization.

4. How did you find out about this job?

This question is meant to test your networking and relationship building abilities. For example, if you heard about the job from friends or a current employee of the organization, it my show your networking skills. If you found out from the internet, that may show your interest in computer and technology. If you found out from a rarely publicized media, it my show you are focused on finding a job.

5. How long were you in your last job?

This question tests your focus and dedication to a job.

If you fell out with your former employer, the interviewers will want to know why? How did you handle it? They may also ask for reasons for leaving your previous job. If you mention low pay, they might be offering less to keep you onboard.

6. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

The question simply requires you to identify failures you have experienced and how you confronted them.

Strengths - The strengths you mention must explain your abilities to tackle the job, challenges and creating solutions to problems

Weaknesses – If you mention where you failed, you should explain how you dealt with the situation to get back on foot, your attitude to seek help from team members and/or accept criticism.

7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years

Tests if you see yourself growing with the company, they always need someone who wants to stay around. Have the future of the company in your plan.

8. What is your most recent achievement?

The question checks if you are proud of your achievements, small or big. How you relate your achievements with support from other teams.

 

By: HRM Guide Kenya

How to manage your Boss

 

Backstabbing your manager can backfire, but team work rewards

Bosses, some with big egos, can be hard to manage. Here are some tips to be in the chief’s good books.

• Initiative: set a few goals and seek the boss’s input and adjust accordingly. Make an effort to meet the boss and review to review progress and performance.

• Support: Don’t badmouth your manager. Give credit where he excels. You should build on his/her strength and focus on issues not personality. Build subsidiary support networks that enhance performance to the manager’s credit. Identify your manager’s peers and work closely with them.

• Timings: Approach your manager at the right time. Understand when he is more receptive and extremely busy.

• When and how to complain:  you need to carefully craft a kind of approach when raising a point of concern without being an irritant.

• Strengthen credibility: There is need to act as you say and demonstrate leadership by meeting your commitments. Show the best of you and see and work towards the big picture of the boss.

• Team spirit: To demonstrate team spirit by being able to “chip in” where need arises or when called upon.

• Reminding boss: Given he is busy with, it is prudent to serve him as his memory on issues that he may have forgotten about.
• Humor bonds! Make your boss laugh. 
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• By HRM Guide Kenya

6 reasons you never get called for an Interview

1.     You are not as qualified as you think
Every time you apply for a job, it is best you check what the job requirements are. Hiring managers are always keen to uphold standards of their organizations hence; policies are adhered to attract the best talent. For example, if the Job description mentioned several years of experience as a requirement, the lack of it will mean it is unlikely you will receive that phone call
Read the Job description carefully to ensure you fit the requirements.

2.     Revamp your Resume’
A colorful resume’ should capture your details including strengths and why you think you are the best candidate for the job. It is advised that you take your time to understand the Job description then have a resume’ that captures your skills that relate to the job and skills that will benefit the company.

3.     Average Cover letters
A cover letter is simply a summary of your CV. It serves as an appetizer to the recruiter hence it should capture the finer details of your CV and expound on them in relation how your strengths will benefit the company.
Your cover letter should also be free of language and grammatical errors.

4.     Not following Instructions
Most recruiters are strict on application procedures and guidelines. This is a move to ensure provision of equal opportunities in the recruitment and selection process. The recruiter may hence demand certain information or require that every applicant uses a specific means while applying for a position. If an applicant submits an application in a different way from the stated means, this may show lack of attentiveness. For example, if they insist on online or mail applications, submitting a hardcopy application may never reach the hiring manager.

5.     Poor network with insiders
Many people like to work with someone that can easily relate with or know from somewhere, e.g. a friend, a friend of a friend. This builds the trust as you are all connected in a way; Like the saying goes, ‘’It is who you know and not what you know.’’
Networking abilities are crucial in any job search. It is wise you keep close contact with insiders as your professional network. You can also use a name of an employee in the company in your cover letter and explain how you connect with the company. Some applications will demand you mention how you heard about the job. If you heard from an insider or someone close, that means you have a close relation hence likely to fit in the culture and environment besides knowing a few things about the company already. Online-administered aptitude tests are a few means used to select successful candidates. 

