Use these 3 Ps to land your dream job in Africa
It is not enough to show up for an interview having submitted a stellar resume. There are a few tips for blowing your interview out of the ballpark. At SheHive Accra 2016, Mrs. Florence Hutchful, Head of HR for West Africa at Standard Chartered Bank Ghana, summarized these tips into what she termed, the 3 Ps to acing your interview. Preparation It is important that you are able emulate the persona described and detailed in your resume. This means that you must come off knowledgeable and prepared for your interview. To be able to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the job, it is essential that you research the company. Read about the company online, spend time on their website and get to know the company. If you cannot find any valuable information online, go the extra mile and walk into the institution and ask questions. Furthermore, be ready to answer questions regarding your salary expectation. It is important to have a fair idea about salary brackets in any given institution. ALWAYS quote an expected salary; it shows that you know your worth and you are fully aware of the value of your time, skill and experience. Never compromise on preparation, it is what will make or break your presentation in an interview. Presentation Presentation in any interview begins with your physical appearance. Even before you speak, panelists will assess you based solely on what you are wearing and your demeanor – your posture and composure. It is imperative that you dress and appear smart and confident. Make sure your skirt is a good length, check the cut off your blouse and say no to overly elaborate jewelry, you must look professional. Confidence is always seen in the way you carry yourself, look up, straighten your shoulders and strut your stuff like the motherland mogul you are. Your ability to exhibit confidence in yourself through your outward appearance scores you several points even before you begin to speak. Adequate preparation will be key to ensuring that your spoken presentation is top notch. Remember to clearly articulate your views, present your ideas in concise and direct responses. Do not beat about the bush, exhibit clarity of thought and speak with authority. In the event you do not know the answer to a question, assess the panelists, are they attempting to evaluate your ability to think on your feet or is this a direct question? If it is the former, exhibit creativity and find a suitable answer, regardless of how far fetched it may be. But if it is the later, be candid and ask to get back to them later. Nothing beats honesty. Participation To get the job you must want the job. Remember that jobs aren’t just lying around for people to pick up. You have to demonstrate you are interested in the position, and mention the skills you can bring to the table and what the organisation will gain in return. Be keen for the job; don’t be passive. Engage panelists; look them in their eyes when you respond. Ask questions and show your excitement for the position. There is nothing better than an employee who is passionate about their job; this fuels engagement and the desire to succeed in any position. Your ability to show a keen interest in an interview may very well be what scores you the job. Hopefully, with these three Ps you are sure to ace any interview and land yourself that dream job. All it takes to win is preparation, which will fuel your presentation and your ability to participate.
Networking 101: 5 tips for your next networking event
Attending networking events may seem like an intimidating experience. But, it does not have to be, if you prepare in advance and follow the tips below. 1. Arrive on time This is especially important for networking events with no any speakers or program outline. You’ll more time to meet people as they arrive. 2. Name badge to the left When given a name badge, wear it on your left side so that it does not get crumpled or turned upside down as you shake with your right hand. You’re welcome! 3. Business cards at all times The most important tip! Having business cards on you is a must when attending networking events. Before you leave the house, repeat this mantra: keys, money, phone, business cards. You can easily print your own with blank business cards from the office supply store. Be sure it has your current industry or areas of focus on it. What’s more, you can even use your business cards to jot down the contact details of a person you wish to follow up on. 4. Conversations To begin, ask them how they are affiliated with the event ? Or, how they heard about the event? Make sure they’re open ended, so they’re are forced to make full sentences as opposed to yes or no answers. 5. Stand out Choose events that will increase your professional network, so attend industry events in your industry or in a field you wish you break into. If there are speakers are going to be in attendance, look them up online to prepare questions for the question and answer session. In a more informal setting, you can inquire about the speakers’ professional or educational background. Also note that it is important to highlight things you may have in common: If you attended the same school, or from the same city/state, mention it. Do your homework, and you’ll have a memorable networking experience.
