By Elizabeth Benu

NGO Jobs have a high preference among many candidates and due to this, they are very competitive. So, how do you impress the employer and set yourself apart from the hundreds of job seekers applying for a job?

Have a look at this sample cover letter for an NGO Internal auditor Job

Emily the Job Seeker
P.O. Box 58-09300
Kakamega

17th March 2015

The Human Resource Manager,
ABC International NGO
P. O. Box 58
Nairobi

Dear Sir/ Madam

RE: APPLICATION FOR INTERNAL AUDITOR POSITION

Auditing skills, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships are two of my greatest areas of expertise. In my 2 years as an auditor, I have had a chance to horn my experience in audit of USG and EC grants which I believe make me a suitable candidate for your internal auditor position.

In my previous positions I have assisted in reviewing and auditing of systems, projects and programmes to ensure promotion of good stewardship of resources. Conducting audits to assess the effectiveness of internal controls in XYZ NGO Organization saw a 30% increase in the efficiency of organizational operations that had previously been damaged.

I am ACCA certified and this will come in handy in assisting with information gathering and analysis for the annual internal audit risk assessment and audit planning process of your operations which you are currently struggling with.

I would welcome an opportunity to meet with you and discuss my qualifications, and learn more about this opportunity. Please find the accompanying CV for your review.

Sincerely
Emily The Job Seeker

Working for the United Nations is an opportunity not only fancied in Kenya but all over the world. Being one of the biggest employers in the world, any applicant wishing to join the organization must possess specific qualifications.

Below are the tips to consider if you want to apply for a job in the United Nations.

Tips for a Successful Job Application at the UN

1. Be a person with a clean background
Any applicant wishing to join the esteemed organization must be a person with a good conduct, according to Melody Mwendwa, a Career Advisor at Corporate Staffing Services.

It would make sense to consider a trusted individual when applying since this is a reputable international organization.

2. Be fluent in at least one UN Language
For you to successfully apply for a position, you must be proficient in at least one of the UN official languages like English or French. Because competitive applicants speak more than one language, you need to be proficient in such language.

Leadership and Technical skills is a requirement for a job in the UN

In any position in an international organization, you need to demonstrate proficiency in Leadership skills. You must be someone who can demonstrate and show your own initiative and one who also shares with dreams and aspirations of the UN vision and mission.

While working at the UN may be your dream job, don’t forget to focus on your application by giving concrete examples of how you meet the requirements of the position.

4. Work experience in a Government or NGO sector
Having previous experience in the UN gives you an added advantage. Also having international experience puts you a notch higher in securing the job. It can be on a volunteering position or an internship post. An internship in the UN gives you a chance to apply for a full time job after completing a six month period depending on the kind of job you are looking for.

If you have the right requirements needed for any position, chances are that you will be considered if you aspire to work for the international NGO.

Source: NigeriaBulletin

There is nothing more discouraging than realizing your colleague earns way much more than you especially if you are on the same level.

These reasons are enough to convince you why your colleague earns a fatter pay slip and what you can do about it.

5 Reasons Why Your Colleague Is Earning More at Work

Your colleague produces more result
Employees who bring in more results in terms of innovation and profit stands to be more rewarded than others. This is why your colleague’s efforts impress the boss and he will sure get a pay rise.

Your Colleague has got more skills
With increasing standards and new innovations coupled with stiff competition, companies are forced to improve their products and services and this requires more skills. The staff that showcases great skills are recognized and rewarded accordingly.

Special recognition is given to staff who can handle several responsibilities effectively. Those qualities make such an employee get a pay raise.

Your Colleague earns more than you if he or she is a new recruit
This may look untrue but it’s not unusual. In certain industries, the external market value can increase faster than company salary levels and this may cause employers to offer more to be able to recruit better candidates.

What actually causes this increase in market value is the possession of new skills by new candidates which current employees may not have and which the company desperately needs.

Your colleague is more experienced
The time an employee has spent with an organization is also one of those factors that determine the pay. You may be doing the same kind of work or the person may even be doing less but the company recognizes the commitment of that individual to the organization and that may be the reason the pay is more.

The person might have also gathered certain experiences before entering the job which is now useful on the job.

For whatever reason your case falls into, take a bold step by negotiating for a raise in your next review if you feel underpaid.

By Elizabeth Benu,
You blame the job market and the Kenyan employers for being biased when in fact you might be the cause of your joblessness.

Janet Mueni confesses that she only job searches for 30 minutes every week while the rest of her time is spent hanging out with friends. Most times opportunities pass her and she has never updated her CV for three years yet she complains that employers are unfair.

Kenyan employers hate lazy job seekers. You might not be like Janet, but you should watch out for these deadly lazy-jobseeker signs:

Signs that you are a lazy job seeker

1. CC-ing all HR Managers in one job application:
You went through all company websites and gathered all email addresses on the website. Good research but the problem is that you send the same application to more than 20 email addresses. No employer will bother employing you as this is a sign of laziness and lack of enthusiasm.

2. You just want ANY job
While it is understandable to give in to the frustration of job search and need for money, wanting just any job does not cut it. After studying your course, you should make a list of job titles that align with it.

For example, applying for an IT Assistant job just because you have a computer package certification and the pay is good will only lead you into more frustration.

3. You do not prepare for the interview
“Interview preparation is important no matter your position or experience,” says Melody Mwendwa a Career Advisor at Corporate Staffing Services.

