4 Career Lessons I Have Learnt In Recruitment

Changing jobs can be difficult and stressful, especially when you are not sure which industry you want to go into. And with the current state of the Kenyan job market, the situation becomes worse for job seekers when they can’t find job openings they are well suited for. But this should not mean that if you want to change jobs you should be afraid of what to expect, no. Many have succeeded and you can too if you are willing to learn a few lessons from this success.

Take the case of Muthoni Ndegwa, for example. Now a Client Service Manager at Corporate Staffing Services, a leading recruitment company in Kenya, Muthoni never pictured herself working in the HR industry when she made the decision to change gears.

With an education background in Social Sciences and having worked with big companies in the Advertising and Media industries, a position in the HR industry and in a smaller company did not nearly excite her. But when she found out that the major functions in the job would include constant interaction with clients, a role she is passionate about, she could not say no to the opportunity.

“When I first took this job, I did not know I was going to be involved in the daily HR function. But I am very passionate about client and customer relations, which is the core function of my job as a Client Service Manager and the reason I decided to take the job. The HR function was something I encountered much later in the job,” says Muthoni.

And when asked if she could have taken the job if the HR roles were part of the package from the onset, “I believe it would have affected my decision then. But that is because I did not know much about it and my perception of HR was very negative at the time. One year into the job now and I love everything about the HR industry. I am even considering taking up a professional diploma in Human Resource Management to pioneer my growth in the industry.”

Muthoni’s story on changing jobs is one of the many successes, and she has a few pointers for those contemplating a change in jobs. Here is what she wants every job seeker out there to know;

Muthoni’s Advice to Job Seekers Looking To Change Jobs

1. Let personal awareness guide your decision
You cannot succeed in changing jobs if you are not fully aware of what you want as a person. Understanding your skill set and knowing what you can do and not do are the first step to changing jobs and getting into a job that will make you happy in the long run.

“When I was looking to change jobs, I was not so particular about the company I wanted to work for but I knew for a fact that I wanted a role that ensured interaction with clients and customers. I already knew I was good at it, which made my job search focused and easy to see results,” Muthoni says.

You too can change jobs seamlessly if you focus on taking up roles you already know you are good at.

2. Do not be overly specific about your next job
While knowing what you want in your career is a good thing, Muthoni says that job seekers need to be open-minded when it comes to considering opportunities.

“In my one year in recruitment, I have interacted with different job seekers. Some focused and sure of their next step but also understanding that they might not get exactly what they are looking for, and others who are too specific about what jobs they want that they close their minds to good opportunities. They see the job in question and forget to consider the roles involved and growth potential, which may hinder their job success.”

3. Understand that you might not get exactly what you want
The job market in Kenya is a bit tricky. While you may be passionate about a particular role, you may not get exciting opportunities that directly relate to that particular passion. If you want to succeed in the current job market, you need to know that you probably will not get what you are looking for. You need to be prepared and accept the fact that you might have to compromise on certain items in your ideal job list.

For the purpose of career growth, you might want to reevaluate your options. Would you take the job and discover new growth opportunities along the way or do you say no and stay out of a job longer?

“When I took this job I was very skeptical about HR. I did not expect I would get to enjoy anything that pertained to HR functions, but now I am happy in the industry and even considering taking up an added course for my own personal growth. The position may not be in the industry you dream of, but look at the job roles. Are they something you love doing? If you are excited about the roles, then the industry may not matter” she says.

4. Do not take jobs that you do not like
Most people prey on the fact that they can deliver in any job and end up taking up roles that they do not like doing. You may have an education background in the said sector, but the question is, will you love this job a couple of months later? Are you excited about the job or are you just taking it up because you are qualified and could really use the money?

According to Muthoni, if you are really serious about changing jobs, you will need to focus on only the roles that you are passionate about. “I have encountered candidates interviewing for sales roles and after interacting with them, I find that while they are qualified and experienced, they don’t seem to like what they do. Others will go for a desk job and clearly, you can see that they would prefer being out in the field. Most people do not realize it, but they are hindering their own success.”

Settling on a decision to change jobs may not be easy, but deciding on the next job will even be more difficult. You do not want to take up a job that will bore you only a few months into it. Muthoni stresses that self-discovery is the most important factor to ensure success when changing jobs, because once you are sure of what you want, the next step is to find a company and a position that mirrors exactly that.