29Oct

Entrepreneurship: the secrets to success

Entrepreneurship is rightfully seen as the only way, really, to overcome the alarming issue of unemployment especially now with lots of young people and African people in particular who are constantly worried about losing their jobs. This situation is no longer a theory but a reality without a doubt. The majority of the African countries are in fact viewing entrepreneurship as the key to economic growth. It is still generating high returns for business owners. In addition to that, experts believe that it actually possess great undeveloped potential that could lead the continent to its next stage of development. However, are we all made for entrepreneurship or what at least are the qualities that we need to become a great businessman? We will try to answer that question.

Determination…

Managing its own business requires real efforts and real sacrifices. That is the reason why, one of the essential secrets to a successful entrepreneurship is determination. It is vital in the sense that many obstacles that the entrepreneurs will have to overcome represent on their own a reason for them to give up or get discouraged. Therefore the entrepreneur must show determination in all his projects. Once he made the decision to create his own company he must have a clear idea of his goals and how he will achieve them. He must be able to turn an obstacle into an opportunity because someone who is determined will never find a reason not to move forward.

Accepting the fact that you won’t get profit at first…

If some very recent businesses call it a quite most of the time,it’s due to the fact it is not that easy in the beginnings. The clients will not be lining up right away and you could have some loans to pay back. The main word to go through that situation would be patience. Therefore the entrepreneur should not put his focus on profits at the beginning. He must rely on some savings because he will not necessarily make money at first. He must have in mind that even if the beginnings are never easy, at some point the money will follow if he is determined and managed to have enough clients for his business.

Having a creative mind…

Being original by avoiding to get stuck in the never ending repetitions of what everybody else is doing is an essential secret for a business owner who wants to last. It is what Maurice Zeldman says here “ the business that will survive tomorrow is the one that promote creativity today”. Because of that, the entrepreneur must have a bit of creativity so he can find some new ideas that would help uplift the business. It will help him get ahead of the competition, find unexploited markets or attract new clientele.

28Oct

Job interview: how to answer tricky questions?

It is common for recruiters to ask unusual questions to the candidates as a way to tickle their brains or just have an idea of just how quick-witted they are. Those wierd questions that some employers love asking can sometimes unsettle some candidates who did not see them coming. Unfortunately in this game nothing is off limits when it comes to using the good techniques that could help find the best profiles for the job. As a candidate you must be prepared for the unusual questions. Let’s review the most frequently asked ones.

Tell me about yourself…

This vague question is a classic during a job interview. It seems easy but it is unsettling at the same time because of how nosy it actually is. The goal is not to only find out about the real person who is behind the candidate but also test your rebound abilities.

It is clearly impossible to give a good answer. However, the candidate should avoid giving long answers. Thus, after introducing yourself, don’t be afraid to ask the person yo are speaking to, if he wants you to elaborate on a certain detail. The rest of your speech will depend on the answer you will get from them. It will allow you to be more on point.

Tell us about your strength and weakness…

People who have been at job interviews can’t deny having once been asked that question that is another classic, frequently asked questions. A lot of candidates actually get prepared in advance for that one by listing their strengths and weaknesses. The answers,lots of candidates usually give, are not very convincing or worse demonstrate a lack of humility.

The default answer used by many candidates is “ I am too much of a perfectionist”, clearly it is a sad way of turning a strength into a weakness. But really, is it necessary to lie especially when they don’t believe you?

If really you are, let’s say, not really organized, there is nothing wrong with mentioning it, as long as you are showing that you want to work on that. The only mistake you should avoid at any coast would be to talk about a weakness that has a direct impact on your work. It is actually common sense.

22Oct

Recruiters in Africa did you know that a disappointed candidate is a lost client

It is a clear fact now that there is a thin line between professional life and personal life. Needless to say that, setting apart work relationships and private matter is, in deed, a hard task to handle even though we wish it wasn’t. The type of relationship we have developed with the company we are working in can shape our perception of the company itself.

The fact that, for example, a job seeker would see his job application rejected or not taken seriously could result in him feeling frustrated and to the company losing a potential client or consumer. Either companies don’t realise what they are doing or they just don’t take it into consideration. It is however something that shouldn’t be neglected.

Some serious studies showed just how big the issue really is. It led to the surprising conclusion that a dissappointed candidate is potentially a lost client. In fact, most of the surveyed candidates admit that their experience as candidates had an impact on them as consumers. The candidate experience during a potential recruitment can have some real consequences on the overall image of the company. A job application that has not been handle accordingly could change the way the candidate sees the company as a consumer and that wouldn’t be good for the business.

Specialists that gave some thoughts to the question came to the conclusion that HR and marketing became a one thing that cannot be separated. As a result, the company is obligated to take into consideration the candidate experience or else it will tarnish its reputation or even have clients turning their backs on them.