6 career lessons you can learn from South African singer Lira
Not many singers can say they have sung Nelson Mandela’s favorite song to him on his birthday, have performed with the whole world watching during the World Cup, or sold-out tours in the U.S.A. But, South African singer-songwriter, Miss Lira, can! With various awards and critically acclaimed albums on her shelf, Lira has plenty career advice we can watch and learn from. 1. Be open to inspiration Lira talks about personal influences and explains the effect Stevie Wonder has had on her growing up: “Music unifies people and expresses feelings they might not be able to articulate. That made me want to be a songwriter. I thought, if there’s any reason to write music, that’s a good enough reason right there.” Inspiration for a career or a business can come from reading , observation and listening to others. Being open-minded can really open new doors for you. 2. Choose what makes you feel good “I used to be an accountant, and chose to become a musician. And that whole transition, going from earning a great income to starting a career as a musician… I was like, am I out of my mind? What was I thinking? But I just wanted to feel good. On a daily basis, I wanted to feel excited about life and my plans.” If what you do for a living is not fulfilling, if it’s not what makes your heart beat faster, it’s not too late to chase after your career dreams. 3. Work with what you have A great quote from Lira: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are right now.” You may not have it all at once, but you’ve already got something. Lira lets us know it’s most important to keep going, and not let temporary circumstance weigh us down. 4. Explore your options Lira’s American fans had been reaching out online, requesting her to come sing in The States. But prior to her huge U.S. tour, Lira took some time to check out the scene, and did a mini-tour of 5 shows in different states. “We had sold-out concerts. There was quite an interest in what I had to offer.” Trying out venues and styles of delivery for your service or product can help you specify your professional approach and guide your career direction. 5. Allow yourself to break away from pressure In a 2013 interview, Lira explained that after 9 years of non-stop work, she wanted to take some time out: “I want to be able to just be, and not feel pressure for a while.” Encourage yourself to work as hard as your time allows you. And when necessary, after long, busy days, a little time to decompress will have you back on your grind extra strong. 6. Find power in humility Lira tells us she can find beauty in Africa, America, in Europe, in the East, but: “There’s something that Africa can offer to the world, that the world needs today. There’s an element of humility that we have, that I feel the world has forgotten. We still have a sense of community.” Taking values from your home front into your business can help you keep track of both your personal and professional growth. If what you’ve learned growing up is accurate to how you want to do business now, that’s something you want to keep close. What other lessons have you learned from this power house’s journey? Share them with us.
The best comebacks for the 7 worst workplace mistakes
Mistakes happen. But what do you do after a mishap? Since different mix-ups require different solutions, we have put together a come back list for these 7 common work place mistakes. They might help cut you some slack. 1. You miss a very important meeting When you come in, don’t act as if you did not forget. You might be smooth, but people will notice. Slide in quietly and take your boss to the side. Tell her you honestly forgot and that you’ll adjust right away. Don’t speak if you’re not up on the subject. Rather, listen and take notes so that you can work back from there after the meeting. Take note of upcoming meetings and write them down immediately so that next time, you’ll be the first one in the room. Prepare yourself cautiously and never repeat this in the future. Before you know, no one remembers that one time you forgot. 2. You made quite the typo Your boss asked you to send a crucial e-mail regarding an important deal, and you used the verb? Let it be. Messed up a time-schedule? Correct it. But then, there are the real pain-in-the-behind typos. Let’s say you got a little enthusiastic and spelled your biggest clients last name ‘Yerk’ as J-E-R-K. Normally, this does not happen to you, so don’t beat yourself up – what’s done is done. Send out an email with an apology. Keep it light – perhaps you could humorously point out how close these letters are to each other on ALL of our keyboards. 3. You ate someone’s sandwich This is super disrespectful. Someone was counting on that. We can’t help you here. 4. You had the best time at the office party …And may have told your handsome co-worker that “you love a man in a uniform”. And now you can’t remember whether you kept talking after that… Oh dear. You’ll still have to walk into that office, so you better come correct and look a hundred when you do. Be fresh and in a good mood when you enter, and when someone comments on your frills from the night before, you say: “I’m sure you had a great time. Wasn’t I charming?” or “Man, that was some champagne”. 5. You deleted a document that you can’t get back anymore You better pray. The century of technology has provided us with so many comforts – but my, oh my, with it comes the stress of saving, saving-as and… well, losing. If this problem is beyond your technical skills, get someone who can fix it for you. 6. You’ve gotten into it with your co-worker He’d been on your nerves for weeks and now it’s come to an altercation. He said some things and so did you, and now it’s hard to concentrate around each other. If you guys can’t solve this issue together, tell your boss. Either go together and address the issue in a respectful and mature manner, or book some solo time with your boss to discuss what you think might be a solution to the problem. 7. You lack sleep and therefore empathy You’ve been putting in extra hours and it’s made you cranky as can be. Although you try to leave that at home, people notice you’re not in a happy mood. If you can, take a day off, or work from home for a day. Being in a different, lower-pressure environment might help you snap out of the funky mood. Get some sleep. Eat a decent meal. Do a fifteen-minute work out, and right before bed, read a few pages from your favorite book. Then watch yourself turn up at the job refreshed. After all, rent’s up and you need this money. These tips should help save the day. And if they do, send us some jollof too. Also, if you have other tips for making an office come back, please share the SLA community.
