Category: Candidate/recruiter

Talent2africa > Blog (EN) > Candidate/recruiter
27Aug

5 sentences to never say at work

The professional world is a universe that requires a certain finesse in speech as well as in behaviour in general. In the company, the words you use give an idea of your professional image. It is therefore a good idea to choose the right expressions when you are in a professional environment. Certain phrases are thus absolutely to be banned if you want to be considered a leader. But which ones? Forbes magazine interviewed Darlene Price (author of the book Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results) about those words or phrases that should be avoided at all costs at work. We take stock with you.

 

1. “It’s not fair.”

Your colleague has received a pay raise while you work harder than he does. This can indeed create some frustration. But complaining or brooding about your anger in the workplace would be counterproductive. Instead, take stock of the facts, build a case and present it calmly to the people responsible,” advises Darlene Price.

 

2. “It’s not my problem” / “It’s not my job” / “I don’t get paid for this”

This sentence is to be banished, because it shows that you do not have the team spirit, nor the sense of solidarity. This does not mean that you have to accept everything, but you must be more tactful in your refusal. Darlene Price says that if, for example, you’re overwhelmed and your boss asks you to take on an extra task, tell him that you’d be happy to help and ask what priority you should give to each of the projects you’re working on. And Darlene Price’s continued use of this method will show that you’re willing to invest in the team, while reminding him that he needs to be realistic in his expectations.

 

3. “I will try.”

The verb to try implies a certain reluctance or lack of commitment. It is perceived by influential leaders as a rather negatively connoted verb in professional exchanges. Imagine, for example, that you absolutely must mail an invoice before a certain time and ask your colleague to take care of it when he goes to his next customer. If he replies “I’ll try” you will feel obliged to do it yourself because the sentence implies a possibility of failure.

 

4. “But that’s the way we’ve always done it”

It should also be remembered that initiative is the hallmark of leaders. A good worker must be able to think outside the box to innovate. Employers value innovation and creative thinking among their employees. However, this sentence proves that you are stuck in your habits, rigid and closed, without any prospect of evolution. Change is not always negative: never be so adamant about a new idea or way of doing things,” advises Darlene Price.

 

5. “He’s a fool” / “He’s lazy” / “My job sucks” / “I hate this company”

According to Darlene Price, this kind of sentence not only reveals immaturity, but can get you fired. Making those kinds of judgments is always going to reflect poorly on you. If you have something to reproach someone with, let them know directly, tactfully and politely: it will prove your professionalism.

30Jul

Africa: Industrialization is essential for job creation

In Africa, job creation is essential for sustainable development and inclusive growth in the continent. Vulnerable groups such as women and youth are disproportionately affected by the scarcity of decent work opportunities in Africa. Yet they are important links in the African population without whom development is not possible. Almost all observers maintain, and rightly so, that only industrialisation will make it possible to create the skilled jobs needed by young Africans. Thus, according to United Nations projections, Africa will experience unprecedented population growth and should account for nearly 40% of the world’s population by 2100 (i.e. as much as China and India combined) as against nearly 17% today.

 

Industrialization is becoming a response to the urgent need to create ten to twelve million jobs a year just to absorb new entrants to the labour market. It must, however, be an industrialization thought out and adapted to the African context.

 

Indeed, each country having its own characteristics, it is essential that each government envisage industrialization by taking into account in particular the natural resources at its disposal and the potentialities with which the country is endowed. Industrialization must be based on the creation of a favourable economic and social environment. According to Jonathan Le Henry, a consultant with PWC, African countries would benefit from “a common and integrated approach to industrial policy.

 

And the latter to specify that several levers must be activated to win the challenge of industrialization in Africa. It will be a question of capitalizing on natural resources to create new activities with higher added value, to rely on strategic partnerships to promote value sharing and technology transfer, to rely on the technologies of the industrial revolution 4.0 to achieve productivity gains, improve the level of competitiveness and better integrate into the value chain. Finally, the aim will be to create the necessary conditions for improving the business climate by offering an attractive environment for foreign investors and minimizing the burden of bureaucracy.

 

Such an approach could enable African populations to benefit from massive job creation. In the long term, the development of the African continent could be sustainable and beneficial to every African citizen.

 

At present, African industry generates only US$700 of GDP per capita on average, three times less than in Latin America (US$2,500) and five times less than in East Asia (US$3,400). And its exports consist of low-technology manufactured goods and unprocessed natural resources – which account for more than 80 per cent of the exports of Algeria, Angola and Nigeria, for example.

