Why did you ignore this during your interview?

Turn off your mobile phone!

If you really didn’t think of this, well…

Keep your head

When interviewing, one of the worst mistakes you can make is to lose your composure – some interview questions can be difficult and even at times uncomfortable, so the best thing you can do is to keep your wits about you.

Preparing for your interview in advance is a good way to avoid losing control of the situation on the day – but even if you are caught off guard, don’t worry! Most interviewers will be happy for you to take a minute to compose yourself if you lose track of your thoughts. Don’t take too long though!

Be patient!

You may be on your lunch break and need to get back to your current job or you might have an appointment to go to. Either way, an interviewer doesn’t want to see a candidate who looks like they want to just get out of there.

The awkward interview question! “What is your expected salary?”

the best interview ever

If in any case you’re reading this article and you have ever attended an interview you will agree with me this is not an easy question to answer. No here is how to go about this question:

First, do know you need not to disclose any of the following:

• Your current salary
• Your past salary and you really need not to respond to this question.

But in this case you’re interviewing for a new job, and the approach you take while dealing with this question can affect the outcome of the interview, so it is worth being prepared.

In most cases in the early stages of your career, you will be expecting an increase in salary when you move to this new job. This may be because the new job may be a step up for you and as such it has more responsibilities.

Please do remember that your new employer really has no way of finding out your previous salary, in this case if you want to exaggerate a little to help justify an increased expected salary, feel free to do so.  However, depending on responsibilities be careful you do not wanna be conscious with this.

How to respond when asked what your salary expectations are

Let’s assume you want more money than you are getting just now. If the salary hasn’t been disclosed for the job, then you need to carefully discuss the potential with your new employer.

You can start off by saying something along the lines of, “Well, obviously I would expect a salary that is in line with the level and responsibilities of the job and my experience – what starting salary do you offer for this job role?” – This is a great counter to the question. It doesn’t commit you to a specific figure, and moves the discussion back to them. They will always have a figure in mind from the start of the interview – most employers just want to see if they can hire you for less money!

East Africa for Husqvarna – sales manager

Husqvarna is the largest producer of outdoor power products including chainsaws, lawn movers, trimmers and garden tractors. The group is also leading in Europe in consumer watering products and one of the world leaders in cutting equipments and Diamonds tools for construction industries and stone industries

The group’s products are sold via dealers and retailers in more than 1000 countries worldwide

Main responsibilities

• Be able to grow the company presence in East Africa by growing sales, services with selected distributors
• Be able to carry out Evaluated B2B sales
• Be the key decision maker on how to access the market on all the full range products
• Responsible for sales and GP in east Africa
• Carry out the evaluation of the existing distributers and make further distributor appointments
• Establish a network between dealers and distributors

Educational qualifications

Customer officer and transport logistics

Purpose for this position

• To carry out all the duties of processing transport and any other transport operations for MSF supply centre in Nairobi area

Key responsibilities

• Be the one responsible for the preparation of the all the exports and imports and transit documents following the Kenya customs and regulations law.
• Be the main key to the overall customs issues involving the MSF consultation with the general manager
• Be the go between in regard to the exports documents and make sure all the documents are done on time
• Be the one to receive all the international cargo and process out bounds cargo from the Nairobi regional MSF missions
• Give key priority to the managing of MSF’s interests in the TG through stock inventories and monitoring of stocks requests.
• Be able to maintain all the required updated guidelines of customs procedures in Kenya
• Liase with the relevant authorities concerning all the transport and logistics issues

Transport

• Receive cheques and forward the to the transport related invoices
• Receive and process transport requests
• Be responsible for the loading and offloading of all the trucks in the hardware
• Carry out all the paper work necessary

Ngenia High school – computer/ mathematics teacher

Ngenia High school urgently needs to recruit a mathematics/ computer teacher. 

