danhils

Negotiating Your Perfect Salary for a job

2015-12-22T23:42:00.000-08:00

This article is from Brighter Monday

The interview session is going so well and you can bet the last coin in your bank account that you have this job in the proverbial bag. Then the question of how much you are expecting them to pay you hits you in the face and your steady train of well-thought answers halts. You struggle to find a favorable answer that will not sound ridiculously high to the panel and at the same time, will not undervalue your skills and experience.You try to remember the calculations you made while seated at the reception, nothing comes to mind so you blurter, “I am ready to go with your existing pay scale.”The panel members cross their arms, exchange glances and seal a fate you will live each day at the work-place regretting you had known better.

So how do you avoid putting yourself in a regrettable situation? The following pointers might come in handy.

Understand that you MUST negotiate

There is not up for negotiation – pun intended. You must be ready to negotiate. Understand that it is a business transaction where you are selling your experience and knowledge for the best price. The panel on the other side want the best package for the most affordable price. They will always start the discussion at the lowest because they expect you to negotiate your way up. Do not take it personally when the panel places what you consider beneath your expectation on the table. They too have a budget they have to work within and they want to stay within these limits as much as possible.

Understand your Value

Self-awareness is extremely critical. You need to have a full understanding of your skills, capabilities, unique selling point, strengths and weaknesses. Conduct an honest SWOT analysis with the aim of knowing your strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. For instance, if your qualifications match the requirements and you have the required experience it gives you more grounds for negotiation. If you lack experience, your unique selling point and individual strengths come in handy to assist you negotiate for your ideal salary.

Understand your potential employer and the industry

You must conduct research about the position you will be interviewing for. Ask your professional connections the estimate value of the position in question. Look through job websites and concentrate on adverts that openly give a range of expected salary. With such information coupled with your experience and strengths, you can then formulate your ideal least acceptable value. Also, kindly note that a company’s pay scale will depend on its size, market share, annual revenue, among other factors. You most certainly don’t expect an SME to match a Big 5’s pay scale for a certain similar position.

Understand that you must balance your negotiation

Money is an important factor to consider when considering a job offer, but it is not the only factor. There are times where the potential employer will present a fixed offer. Do not let that put you down. Probe about additional benefits, working hours, perks and bonuses, transport and meals, and do your research about the work environment. You might find that what you consider to be missing in the salary area is abundant on other benefits. Decide what is important to you and let it help you make your decision. You might not have power of negotiation about what goes to your bank account, but you definitely have the power to negotiate how you spend your time at work, your perks and bonuses, and your personal time. Learn to negotiate for the complete ideal package.

Understand the modalities

First, you must understand that the salary talk should be last. You priority goal should be marketing your skills, experience and unique selling points. By the time the salary talk comes, your interviewers should have a clear picture of how lucky they will be to have you in their team.

You must fully understand the job at hand and your specific involvement. Write down the roles listed in the job advert for reference. During the entire interview listen to what the interviewers are saying and ask questions where necessary. Know who you will be reporting to as it will help you gauge the importance of the role in the company hierarchy. Ask about the company’s organogram. Such facts will help you in your negotiation.

Always take time to think. Even when an offer is made, pause and think about it. Jumping too quickly into a deal makes you look desperate and no one wants to hire a desperate employee. Any panel will respect your request for time to think about the offer. DO NOT mention that you need to consult your spouse or parent (even if you have to). You should always come across as a level- headed, above- average-intelligence adult, with the ability to make their own decisions.

When all is said and done, you will get what you negotiate. You know what you deserve, negotiate your way to it.

What determines your salary?

2013-07-12T02:11:00.002-07:00

By setting the proper value on the services you provide, you will set your rates where you can charge what you deserve and also be successful. How do you know if you are charging enough?
Consider these things:

1. Your Training- Consider how much education have you had to build the expertise that you offer in your services? Know what skills make you unique from your competitors or colleagues who offer the same services/ are in the same position as you. Your employer will be paying you for your expertise, and will be paying you for what they need from you. Therefore, never underestimate the value of that – your employer will only pay for time spent getting their top notch work done. You are the expert, after all!

2. Your experience- Think of how much work experience you have in providing the services you offer to your clients? Your employer should be paying you for your years of experience as well. Experience is equivalent to time spent on task and this contributes to your expertise. The thing you do with the least amount of effort is the thing you should be charging the most for.. and that only comes from experience! For instance, those in management level work less but earn the most, while the others work more and earn less.

3.Your own growth- Most Kenyans Lack a reading culture. No wonder someone said that “If you want to hide something from a Kenyan, keep it in books.” Make it a habit to keep learning something new every day. By being in continuous learning mode, you will always be growing within your profession and maintaining that expert status. In fact, to become an expert you only need to read 3 books on a particular subject.
Also, consider working with a mentor to help in your own growth as a professional. Study new areas of your profession and keep on top of your ideal client industry trends. Being proactive will always keep you ahead of the curve and this will keep your pipeline of clients and potential clients full.

4. Your confidence- One of the biggest parts of valuing yourself is your confidence level. Confidence comes with experience, for sure, but it’s important to feel good about what you are charging. Remember you should not overcharge or undercharge your value. How confident are you that your rates are high enough? Setting your rates to be the ‘market’ price or the best deal in town, is potentially announcing your lack of confidence to the world.
When you really understand your own value, you will be able to convey that to your clients/ employer, and they will recognize your value as well. You will not fell under paid.

Skills to writing a perfect Curriculum Vitae (CV)

2013-04-23T01:32:00.001-07:00

7 Ways to Make an Impact With Your Cover Letter

Job hunting today is a tedious process due to high competition in the job market. But even with so many applications; do you ever wonder why you never seem to receive calls from employers? The success or failure in a job hunting process is contingent upon the way one someone writes his or her cover letter.

Writing a good cover letter is sometimes more important than writing a resume. I say this because the bearing of the letter is definitely heavier than that of the resume. It is the first thing that your prospective employers read about you. The assertiveness and the command of your letter make them think twice before sending your portfolio to the paper shredder.

Most recruiters spend less than a 60 seconds going through your CV. Therefore, you have a very limited amount of time to arouse enough curiosity (in the mind of the employer) to warrant a look at your resume. A catchy cover letter is what drives the hiring manager to go through your CV.

How do you create a cover letter that employers find genuinely interesting?

1. Avoid verbosity – Don't use two words when one will do, in short, avoid too many unnecessary verbs in your sentences. Remember you have limited space to make an impact; therefore you need to choose your words carefully.

2. Write to sell - Every word you use in your cover letter needs to be focused on four things: the position for which you are applying, the organization in which you will work, your ability to meet (and exceed) the needs of the employer as well as your desire to work for the company.