 

Africa, like Europe in the nineteenth century and Asia in the twentieth century, must therefore embark resolutely on the path of industrialization in the twenty-first century. To this end, the President of the African Development Bank Group, the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) have agreed to work together to help Africa design its industrialization agenda. Other initiatives are also emerging to bring the dark continent out of the shadows.

22Apr

4 tips to guarantee your cover letter is read

Recruiters are overloaded with the huge number of cover letters they get every day. That is the reason why, if your cover letter has nothing original about it, there is a good chance that it won’t be read. You must then set yourself apart with a strong email: cover letter! Usually, a lot of those letters or emails are flat and boring. To put an end once and for all to all those tasteless cookie cutter cover letters, we have a few simple writing style techniques to help boost your mail.

 

  1. Be straightforward 

First and foremost, keep in mind that the first sentence of your cover letter is crucial. Therefore, you must learn to avoid beating about the bushes. You must quickly get into it. Many think that they need 3 or four sentences to give praises to the company before going in. Wrong! The hook of your cover letter must be powerful. If it isn’t, the recruiter will get tired of reading from the very beginning.

 

  1. Be careful of the style of your letter 

We said earlier that recruiters didn’t have time. Consequently, you must absolutely avoid having convoluted phrases in your cover letter. Prefer having a more fluid style therefore much easier for the recruiter to read.That will make your letter more attractive. It’s not necessary to have an over the top complicated writing style in your cover letter. If it is not clear and simple, it will simply be tossed away for the benefits of other ones.

 

  1. A cover letter is not a CV…

It is common to see uninspired candidates, to repeat in the cover letter what they have already written in the CV. It is far from being a good idea, because the cover letter must be seen as something that will make the recruiter choose between two candidates in other words to set them apart. A good CV is certainly a good thing but a good CV with a good cover letter is even better. It is in the letter that you will show that you are someone who has a vision of its profession. So say it! Talk skills, techniques, multitasking, leading skills, organization skills, methods, efficiency…

 

  1. choose a clear structure 

The structure of your cover letter is very important. If you want a strong letter then be careful. If done right, there is a great chance you will leave a good impression on the recruiter who will see you as someone consistent. If you want to have a simple and clear structure, you can choose to have a more traditional composition with a paragraph for every sentence. It will be set up this way:

– Opening: where did you find this job offer?

-Motivation: why did you answer that job offer?

-Argumentation: why are you the perfect candidate?

– Conclusion: Anticipate a future interview.

08Apr

6 tips for finding a job without a diploma in Africa

Finding a job in Africa is not easy for people with degrees, let alone for people without none. When you have left school with no diploma, it can be difficult for recruiters to have an interest in you. However no matter how difficult it can look for someone to get a job without a degree, it is not a lost cause…There is a lot of different help needed and plenty of sectors that hire people with no qualifications. Here, you will have few tips on how to find a job with no degree…

 

  1. Go to the dedicated services…

As a person without a degree,when you are looking for a job, think about going to the departments that are dedicated to people in the same situation as you. Those services will help you find the perfect job for you. They will also help you find vocational trainings. There is a lot of different kinds of departments depending on the country you are in.

 

  1. Go after the sectors that are hiring…

Despise what you think, not having a degree is not necessarily an obstacle to you finding a job considering the fact that many fields do not look for specific qualifications. That is the case in the transport field, for example, like delivery guys or taxi drivers. That is also the case in the rail transport where they hire people without degrees. The food service industry, sales, wholesale distribution, cleaning services are all among the sectors that are opened to people without degrees. Lastly, in the public sector certain public services don’t always require certain skills like the army.

 

  1. Think internships…

In the lieu of a degree, an internship could be an excellent option that could make your integration easier. It will allow you to gain experience in the field you want and improve your CV. It shouldn’t matter to you whether your internship is paid a little or not at all. What is important is to do one so you can show recruiters that you are motivated, and that is the key factor in job seeking. Remember that any experience is good experience.

 

  1. Point out your skills 

Much as a degree supposes you have knowledge and skills, not having one doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have skills. You excel at respecting deadlines or in teamwork? Do not hesitate to underline it on your CV and your cover letter. It could grab the attention of some recruiters especially those who are mostly interested in soft skills.

 

  1. Put everything on your network 

If you want to find a job with no degree, you must have several channels to better your chances. Your friends, the friends of your friends can all help you through word of mouth or via social networks. Put all your chances on your side by building a strong CV and creating a LinkedIn profile, for example.

 

  1. Be patient

Last but not least, it is important to know that job seeking sometimes takes a lot of time and can be fastidious even for people with degrees. That is the reason why, you should remain patient and not give up after the first few months. Learn to go around because climbing the ladder takes some time.