Today, a lot of companies send automatic responses to their different candidates. It is certainly a move to the right direction however it is still not enough because this impersonal format gives to the candidate the impression that he didn’t really get a feedback. Some specialists suggest more personalized systematic emails that would be able to explain to the candidate why he was not a good fit for the job. There are many ways to explain why an application has been rejected. It could be because of a lack of experience, a position that is already filled etc.

Either way, an application with no response can have a negative impact on the way the candidates see the company. Try your best to handle the situation the best way possible.

You can also read Fitting into a new company: essential tips

15Oct

L’Afrique, nouveau terrain de jeu des géants de la tech

Fitting into a new company: essential tips

You finally got your dream job after many interviews. You have signed your contract with a lot of enthusiasm. However it is not a done deal just yet. You still have one step to go through that is as important as the one before, which is fitting in the new company.

This step might seem easy but it is not because obviously adjusting to an unknown world is not a peace of cake especially for those who are just entering into the work world. This is why it is not a waste of time to look into the necessary tips to successfully fit in a new work environment.

First, one of the most important things for the new hire to do is to be aware of the challenges this represent. If not it will be difficult to properly adjust. That way, according to Catherine Berliet, coach and co-author of Manger au quotidien, three steps are vital to successfully fit it a new company.

The first one being, according to her, well prepared for the new job by carefully reading the job description in order to know precisely where you will take actions.

The second one consists of a SWOT which stands for Stenght,Weakness, Opportunities and Threats. The goal is to put in writing the necessary elements that would allow you to quickly be efficient in your new job.

Finally, the third step according to Catherine Berliner still, consists of putting interest in the Dow and the don’ts. Which means all the aspects in terms of culture, its values and its creation etc. Basically, it means for the new hire to spot the appropriate dress-code that is put in place, the way people are talking and the way they are operating internally.

In this adjustment phase, it is essential to open up to new people, to go to people to make it easier to communicate and develop contacts. It is even more important knowing that on the first days, your new colleagues will judge you. Be nice and honest without putting yourself in the spotlight and risking to sound arrogant.

You can also read Africa: when artificial intelligence gets the business world excited

11Oct

Africa: when artificial intelligence gets the business world excited

Artififial intelligente has found the way to our everyday life and got quite comfortable in doing so. It’s an amazing reality. The future of the planet revolves around artificial intelligence. “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.”,said Vladimir Putine the President of Russia.

In the working world, some are a bit scared of it, while others, in the other hand, do see some potential in it. Artificial intelligence has changed all the habits in Africa. In that side of the world, more and more young people have taken upon themselves to take advantage of everything that artificial intelligence has to offer. For that reason, some kind of excitement happened in the “Black” continent over the rise of artificial intelligence especially in the entrepreneur field.

Artificial intelligence is made of a set of functions that the computer can execute better than the actual human brain or the human intelligence. The same is true for the analysis of massive amounts of data for example to proceed risk assessment. AI makes the machine learn about those mass data on its own and self improve.

With the huge potential that AI offers, Africa surely plans on relying on it to be on the same level as the rest of the world, because there are more and more investments made in that sector. From the health field, the education field to the environment field, mainstream AI based apps are very popular considering the fact that the smartphone business is booming in Africa.

In fact, according to Koundi a Deloitte Africa associate, the number of machines which are by the way around 350 millions, should double by year 2020 in Africa. Prices dropped from 80 dollars to 30 in less than two years, thanks to the launch of machines specifically made for Africa.

With this in mind, Betelhem Dessie was able to mention that AI could be the lever that allow the African continent to rise to the top next to the Northern countries. It would be, in other words, some kind of fast track to development that will make people forget that Africa has missed out on the first two revolutions, the industrial one and the post-industrial one.

Africa has considerably felt the impact of AI in the job market just like any other region in the planet. Today, despite the numerous advantages AI has to offer, there is a risk that a lot of jobs will disappear in Africa. This is, in fact, one of the main concerns that critics have toward this revolutionary trend. Despite the fear it might have brought, AI has been well received in the “black” continent.

It is safe to admit that the way young African entrepreneur have been getting excited over it goes to show that Africa does plan on relying on AI to secure an economic take-off.

You can also read Professional relationships: how to handle a difficult colleague?

07Oct

Corporate culture in Africa: A major challenge in the recruitment process

All companies no matter how they are demand for their partners concerned to agree on a minimum set of rules and values. The same applies for the professional relationships. It is actually taken very seriously in that department. This reality makes the recruiter takes into consideration the corporate culture of his company when he is doing his hiring. In other words, in the process of hiring qualified people, he will have to make sure that those people will be able to adjust to the values of the company. What it means is that the corporate culture is now a legitimate part of the hiring process.