Applicants are invited to apply for the above position; from graduate trained teachers to work under the 

terms of board of Governors 

Application and system assistance

An established company in Mombasa invites qualified applicants or persons for their position of a application and system assistance

Main role

• Support of Database Applications and ERP

Skills and qualification

• Degree or diploma in ICT or a related discipline
• Proficient in ASP,NET,MS SQL server, MS SQL queries and reports, visual and basics , NET c++c  crystal reports and MS data base
• 2 years working experience in database and applications, programming and ERP implementations preferably SAP business one
• Must have project management and accounting background
• Excellent communication skills, self motivated, Energetic and team player
• Can multitask and have problem solving abilities

Send your applications to:

Facilities manager job

Aga Khan Service Kenya seeks a qualified, purely motivated and well coordinated individual to facilitate its Management activities for 11 schools in Kenya.

Main roles includes

• Carry out regular inspections on all facilities
• Carry out the coordination and maintenance of all works
• Over seeing cleaning and security services contracts
• Managing contacts for all large facilities enhancements and repair works across the eleven schools

Educational qualifications

• Have a bachelor’s degree in Civil structural engineering as well as a quantity survey certification
• Have knowledge in construction standards
• Also construction law and regulations is required
• Five years experience least

Project manager

A senior leading construction company is seeking to recruit a senior project manager, who will be responsible for ensuring successful delivery of the company’s services to the clients, ensure outcomes and high quality innovative and user friendly

• The candidate will be based in Nairobi and but with frequent travels within the resgion depending on job requirements
• Will be reporting to the general manager
• Will have an overall responsibility of developing effectiveness services to clients

Other responsibilities

• Be able to maintain professionalism, quick delivery of services, be available at anytime
• Ensure the company quality standards are met
• Be able to plan and manage projects ensuring that they are delivered on time and on Budget
• Assessing the clients needs and relevance of specification
• Make sure all the main decisions are made on time and according to the outlined guideline and on time
• Overall be the client manager
• Offer information/ insight to the management on the project trends

Educational qualification

consultancy opportunity available

Techno server, inc is an international and a non profitable development organization which was founded in 1968. The main objective of this organization is to help entrepreneur men and women in rural areas to build business that create job opportunity for their families and relatives. Currently techno server is working with Heifer international and the Livestock research institute to implement the East Africa Dairy development Program in targeted Districts in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya

At the moment techno is seeking to recruit an assessor to conduct performance for targeted business in Uganda and Kenya. He or she will use the internal development performance evaluation tool for all the data collection.

Main objectives of this position

• Carry out the improvement of reliability of business performance evaluation results and enhance effectiveness of the internally developed tools
• Other key activities includes
• Be able to enter clean and well analyzed data
• Carry out the development of assessment plan
• Collect business hub data
• Be able to develop assessment report

Educational qualification

Automotive plant mechanic

Our client, Gogni Rajopie constraction ompany is an established and fast growing company in Roads and civil engineering construction

At the moment our client wishes to engage a plant and automotive mechanic to do the servicing and maintenance of their fleet ranging from earth moving equipments to flight pick-up trucks

Job summary

·         Be able to supervise and lead a team of mechanics

·         Carry out the responsibilities for delivering minimum downtime on equipments

·         Also carry out the planning and costing of maintenance team

housemart CO . LTD Vacancies

Housemart CO. LTD is a fast growing company dealing in importing and distribution of building materials, hardware products, fast moving consumer goods, household goods and product from different parts of the world. It’s a world wide company with its headquarters in china and can be found in the website: www.sunda.com  but in Kenya the company is found in Nairobi. Currently the company is will to recruit professional in different fields as listed below:

Accountant

• Must have three years experience and CPA
• Should also have a university degree  

Customer care officer 3 posts

Qualifications

• A degree
• Three years experience

Sales personnel 

vacany available

It is highly prolific merchandise company and it look forward to fill the following positions:

Chief executive officer

All the applicants who apply for this position must be earning more than KSH. 300,000

Sales and marketing executive

Must also be earning more than KSH 100,000

• Experience in
• Selling tyres
• Electronics
• Kitchen ware equipments for hotels and restaurants
• Bitumen, mild steel sheet and ceramic Tiles