3. Be personable, professional and persuasive - Address your letter to an individual (the contact person) and use the organization's name in the text at least one time. If you do not have the name of a person to reference, use the internet or the phone and find out who is handling that vacancy. Get creative if you have to, but never use "To Whom it May Concern".

4. Be relevant - Write anything that may be of relevance to your desired and highlight capabilities that are important and related to the job position you're applying for. Remember to match your accomplishments and abilities with the needs of the company (specifically the expectations for the open position).

5. Focus on your achievements and not on the tasks you were assigned to perform. Majority of people do the mistake of filling up their cover letters with all the responsibilities they were assigned to work on which back fires them in the interview sessions as the employers are interested in what you have accomplished and not on what you were assigned to accomplish.

6. Let the employer know you want to work for them and state specific reasons for your conclusion. Hopefully, you will have done enough research about the organization to know why you would want to be a part of their team.

7. Proofread. Check for any grammatical errors before you send your cover letter. Nothing will work against you faster than a misspelled word. In fact, that is often one of the first screening measures taken in identifying which job candidates make it to the next level. If your materials are not perfect, they may be the first to end up in the trash can.

Positive Thinking in the workplace

2012-10-09T02:48:00.001-07:00

How to Stay Positive Thinking in the Workplace

“A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes”. Mahatma Gandhi

Positive thinking is expecting, talking and visualizing with certainty what you want to achieve, as an accomplished fact. A positive attitude brings strength, energy and initiative. The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.

Workplace diversity is one thing that should be appreciated. We are all different in various dimensions; in age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities / qualities, race, educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status, religious beliefs, work experience, and job classification.

Some of us do not like the work/ job that you do, a colleague at work, the environment at work, stressful workloads, the deadlines to beat, the pressure to perform, your boss e.tc. In a way keep in mind the 90/10 Principle. 10% of life is made up of what happens to you …90% of life is decided by how you react…… Having a positive attitude at work makes the time you spend at work more pleasant and calm, but staying positive is sometimes difficult. In fact, sometimes it can seem like Mission Impossible. Instead of falling victim to the negative work attitudes that surround you, make an effort to buck the trend.

Look for the good in your co-workers and your workplace. By learning how to communicate with co-workers effectively, you will gain recognition as a force of positive attitude in the workplace.

Be Appreciative

It is always nicer to get a pat on the back rather than to get stabbed in the back. If you're wondering "how do I change my negative attitude," start by observing how you communicate with co-workers. If you practice asking useful questions, giving accolades and being gracious at work for two weeks, you'll notice a difference in the people you work with and in your own feelings about work

How to Communicate With Co-workers Effectively:

1. Give thanks. Thank co-workers for the work they do that makes your job easier - including the peers, managers and office assistants. Even thank the security guard for making you feel safe at work. Cultivate a thankful, positive attitude in the workplace, and in return you'll notice a change in how co-workers treat you.

2. Acknowledge a job well done. One of our favourite ways to create positive energy at work is to give a "Most Valuable Player" award. Once a month, stage a vote for the office MVP - asking each voter to include why their nominee should get the award. You can even have employees vote on what the award will be, from premium parking to a tiara or crown.

3. Celebrate. Take the time to celebrate birthdays, holidays, life changes and achievements. Not sure how to celebrate? Bring in a Nerf football; bake cookies and bring them to work; or put up a graffiti poster where people can leave positive comments.

Recharge Yourself

A favourite quote of ours is "A dead battery can't charge a dead battery." Stop complaining about negative work attitudes and lend your own energy to creating a more positive attitude in the workplace. Be the office live wire! How to Communicate with Co-workers Effectively:

1. Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is infectious. If you're going to spend eight hours a day at work, why not make it more than just tolerable. Make an effort to smile, laugh, and enjoy your job. If you work to create a more positive attitude in the workplace, others will follow.

2. Practice random acts of kindness. Each day try to do something kind and helpful. Offer to cover for a co-worker so they can attend their kid's soccer game, bring a busy colleague a cup of coffee, or volunteer for a project. You don't have to create elaborate situations, just keep your eyes out for opportunities to do a good deed.

3. Look for opportunities to have fun. We all know someone who can make anything fun--and make time fly. Be that person. It's amazing how a joke here and a silly celebration there can breathe life into a stale office. Before you know it, other people will start coming to work with more bounce in their step.

Avoid Negative Work Attitudes

Negative work attitudes create a vicious cycle that can rob energy from an organization. If you're famous for your awful moods and stinging commentary, try something new.

How to communicate with Co-workers Effectively:

1. Resist sarcasm. One of us grew up on the East Coast where sarcasm seems to be as natural as breathing. It's tough to break the cycle of sarcasm, but it's worth the trouble. If you're feeling sarcastic, challenge yourself to come up with something clever to say that energizes the positive attitude in the workplace, rather than depleting your co-worker’s energy.

2. Look for the good. It's easy to get caught in an office drama trap. Instead of blaming and gossiping, focus on the good qualities of your co-workers. You'll be surprised by how much of a positive attitude in the workplace this will create and how much more productive you and your co-workers will be.

3. Stab 'em in the front. This came from one of our uncles. He was fond of saying, "Friends stab friends in the front." Again, resist the temptation to stab co-workers in the back. Instead, challenge yourself to be honest with co-workers without being mean.

There are times when we must go through negative situations. Maybe people say something negative about us, or they show rejection or even resentment against us. In such situations, it may be difficult to stay positive. We may be inclined to react negatively to them. That won’t do us any good though; doing so will just make the situation worse. People may behave even more negatively to us. Our day would be filled with anger and disappointment. At the end, nobody wins.

Staying Positive in Negative Situations

2012-10-03T07:51:00.000-07:00

Staying Positive in Negative Situations

Though it’s not easy, it’s important to stay positive in negative situations. Beat the negative situations by staying positive. Here are 15 tips on how to do it; pick the ones that work for you:

Never respond when you are not calm. If you are not sure that you are calm, don’t respond. Take time to calm yourself down first.
Take a deep breath as a first step to calm yourself down.
Speak in gentle tone to reduce the tension of the situation.
Realize that you can find opportunities in negative situations. Albert Einstein said: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”
Look at the content of what people say to you for something positive that you can act upon to improve yourself. Don’t just reject the whole messages.
For the rest of the messages which is negative, simply ignore it.
Maintain positive view of the people. Maybe you don’t like their messages or behavior, but that doesn’t mean that you can hate them personally.
Realize that having negative feelings will just hurt you, not them. So there is no reason for you to have any negative feeling.
If you make mistakes, be open to admit it.
If you make mistakes, remember this quote by George Bernard Shaw: “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
If you can, listen to motivational audio program to feed positive thoughts into your mind.
Talk to a positive friend who can encourage you.
Remember your favourite quotes to give you inspiration and motivation. This is one reason why you should have quote of the day.
Look at the negative situations as your training sessions for real life. The higher you climb in life, the worse the negative situations would be, so you’d better be prepared for them.
Realize that you can’t please everyone. In fact, nobody can. Sometimes you need to just let some people go. Realizing this will relieve you from a lot of unnecessary burden so that you can focus on the people that you can positively interact with.

What new in communication

2012-10-02T02:38:00.001-07:00

What's new in Communication?

The world today is a quickly changing world. There are various innovations that occur daily and the environment is fast changing.

This kind of environment is what can be refered to as a datasphere being composed of television, radio, newspapers, magazines and now, of course, cell phones, the internet, voice mail, email, and all the newly exploding forms of communication. This datasphere can instantly transmit information anywhere around the world in seconds. This is a great thing. But it results in quick, constant change. Some people predict that entire industries, such as travel agencies and stock brokerages, will disappear and be replaced by the internet. Because of the speed of change, the number of jobs eliminated from the traditional market is probably going to grow exponentially. In the U.S. alone we are currently losing 500,000 jobs a year which are replaced by technology, and some predict that by 2004 or 2005, this might grow to a million jobs a year.

There is little we can count on remaining the same today, except for the Rules of Chocolate, and today's communication needs remind me a little of Rule #1 for chocolate: if you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

Likewise, if you're not constantly updating your methods of communication, you no doubt are communicating too slowly.

We're going to be discussing recent innovations in communications -- from print to audio and video, to the constantly new forms available through the internet. My hope is to give you the information you need to successfully move yourself and your company into the 21st Century. Let's begin by looking at what's new in communications. Many of the more recent innovations in communications are net-based:

There are over 20,000 news and discussion groups (usenet) on the net, covering almost any subject you can think of. These groups allow you to search for information, get help, swap ideas, join in discussions.
I-net chats (IRC) allow you to chat with people from all over the world through your computer keyboard
I-net phone Using your sound card and a microphone, you can speak to people around the world in real time.
Internet video conferencing is still in its infancy but this is developing rapidly, as communications become faster. Using a small camera (just larger than a golf ball) you can see and speak to people around the world in real time.
Real audio You can now listen to hundreds of radio stations from all over the world transmitting worldwide

On the lighter side, there is:
Streaming video (audio/video combination that lets you watch the latest music video and other film clips as they are released by major artists and film companies. You can now even make a streaming audio/video info-mercial on the net.
Multi-player games allow you to play a variety of games with people all over the world, from bridge to the latest interactive driving and "shoot em up" games.
Online shopping. Lets you order goods/services worldwide, to be delivered to your door

Growth. Change. Rapid world-wide communication. Are you and your company ready? Here are questions to ask yourself to find out:

Life or Livelihood

2012-08-14T06:56:00.001-07:00

What a narrow escape!

David, a 14 year old boy from Turkana shocked many with his story of how he survived the scare of a cobra by a whisker. Together with his other friends, David had been on a day to day routine of herding his father’s cattle.

The day went on well not until evening when David realised that some cattle were missing from his father’s herd. Knowing how valuable the animals were to the father and the entire family, David set out to search for the missing cattle.

His friend’s cautioned him about going back to the wilderness to look for the animals but he could not listen to the. “This is the source of our livelihood,” sighed David. David decided to leave the rest of the herd with his colleagues to take home.

The sun was already setting when the ordeal happened. David went on and on but was not seeing the signs of finding the animals soon. It was already very dark and he could no longer see where he was going or coming from. He was not aware of what he could do. The animals are nowhere and he is also not sure where he was.

“I thought again and again on what to do but I had no idea”, says David. Immediately he remembered a story he was once told by his grandfather about the same grazing field. “My grandfather had narrated to us about this field. It was so easy for animals to disappear and once gone, it would be so hard to trace them,” I recall him say.

“Since it was late, I decided to remain where I was. Thoughts came to me but I did not know what to do,” he says with tears rolling down his cheek.

“I don’t recall what happened afterwards. I touched something very cold and then woke up. It was in the morning, the sun was up and I could hear birds sing,” he poses. The young boy can not recall exactly how possible it was. A big snake (a cobra according to his description) coiled down where he was standing. It slowly crawled away and disappeared into the thicket.

“I wanted to scream but I could not. It was like my whole body was frozen. I closed my eyes and run away not knowing where I was headed. All I wanted to avoid was the sight of what I saw.” He remarks.

David went away and on tracing his route home, came across the animals that had gone missing. What a sad turn of events to him. After surviving the scare of the snake, he finds the animals.

“I have never forgotten about what I saw and I don’t know whether I will even on my deathbed,” concluded David.

Lion Killer Turns Saviour!

2012-08-14T01:54:00.004-07:00

Lion killer turns Saviour!

Born in the native Maasai Community in Kenya, Antony Kasanga grew up with wildlife as part and parcel of the ecosystem. As is expected in the Maasai rituals, a boy child has to ensue and kill a lion before being recognised as a man in the society.

When the season approaches for passage from boyhood to manhood in the Maasai community, lions are always at risk. I wonder what they could do if they would reckon the season fast approaching. However, this is never the case and young Maasai men on a yearly basis set out to go hunt the lions and the first to put his spear on the lion is always the hero.

Antony Kasanga after growing and seeing the lions killed developed an interest to save the lions from the killers; of whom he was once one.

Antony grew up in the southern part of Kenya and only attended secondary school up to 2003. After his secondary school, Antony developed the interest to save lions even more; he joined the Living with Lions project. Though he had interest in further education, the chance was not there for him until WildCRU accepted him and admitted him to one of their new course, International Wildlife Conservation Practice. With just the secondary education, Antony worked as a research assistant and an assistant director for Lion Guardian Program at Living with Lions organization; being part of Master of Science thesis of one student, Leela Hazzah who still runs the Lion Guardians to date.

Antony got scholarship to study at the Oxford University and this even opened his eyes to wildlife conservation more. “Attending the course has really enlightened me on how to carry out research. This is something I struggled with before. I have worked in wildlife issues before, but didn't get a chance to explore the scientific part. As such being part of the WildCRU has helped nurture my young mind to understand conservation through a scientific perspective,” says Antony.

Antony now works with Maasailand conservation Trust to save lions. This is something that is unheard of. Furthermore, Antony wants her sister to join him in the work of saving lions.