03Apr

Africa: when the blue economy generates jobs

Contrary to what stereotypes and misperceptions “Afro-pessimistic” have here and there, Africa is full of potential. Actually, it is not a coincidence that more and more investors have set their eyes on the black continent to do business. Talking about great potential, the blue economy have plenty of it in terms of investment so jobs. Therefore the blue economy generates jobs in Africa and is dedicated to reducing the unemployment rate in the black continent.  According to experts, approximately 23 million of people work in the fishing sector. It ensures food safety for more than 200 million of people and generates an added value of 24 billion dollars so a 1.26 GDP of all the African countries. Experts believe that the blue economy in Africa plays an important part in promoting a substainable economic growth with ressources coming from the ocean, waterways, lakes and other water related ressources. It makes more sense knowing that 38 of the 54 countries in Africa, are coastal countries and 90% of exports and imports go by sea. Because of this, some observers considers the blue economy as “ the new line of development in Africa”.

Millions of direct jobs

 

The fishing sectors generates millions of direct jobs and induced employment. This goes from processing to packaging, fish nets and engines making, ice supplying, the building and maintenance of ships. Actually, the economic role of that sector has been confirmed by WorldFish center research institute based in Malaysia that tells us that in Uganda for example, fishing in lakes brings more than 200 million of dollars every year which represents 2.2 of the GDP of the country. That sector of activity has 135 000 fishermen working and 700 000 people working in the processing and fish trading and making 87.5 million of dollars exports revenues.

 

A sector that is mainly controlled by foreign companies 

 

If there is something that observers have all noticed is the fact that the blue economy in Africa is mainly controlled by foreign companies. Statistics from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) confirm that statement by showing that even though the potential is obvious in Africa, it is however a rather low fish producer and is only ranked 4 on the worldwide scale with 4 500 00 tons. Continental fish is mainly done in Africa especially in Africa’s big lakes regions (Uganda and Tanzania) and Nigeria for river fishing. This sector would benefit more from opening up to local fishermen so the blue economy can even more contribute in reducing poverty in Africa. It is therefore necessary to have a better participation of locals in the sector.

30Mar

Africa: more than 3 million jobs expected by 2025 thanks to e-business

In a world where economy is now highly digitalized, e-business have generated 1.462 billion of euros in 2014 with China and the USA on top. Africa is also part of the movement. Therefore, in the black continent, e-business have reached more than 50 billion in 2018. Despise the digital divide that defines the continent, this business that consist in buying and selling goods and services on the internet is booming in Africa. Indeed, only 26% of the population in Africa has access to internet. Moreover, e-business looks into being a real tool in reducing the unemployment rate. That is at least what a new study from Boston Consulting group revealed. According to them, a collaboration between the private and public sector in Africa could unlock the potential of e-business and boost up the economy of the African continent and create up to 3 million jobs by 2025.

From the conclusion of that report called « how can digital marketplaces propel jobs in Africa » and published by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), digital marketplaces like Jumia Souq, Thundafund and Travelstart could create 3 million new jobs by 2025 in Africa. « Those ‘e-business’ websites that connect buyers and suppliers of goods and services, could also increase the revenues and facilitate the international economic growth all without disturbing the activity of the existing companies », the report added.

Africa is lucky enough to have a very young population and an emerging middle class which represents the perfect environment for e-business . However there are lots to do in order to give a real boost to e-business. The study of the e-business ecosystem in Africa helps us realise that this sector has a long way to go in the black continent. For example, in the report, for the digital marketplaces to really reach their full potential in Africa, public and private sectors must first work together to create a suitable digital environment. It also lets us know that in Africa approximately 58% of new jobs will be in the consumer goods sector, 18% in mobility services and 9 % in travelling and hospitality.

The obstacles that the expansion of e-business in Africa could be facing are, according to the report, the lack of infrastructures, of regulatory clarity and a limited access to certain markets. Policy makers, on the other hand, are concerned about issues related to securing citizens personal data and the possible risk of disturbance in the sectors of activity.

Nonetheless, despite the obstacles, we can hope for an evolution of e-business in Africa and in turn, the creation of new jobs in this continent that has become the main destination of investors. The Young Africans should therefore seize this good opportunity that e-business is offering to boost their chances of having a job. In order to do that, it is necessary to get a training in ICT.

23Mar

What is the purpose of an employee register in Africa?

It is legally obligated in Africa for employers to have an employee register that provides information about the history of each of their employees except for certain cases.  Whether it is a big company, a SME or a small business, the rule is the same for everybody. Beyond the fact that it is mandatory by law, we can’t help but admit however that keeping this register makes it easier to manage staff.

