PREVIOUS POST: COMMENTARY.

DISCLAIMER: excuse my French in this post:)

Not so long a while ago, I was thinking about my job search and how I would not wish it on anybody because its been a darn long process not necessarily yielding the result I initially anticipated.

Money, like it is to many people(ok, Roselyn, speak for yourself) has been an issue. I've had to cut back on a lot of things to have my finances make sense.
When we(you and I..recent graduates) are starting out, our initial aim is to make figures that will help us get by even before we think experience(this little conclusion/generalization, im sure, speaks for every Tom, Dick and Harry without a trust fund..lol.).

I recall, a few weeks ago at the ATB career fair, Bob Collymore(Safaricom CEO) spoke about figuring whats more important to you as you set out on carving your career path..be it finances, experience or whatever.
That way, you determine your motivation and work to ensure its fulfilled if not sated.

'owo ni ke ke ni nyerere'(Yoruba Proverb)..Everybody needs money, even priests needs money. Some take that need more seriously than others.

When I read stories like that in my previous post, my heart bleeds for those girls(..and boys. Male prostitution is also rife just not as aptly documented as female prostitution)

A part of me always says, 'its never that serious'..the need for money, that is.
.,and NO this doesnt mean I have loads of it. In fact, I dey for aje-baku i.e. serial broke ass.

I have all the qualifications for an entry level job but I have not yet succeeded in my search. So do many of you.
However, I would hate to be reduced to lying on my back(and other awkward positions) for money.
It would rip me of my dignity. Rob a bit of my essence, if not all of it.
Having to literally kiss a strangers(albeit a paying one)ass..ah! The though of it makes me shudder.

I'm a veteran at things non-judgmental because like most people who care to admit, I'm just human. However, I have a flair for airing opinions which I ensure are heard by all and sundry when something touches or speaks to my heart. My two cents on the previous post:

1. Money is important.
Your parents spent it on a decent education for you so for Pete's sake find a decent job or income-generating activity if the quest for the former is unsuccessful.
Ps..I have not found one and have no authority to command one on/to you but when rubber has met road, I have settled for running errands and other 'small' jobs, sometimes demeaning to my credentials E.g. I took a 3-day gig ushering a corporate event and received a miserly $35 equivalent after standing/sitting/smiling/talking/taking notes for a total 27hours!!(Richard, I hope you're taking notes for my biography)
YOU are not too big to take small jobs.

2. Disease is rife in this society and as you allow yourself to be devoured by the insipid stranger who handpicked you based on the colour and gloss of your thighs, think about what he might be passing onto you, protection notwithstanding(in case you want to counter me with 'im using a condom').

My pastor(Yes, I go to church..sometimes) says that when you sleep with someone, you pick a bit of their essence(or all of it depending on how thick things got<-------my 4.2% perverse bit added this to the pastors words). God knows what you have picked up or are picking up. ..,and trust me, no virtues are being exchanged there.

3. Problems can be much at times. A handful abi. I understand how hard it gets. Trust me I do. Heck I even understand what would drive you to lying on your back for money.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT THINK ITS NECESSARY.
You are a beautiful woman(or man) with awesome credentials(albeit entry level), great standards and huge potential..STAY FOCUSSED.

Finally, well, Bob(He said not to call him Mr. Collymore..lol) MONEY is a present need of my mine and would not mind a job at Safaricom be it at your call centre or as a graduate trainee(..,and in case you do read this, my ultimate preference is your legal department. Here is my E-MAIL have your guys contact me:))

xoxo,

Kazini Daily!

LACK OF JOBS PUSH KENYA YOUTH TO COMMERCIAL SEX.

"A soft feminine voice comes on the line immediately the phone call is picked up on the other side: "This is Leila".
The bedroom voice and exotic name are but tools of the trade in her given profession. She gives us quick directions and a run-down of the 'personal services' she and the other girls offer.
"I'll meet you at the gate downstairs," she says. "Call me when you get here".
Her fluent English and charm in the brief telephone conversation are proof her skills go beyond the bedroom. But that is what she seeks to sell when she adds: "I'm certain you will be a repeat client (after your first visit)."
Leila, a diploma graduate from the Technical University of Kenya, is a call girl working under a false name at a massage parlour in Nairobi's Kilimani area.

She plies her trade alongside a dozen other young girls, some with better education qualifications than hers.

Her search for a formal job lasted eight months after attaining her diploma in Information Technology back in 2011. Having no one to support her through a lengthy job search, she ended up at this 'personal services' point that is no more than a drug and prostitution den.