“One of the most important things to me was to make sure that my sister was still going to school while I was further studying conservation. Perhaps she will one day be able to follow in my footsteps to become a Maasai wildlife conservationist, which would be a great achievement, even more so because she is female. Maasai do not recognize any role played by women in society, and this why I want my younger sister to become one of the pioneers in a field dominated by men. “

Antony’s work is highly welcomed by the community and now he has rallied many Maasai men into wildlife conservation; especially the Big Five.

Antony now a renowned wildlife conservationist has proved that change begins with an individual.

He has trounced the odds of being just a Secondary School graduate and a Maasai Moran to become an expert in Lion conservation and a champion for saving Lions!

Wonders of the World...Arithmetics at work

2012-06-04T05:51:00.002-07:00

WONDERS OF SCIENCE
1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10 =
1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?
And look at this symmetry:
1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 =
12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 =
1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 =
123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 =
12345678987654321

Now, take a look at this...
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S
T U V W X Y
Z
(Is represented as...)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

If:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%

And:
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 =
96%
But:
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

Then:
L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 =
101%

Therefore, one can conclude with
mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge
will get you
close, and Attitude will get you
there, It's the
Love of God that will put you over
the top...!
It's up to you if you share this
with your
friends & loved ones just the way
we did..

Do you have any questions for the panel?

2012-02-22T00:04:00.002-08:00

This is always a very feared questions by Interviewees and most of them end up saying, "No thank You"

t could perhaps be the most horrid part of the job interview – “So, do you have any questions you would like to ask us?” – Aaarrrgh! You know fine well that a sheepish smile while shaking your head and saying “Nah I’m good thanks” isn’t exactly what they want to hear!

So with that in mind, I’ve decided to prepare you a list of questions you can ask your interviewer. Keep in mind though – not all of these questions will be appropriate for every job interview out there. The one thing you should take away from this is that every job and every interviewer is different – these are just some generic examples so make an effort to think of questions relating to the job when you are preparing for
your interview.

Also, these questions aren’t just a list of stuff you can say just to be smart at your interview and get the job. Many of these questions will help you understand more about the job and company you are applying for. Use this list as a basis for your research .

Questions to ask in an interview (in no particular order!):

How many other people work in the team? What are their job roles?
If the job is in a new department, ask about the reason for establishing the apartment and what the plans for growth are.
If the job is an old one, ask who you are replacing and why they have moved on.
Ask about appraisals and performance reviews – how often, will they be tied to pay increases or bonuses?
How will my performance be measured?
Can you describe your ideal employee? This is a great one – use it early on to find out what they are expecting so you can tailor your later responses to suit them!
A slightly more subtle approach than the last point would be to ask, “what skills and experience would you say are necessary for someone to succeed in this job?”.
Not suitable for senior management really, but asking interviewers what they like about working at the company can be a good way to start a conversation about your new workplace.
Likewise, asking your interviewer when they started with the company and why they have stayed with the company? In a polite way – try not to ask this with a grimace on your face! You want to get them talking a little – it strengthens your relationship with them just that little bit more which can make a difference.
(If you are being interviewed by the MD / owner) Hypothetical question – if you had to leave, how would you like to see the company be managed?
What scope for progress and promotion is there within the company?
What kind of work will I be responsible for over the next year?
Will I be expected to work late nights or at the weekend?
Can you describe a typical day or week in the job?
What makes this company stand apart from the competition?
In your opinion, what is the most important attribute / achievement / quality you would like to see from me within my trial period?
Do you have any questions about my ability to do this job? This one ain’t great most of the time – they would have brought any questions they had already. However, the point you are trying to make with this is to show them your proactive attitude and confidence. This could add a positive to your interview if other areas haven’t been great (lack of experience, etc).
Having reviewed my CV and interviewed me, what qualities do you see in me?
Are you interviewing more people for this position?

Communications Assistant Job Description

2011-11-14T05:07:00.000-08:00

Communications Assistant Job Description
For those of you who are young, idealistic, and just brimming with shiny hopes and dreams, I have some unfortunate news: Life isn’t fair. Nor is it reasonable, rational, sensible, logical, nice, or fluffy. Life is strange, ridiculous, cruel, fantastic, bizarre, whimsical, capricious, and just a little bit dirty.

I tell you this because one day, possibly one day quite soon, your boss (or someone who wields even more power over your fragile working existence) is going to ask you to do something that you don’t think you should be doing.
And you are going to be very unhappy about it.

These types of requests can take many forms.
The Personal Jobs
The most obvious sort of thing your boss will ask you to do that you don’t think you should be doing will be something rather personal.

For example, despite the fact that you are a Web designer, the IT manager is going to ask you to go pick up his car at a work site, take it to a car wash, and then bring it back to the office. And the odds are fairly good that this will take half the day, leave you sitting in traffic for hours, put you hours behind your actual work, and force you to drive a frighteningly high-priced car with a fairly finicky manual transmission. This is annoying, though not terrible.

Or perhaps, despite the fact that you are an accountant, your boss will stride into your office and explain, in far too much detail, that he needs your help collecting his in-laws to make sure they get to a family event on time.

These personal requests are clearly not in your job description, but you won’t see them coming. They are obviously ridiculous, but they aren’t difficult. And since you won’t have prepared a good excuse for why you can’t just run out and do them, you do them. These things waste time, both work time and your own personal time, and they will put you in uncomfortable positions, and they may even cost you some of your own money.

What should you do?
Get over it. Unemployment is high and people are starving to death all over the world. Your ego will survive running a few personal errands for your boss. At least you will get a lot of crazy stories to use in an article that you will one day write about things that were not in your job description.

The Professional Jobs
In a recent article, I counseled readers to go the extra distance to make themselves more valuable around the office by developing secondary skills, including maintaining equipment and mastering software. And that is pretty good advice, until it backfires and completely ruins your life.

You see, sooner or later, if you are very good at getting things done, then bosses will stop bothering with the useless employees and bring all their problems to you. Because you’re so quick. You’re so precise. You know how to do that thing in Microsoft Word. So can you just do this little task for me, right now, because you’re the best? Pretty please?

At first you will be flattered by the extra attention. Your boss knows your name, and her boss knows your name, and some bosses from the other departments know your name. Great! But now you have all these other tasks to do, and some of them you don’t completely understand, and many of them are due in five minutes (or five minutes ago). And every minute you spend on these tasks is a minute you don’t spend on your own work.

Perhaps you’ll be asked to work on a presentation (because you’re quick in PowerPoint), or a financial report (because you’re good at formulas in Excel), or the invitations to the company’s holiday party (because you’re so creative).