The Higher Education Loans Board is a full state corporation whose mandate is to look for funds and provide the required loans, scholarships and bursaries to Kenyan studying in recognized institutions of higher learning. At the moment the loans board is looking for potential, competent, passionate, dedicated and self driven individuals of that higher integrity. The ideal candidates should be able to show and demonstrate leadership skills for them fill the below positions

Information communication technology Help desk- support specialist

Main responsibilities

• ·         Be the intermediary between customers and the internet support staff to assure problem interpretation, and maintain communication with customers during the problem resolution process
• ·         Carry out user submitted problems by resolving them as per the policies and procedures for handling of support cases
• ·         Should be able to obtain and convey concise problem information for external and internal personnel
• ·         Escalate problems as appropriate following help desk procedures
• ·         Maintain in- depth knowledge of help desk supported products and services that will enhance and improve computing support delivered to customers, while managing help desk documentation , records, procedure and reports
• ·         Be able to provide first level problem resolutions for all the internal and external users with hardware and software.

Educational qualification

• ·         A bachelor’s degree in ICT
• ·         Team player
• ·         Should have good interpersonal skills communication once
• ·         Should have at least worked in a busy ICT firm for not less than three years
• ·         Should also have analytical and report writing skills
• ·         Knowledge of ICT help desk management and user support skills

Head of operations

Will serve as the head principle adviser to the CEO on all the strategic matters relating to the loan management system

Key roles and responsibilities

Poets and writers online POWO

Customer service/ marketing Manager

 The Nairobi Hospital, a leading health care institution in Eastern Africa has excellent career opportunities for individuals who possess a passion for service excellence, strong work ethic, are committed to continual improvement and are results oriented.

Key responsibilities

The successful candidates will be team players with the ability to effectively influence support from and add value to a wide range of professionals.

Developing and effecting systems for tracking and evaluating financial and non-financial benefits of Marketing, Customer Service and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Facilitating internal branding, marketing and customer service programs.

Participating in determining the Hospital’s pricing approach and in negotiating contracts.

Monitoring customer satisfaction indices and facilitating resolution of customer complaints.

Participating in developing and streamlining service delivery operational systems to improve the quality of care.

 Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer

 Providing leadership for the designing, planning and implementation of the Marketing, Customer Service and Corporate Social Responsibility functions.

Ensuring that the Hospital has effective Marketing, Customer Service, Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility strategies and plans.

Motor Dealer: Marketing Manager

 Our client is a well established motor vehicles dealer appointed by their principals to sell lorries, buses, cars and spare parts. They have been in business for over 20 years.

They now wish to recruit a Marketing Manager to spearhead vehicle sales through the branches and head office.

Requirements

 Applicants should be motor vehicle salesmen with a successful track record in vehicle unit sales

Online media: communication and public relation Manager

Our client is a leading brand in the IT / Online sector. Well back with a rapidly growing brand and customer base, the company has a strong presence in the East African market.

The company has access to highly useful and positive business and social information, trends, data and resources that are in demand by a range of consumer, business and government readers.

The primary objectives

• To develop, implement and manage communications programs and activities that effectively describe, publicise and promote the organisation, its services and its impact on the community.
• Reporting to Head of Marketing, you will also be responsible for internal and external communications and ensure that communications programs & activities are in line with company strategy.
• Your role will ensure that the company and its specialist information is well covered in specialist, national and regional press. 
• There will be occasional travel within East Africa.

Skills and experience

Program Administrator Job Vacancy

icipe is an intergovernmental organisation funded by government aid agencies, UN organisations and private foundations to carry out research and training in environmentally sound and sustainable management of arthropods for improved health and agricultural productivity in the tropics.

icipe has approximately 350 staff to support its research and capacity building programmes, located at various sites in Kenya and Ethiopia.

icipe wishes to urgently recruit a suitable person to fill the position of a Program Administrator for the icipe - IITA project based at Duduville campus, Kasarani, Nairobi.

