The Covid-19 pandemic signalled the loss of more than 1 million jobs but as Kenya recovers from the economic effects of the pandemic, companies are likely to consider hiring again.
The limited job opportunities that will gradually come up will require applicants to think of ways to have a competitive advantage.
While most job seekers opt for a completely professional approach, there are a few who have looked for creative strategies and unique ways to grab the attention of potential employers.
Viral Content
If you are looking for work and are creative enough, you can make viral content that results in a high engagement rate on the interwebs.
Viral content should be interesting enough to make sure you attract the maximum number of viewers or readers. You can opt to make a video in which your application is subtle or prominent depending on your creativity.
The content can range from making a video showcasing your skill, an article or a photo.
Many Kenyans have been photographed holding placards along major roads. The placard either contains their qualifications or job they are seeking.
Wilfred Muturi Japheth, a driver with over 25 years of experience got multiple job offers after standing along Limuru Road with a placard asking for work.
Online content creators such as Flaqo, Crazy Kennar and Auntie Jemimah have received product endorsement deals after consistently posting videos that gain thousands of views.
Using Social Media
Many Kenyans post or share their talents on social media to get work.
This has worked for careers that have an element of aesthetic appeal such as photography, artwork, interior design.
You can also share qualifications and compelling qualities that gets the attention of recruiters or HR managers.
In Kenya, the #IkoKaziKe is mostly used for these purposes. One can also use social media to create networks that they can leverage to get jobs.
Posting an updated profile with qualifications on LinkedIn is another popular way to gain attention from employers.
The platforms also have ways of presenting job opportunities based on your profile, skills and previous work.
Reverse Psychology
Instead of applying for many jobs, you can flip the script and create a flyer that states, ‘employers required with clean nails and a million shilling plan".
It could create buzz online and attract the attention that allows you to form networks.
Many celebrities have used the technique whereby they announce the end of their engagements with previous employers, subtly showing that they are ready to take up other roles.
They quickly get snatched up by other companies that require their services.
Shooting Your Shot
Sometimes you can go for opportunities where the odds are against you and bet on yourself like Jalang'o who dared to go for an interview for a job he did not have qualifications for.
Sometimes life will give you an opportunity and you have to put your best foot forward like media celebrity Valentine Njoroge whose talent was spotted while visiting a friend at their workplace.
She gladly accepted to do a voice test and was offered a job as a presenter at Capital FM.
For Talia Oyando, she repeatedly sneaked into her dream workplace until they noticed her talent. Her bosses would let her go about work since she was good at it until an opportunity for employment came up.
Ruth Njuguna a human resource executive advises job seekers that in today’s competitive work structure, there is no place for generic or repetitive CVs.
It is important that your CV holds an objective that is specific to the company’s requirement.
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