You may find this merely inconvenient from time to time. You might also find it more than a little frustrating, especially when you are told point blank that someone else ought to be doing this task, but instead of making that other person do their job, you are going to do it for them. To “reward” your excellence.

What should you do?
Manage it. The bottom line is that you have succeeded in making yourself both valuable and popular. This position actually gives you a little power. People tend to be slightly more respectful and considerate of others when they need them. So feel free to push back a little bit and turn down those extra requests if you really can’t handle any more on your plate. But as long as you can shoulder the burden, do it.

The Dangerous Jobs
It is unlikely, but not impossible, that you will be asked to do something illegal at work. It may be something semi-minor, like copying a confidential document or emailing data. Sometimes bosses become fed up with rules and protocols and just want the job done, so they will ask you to do it the fast way, instead of the strictly correct way. I can’t advise you how to handle a rule-bender situation. You will have to decide for yourself whether the task is really illicit, whether there will be consequences, and whether you personally will be held accountable.

But it might also be something major. Your boss may tell you to scuttle a project, or fire a good employee, or falsify data.

What should you do?
Well, you’re in the hot seat now. You can say “No” and risk all sorts of angry-boss fallout. You can try to find a non-illegal alternative course of action. Or you can do it and hope for the best. None of these are great options, and you’re well within your rights for feeling angry at the world (and at your boss) for putting you in such a position, but there it is.

This is the sort of moment where you learn something very fundamental about yourself. What are your priorities? Where are the lines you won’t cross? What are you willing to risk or sacrifice for an ideal? What really matters to you at the end of the day?

Man Eating another man's brain?

2011-11-10T03:46:00.000-08:00

It's apparently only in Kenya where a man has been forced to eat another man's brains for unknown reasons or rather reasons best known to the instructors.
If this can come out to be true as claimed by the slain soldier's neighbour in Kitale, then where is the justice in Kenya headed to?

Being underpaid or overworked?

2011-11-02T01:56:00.000-07:00

I can't Afford to Quit But I Can't Afford To Stay

By Julia Karimi
We've all pondered quitting our jobs. But unfortunately, for many people the choice is not that easy. After all, having a job means earning a paycheck. But what if that paycheck barely pays enough to cover your bills and expenses?
It's common for workers to think they aren't paid enough and for various reasons. Sometimes it's because of the number of hours they work, or it may relate to their job duties. It could be that associated job duties are
complex in nature, or it could be just simply that the duties
that they are charged with would typically be assigned to someone in a more senior role at another company.

Whether you're truly underpaid or not, if you're barely earning enough money to pay the bills, your choices of what to do are limited. But continuing to work in a job where you're barely making ends meet can cause burnout and other issues.

If you're just scraping by it can have a negative effect on your work product, attitude and general level of competency. Your level of concentration and focus can be affected, because you're thinking about other personal issues. A negative home-life environment because of financial pressures and work environment together can be a recipe for disaster and can cause problems on both fronts.

Fortunately, there are ways to cope. Here are five tips:

1. Start with your current employer.

It's not enough to think you are unpaid -- you have to know if you are. I know many people will be agreeing to. Research your wage compared with the industry and find out where you stand. Think of ways you can be immediately more valuable to your employer.

2. Ask for a raise

But make sure it's justified. Many people think they are entitled to a wage simply because they are. It can't just be that you can't afford to pay your bills and the employer will be thinking “that’s not my problem.” However, if your job duties have increased or you have been given more responsibility, then you may be justified in asking for a raise. If this is feasible, prepare your case thoroughly. Have facts and figures available so that you can negotiate intelligently and have the information to back up your request.

3. Make time to look for a new job.

Carve out sometime during the week to look for another opportunity that would pay you more. Look for opportunities within the company first, where you have a proven track record and good references. Look at competitor companies, too. The key is to take the time to do so. Wake up a few hours earlier every day to scour the websites and agencies that are open or even take one hour for lunch to search for them. Submit your CV to different companies, or attend a networking event once a week after work. Be proactive rather than reactive to your financial woes. Doing something about your situation will help you also feel more positive.

4. Take on a side job.

Use this time to exercise your creative juices rather than wallow in the negative aspects of the situation. If your profession, hobby or skills can make extra money on the side, without presenting a conflict to your current employer, go for it. If that's not an option, try having a yard sale to bring in some extra cash

5. Adopt an attitude of gratitude.

Rather than surrounding yourself with negative and unproductive energy, try being grateful for your current situation, rather than surrounding it with negative and unproductive energy. There are still hundreds of thousands of people in Kenya that are out of work and would love to switch places with you. More than that, there are millions of people across the world living in poverty or war zones that would wish they were in your shoes right now so be a little grateful you have something.
Change your perspective on the situation.

What happens when employee is sacked or resigns

2011-10-26T00:42:00.000-07:00

Many at times people quit their jobs for either being fired, having resigned or a move to a "greener" pasture. However, in the event that one of the aforementioned occurs, there are some payments in terms of compensation that an employee is entitled to as is stipulated in the laws of Kenya:

The employment arena in Kenya favors the employer for the simple reason that many employees, you included do not know or bother to know their rights. Please consider this as a fifteen min
crash course on employment law in Kenya. I will specifically handle the various contentious benefits you are entitled to once you no longer have a relationship with your employer. I'd recommend you print or bookmark this page as am sure it will come in handy one of these days.

The Employment Act 2007 states the various payments employees whose services have been terminated are entitled to.These are service pay, gratuity, and severance pay. These are dues paid to a worker at the end of employment.

An employee does not contribute any portion of his salary towards these packages, it is entirely the employer’s responsibility. The amounts vary according to the terms of service. But there are conditions that are attached to these payments and it is a lack of understanding of these conditions that causes conflict.

The Employment Act 2007 Section 35 of the Act provides the circumstances under which service pay applies.

For an employee to qualify for service pay, they must have served under a contract in which they were paid at least a monthly remuneration as stated in subsection 1c of this section.The subsection talks about the requirement of a one month notice of termination of contract by either party. Section 35 (5) then provides that “an employee whose contract of service has been terminated under subsection 1(c) shall be entitled to service pay for every year worked, the terms of which shall be fixed.” However, this is not automatic.

The Act, under Section 35 (6) explains the circumstances under which an individual earning a monthly salary does not qualify for service pay. For example, employees who are members of a registered pension or provident fund scheme under the Retirement Benefits Act should not even think about service pay.
Their pension overrides service pay.

Neither should an employee expect an individually worked out service pay when they are members of “a gratuity or service pay scheme established under a collective agreement”.Also, workers contributing to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) don’t get service pay, and so are those belonging to any other schemes established and operated by the employer, and whose terms are more favourable than those of the service pay schemes established under this Act.