She also adds that attending an interview shabbily dressed, looking confused and failing to answer all questions asked is proof to an employer that you will not be dedicated to the job.

4. You request sample CVs so that you can copy paste.
How much effort have you taken to go through your CV and improve it? If none, you are probably the job seeker who always asks for a sample CV so that you can copy paste it and send it to an employer.

“Your CV is a great asset for career growth; do not mess up job opportunities by copy pasting things from the internet. Samples are only meant to guide you,” Ms. Mwendwa advises.

5. Your referees have no idea they are in your CV
When an employer settles on you, most times they call your referees for a background check. Many HR managers confirm that a large percentage of referees are unfortunately unaware of any skills a job candidate has.

Any time you add someone as your referee, inform them so that they can vouch for you in case an employer comes calling.

More signs that you are a lazy job seeker

6. Asking the wrong questions
“How do you apply for this job?” “When is the deadline?” are questions you should never ask. Read a job description to the end and get the answers to those questions.

7. Clumsy mistakes
You forgot the HR Managers name and title and also misspelled their name and the company name too. Before sending an application, proof read your documents to be sure that nothing is missing.

Attention to detail is something that the employer can see through your CV even before you start the job.

Make a decision to change your status to an energetic jobseeker. The effort is worthwhile.

By Elizabeth Benu
How easy is it to make mistakes in your first job application as a graduate? Very easy! You have done everything right in college from acing your tests, doing two internships to learning a foreign language.

You spotted the job that just feels right and your qualifications match in every way, but just before you apply consider reading the following mistakes most graduates make in job applications:

Only applying for THE IDEAL jobs
An ideal or perfect job has all the following: a to-die-for salary, huge allowances and a load of benefits. When making applications to such jobs only, you are most likely to miss out on many opportunities because you are not yet qualified for such a job yet.

If the job only offers a salary without the benefits and allowances, take it! Do not overlook it because there will never be a perfect job as an entry level candidate.

The second mistake that most graduates make in job applications

Too much emphasis on one skill set
Every employer is looking for expertise in a specific field be it Accountng, Administartion or IT but at the same time they want a well-rounded candidate. Even the most technical jobs require some creative thinking and communication skills. This can be done by joining networking groups or engaging in volunteer activities.

“Use your network persons wisely, do most for the work for yourself, this includes having the right CVs and cover letters do not wait for them to ask you to update your CV or do the right cover letter, you are the one who needs the job, their work is to just push you in the right direction,” Martin Githaiga, a HR Associate at Jumia Kenya, advices.

The most common mistakes most graduates make in job applications

Applying for all jobs with the same CV

You might be angry that employers do not give feedback after sending so many applications, but sending a standard CV everywhere does not give you any chance for a job.

Kenyan employers are looking for graduates with initiative. Blind applications may seem okay but to employers it comes out as laziness and lack of attention to detail.

Think about what you want to offer an employer as opposed to what you want to get from them. This will allow you to make the best CV and not the same old dry CV you had since your first year.

Setting High expectations

Majorities of graduates are set on landing jobs with big corporate instead of focusing on gaining experience first.

When making a job application, apply for a job where there is less competition such as SMEs and gain experience.

The better paying job at the big corporate will come soon after you gain the relevant experience.
Avoid all these mistakes for an easy job search and to land more interviews and maybe a job.

By Jane Okoth

In every job interview, one of the most challenging questions which you can be expected to be asked is “tell me about yourself”. For you to start off your interview on a good note, preparation is the key in responding to the question.

Melody Mwendwa a Professional CV Writer at Corporate Staffing Services says that your response to this question will set the mood in the whole interview.

In this question, the interviewer wants to get an overview of who you are as a professional and if you can actually meet the required threshold in the position.

A good example is this one
My name is Sarah Maina. I am a former Customer Care Executive at Pyg Company limited where my duties included answering calls in a professional manner so as to provide more information about our products and services. I was also responsible for obtaining details of customer complaints while keeping records of customer interactions and transactions. I believe that my working experience coupled with my educational background will be a perfect match for the position at hand.

Interview Tips To ” Tell me about yourself”

1. Your educational background

Start by highlighting your education qualifications which relates to the position you are applying for. Talk about where and when you studied and how the experience led you to the current profession.

2. Your related career history
The interviewer is also interested in knowing your work history. When responding to this question, mention only the relevant working experience and position which is directly related to the job you are applying for.

Give a brief summary of your specific career achievements and how it will be of benefit to your potential employer. In short, your response should explain how your pasts skills relates to the present position you are interested in.

3. Your future career prospects
In this segment, you are supposed to explain to the interviewer why you applied for that position and how it best fits you. Explain what you would hope to achieve in your career if offered a new position. Again take note that your explanation has to be relevant to the position you are interviewed for.

How well you craft your response will be a perfect opportunity to shine so ensure that you take your best shot! Good luck!!

1. Minimum KCSE Mean Grade of B (plain).
2. Not more than 25 years of age.
3. Strong grades in the major subjects that are key to the preferred specialty.
4. Completed Secondary Education in the last three (3) years.
5. Has KCSE certificate.

1. Are serving the country in the public sector.
2. Completed two (2) years of continuous public service since their last degree studies.
3. Masters applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree with at least Upper Second Class Honors.
4. PhD applicants must have a relevant Master’s Degree.
5. Are below 35 years for Masters and 40 years for PhD.