If you don’t get called, you probably didn’t fit their type

6.     You are not their type
Every company has specific traits they seek in employees. The traits should enable a candidate to easily fit within the system and culture of the organization. Assessment centres or online-ad

However, here are a few tips to get called for an interview, as explained by Maro Onokpise, a renowned Human Resource consultant from the University of Central Florida

 

Consider companies that aren’t household names
Everyone is going after the big names in your industry.  You have to go where the competition isn’t or at least where the odds are stacked in your favor.  You can still apply to the larger firms, but focus your time and energy on companies that are lesser known.
Most times, these companies don’t have as much red tape, and hiring decisions come down pretty quickly.  You also have the potential to make a name for yourself .

Go beyond standard research
You want to move beyond the standard information that’s out there about a company.  Find out more about the positions they are recruiting for and how your particular skill sets can help them to solve a problem they have.
Companies respond very favorably to individuals that can think on their feet and articulate a solution to a problem they may be having.

Craft a laser focused resume and cover letter
To set yourself apart from any other candidate out there, you’re going to need to spend some time tailoring your resume, cover letter and responses to the specific position being advertised.  Anything less, and you’re doing yourself a disservice.
The more that you are able to show that you are a match, the more likely you will be invited in for an interview.

Meet deadlines
A late application is no application.  By putting your job applications in order according to their deadlines, you’ll be able to manage your applications in a way that ensures they will go out in a timely fashion.
Employers need to know that you are able to prioritize and meet deadlines.

Follow up on applications or resumes submitted
It’s always a good idea to follow up to make sure that your application or resume was received and to find out what the next steps are.  As long as you’re not being a pest, the employer will be more apt to remembering you if you take that initiative.
By being proactive, and following up, you’re going from just an electronic application to an individual that’s showing initiative and drive.  All qualities that potential employers are looking for.

By: HRM Guide Kenya

Kenyan Universities with Highly valued degrees; World's top learning Institutions

The Sub-Saharan Africa economy expanded 4.6% in the year 2012, contrary to Europe’s economy which shrank by 3%, according to Standard Investment Bank (SIB) research report 2012. There has been an influx of investment both foreign and domestic hence great need to meet this supply by providing a highly qualified human resource base.

A look at our Universities and Tertiary Institutions credited with this task has however been on slow pace. The government has put effort in transforming colleges and Universities to meet the ever rising demand for professional in all fields. However, criticism has rocked the process with stakeholders discrediting the education system. Top management consultant Salome Gitoho put blame on our education system which they claim is focused on churning our job seekers instead of job creators.

According to survey rankings by 4ICU Organization in 2012, The University of Nairobi stands out among the rest as top institution in academics in Kenya. It was ranked the 14th best University in Africa and the best in Kenya in the 2012 Top 100 Universities and Colleges in Africa. The top 10 spots in Africa are all dominated by South African and Egyptian universities, with South African universities topping the list with 8 in the top 10. Here is a list of how things are;

A.   Top Universities in Kenya

1.     University of Nairobi – 14^th best in Africa
2.     Strathmore University at position 48 in Africa
3.     Kenyatta University  at Position 53 in Africa
4.     United States International University - USIU at position 65 in Africa  
5.     Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology at position 70 in Africa
6.     Moi University at position 86 in Africa.

The University of Nairobi

B.   Top 3 Universities in Africa all are from South Africa.

1.     University of Cape Town
2.     Universiteit Stellenbosch
3.     University of Pretoria

University of Capetown

The survey shows who is who in Africa’s academic sector, a continent that has been seen with great potential in terms economic growth. Top world universities list is dominated by American and UK Universities and Colleges.

C.   Top 10 Universities in the world

Not to forget the big brothers, here are World's Best Universities rankings, based on the QS World University Rankings, evaluated schools in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, China, and more, and identified these to be the world's top universities.

 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Top World University Rankings

1.     Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - US

2.     University of Cambridge - UK

3.     Harvard University - US

4.     UCL (University College London) - UK

5.     Oxford University - UK

6.     Imperial College London - UK

7.     Yale University – US

8.     University of Chicago – US

9.     Princeton University – US

10.  California Institute of Technology - US