Other payments that tend to be contested are gratuity and severance pay.

A gratuity is like a monetary gift from the employer to the employee for services rendered over a given period of time. As in the case of service pay, an employee does not contribute any portion of his or her salary towards this payment.

Gratuity can also be paid out as a lump-sum amount if the employee retires or resigns from employment, as well as in the event of death or when rendered incapable of performing due to a disability. To qualify for the payment, an employee must have worked with the organisation for a specified minimum period of time.

However, this rule is relaxed in the event of death, or when an employee has been affected by a disability.
Gratuity is similar to service pay, except that the latter is only paid at the end of employment.

Then there is severance pay. This is paid to an employee who has been declared redundant. It frequently courts controversy. Section 40(g) of the Employment Act 2007 provides that an employer shall not terminate a contract of service on account of redundancy unless “the employer has paid to the employee declared redundant, severance pay at the rate of not less than fifteen days pay for each completed year of service”.

An important point to note is according to the law, employees whose contracts have been terminated can only receive one form of end of contract payment. It is either service pay, gratuity, or severance pay, but not two or all of them.

This is an arrangement provided for subtly under subsection 6 (c) of Section 35 of the Employment Act 2007, to pre-empt situations in which employees whose contracts have been terminated may be tempted to claim more than one form of compensation. The law indicates that the employee can only be entitled to the compensation option whose terms are most favorable under their terms of service.

There you go. I hope that you now know your rights.

Office and Work ettiquette

2011-10-24T23:45:00.000-07:00

Good Office Behaviour. Things Not To Share With Co-Workers,

Bad Office behaviour.
It's happened to everyone before. The constant flow of words that just keep coming, long after you've made your point (if there ever was one) and even longer after people stopped caring. The kind of gibberish that just won't stop unless someone else starts talking. The type of chatter that inevitably ends with you wishing you'd put your foot in your mouth. Yes, verbal diarrhea is never a good thing - but it can be worse in some places more than others.

Like the workplace.

There are certain things co-workers need not know about each other -
your baby-making plans and stomach
issues, for example - but some folks just can't seem to keep their mouths shut. Some people talk to hear the sound of their own voice; others share because they don't really have a life and, by revealing details you'd rather not know, they create the illusion of one.Then there is the person who believes gossip, even about them, creates instant emotional intimacy. It doesn't.

Walk the line

Because people spend more time at the office with co-workers than anywhere (or anyone) else, some workers have trouble drawing the line between business and friendship.Most workers don't realize that what they say has as much impact on their professional images as what they wear.People who say too much, about themselves or others, can be seen as incompetent, unproductive and unworthy of professional development.

To avoid your next case of verbal diarrhea, here are some things to never share or discuss with your co-workers.

Salary information

What you earn is between you and Human Resources or top management. Disclosure indicates you aren't capable of keeping a confidence.

Medical history

Nobody really cares about your aches and pains, your latest operation, your infertility woes or the contents of your medicine cabinet. To your employer, your constant medical issues make you seem like an expensive, high-risk employee.

Gossip

Whomever you're gossiping with will undoubtedly tell others what you said. Plus, if a co-worker is gossiping with you, most likely he or she will gossip about you.

Work complaints

Constant complaints about your workload, stress levels or the company will quickly make you the kind of person who never gets invited to lunch. If you don't agree with company policies and procedures, address it through official channels or move on.

Cost of purchases

The spirit of keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well in the workplace. But you don't want others speculating on the lifestyle you're living -or if you're living beyond your salary bracket.

Intimate details

Don't share intimate details about your personal life. Co-workers can and will use the information against you.

Lifestyle changes

Breakups, divorces and baby-making plans should be shared only if there is a need to know. Otherwise, others will speak for your capabilities, desires and limitations on availability, whether there is any truth to their assumptions or not.

Negative views of colleagues

If you don't agree with a co-worker's lifestyle, wardrobe or professional abilities, confront that person privately or keep it to yourself. The workplace is not the venue for controversy.

Personal problems and relationships - in and out of the office

Failed marriages and volatile romances spell instability to an employer. Office romances lead to gossip and broken hearts, so it's best to steer clear.The safest way to play is to follow the rule, 'never get your honey where you get your money

Two ears and one mouth

2011-10-19T02:44:00.000-07:00

Why did God give us two Ears and One mouth?

During creation, God decided that human beings in fact all animals, should have one mouth and two Ears. This has never been for a mistake.
In deed, God had a special purpose for doing so and many have always thrived to find reasons behind this.
In fact, a perfect human being is one who uses the organs as appropriately as was intended during creation.

We need to talk less and Listen more: This has even a greater effect during job interviews. My talk with one of the professional Human Resource Officer's revealed that even the candidates who pass job interviews MUST adhere to God's creation purposes.

Look here-

God Gave Us Two Ears and One Mouth for a Reason

One of my favorite questions to ask in an interview is, “Tell me about yourself.” I love asking open-ended questions like that. They give so much opportunity for the candidate to show themselves, good or bad. If I were to ask you to tell me about yourself, what would you say?

This is usually my very first question because it gets to the heart of their communication strategy. When they respond, I’m not listening so much for what they say as I am how they are saying it. Are they all ears, all talk,

Or hopefully a great combination of both. Let’s see how that works.

Scenario #1 –The “Talk Until You Drop Candidate”.

This is the tell-me-everything-I-never-wanted-or-need-to-know candidate. They usually begin by talking about where they went to primary school in their village, and progressing chronologically from there to high school, their favorite hobbies, their first girlfriend/boyfriend, where they go to church, their family… heck they might even talk about what they did in their job if I’m lucky. For sure, I’ll know the name of their favorite TV program if I give them the chance.

When I ask the “Tell me about yourself question”, I intentionally let the candidate go as long as they want. I don’t interrupt them unless I get hungry or have to go the bathroom (which has happened). I swear, I’ve had some who could have talked for at least twenty minutes without stopping. We’ve all run into the talker.

After about ten minutes of listening to the minutia of their life, I’m thinking one and only one thing… GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!! Where is the eject button?!? How can I gracefully terminate this interview now?

I can’t remember ever hiring an extreme talker candidate, but then again I’m not hiring public auctioneers. But if I were, I probably still wouldn’t hire them. They only have half the communication challenge down.

Scenario #2- The “Deer in the Headlights Candidate”

This candidate is the one that looks at me timidly after the question and asks “So what do you want to know about me?” I usually respond to them to tell me, “Whatever you think I need to know.”