This is a local (national) position that offers a two-year contract that is renewable.

The Progam Administrator will perform the following duties, among others:

Responsibilities

• Providing quarterly graphic representation of project expenditures against approved budgets in order to provide NRM director with a clear status of project resources
• Following up with the Project Accountant to ensure that monthly project reports to the NRM director are done in a timely manner and expenditures are a reflection of approved project budget line items
• Assuming responsibility for other program functions such as planning meetings, drafting letters/reports, scheduling appointments and coordinating travel arrangement

Callcentre Agents carees

Accu-Tech Outsourcing (K)  was formed  in 2004  as a contact center majoring in transcription services only. Accu-Tech has grown to become a global provider of sales, customer service and technical support services. Since its inception, Accu-Tech's global footprint has expanded with a great market in the USA and the UK and have grown from 5 seats to 50 seats with a capacity to do up to 200 seats. While Accu-Tech's history is rich in technical support, the company has grown to be a Provider of Choice for companies looking for world-class customer care and revenue generation programs, as well.

Our consultative approach has enabled us to tailor programs that specifically suit our clients. Infact even beyond their expectations.

As we look forward to be an employer of choice in the Eastern and central African Region, Accu-Tech is able to attract the best talent, ensuring our support professionals are truly engaged and engrossed in our clients' businesses and brands - resulting in a better overall customer experience. Accu-Tech endeavor to expand into new regions, as well as continued dedication to client and customer satisfaction and further innovation of support services appreciating the improving technology and new concepts coming into the market everyday. Creating maximum value for our clients and building customer brand loyalty keeps Accu-Tech at the forefront of the industry. Year after year, companies choose Accu-Tech as their leading partner in outsourced services.

Requirements

Call centre supervisor

Corporate Travel Management is a Travel and Tours operator which specializes in servicing a niche group of corporate and individual clientele who value the personal touch and attention to detail in the arrangement of their travel plans.

Job Description:

As the first line customer liaison, the primary role is to:-

To ensure that our agents handle customers inquiries promptly, efficiently and professionally to fulfill the call center’s expectations and meet the set service and sales target

Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform investigation on general queries, complaints and follow up with other supporting departments
• Actively participate in process improvement meetings as required
• Prepare daily end shift reports
• Contact clients and confirm receipt of renewal notices received before renewal date in line with script
• Confirm client information and update on CRM.
• Propose premium financing options to client in line with Company policy for late renewals and recoveries.
• Flag follow ups and book appointments with clients

Finance Manager – KCDF

KCDF is seeking a qualified, self-driven and highly proficient accountant to strengthen its finance and administration department. Reporting to the Finance and Investment Director, the Finance Manager will supervise the Finance and Administration team on a day to day basis and provide effective and efficient accounting and management information system support to KCDF as well as give KCDF programme and other units timely, accurate and regular financial management reports to support decision making. As part of the finance team, the successful applicant will have the following

Key responsibilities:

Participate in proposal development processes by ensuring accurate and inclusive programme cost budgeting in conjunction with the programme team

Other responsibilities as delegated to by the Finance & Investment Director

 Qualification and Experience

• University Degree in Accounting, Finance or Relevant Business Studies and a CPA (K) or its equivalent.
• Solid finance and accounting experience of not less than five years in a reputable organization at a senior level.
• Progressive experience in donor funds management. Experience in grant making will be an added advantage
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Working Knowledge in a computerized finance system (knowledge of Pastel will be an added advantage).

Head of life insurance sales and marketing

Requirements

Minimum 3 years relevant experience.

Send your application with a detailed CV and a daytime telephone contact. Applicants should also state their current or past salary. Send your application by hand, courier, post or email so as to reach us by 12 Noon 15th February 2012. Mark Job Ref. No. on the top left of the envelope. Limit email to maximum 3 pages A4. Do not include copy certificates via email.

