How I Got A Job At An NGO With Very Little Experience

How I Got A Job At An NGO With Very Little Experience

Getting a job at a Non- Governmental organisation in Kenya is a big dream for almost every job seeker. This is mainly because they offer good work life balance, pay well and give amazing benefits.
But what does it take to actually get a job in one of them? This is what an employee at a certain NGO in Nairobi had to stay about how they managed to land a job there.
1. How did you get the job?
I saw the job advert on a website a few days after it had been advertised. I then ended up sending in my application.
2. How was the interviewing process?
I attended two interviews. The first one was an introductory interview which involved meeting someone from HR who screened the candidates depending on education and basic skills.
About a week after that I attended the second interview which turned out to be a panel interview.
This was very nerve wracking as all the other candidates were a bit older than me and I thought they had more experience since I had less than eight months experience.
READ ALSO >>> “How I Got Several Job Offers with Multinational Companies.” 24 Yrs Old Explains
3. How long did you take to hear back after the interview?
After the second interview I was called a week afterwards and was told to report at the beginning of the next month.
4. Which department were you allocated?
Upon joining the company I was allocated to the Human Resource department since this is what I had studied in university.
5. What exactly does your job entail?
My duties included assisting the HRM in the running of the HR Department as well as induction of new staff by issuing offer letters, employment contracts and job descriptions.
6. How would you describe your working environment?
Being a small organisation, I knew everyone who worked there very well. They welcomed me to the team and I can say that the company has a very inclusive working environment.
7. What is the salary range for your position?
The gross salary for me was 50,000 shillings. But this is obviously different for everyone depending on your qualifications.
8. What is your best or worst experience in your job?
I didn’t really have any bad experiences even though the job was stressful. My best experience was getting to do a lot more than I expected and as such I can now say that I have experience in various fields such as Customer Service and Administration which has helped me get other employment opportunities.
SEE ALSO >>> How I Got A Job At EABL, The Interview Process, Salary & Advice To Job Seekers
9. What is your advice for job seekers out there aspiring to join an NGO?
My advice to anyone with no experience aspiring to work for any NGO is to be patient and wait for the right moment.
Every position is competitive more so for non-governmental organisations, this means that since you don’t have a lot of experience you should ensure your CV and Cover Letter show you are a good candidate.
10. What is your advice to the senior management?
To give more opportunities to the young people to join the organization because so many fresh minds are out there that just need a chance.
The name of the interviewee remains anonymous to protect his/her privacy.

Categories: