Freelance Work and Jobs in Kenya

Welcome to a World of Freelance Work!

Hello Friend,
You are here because you are searching for something, most likely online freelance work. I am happy to say on this page, you will find what you seek. 

Many have started a profitable career online doing freelance writing, web design, software development, data processing, or other freelance jobs in Kenya. Many are accessible to you online.

The question is, how do you start?

This pack of ebooks will open up your mind to the vast world of profit in freelancing and online jobs in Kenya and lead you to a flourishing future.

What You Wear Speaks Louder Than Your CV so Beware

The issue of dressing is an interesting one and one that keeps the pages of many magazines filled month after month.

Many job seekers, coming straight from college or university, are still reeling from the after effects of teenage (crisis) and have their head in the clouds believing you get a job for your CV and brain not for your appearance.

Well, shock on you – that does not work. How you dress speaks louder than any CV you will ever present anywhere.

Let me keep it short with one question:

When you see a Benz parked and two men walking towards it, how do you tell who is the owner and who is most likely the driver? It is simple – by the cut of their clothes.

Recently, a young man came to my office and he was looking for a job. I have these young people who come to me all the time, so I asked as usual that he comes in. I took his CV read it, looked at him, and my head started spinning. I am sure he must have thought I would give him a job the next day because I started asking him all sorts of questions. Within a few minutes, I had established where he comes from, his possible family background all the way to what he ate for breakfast that morning.

No! It was not because I was interested in giving him a job. I wanted to tell if a conman or a common criminal had just dared to walk into my office. For all purposes in my view, his CV and his appearance were two different people. So there was only one possibility – a criminal who had had his CV written on River Road had just walked into my office. And so I kept the questions flowing.

His answers were encouraging, but from the initial doubts, I am still thinking seriously about the authenticity of that CV.

The truth is, even if I had a job for him, or I knew someone who could employ him, especially with a CV that beautiful, I would have been scared because his appearance did not match his CV.

Yes! Out here, you are judged by your appearance.

Whatever you do, dress to be taken seriously. If you are on the job hunt – think like an employer. Would you take a person dressed shabbily? Probably not!

Jobs in Kenya; dealing with sexual harassment at work

Another common, or maybe I should say commonly talked about form of harassment, is sexual harassment at work that is targeted at junior officers by senior officers.

When we speak of sexual harassment the loose definition is behavior at work that is intended to cause either unusually high sexual attention or create uncomfortable circumstances loaded with sexual intent.

You will find that the discussion and parameters of sexual harassment in the work place are so fluid that it is hard to tell where normal human instinct and reaction to the opposite gender ends and where sexual harassment begins.
In this post, I will only speak of sexual harassment from men in senior positions that they direct at ladies in a lower positions. Then we will keep adding more variations as the week moves on.

In my years in Human Resource Management, sexual harassment by senior male officers directed at junior female officers are the most disgusting yet the most difficult cases to handle.

If you find yourself in the presence of a psychotic male boss who doesn't know where his zipper ends and his head starts, realize that you are in the presence of a male predator; an animal in human clothes. They are a dangerous species giving most men a very bad name.

What do you need to know about such situations and how should you respond?
• Realize that a boss who directs deliberate suggestions for sex with you is committing a crime. There are appropriate places to do and say all things; the office is NOT for soliciting sexual favors and he is in gross abuse of office.
• Find a female senior management officer you can speak to FAST. Speak to her as you would to a counselor, stating what happened and what you think the situation was about without making any accusations.
• Keep clear off the fellow's radar as much as you can. If asked to stay late at work, ask a friend to hang out in the office with you. If the boss inquires why the other person is there, tell him you live in a dangerous area and you MUST go home together. Do not bow to his offers to take you home – UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH HIS INTENTIONS.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Ladies, you will fast realize that in these situations you will be accused of leading the man on. It is rare, except you have a mature woman in the company that women themselves will not see you as a victim; they will want to make you the villain. To help your case, guard your dressing.

Related posts: Dressing and sexual harassment at work 

Readers seeking 'jobz wizdom' for Kenya also read one of these ebooks;

·        Where and how to find jobs in Kenya

·        Operation find a job fast

·        Mind mastery for gainful employment

Jobs in Kenya – dressing and sexual harassment at work

When working on a job in Kenya you may have to deal with sexual harassment issues. There are two sides to every story and the sexual harassment one is no different. What are the two sides?

Your side and the side of one harassing; or your side and side of the one you are harassing, (lol…) In this tip, we will only speak about women's dressing as a trigger or weapon of sexual harassment.

Dressing as a trigger: Many newly employed graduates dress in a provocative manner. It is a carry forward of their teenage and college wardrobe. When they get demeaning and lewd stares, they choose to defend their dress-style.

News flash! Provocative dressing in Kenya is largely ignored when it is on the back of a teenager. When you are working, it is not. It simply says; I am willing and available for whatever you want.

If you want to reduce the incidences of being treated like a tramp – close that top button, drop your hems, and loosen the width of the skirts and trousers.

Dressing as a weapon: the easiest targets on this one are the men because men, through no fault of their own like to 'see'. If you have a female colleague who has an eye on you or one who has beef (such as an upcoming promotion she is eyeing) you can easily become a target for sexual harassment.

Tips to handle harassment directed at you:

• Women do not suddenly develop a sexual interest in a man. So be warned, if she suddenly is cozy and touchy and feline – RUN! She is not attracted to you mister – she's in for a kill!

• Talk about it! Make a comment to colleagues (loudly as much as possible) about the new dress style. Compliment her; make sure she knows you're on to her strategy, but do not get nasty.

• Do not encourage her at all. You know how to tune a girl, I am sure – this one is not a candidate for your charms.

• If the fire gets too hot – run! Literally!

Those seeking 'jobz-wizdom' for the Kenyan jobs market read

• Where and how to find jobs in Kenya
• Operation find a job fast
• Mind mastery for gainful employment

How to behave when you cannot meet a deadline

Okay! So you had a deadline, then there was a rock-your-world holiday bang in the middle of the week, and now you are sure that unless there is an earthquake, you cannot complete your assignment on time. What do you do?

In my earlier days on the job, I would pray for a miracle; something cool like the boss travels abroad and leaves us all singing hooray! The overall strategy was, keep it quiet, and hope the boss will not remember you have a job to complete. Been there?

Bad strategy!

It works against you in two ways. First you are marked as an unreliable officer – so the next time the sacking broom comes along, you are way near the top on that list.

Second, it is irritating to the boss, which means you are irritating the boss, which means your things are not sitting well.

What is the best plan though?

1. Realize the giver of the job KNOWS you have a job to complete.
2. Understand that the time frame was deliberate because they too have goals to achieve and was not just to make your life hard.
3. Do not dither until the last minute waiting to be asked for progress.
4. TAKE YOURSELF to the boss, well in advance and report that you are running late.
5. Explain why you are running late. (Have a damn good reason. Holiday will not wash)
6. Give yourself a new deadline and explain it to the boss.
7. if there are any challenges, suggest solutions.
8. Actually – just finish the job on time. Running late is too painful!

 To get more on the job counsel, pick 'Operation Find a Job Fast' by Paula Thayrow today.