They seem to want to listen and listen and listen to make sure they craft the perfect answer. It’s like pulling teeth to get ten words in a row out of this candidate. The half hour interview feels like it lasts all day. GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!! I can’t wait to get out of the interview with the habitual listener either.

Hmmm.… are we seeing a pattern here? They only have half the communication challenge down, too.

Scenario #3 – The “Two Ears and One Mouth Candidate”

I heard once God made us with two ears and one mouth for a reason. We should listen twice as much as we talk because listening is twice as hard to do well.

The great communicators are always great listeners, and their talk always relates back to what they heard. They do it with equal ease. When I ask a great candidate that magic question, they confidently talk for 30-60 seconds with a concise description of who they are and how that might be relevant to what I’m looking for. Then they check in with me afterward to make sure they answered the question adequately. Then they may even ask me a question.

The interview feels more like a conversation than an interrogation process. It’s a back and forth process just like if you’re talking to your best friend.

I know these sounds like simple stuff. But many people don’t do this, especially when they really want the job. When people desperately want the job, they tend to talk too much. If that’s you, be conscious about that and let your ears do the talking for you.

You should be comfortable going 45 seconds talking about who you are, what you’ve done and how you want to help your employer.

Don’t let your one mouth take over your two ears. Great listening is hard work which is why God gave us two ears to make up for it.

So says the professionals

Life Is a Gift

2011-10-13T05:56:00.000-07:00

Whenever there is a birth in any vicinity, the people wine dine and dance in jubilation to welcome the new born to the family. On the contrary, death of someone always leads to people mourning for the loss of a loved one. This in deed shows how precious life is.

Have a look at what can happen when someone is blessed in life

http://sasahope.com/index.php/2011/09/the-story-of-a-blind-girl/

Contents of a good CV

2011-08-10T01:47:00.000-07:00

Does Your CV Answer These Key Questions?

Most recruiters and employers basically will take just a rough glance over your CV and this should be able to tell them who you are in the following nine ways.
A good CV
and that which will keep the recruiter staying more should answer most of these questions.

Most people, no matter what job they seek or how long they've been part of the working world, make the same mistake when it comes to the CV-writing process. They forget -- or simply don't know how -- to
develop their CV from the employer's point of view.

Employers want to know several things about you within seconds of glancing at your CV. Your job, then, is to be “hit-them-over-the-head obvious” about who you are, what job you're seeking and what you have to offer them.

When sifting through CVs, most employers and recruiters know exactly what they're looking for. CVs that meet their expectations are ones that respond to all nine of the following questions:

1. Who are you?

To determine how well your CV addresses this, have friends or colleagues read it. Within five seconds of them looking at the CV, snatch it back from them and quiz them on what they know about you as a job seeker based on what they read. If they can't offer a quick answer that truly describes you, your CV's summary needs some work.

2. What can you do for me? The most effective way to show employers the value you offer is to show them how you've contributed to an employer's success elsewhere. To be truly compelling, these examples must be specific, measurable accomplishments that cite numbers and other details.

3. Do you have the skills I'm looking for? Scan job ads and job descriptions to discover which skills are most relevant to the employers and recruiters receiving your CV. Then strategically place them throughout your CV to ensure it makes into the hands of employers and recruiters.

4. Where have you worked before? This one should be simple. Employers want to know where you worked, for how long and which job titles you've held that may indicate how prepared you are for a role at their organization.

5. Is your experience relevant to my needs? Sometimes it's necessary to expand upon a job title or job description to truly demonstrate that you have experience that applies to the job you're seeking. Consider using bullets to present brief and interesting information that is relevant to the employer.

6. Do you have the right education and credentials? If you have the education, credentials and training needed to qualify for the job, be sure to say so! Use commonly accepted terminology and keywords in this section to ensure your information isn't misinterpreted or overlooked by employer.

7. What kind of person are you? Adding insightful information about what makes you special can be a definite plus on your CV and help decision-makers discriminate between you and another candidate, even before you've met in person. Include "extras," such as a branding statement and relevant information about foreign languages you speak, computer proficiencies or activities you enjoy.

8. Do I see any "red flags" in your background? Gaps in employment (an indication of job hopping), spending too much time in the same job or CV errors may alert employers and recruiters that you are not the type of candidate they're looking for in their organization. To avoid drawing attention to "red flags" on your CV, make sure you make your accomplishments and skills stand out as strongly as possible.

9. Can I easily get in touch with you? After all your hard work in putting together a powerful CV, don't forget the essentials! It doesn't matter how great your CV is, if you don't include a phone number, address and e-mail address somewhere on the CV, you'll never hear from the employer or recruiter. Just be careful not to include too much contact information. This can be overwhelming for people wanting to know that the number they call first is the one that puts them directly in touch with you.

Football Elections in Kenya

2011-07-28T04:20:00.000-07:00

The race for the top football positions in Kenya in the August 13th elections has taken a new twist.
Of all the 39 candidates who intend to vie, only nine have finished all the requirements for one to vie.

Gor Mahia Football Club Chairman, a Nairobi based Lawyer, Mr. Ambrose Rachier happens to be one of the nine. Mr. Rachier whose club is now in its peak performance
in the current Kenya Premier League season criticized those who are in office and still ant to vie for the positions saying they are to blame for National football teams poor performance since 2009 that have seen the country drop in FIFA rankings fro a best position 68 in 2010 to the current 130 position in the arena of soccer.

Speaking during a breakfast press briefing on 27th July 2011, Mr Rachier went ahead to [prove wrong his critics who thought that since his friend is one of the Directors of the organization that is going to manage he elections, he would be favoured.

Mr. Rachier said the man in question has been his friend since 1975 but added that he is one of the few people who respect the professional ways of doing things in Kenya. He said he has total trust hat the body will deliver without fear, biasness or favour. He termed those who were spreading the rumours as cowards who had sensed defeat in the forth coming elections and dared them not to step down.

Many people who thought that Mr. Rachier had been given a free nomination paper were also treated to a shock when he showed those present a 5, 000 Kenya shillings receipt he paid for the nomination paper.

Rachier has declared that he is officially in the race and will launch his bid officially on Saturday.

Football elections

2011-07-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Did you know that football elections are due in Kenya?

Do you know the contenders?

What of the promises?

http://www.kenyanstar.co.ke/news/other-sports-news/1098-football-election-nyamweye-boosts-of-track-record

Football elections in Kenya

2011-07-07T08:22:00.001-07:00

The looming football elections in Kenya has majorly drawn contendors from the Kenya Premier League teams managerial members.

Sammy Nyamweya, one of the contenders for the chairmanships posts said...

