Finding your first job after graduation

Start before you graduate

Field attachments, student leadership roles, volunteering and part-time work all count as experience. Record what you did and what you learned while it is still fresh so you can describe it clearly on your CV.

Routes into a first job

• Internships and graduate trainee programmes at banks, telecoms, audit firms and large companies, usually advertised once or twice a year.
• Volunteer programmes with NGOs and development organisations that build experience and references.
• Entry-level government posts advertised through the Ajira Portal.
• Small and growing businesses that value practical skills and willingness to learn.
• Freelance and short-term work that lets you build a portfolio.

Build skills employers ask for

Look at ten adverts for the kind of job you want and list the skills they repeat. Common examples are Microsoft Excel, report writing, customer service and data entry. Many of these can be learned through free online courses and practised on small projects.

Stay organised and persistent

Keep a simple record of where you applied, the deadline and the result. Follow vacancies daily, set up job alerts and apply early. Rejections are normal; improve one thing in your CV or interview after each one.

Make your CV work without much experience

Put your education, final-year project and field attachment near the top. Describe what you did in practical terms: the data you collected, the reports you wrote, the customers you served or the systems you used. A short profile that states the kind of role you want and the skills you bring helps recruiters see where you fit.

Use your network

Tell lecturers, former supervisors, relatives and friends what kind of work you are looking for. Many first jobs are found through recommendations. Join professional groups and follow employers you admire on LinkedIn and other official channels so you hear about openings early.

Be careful with offers that look too easy

Graduates are a common target for fake recruiters who ask for registration fees, training fees or deposits for uniforms. A genuine employer does not ask you to pay to be hired. Check the employer's official website, confirm the vacancy through official contacts and read our guide on avoiding job scams before you share documents or money.

Kwa Kiswahili

Anza kujenga uzoefu kabla ya kuhitimu kupitia mafunzo kwa vitendo, kujitolea na kazi za muda. Omba nafasi za mafunzo (internships), programu za wahitimu, nafasi za awali serikalini na kazi kwenye biashara ndogo zinazokua. Jifunze ujuzi unaohitajika mara kwa mara kama Excel na uandishi wa ripoti, na usikate tamaa baada ya kukataliwa.