The parlour is on the second floor of a high-end apartment block where young girls, below 26 years, earn a livelihood offering their bodies to rich men.

The massage services are an obvious facade; most of the girls expect to talk customers into sexual services, which pay more per hour. Here, clients get to choose anything from a basic massage, at Sh1,000 per session, sexual acts in the premises or 'takeaways' at between Sh5,000 and Sh10,000.

Lucrative
The skimpily dressed girls do not live here: They report to work in mid afternoon and typically stay on until around midnight on days when business is slow. Working hours are longer on weekends and holidays when things get busy.

Since she was recruited to this job in 2011, life has become more bearable, Leila says. She no longer needs to ask her aunt, whom she previously lived with in Lang'ata, for any financial support.

"?At least I a'm earning my own cash," said Leila after we sat down to talk at a restaurant within the neighbourhood. There is no pride in the work, though. "I feel like a letdown to my parents who live in our rural home in Taita".

For her, Friday and Saturday evenings are the most lucrative. On a good day, she takes home Sh8,000 from entertaining her male clients with massages and other personal services. This, she says, is enough to pay her rent and upkeep.

Her boss, who is more experienced as a high-end call girl, is also a college graduate, Leila adds.

But this is not the life she expected when she first came to Nairobi in 2007 before enrolling for her course the following year.

She aspired to become an IT support expert. Her hopes started fading soon after completing school.

She put in countless job applications even before formally graduating from the then Kenya Polytechnic, but never received response from potential employers.

"I just gave up on finding a job and decided it was time to make a bold step," said an emotional Leila, while puffing away a cigarette.

"It is the same life everyday but it'??s the only option I have."Leila's life is played out by thousands of other youth, both male and female, who have been pushed to becoming commercial sex workers.

She is among an estimated 10 million people under the age of 35 who have been frustrated on the job-hunt.

Officially, there were only 2.3 million people in Kenya who were unemployed last year.

But the number is an understatement considering millions others who have lost hope of ever finding formal employment, and like Leila, have turned to demeaning jobs.

But even with the rising frustrations in the Kenyan labour market, college graduates are more exposed owing to a slowdown in the creation of jobs in the formal sector which would typically employ degree- and diploma-holders like Leila.

The informal sector was responsible for about nine of every new jobs created last year, according to the 2013 Economic Survey, which reported that only 68,000 new jobs were created compared to 74,200 in 2011."

Source: HERE

CREATING A PROFESSIONAL LOOK FOR AN INTERVIEW.

We all know that first impressions count, never more so than those in a job interview.  If you’re preparing for an upcoming job interview for a corporate professional position and wondering what to wear, knowing what’s suitable is often difficult.  While you’ll no doubt want to look your absolute best, sometimes what you think is your ‘best’ is not always suitable for the corporate world.

Here are a few DOs and DON’Ts to help you achieve an appropriate professional corporate look.

DO keep make-up simple and stick to a natural look.  For a flawless appearance, use a blemish balm to cover irritations and pimples, or to hide dark circles around the eyes.  At the same time, try keeping your skin nourished and healthy.  Take a look at here to find yourself a suitable product for that.  It is important to keep the makeup subtle and natural.
                                 

DON’T apply heavy eye make-up!  A little mascara is more than enough.  Dark rouges and lipsticks are also a no-go for interviews.  Stick to lighter, more natural tones instead.  With nail polish, stick to neutral shades, avoiding bold and shiny colors that look more teenage  girls rather than corporate business woman.
 Ps..don't throw powder on your face like a babalawo..see lady in the middle:D

DO keep your outfit modest!  Keeping a healthy balance between professionalism and style is key.  Skirts should be at least knee-length and blouses not too low cut.  Particularly in a male dominated environment, you want to gain respect from the get-go, attracting the attention of your potential future colleagues for what you have to say rather than on how you’re dressed.

..fiercely decent attire, don't you think!

                                                                     ..if you prefer skirts:)

 
It can sometimes even be a good idea to consult a personal shopper to help you find the right interview outfit.

DON’T wear super high heels.  Heels are acceptable, but in order to guarantee a serious and comfortable look, avoid heels above 3 inches (with the exception of fashion-forward, creative fields). Wedges are also a comfortable option!!

What looks do you advocate for interviews or office?? Do share:)
Xoxo,
Kazini Daily!1
Article source: Here
Image credits: Here