 

An employee register: a legal obligation 

 

From the minute you hire a new employee or a new employee leaves the company, as an employee you must think about filling up the employee register form. This obligation is something provided by the law that is also severely punished for any company that did not abide by it. The goal is to provide clear and detailed information about the work history for every employee that is up to date and available. The law also provides data protection or information for all employees in the best possible conditions. Those data must also be included in all the different steps of the employees.

 

A multi-use and long term tracking tool 

 

An employee register is crucial for staff management. It allows you to always know about the work history of the employer and about any updates on his legal status. Moreover, in cases of inspection or disputes, the company can use this document as proof. The work inspectors, the staff representative, the employee representative committee can all have access to it. No matter what payroll software companies use, it should be available for at least 5 years. This time period starts from the day the employee leaves. But since the register keeps information of several employees it will have to last longer than usual.

 

What is an employee register about? 

 

When it comes to the employee register what we need to know is that the law is very flexible about it and doesn’t require to use any formal template. However, certain elements need to be present to help have a better follow-up of the employees: first name,surname, nationality, current job, qualifications, date of new hire, date of poaching, events prior to hire, work authorization, type of contract (short term, long term, apprenticeship contract, seasonal contract, contract of employment, part time contract etc.).  

 

Focus on the situation of the interns

 

If interns were not included in the register in the past, it has changed since 2004 because they are now obligated to appear on it just like any other employee of the company. But, their information would appear in a different chapter to avoid any mix-up. The name of the intern supervisor, the sending institution, and the host department are among the information that need to appear on the register. If any event was to happen during the internship, the employer had to mention it. Regarding posted workers, the company must inform the work inspection about his intention to move the employee or the employees before really starting the process. Also, the recipient business of the posted employee or employees must receive a copy of a certificate of posting. Just like the sending company, the recipient business of the employee has to enroll them in their own personal register.

12Mar

Our experts give you the secret to the perfect motivation letter

It is true that nowadays, it is easy to find a great number of cover letter templates online, so many of them that we wonder if they are really that important. Trivialized, standardized, recruiters barely read them unless there is one that stands out from the rest. Even though, it is clear that when you start the process of writing a cover letter, as a candidate what matters for you the most is to be special. That is so true that your cover letter is actually your first direct contact with the recruiter. So it is necessary for it to be neat. But how? Our HR gives up the updates.

 

Be brief…

 

Did you know? Recruiters spend little or no time reading a cover letter. Most recruiters spend, on average, around 2 or 3 minutes reading your job application. That is the reason why in order to grab his attention, you should be brief so you can make his job easier. Your cover letter should be short. Ideally, a good cover letter should fit in one page max. The cover letter should also be convincing and personalized for each job application. It is true that it can be tiring to always change it up for every job offer but it is way more efficient. The recruiter will notice that you took some of your time  to read the job announcement meticulously and to write a cover letter that fits with the job description. This would make him want to find out more about you because you took interest in the company. 

 

Give your job application to the right person

 

The other aspect that people tend to forget is sending your job application to the right person. It is so important however. In the perfect world you would find out about the name of the recruiter and and send him a personal email with your CV and cover letter. This would maximize your chances of getting an interview.

 

Get a catchphrase to grab the attention of the recruiter 

 

The catchphrase is a necessary step in the writing process of a good letter because it helps you grab the attention of the recruiter. You must therefore write a catchphrase that grabs his attention. Our RH experts recommend you to avoid classics like “I am interested in your offer, I would like to submit my application”. You should focus more on having a short and direct catchphrase.

Show interest for the company

 

Do not make the mistake of only talking about yourself in the cover letter. In the first paragraph, you must show your interest in the company by giving a description of its activity and values. Our HR experts suggest you to give actual facts that seduced you (the company’s latest news update, its latest successful deals).

 

Quote key words from the job posting

 

In the second paragraph of the cover letter, focus on explaining to the recruiter why this offer matches with your skills and career expectations. Use some words from the job posting and list your skills, your knowledge and your know how that have a direct link with them. Be clear and specific. Give examples, accomplishments numbers. Mostly use action verbs.

 

What about the conclusion?

 

In your conclusion, you should make the recruiter want to contact you for an interview. Show your motivation for the particular job with enthusiasm and suggest a conversation. The recruiter should feel that you genuinely want to join the company.

