How I Got A Job At Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Interview Process & My Salary

By Jane Okoth,
The Youth Enterprise Development Fund was established with the sole purpose of reducing unemployment among the youth who account for over 61% of the unemployed in the country.

Apart from being involved in funding the youth, how does it feel to be an employee of the organization?

Career point caught up with a young Constituency Officer at the organization and here is his experience.

How did you get the job at the Youth Enterprise Development Fund?
I was informed by a friend who told me that the organization was hiring constituency officers. I was fresh from campus, Masinde Muliro University of Science and technology with a degree in Business Management finance option

How Was The Interview Process?
The interview was oral where I met a panel of 3 people. They asked me questions like how did I know they were hiring, the organization mission, vision and core values, the experience which I gained after working an intern, why I feel best suited for the job, how soon I will be available for the job if I pass the interview and the salary expectation.

What is the duty of a constituency officer?
The main duties include recruiting new groups, training and assist them apply for funding, monitoring the project the group will undertake, Vetting loan applications and appraisal, reconciliation of group accounts among others.

Having worked in the organization what kind of institution is the Youth Enterprise Development Fund?
The youth enterprise fund is a good organization to work for; you get exposed to all the departments considering that you are the manager at the constituency level.

How would you describe your working environment?
The working environment is good, since most of the work entails field visits. If am not going to the field, I report at the office at 8.00 am up to 4.00 pm.

Every Friday I go for vetting the applications at the regional head office at Lonrho Africa House 14th Floor.

What Differentiates The Experiences From Those Working In Private Companies?
Working in a government office more especially at the youth fund, you have time you can do other activities like furthering education doing business and meeting friends.

You report to office at 8.00am and leave at 4.00pm. We have targets to meet at the end of the quarter and if u can meet them earlier no need of going to office as there is no supervision

Would you recommend someone to start a career at the Youth Enterprise Development Fund?
Yes, I can recommend someone to start his/her career at the youth fund. You will be able to learn a lot more especially on lending and communication skills.

I can testify that when I joined the organization, I was poor in addressing gatherings because I was not used to, but after being trained and visiting groups I was able to get the courage to stand before people and address them.

For someone who wants to progress in his/ her career, youth fund is not the place. You can stagnate in one position for years.

What is the salary range for your position?
For Constituency officers, the gross pay is Ksh.20, 000 no other benefits. You are provided with a motor bike with Fuel of Ksh. 3,000 to facilitate your reach to remote parts in the constituency.

What Are The Most Challenging Issues In Your Job?
The salary is little considering the work load sometimes you use your money to download and make copies of documents.

Some youths after being funded disappear making the recovery rate low, recently we have experienced an issue whereby the top management fund some people either their friends or relatives without our knowledge and yet we are the ground.

What do you like the most about the Youth Enterprise Development Fund?
The working environment and conditions are friendly. Sometimes you can miss meeting the set targets but nobody can ask you.

What don’t you like about the organization?
Decisions are made by the top management who don’t even take our views and yet they affect us.

About the payment package, I can tell you in 2013 all employees of the fund got a salary increment except the constituency officers in that we signed a contract which cannot be altered. It killed the morale of work.

There is no product for the staff hence we end up borrowing from banks at high interests as we lend to youths at Zero interest for groups of 8% p.a to individual youth businesses.

The majority of the employees are aged below 35 years but they sometimes employ without making advertisements for vacant positions.

What is your advice to The Senior Management?
In March next year (2015) some constituency officers are renewing their contracts, please review the salaries.

Consider promoting constituency officers and give priority to the co’s when a vacancy arise instead of hiring from outside.

The management should also consider introducing a loan product for the employees, we are in a situation where we are lending at no and a low interest to the youths but we as the employees we obtain loans at banks at high rates.

What Is Your Advice To Job Seekers Seeking To Work In The Government Institution?
At the moment the government has frozen promotions and employment in all government offices despite there being so many vacant positions which at the end must be filled for efficient service delivery.

If you intend to work in a government institution for now forget, but work somewhere to gain experience so that you may be considered when they will start employing.

However, the working environment and conditions are so good but the salary is so little.

The name of the interviewee remains anonymous to protect his/her privacy.

If you wish to share your current or former working experience, contact jane@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

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