It could be difficult to give a simple definition of corporate culture because the term is very large. We can however say that it is linked to all aspects of the company, whether in a formal or non formal way, to its traditions as well as its inside dynamic that has been implemented throughout the years.

Corporate culture is not limited to a simple theorical concept with no real impact on the company’s functioning and organization. The least we can say is that it plays a central part in the recruiting process, both for the company and the candidate.

Some studies were able to show that hiring candidates in line with the corporate culture reduced turnover by 30%. It naturally implies that hiring candidates that don’t share the same values as the company could have a negative impact on its productivity.

In a more general way, corporate culture is a mix of different elements. The more noticeable ones being the dress code and the interpersonal relationship between co-workers. The work environment also represents a major part of the corporate culture depending on whether the employees are working in an open space or in enclosed offices.

Other elements are less noticeable like the work atmosphere, the managing style, or the interpersonal relationship in the company. The corporate culture is not the same if employees say hi by giving each other hand shakes or kisses.

What ever the case is, it is obvious that an employee who is in a culture that fits him feels more comfortable and has a better chance of having a long lasting collaboration with his employer.

In the other hand, a candidate coming in a company he doesn’t share the same values with will have a hard time feeling happy and adjusting. He will not have the type of behavior he is expected to have. Therefore, it would be difficult for that person to feel like he belongs. In short, there is a good chance that he will go somewhere else.

You can also read Companies, train your employees for the jobs of the future

03Oct

Companies, train your employees for the jobs of the future

Technology innovations have yet to turn the professional world upside down. The changes that they are bringing are forcing workers to get out of their comfort zone and throw themselves in the fast growing job market of the future. It is even more true knowing that a study made by World Economic Forum revealed that 65% of the children who have started elementary school this last years will do jobs that don’t exist yet. Therefore technology innovations will result in the creation of new jobs. One should be prepared to not miss the progress of the world. It is essential for companies to get their employees ready for tomorrow’s jobs. For that to happen,one has to think about a new way of training.

Train your employees to become thristy for knowledge and go-getters

Training your employees to jobs that don’t exist just yet is a hard task to handle. It is necessary to have them ready to open up to new skills. The main goal of the employer will be to boost the curiosity of its employees by training them into people who are thirsty for knowledge and go-getters. Naturally,this new approach is totally different from the classic training concept based on the short term, for the simple fact that the speed evolution of jobs in the companies makes it impossible not to have planned trainings in the future. You must make your employees want to acquire some knowledge.

Prepare your employees to consider a career change in a peaceful manner

It is a knowed factor that technology innovations will result in creating new jobs, however on the downside some professions will also have to disappear because of the digital era. The employees will have to get use to that new reality and acquire new techniques that will allow them to quickly retrain in new jobs. A worker will now be able to go from one profession to the other all through his professional life and acquire new skills. It is in the companies’ best interest to keep the employability of their employees in the years to come in order to set themselves aside eom the bunch.

Make it easier for employees to have access to training

Training employees have always been something necessary for companies to do but sometimes it tend to be underestimated or ignored by employees who are more interested in making profits. Today, the way things are going, getting training for the jobs of the future is becoming a viability for the company. It is necessary to look training differently and make it more accessible. The companies will have to handle the school education now. Training should not be viewed as an obstacle. It is something that has to be the company’s own decision to prepare the employees.

You can also read How to become a successful negociater as a salesman ?

17Sep

Ways to successfully and truthfully explain gaps in your CV during an interview ?

It is common for a professional to notice in the CV of the candidate, what we usually call a « gap » in the career path of the latter, during the process of a job interview. Beyond a pure conjecture this embarrassing situation that appear as inconsistency in the career, whether it is true or not, is actually quite common. It does ring a bell especially knowing that majority of people have had that happened at least once in their lives. A gap in employment can be due to many factors. It could be due to a maternity leave. Or again to a personal project like trying to start a business for example. Finally, it could be the result of a contract breach that both parties agreed on and that led to a year leave. Either way, whatever the nature is, a gap in employment is always something that requires some logical explanation unless you want to fail the interview. But how exactly do you go around it without making a mistake? We will try to give an answer to that question in the following paragraphs.

Justifying a gap in your CV by making a coherent plan ?

First thing first, one of the smartest techniques used to explain a gap in your CV is by setting up a coherent plan that would fit with you career path or working experiences. It is crucial because you can be sure that the recruiter will not take lightly the words you choose to justify the gap in your CV. It is obviously a determining factor in the profile of the future employee.

Avoid lying to explain a gap in your CV by all means.

