Tano Tano Za Kujipanga Kwa Kazi!

Hatua 5 Za Kujipanga Kwenye Kutafuta Kazi

1. Malengo! Uwe na dira na malengo binafsi, ujue sifa na nguzu zako ili utafute fursa za kuzikuza, fanya utafiti wa mashirika yanayoweza kukufikisha mwenye malengo yako binafsi.

2. Jipange! Andaa wasifu na barua ya maombi ya kazi zinayokuwakilisha vizuri kwa maelezo na muonekano na mpe mtu apitie kutathmini ubora na usahihi wa maelezo na muonekano.

3. Usibahatishe! Tuma sehemu sahihi na kwa mtu sahihi. Tuma kwa mashirika unayoona yanaendana na malengo yako binafsi, tafuta kujua nafasi sahihi kwenye shirika na hata mtu husika atakayepokea maombi ili uandike jina lake kwenye hiyo barua.

4. Rahisisha! Tumia computer na kutuma barua ya maombi kupitia barua pepe (hii ni rahisi zaidi kuliko kutumia sanduku la posta) na uambatanishe wasifu.

5.  Ng'ang'ania! Fuatilia maombi ya kazi baada ya wiking'ang'ania!  kwa njia ya simu, barua pepe ama nenda mwenyewe. Heshimu jibu watakalokupa. Ukiambiwa watakujibu baada ya muda fulani na wiki ikapita baada ya huo muda, watafute tena.

Kiwango Kipya!

Attending R.I.O.T.-FEST to mark the launch of R.I.O.T. Foundation (www.riotfoundation.org), I was amazed at the level of creativity and workmanship that was invested into putting together the first East and Southern African youth concert. I am the type of person that scans the book, CD and T-shirt stands at concerts so for an event as electrifying as this, I definitely wanted to leave with a few memorabilia. I bought some CDS (Bupe's album being the highlight of my listening experience since then) and then, I saw it; there were several but this one blew my mind! The R.I.O.T. Kiwango Kipya t-shirt! The message was powerful. It resonated with me straight away - that is what I stand for, that is what the Professional Approach Group was all about! I received renewed energy and sense of purpose as I read the message:

"Kiwango Kipya.

When the people of the world are sitting, I am standing. When the world stands, I will stand out. When the world stands out, I will be outstanding. When the enemy dares the world to be outstanding I will be the standard!"

Whoa! This message is it! I have since bought a t-shirt for each member of family and all colleagues. This is it! Lazima tuwe tunaishi kwa viwango vijana wakitanzania! Hatuwezi kuishi tu, bila kusudi wala mwelekeo. Haitoshi kuvuta pumzi tu, bali lazima tujue tunachotaka na kusimamia kiwango cha hali ya juu mpaka kitimie.

HAVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

Abdallah ni miongoni mwa watu wenye ujasiri na uwezo mkubwa wa kukabiliana na changamoto za maisha. Ni jasiri kwa sababu ameweza kupambana na ulemavu wa macho alioupata ukubwani, na kuhakikisha anajitafutia maisha kwa njia halali. Yeye kwa sasa ni miongoni mwa mafundi hodari wanaokubalika ndani na nje ya nchini. Je, ilikuwaje hata akawa katika hali ya ulemavu aliyonayo sasa?

Your CV Does Not Define You

Whaaaat?! What are you talking about? Just a few months ago you told us to make sure that we present ourselves as best as can be done on our CVs and today you tell us that CVs aren’t everything? Didn’t you say that people get to see your CV before they see you and so it needs to be the best representation of you? Isn’t it true that without a CV with impressive educational, work experience and applicable skills information, I am nothing? I mean, besides pay, the whole reason why I go to work and pursue further education is to further build my CV.

What, pray tell, are you talking about?

My, aren’t we worked up? 

How Bad Do You Want That Job? Maanisha Basi.

You know, of late I have been reflecting on the saying many of us use when things seem bleak but we’re still hanging in there – ‘Ninaishi kwa matumaini’ - ‘I live in hope’. In the context of job hunting, I have been watching applicants send in mediocre documents, followed by even poorer interviews (should they, for some reason, actually be called in for one). How on Earth would a person, without so much as a thought about the nature of the position for which they have applied nor their targeted audience, namely, the recruitment personnel in that organisation, expect to receive a positive response?

If the objective is to secure a job and we agree that the first impression is the only one that counts, why do so few people make sure that they send winning applications followed by even more impressive interviews?

Knowing there are many others applying for a position, I feel that being ill prepared is like closing ones eyes, turning around seven times then shooting an arrow into the air and hoping to hit a target set 150 metres away. 

Jamani, Let's Pay Attention to Detail!

Now here is where we separate excellence from mediocrity (there is no halfway house). You either execute with excellence every single time, with every single thing that you do or don’t even bother.

This post is going to be painful my brothers and sisters so please brace yourselves for the onslaught. 

Kitu Kidogo (Ni Kitu Kikubwa)

Wenzangu, you will have to bear with me. In all honesty, there are some practices that unless addressed, will continue hindering our progress kama wazalendo toughing it out in a global market. These issues have been giving me heartburn and should they intensify without being aired, I fear that I may soon suffer from angina or worse.

Sasa ndugu zangu, kwani inakuaje kwamba (how is it that) in performing our duties, which we actually get paid for, we still expect someone to give us kitu kidogo on the side?

Where did this all come from and how has it been so entrenched in our society that it is now demanded as a right?

"There Is a Time For Everything [...] Under Heaven"

Your success in life depends on this everlasting truth - there is a specific time to do certain things in your day, week, (weekend), month, year, etcetera. Whilst this is as much true in private pursuits as it is for business appointments, it is business conduct that we are concerned about on this post.

Utamaduni wa Kufanya Utafiti (Research First!)

"You don't have because you don't ask" - but how can you ask if you don't know and how can you know if you don't research?

If I got paid 10,000 Tanzanian shillings for each time somebody asked me to "help" them with something they could research all by themselves, I would have made almost as much as I have made since I have been in business. Jamani, kwanini hatupendi kujituma na kufanya utafiti kabla hatujaamua hatuwezi wenyewe na tunahitaji msaada?

There is No Shortcut to Success: The Law of the Farm

Aibu! No, really, the trend that has developed, with everybody living like they are in a Clint Eastwood westerner, is nothing short of despicable. Show me one respectable, wealthy individual who hasn't put in the time and sacrifice to reap the rewards. Nani? Reginald Mengi? Ali Mufuruki? Susan Mashibe? Emelda Mwamanga-Mtunga? Kila mmoja wao put in the time, made the effort, resisted temptation and made sacrifices to get to where they are. Sasa kwanini mimi na wewe tujidai tunajua zaidi na kutafuta dili za kuiba ili tuonekane kama na sisi tumefika? Huo ni ulimbukeni tu wa kawaida. There is no shortcut to success people. Like a farmer who cannot expect to sow today and reap tomorrow ama sleep all year round and start working like mad in the last month and expect to get his or her yield, we must all, in our respective areas, respect the law of the farm.