Security firm job opportunities

It is a leading security firm situated in Uasin Gishu and currently seeking to recruit young and result oriented staff for the following positions

1. General Manager
2. Marketing manager
3. Human resource manager
4. Operation manager
5. Financial manager

Factors of consideration

• Be a Kenyan and aged 35 years and below
• Have a business degree in a related field from a renowned university.
• A master’s degree in related field will be an added advantage
• 3 years working experience in the related field
• Computer skills required to
• Strong management and leadership skills
• Should be flexible, resilient, energetic and dynamic

Davis & Shirtliff group sales engineers

The jobs that exist in the Davis & Shirtliff group for sales Engineers in Rwanda and Southern Sudan subsidiary branches

The principal job tasks being as follows:

• Sales of specialized technical equipments
• Frequent travel to customer sites
• Customer development and retention
• Required attributes
• Be nationals of Rwanda and Southern Sudan respectively
• Be graduate engineer with honors degree from a recognized university
• Should have a valid driving license

Accountants’ sales Manager

It is a fast growing company dealing with sales and marketing of computers, stationary and computer accessories. Currently the company is looking for a self driven and result oriented sales/marketing account management to fill immediate positions. 

Educational requirements

• Diploma in I.T or computer science (those with a degree will have an advantage
• Can prepare and give timely reports and analysis as required
• Should have not only documented proven business acumen but also ability to negotiate contracts and relates, identify and penetrate new markets.
• At least 2 to 3 years working experience in sales and marketing computer accessories
• Can meet and exceed targets

Celtic cooling: senior refrigeration technician

Celtic cooling is a company supplying and dealing with services like maintaining commercial cold rooms and refrigeration equipments worldwide. The company has offices in several African Countries thus including Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia.

At the moment, the Kenyan branch office is looking forward to fill the above position

Experience, requirements and educational qualifications

• Should have a higher diploma in refrigeration and electrical installations
• 5 years work experience as cold room and refrigeration technician 
• Should be able to write and speak excellently thus in English
• Have a driving License

General Secretary

·         Are you competent administrator and organizer having excellent interpersonal skills ?

·         Have you got some experience in writing or publishing related fields?

·         Can you travel extensively, promote KENFAA, and recruit 200 members annually as your basic performance indicator?

·         Have you any knowledge about authors’ rights and authors’ related issues?

·         Do you have a master’s degree?

·         Are you computer literate?

If all your answers are YES then you are welcome to apply for the vacancy named above. This position is tenable w.e.f 1 march 2012 and is offered on a two year contract basis, renewable by mutual agreement, based on your performance.

It is a leading organization in the agriculture sector seeking to recruit the following vacancies in the establishment with dynamic and result oriented individuals

Supervisor – 2 positions

Qualifications

·         Certificate in agriculture or an equivalent field

·         5 years experience

The position is based in baringo

Senior Supervisor Dairy Farm- 1 position

Qualification

Driver / Messenger

Main responsibilities

·         Driving and maintenance of vehicles according to DEA standards

·         Delivery and collection of items

Qualifications and competence

Receptionist – Diakonie emergency Aid (DEA)

Diakonie Emergency aid DEA is a large and a worldwide humanitarian assistance agency of the protestant church of Germany. The main office in Nairobi is the regional office and it is in charge of relief projects in the greater Horn of Africa and Madagascar. At the moment DEA is looking and seeking for a suitable candidate to fill the above position.

Main responsibilities

·         Take note of action points during team meetings

·         Carry out receptionist tasks

·         Be able to maintain DEA library

·         Occasionally prepare and serve beverages to visitors during formal meetings

·         Be involved with some of the administrative duty

Educational qualifications

Training facilitator – immediate interviews! – Bridge international academies is Hiring

Currently Bridge international academy is looking for a world class teacher training program, using the best research for large scale training

Qualifications

·         Bachelor’s degree

·         Can travel up to 50%, based in Nairobi

·         Excellent out loud reading skills with fast reading speed

·         Outgoing and engaging personality

·         Excellent comprehension skills in English and math’s

·         Good time manager and organization, very detail oriented