Because they want their interview to be successful some people are tempted to systematically lie to justify an existing gap in their CV. That type of behavior that consists of lying to justify in bad faith those times of inactivities or to change the dates of employments can end up having the opposite effect because if they find out about it, the candidate will lose any chance of having a successful interview. This is why it is very important to be honest when you are trying to explain a gap in the CV. Also, whatever the reason why your career was interrupted at some point of your life, be brief about your personal life. It really is the number one rule.

Use your cover letter to be ahead on the justifications

Contrary to popular misconceptions, a gap in the CV does not mean that you will not have a successful interview. Your cover letter can come handy when trying to anticipate on the questions you will probably get at the interview. It can help overcoming any concern the employer might have. Be honest no matter what and have a persuasive presentation. Make the person you’re speaking to know that what you were doing during your time of inactivity is not the proof of an incoherent behavior but rather the proof of an existing sense of initiative and determination. Taking this type of approach will help you gain some points and convince the employer that you are the best candidate for that position…Making an obstacle turn into an advantage will therefore show how good of a master mind you are.

You can also read Occupational burnout, an unknown disorder in Africa

13Sep

Occupational burnout, an unknown disorder in Africa

Burnout or work related exhaustion is not just just a theory anymore considering the fact that we live in an era where more and more companies are looking for results and benefits. Now more than ever, society is speeding up rapidly. Because of that, those involved in the working world will need to show a remarkable capacity to adapt to any work situation. Burnout prevention is therefore necessary because it would allow workers to speed up their performances and boost their creativity. This issue is merely known in Africa. It is rare indeed to find companies that care about this important part of the life of a worker and want to prevent any type of suffering and mental harm in the workplace. Yet there are many tools and protocols that allow to do that. But what are actually the causes of a burnout and what are the signs?

What are the causes of a Burnout in Africa?

Although merely known in Africa, we can describe this disorder called burnout as a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion characterized by the disengagement of a person toward his job. The risk of having a burnout or work related exhaustion is real for everybody with a job that requires a deep professional commitment. That is the reason why the first signs of burnout have been noticed in the nursing profession. Workplace exhaustion is so serious that it is ranked 2nd among the work-related issues . A burnout occurs when the worker has the feeling that there is a gap between his expectations, the way he sees his job and what the job actually is in reality. It is home to a constant and unbearable stress. Burnout is not classified as a mental health condition. It is a mix of multiple syndromes resulting from a damaged relationship with one’s job.

What are the signs of a Burnout?

The first sign of a burnout is an emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. The individual will feel extreme fatigue that will not be relieved even with the usual resting hours. As a consequence he will not be productive, and will not be able to do his job properly. In other words, occupational exhaustion will lead to disengagement toward one’s job in addition to an impaired self worth, a decline in one’s feeling of successful accomplishment of one’s work, a feeling of ineffectiveness. There are many people working in companies in Africa who are suffering from that disorder without it generating any type of interest from those involved in the working world.

You can also read Well-being in the workplace: Where do we stand in Africa ?

11Sep

Well-being in the workplace: Where do we stand in Africa?

Following the succession of suicides of some workers that shook France in 2007, the topic regarding quality of life in the workplace is not something that Management takes lightly anymore. People merely talked about it before but these dramatic event that occured, make them realise how well-being in the workplace plays a key role in motivating the worker. It is not a secret anymore that nothing great can happen if the worker is in a working environment where he is feeling down and is stressed out constantly. Actually, some companies have understood it very well. That is the reason why they put in place some mechanisms to encourage the well-being of their employees. The same is true for African companies. However it is sad to see that it underlines a deeper issue that doesn’t seem important. Many African companies have yet to find a way to deal with the matter effectively.

A wake of interest from the World Health Organization about the concept of well-being at the workplace.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is very much concerned with the issue of well-being at the workplace and gave an official definition to describe it. It is defined as “ A state of mind where there is a quite good balance between the skills, needs and aspirations of the worker and the pressure and opportunities at the workplace. Basically “well-being at the workplace”refers to all elements that could potentially have an impact on the working conditions of the employees. It includes security, hygiene of the premises, health protection of workers, the physical and mental effects of the tasks carried out, workplace ergonomics etc. According to the Administrator of Syntec and president of the consulting firm Stimulus, David Mahé who published a look out about stress at the workplace “there is 2 types of stimulation, one that gives meaning to what we do and another that is about duty. Being committed is about the meaning and the enjoyment.”Despise all that, in Africa, many companies struggle to adapt to that reality.

A theoretical approach of the issue of well-being at the workplace for many African companies

Officially in Africa, many companies talk about the interest they have on the well-being of their employees. However, if we pay more attention to it, we notice that there is a gap between the declarations of interest and the reality. Progress is not for pretend anymore. African companies really need to commit themselves to finding ways to improve the working conditions. It is about, putting the human being in the center of the values of the company for its own sake and for the sake of the co-workers.

You can also read Professional retraining in Africa

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