Manchester United new signings

2011-07-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

Manchester United signings impress Gary Neville

Page last updated at 13:26 GMT, Thursday, 7 July 2011 14:26 UK

Jones (l), De Gea (c) and Young are United's first three arrivals this summer Former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville

believes the decision to invest in promising players will reap rewards.
So far this summer United have signed youngsters Phil Jones and David de Gea as well as Ashley Young, who is becoming a regular for England.
"You're seeing signings with potential that can grow and deliver better than what they have done before," the 36-year-old told BBC Radio Manchester.
"Hungry players are always better than those who have got to the top already."
Neville, who retired in February, was part of a side including David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992, and believes focusing on youth will always be key.
"The way the club always buys players who haven't reached the top of the mountain; they've always still got a climb to get there," he continued.
Neville is England's most capped right-back "I think it's been proven that when we try to buy the finished article it's difficult to.
"Don't get me wrong you can get people who have got to the top of the game and then can remain with that hunger, but I think it's very difficult.
"I think the best thing is to get people who have still got that little bit of development to go, and the manager always extracts the maximum amount out of players. That's the club policy and always will be."
The former England full-back has been impressed with the arrivals of defender Jones from Blackburn, goalkeeper De Gea from Atletico Madrid and winger Young from Aston Villa.
"I think that Phil Jones will surprise everybody with what he'll achieve here in the next few years," he added.
"Ashley Young is an extremely talented person who can play left or right wing or off the front.
"He's now looking to do what Rio [Ferdinand], Wayne [Rooney] and Michael Carrick have done and go to that next level in their career of winning trophies.
"De Gea, the goalkeeper, I think is someone who they must absolutely believe in 100%. Eric Steele [Man Utd goalkeeping coach] is meticulous in his preparation and he will have looked at him very closely.
"To get someone who is 20 years of age to replace Edwin van der Sar, they must be really confident in his ability."

The Reds also continue to be linked to a number of players to replace retired midfielder Paul Scholes, particularly Arsenal's Samir Nasri.
Neville says that although players like Scholes are unique, the new faces in the squad will adapt to a new style of play.
"When you get a player that is so great like Paul Scholes, you never replace them," he said.
"It's been the same like when Bryan Robson leaves, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane; these types of great players, you never replace them like for like.
"You always have to replace them in a different way and find a new way.
"You're not going to find another Paul Scholes who lives within 20 minutes of Old Trafford, who loves the club like he does, and is going to perform like he has for the last 20 years.
"What the manager will find is another way of achieving success."

Can overqualification cost you a job?

2011-06-14T02:40:00.000-07:00

It does happen
I recently attended an interview and it seemed things were working on my side.
Two days later, one of the staff at the company hinted to me that it seems I was too qualified for that position and that she feared I would not be given the job.
Four days later,
one of my referees called me and told me he was grilled to say exactly how qualified and experienced I was.
He was later told that I was too good for the job.
Somebody else landed the job since she was not too qualified

Similar issues were raised by Careerpoint Kenya as below..

Why then are C Vs of overqualified candidates rejected?
It’s very discouraging to send countless CVs out into the world, and hear absolutely nothing back. It’s hard not to take it personally. Yet if you talk to those in the HR profession on why they reject most CVs, the reasons are pretty predictable.
One of the most common is that the CV shows the applicant is overqualified. In other words,
they’re too good for the job! (It sounds better put that way, doesn’t it?)
At a private school where my sister worked, they were looking for an office secretary. Among the applicants? A woman with a degree in Bcom Marketing! She wasn’t offered the job.
My sister’s comment: “Wow, she must really have been desperate to apply for that!”
So why would someone apply for a job they were clearly overqualified for, by experience and/or education? A few of the most common:
Desperation: As my sister noted, people sometimes find themselves in positions where they really are desperate for a job, any job. It could be a high-level manager who’s been suddenly laid off in an unexpected downsizing, or blindsided when his/her company suddenly went under. It could be someone looking for work in a field glutted with other people looking for work. It could be a highly-educated woman suddenly thrown onto the crowded job market by divorce, with no recent experience.
Desire for a less stressful job: Not all overqualified people are desperate. A successful Accountant working for KPMG left suddenly and amazed everyone by becoming an auditor with a smaller firm. Why? He wanted a life that was simpler and less stressful. From all accounts, he found it.
Nowadays, it isn’t uncommon for people to want to scale down and simplify their lives, so you might have an ex-CEO applying for a job as a manager. Or a high school teacher trying to get hired on as an administrative assistant.
Why do those in HR reject the CV’s of overqualified candidates? Usually it’s from the fear that:
They’ll get bored and leave. (And this is often a correct assessment.) They’re just marking time till something better comes along. (Also frequently correct.)
They’re desperate. And desperation is not an attractive quality in a job seeker. Something bad happened at their last, more prestigious job that led to them having to leave that particular field. Maybe they were caught embezzling, or fired for incompetence.
They’ll be impossible to direct since they’ll know so much more than everyone else at the job. (Or at least think they do.) If you send out a CV for a job you know you’re overqualified for, is there anything you can do to improve your chances? Here are some suggestions:
At the start of your CV, as well as in your cover letter, you must find a way to address the obvious: Say something briefly in your Profile explaining what’s going on.
It won’t be easy to do, but a possible example could be: “Dedicated and hardworking professional, with many successful years in the teaching field, with the goal of making the transition to a rewarding, long-term role in administration.”
The worst thing you can do is ignore the fact that you’re overqualified. Make sure your CV and cover letter stress that your goal is to stay in this job long-term. This will help allay the fears that you’re taking it until something better shows up.
Usually on the CV’s, we highlight professional achievements and education, but if you’re applying for something drastically lower down the employment ladder, it would be a very good idea to tone down your achievements and professional development.
Don’t lie, but leave out information that would scream, “I’m too good for this job!” Make sure your CV highlights only the skills and education that are vital to the job you’re applying for.
Even with these suggestions, your chances of getting an interview when you’re overqualified are not as high as if you were a perfect match for the job, but a good CV and cover letter will go a long way to overcoming this obstacle.
So don’t give up! With perseverance, it will happen.

My Tripworld

2011-06-03T03:29:00.001-07:00

Join me here....
http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0119-a196-654a

3 Things

2011-05-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

3 things in life that never come back when gone:
-Time
-Words

-Opportunity

3 things in life that should never be lost:
-Peace
-Hope
-Honesty

3 things in life that make a person:
-Hard work
-Sincerity
-Commitment

3 things in life that can destroy a person:
-Lust
-Pride
-Anger

3 things in life that are most valuable:
-Faith
-Love
-Prayer

3 things in life that are constant:
-Change
-Death
-God

These are the three things that make a lifetime