09Mar

4 tips to Creat a business in Africa

Unless you want to risk going through bankruptcy before you could even establish a business in Africa, you need to make sure you take some preliminary elements in consideration. Taking decisions on an impulse or making management mistakes can be extremely detrimental to anybody who is trying to be an entrepreneur in Africa. Those two things are actually the main issues that people who have been trying to establish a long running activity on the black continent have been dealing with. For that reason, we have 4 tips to help you have a successful business in Africa… 

 

 

  • Find an incubator to help you

 

 

Whether you graduated from an Ivy league business school or not, as an entrepreneur, you need to get acquainted with the reality of the market and have someone help you through all the paperwork and necessary steps especially when you are a foreigner who is trying to invest in Africa. Unfortunately, the majority of the project holders in Africa, in French speaking areas specifically, start their business without trying to get some tips from experienced professionals like incubators. That is the reason why we recommend you to get you an incubator if you want to become more efficient, gain legitimacy and credibility, in your line of business. 

 

 

  • Test your idea on the market

 

 

An idea of a project can seem relevant in theory and have a hard time being well received in practice. Thus, many entrepreneurs have ideas that are strictly laid on paper without the concept of it having really seen the light concretely. So in order for you to have a chance to have a successful business in Africa, we recommend you to test your concept on consumers. That would allow you to get your idea approved on the present market and to have the opportunity to gather feedback, criticisms, and suggestions from clients in order to consistently improve the characteristics of the product until it completely meets the needs of the consumers. 

 

 

  • Think big

 

 

In Africa, lots of entrepreneurs tend to have projects that are not quite big. Most of the time, they just stop at selling out all their products and provide their services locally . Yet, investments opportunities are huge in this continent where middle classes are emerging. Project holders in Africa can therefore benefit from  a consistent increase of their business. For that reason, they must think bigger and try to increase their market share in the sub-regions, whether in the CEMAC region -Central African Economic and Monetary Community – or in the -ECOWAS region -Economic Community of West African States.

 

    

 

  •  Surround yourself with qualified partners

 

In many cases, the skills of the project holders are not a match with the core business of the company. Majority of companies choose to have people performing several functions as managers and technicians in an effort to reduce the costs. This represents one of the main reasons for business failures in Africa. This lack of skills towards the design of a product or a serious issue with the way a service has been provided, are in the very heart of the growth of a business. You need to make sure you are only surrounded with people with solid expertise and a good knowledge of your products if you want to maximize your chances of seeing your project succeed.

06Mar

How to make your LinkedIn more attractive?

Everybody agrees on the fact that social networks are important for people who are looking for a job. They allow you to be visible, to let yourself be seen and to show out your personal and professional skills in order to attract recruiters. However, in order to get the best out of those tools, you must know how to get the maximum of potential out of them. We will explore different ways of making your LinkedIn more attractive.

 

What do job seekers need LinkedIn for?

 

If there is any social network that job seekers visit the most, it is definitely LinkedIn. This network is a “professional” social network that is very useful in job seeking. It allows job seekers to lay out in plain view their career path, or their training and activities. LinkedIn is perfect for getting more information about the people you will be talking to and display your own skills. It helps to efficiently reach out to future contacts for job seeking purposes or markets. A lot of job seekers manage to create a real universe online capable of putting their profiles on top of researches on google in fields where they major. Thanks to that network job seekers can also download their own C.V next to their profiles. It is therefore, possible to really give a lot of information to the recruiter who, on the other hand would feel suspicious to see a page with little information, myCVfactory creator Pauline Lahary tells us.

 

How to maximize your profile?

 

In order to fully take advantage of what LinkedIn has to offer, it is crucial to first of all, work on the header of your profile. First, it is mandatory to put a picture, second, it has to be a professional one. LinkedIn is a digital webpage where everybody expect to see some media. Then, your page needs to come with the perfect title. To do that, you must either display your current job or choose a sentence that will perfectly summarize your skills. 

It is also recommended to put key words that are the most looked for on google.  According to Pauline Lahary creator of myCVfactory, it is a very lucrative technique. Last, From her opinion, it is helpful to pay attention to the summary of our professional path, to highlight our skills, our expertises and to give an insight of what we would like to do in life. It is about giving a real “pitch” that would make managers and recruiters want to contact you, she explains.

 

LinkedIn pulse: an efficient solution 

 

According to Pauline Lahary, creator of myCVfactory, it is recommended to put as much pictures and videos as possible, not to forget presentations and other links. LinkedIn gives the possibly to share some multimedia content in order to show your experiences off. On LinkedIn, we can also have access to a service named « LinkedIn Pulse ». It aims at allowing internet users to post articles about their area of expertise. Basically, it is therefore possible to join a community of experts or create a group or display our knowledge and our abilities. You must be a real « influencer »in you area of expertise. It is also a good way to make yourself seen. In short, it is all about how you present yourself on social media to maximize your chances of getting hired.

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