Source: Entrepreneur.com

Everyday thousands of people wrestle with the question of how to reconcile their work and their life. You have friends, family and work that needs your attention but your work seems to get more attention.

How do you achieve and maintain work-life balance? Here are best kept secrets for that:

1.    Be open about your needs.
I believe that the first thing people need to do is identify what truly matters to them and communicate it. Don’t hide it and don’t expect others to guess what makes you feel balanced and fulfilled.

Do you need to leave work at 5 p.m. so you can attend classes? Employees need to have an open dialogue with their managers and managers need to understand what works and what is possible. Different jobs require different approaches, but everyone can benefit from having an open and honest conversation about what balance means.

The second secret to achieving and maintaining work-life balance

2.    Respect boundaries.
You cannot achieve your balance if you don’t respect the boundaries you have put in place. It will be hard in the beginning but you need to stick with it so you develop a routine and drive a culture and lifestyle of predictability.

You will find that there is also something else you can do. There is always another email to reply to or a problem to work, but you need to PERSONALLY respect your boundaries. If you don’t then you can’t expect others to respect them.

3.    Understand what really matters.
Time is the most valuable commodity in life: it is the one thing you cannot buy more of. So, don’t waste time. Focus on what really matters. Really scrutinize your day and max it out every hour, minute and second to focus on the most important outputs. For some this may require a high degree of planning and structure.

The most important secrets to achieving and maintaining work life balance

4.    Embrace the off button.
Pretty much every piece of technology has an off button, so use it. It is not easy and for many people this is the hardest thing to do. To get started, do it in phases. Don’t bring your phone to lunch.

When you unplug and step back you will start to experience one of life’s greatest treasures — perspective. You will think about problems you are wrestling with greater clarity. You allow yourself the freedom to be more analytical and less emotional when you step away and think vs. just diving in and responding in the moment.

5.    Pace yourself.
To have a long, healthy, productive, and happy life and career you need to understand the value of pace. There are times when you need to throttle up and there are times when you can throttle down. Self-awareness is crucial. Doing so will help you enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

Tips on Career Transition in Kenya

By Jane Okoth

Nowadays, it is hard to find people committed to one line of profession thanks to the saturated job market. To counter this, I have outlined a few tips that will help you change and transition into a new career.

1. Identify your own career path
“Identifying your next career can start with the interests you develop later in life,” says Serah Mutunga, a Human Resource Manager at Securex.

“You can come from a family of lawyers, doctors and end up becoming a lawyer by default so always do something you have passion for,” she adds.

However, Ms Mutunga opines that there are some occasions where what you want to become in life is not available in the job market.

“For instance, my initial career goal was journalism and mass communication because I had always dreamt of becoming a news anchor,” she reveals.

“However, I developed a passion for Human Resource later in life and successfully made my transition,” she explains.

Career Transition Tips in Kenya

2.Have a clear plan and goal for your career
“Changing careers is something that is happening more frequently than before,” says Brian Kariuki the Country Manager at Travel Start Kenya.

“When seeking for a change, the key concern should be your career growth,” he emphasizes.

According to Mr Kariuki, there is no exact time frame to when deciding to change careers because you should always have a plan.

“A good move would be to start acquiring new skills because you will need them in your next career,” he advises.

“This way, you will fully understand what is needed on a particular field as well be aware of the current trends and skills that are in demand,” he elaborates.

How to successfully make a Career Transition

While in your current career, Mr Kariuki warns against the idea of quitting to pursue passion.

“You cannot get away from the realities of life and always remember that you have to put food on the table,” he affirms.

3. Be patient with yourself
Transitioning to a new role is a long process, especially in Kenyan job market but Mr Kariuki says that losing hope is not an option.

“Search for the job as widely as you can and avail yourself to people even if it means working for them for free,” he advises.

While you are there, you can use the opportunity as a stepping stone to your dream job,” he concludes.

If you want to change your career, give these tips a try and see the difference.

Best CV Writing Tips in Kenya

By Melody Mwendwa

It is becoming more evident that Jobs are hard to come by nowadays.

Are you currently pursuing the art of sending, attaching, and downloading….but still no incoming mail or an invitation for an interview?

If you are that kind of person, it is time to take a bold step and make a first impression and make each application count.

The irony of job hunting is that you might be very good at what you do, but remember Kenyan employers judge you by how well you articulate your skills on your CV and in an interview.

It is time to show them that you’re great at what you do and this is what you can do to gain an edge in this saturated market.

6 CV Writing Tips

1. Ensure that your CV has a consistent font and format throughout, unless you are a graphic artist; avoid “pimping” your CV with drawings and incompatible formats.

2. Remember that a CV is a professional simple document for the Employer and not for your own personal contentment. Therefore, you should avoid mentioning hobbies and activities that do not highlight your career interests.

3. Apply for jobs that match your skills and the needs of the company. Focus on jobs that are in line with what you want to pursue in the long run.

4. Cover letters express an interest in a job, therefore, identify your key achievements at your previous jobs and equate this to what you can offer the new company.

5. Hiring managers want to employ you because they need your skill and expertise and if you fail to highlight what you were able to achieve for the past employer, it makes it difficult for them to hire you.

6. Duties and responsibilities are significant in a CV. However, identify key duties that reflect the position you are applying for as opposed to mentioning all duties and responsibilities.

If you intend to have a career change, seek professional advice. Do not shoot in the dark; understand what this new profession offers. Take up a volunteer position; be curious to find out why certain jobs will not be fit for your skills and education background.

Remember that the market is dynamic; (too many people chasing after very few jobs) make yourself stand out among your peers. Apply for jobs that align well to your interests and never forget to follow your passion!

By Jane Okoth

Nowadays, it is hard to find people committed to one line of profession thanks to the saturated job market. To counter this, I have outlined a few tips that will help you change and transition into a new career.

1. Identify your own career path
“Identifying your next career can start with the interests you develop later in life,” says Serah Mutunga, a Human Resource Manager at Securex.

“You can come from a family of lawyers, doctors and end up becoming a lawyer by default so always do something you have passion for,” she adds.

However, Ms Mutunga opines that there are some occasions where what you want to become in life is not available in the job market.

“For instance, my initial career goal was journalism and mass communication because I had always dreamt of becoming a news anchor,” she reveals.

“However, I developed a passion for Human Resource later in life and successfully made my transition,” she explains.

Career Transition Tips in Kenya

2.Have a clear plan and goal for your career
“Changing careers is something that is happening more frequently than before,” says Brian Kariuki the Country Manager at Travel Start Kenya.

“When seeking for a change, the key concern should be your career growth,” he emphasizes.

According to Mr Kariuki, there is no exact time frame to when deciding to change careers because you should always have a plan.

“A good move would be to start acquiring new skills because you will need them in your next career,” he advises.

“This way, you will fully understand what is needed on a particular field as well be aware of the current trends and skills that are in demand,” he elaborates.

How to successfully make a Career Transition

While in your current career, Mr Kariuki warns against the idea of quitting to pursue passion.

“You cannot get away from the realities of life and always remember that you have to put food on the table,” he affirms.

3. Be patient with yourself
Transitioning to a new role is a long process, especially in Kenyan job market but Mr Kariuki says that losing hope is not an option.

“Search for the job as widely as you can and avail yourself to people even if it means working for them for free,” he advises.

While you are there, you can use the opportunity as a stepping stone to your dream job,” he concludes.

If you want to change your career, give these tips a try and see the difference.

By Jane Okoth,
Have you ever found yourself terrified at the thought of reporting to work on Monday? Who doesn’t…right?

But unfortunately there are Kenyans who chose the wrong career move and cannot seem to find a way out.

Could there be signs that the job is not meant for you and how do you get yourself out of that position?

Nick Mutuma, a Human Resource Consultant at Virtual HR says that unemployment in the country is to blame for such predicaments.

“Being jobless will most likely to drive you into desperation, consequently forcing you to settle for a job you don’t want,” he says.

“Some people do their work for the sake of money as they have nothing that motivates them,” he adds.

Mr Mutuma also blames Corruption and nepotism as one of the reasons why people are stuck in the wrong job.

“Kenyans nowadays do rely on their connections for jobs and once they get the chance, they are likely to take it for granted,” he opines.

So what solutions does he offer to those who are stuck in the wrong careers?

“For starters, you can opt for integrating other career options rather than just abandoning your present one,” he advises.

According to Mr Mutuma, how to improve your present situation will depend on the organization you are working for.

For instance, your dream career is being an accountant, yet you find that your current job is restricted to teaching. A good idea is to consider taking accounting classes and in that way you can easily incorporate the two.

“If you want to fully advance your career, why not start furthering your education in order to stay competitive in the job market?” he poses.

Secondly, Mr. Mutuma says that it is imperative in your career to pursue what you like.

“Being stuck in a job that is not up to your expectation will demotivate you and you are prone to be unproductive most of the time,” he warns.

“Always follow your passion and do what you are comfortable at. Pick alternative ways to begin your career,” he says.

He adds that, “If you have interest in a certain career, find ways to explore it further.”

On his parting shot, Mr. Mutuma cautions against lacking proper objectives and aims when looking for a job.

“Take time to reevaluate yourself and examine what you need in a job.” he says.

Don’t just work for the sake of money because it is probably one of the reasons you lack direction in your job,” he concludes.

By Elizabeth Benu,

Are you worried that your zero years of experience will make an employer throw your CV into the trash? If you are, the good news is that you can land a job through that very same CV.

Students, recent graduates and entry level applicants, here are tips to spice up your CV and land you a great job:

1. A summary
It is your CV’s sales-pitch where you describe yourself and what you can do for an employer.

“Without any experience, you should highlight your education and skills. Skills should include those highlighted in the job description,” advices Florence Mukuntya, a professional CV Writer at Corporate Staffing Services.

A sample summary would sound like: ‘Recent graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) with excellent time management, Sage ERP operation and analytical skills. Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and consistently meet deadlines.

2. The experience section
“To highlight your potential to an employer, include any internships or volunteer positions held that have lasted for 3 months or more.

Those without any experience should instead have a skills section where they place any skills gained during your education or trainings or workshops attended,” she advices further.

3. Education
Ms. Mukunya adds that, “Without experience, your highest achievement would be your degree, diploma or certificate. List your education information closer to the top of your CV and include your grades.”

4. Skills
“Those with work experience must include basic traits such as problem solving, communication skills, drive and technical skills.

Recent graduates should include relevant professional skills developed in school or volunteer jobs and computer skills. Ensure that you highlight how your past allowed you to learn or demonstrate these traits,” Ms. Mukunya explains.

5. References
“I like to prefer to referees as  ‘huge assets’,” Ms. Mukunya says, adding that, “they will vouch for your dedication and drive even if you haven’t proved those abilities in a work environment.”

She points out that, “Do not leave them out whether they have been requested for or not. Lecturers and mentors are suitable referees for those without any work experience. Those with experience can include their supervisor or HR Manager.”