What Zainab Balogun taught us about branding and working for free
On January 14 we got the chance to connect with Motherland Mogul Zainab Balogun to learn more about building a career in the media and entertainment industry. Click here to see the full recap if you missed the chat. Zainab is a media professional, TV presenter, producer, budding actress and media entrepreneur. She is currently a presenter for the daily entertainment news show EL Now and original talk show called The Spot on EbonyLife TV. She also appears as a presenter and associate producer on Jumia TV, a teleshopping show. In addition to her presenting responsibilities she is a brand ambassador for Dark and Lovely international hair company. We learned 5 critical things from our chat with Zainab that budding media starlets, early career professionals and brand new entrepreneurs alike can learn from: 1. Maintain healthy contacts and keep people updated on your progress – that’s how you find out about new opportunities #SLAChats — She Leads Africa (@SheLeadsAfrica) January 14, 2016 2. Sometimes you have to work for free to get your foot in the door. Money shouldn’t be the only option you consider #SLAChats — She Leads Africa (@SheLeadsAfrica) January 14, 2016 3. Think about how you can build your own opportunities and content while you pursue opportunities with bigger brands #SLAChats — She Leads Africa (@SheLeadsAfrica) January 14, 2016 4. Having a strong work ethic can help bring mentors and teachers to you to help you grow #SLAChats — She Leads Africa (@SheLeadsAfrica) January 14, 2016 5. Stay consistent with your brand. Even when things are challenging, that will always be your calling card #SLAChats — She Leads Africa (@SheLeadsAfrica) January 14, 2016 Special bonus! Zainab shared the best piece of advice she received when first starting out in her career. @SheLeadsAfrica “Honour your brand” You’ll get tempted by the status quo in rough times but someone out there will buy into YOU #SLAChats — Zainab Balogun (@Zainab__Balogun) January 14, 2016 Special thanks to Zainab for joining us and for everyone who participated. If you want keep up to date with future events hosted by She Leads Africa, join our community and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
What this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 African women teach us about launching a career
When Forbes released its 2016 30 Under 30 list this week, we looked on with excitement and cheered on the African women change makers and innovators in this year’s class. We celebrate the 6 Motherland Moguls on the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 list by taking a look at their work and the insights these women have to share about launching the careers of their dreams. 1. Haben Girma, 27 – Disability Attorney Girma is disability lawyer acclaimed for her work in education, law, and civil rights. She was recently honored by President Obama as a White House Champion of Change and is the first deaf-blind Harvard law graduate. In an interview with Harvard Law Today, the Ethiopian-American advocate shares how confidence and being “undaunted” built momentum for her career: “My parents tried very hard to make sure I had access to everything, and consequently I grew up thinking I could have access to everything… I was 15 and I was traveling outside the country without family, without anyone I knew very well, really. And it was amazing. It really helped develop my confidence. If I can go build a school in West Africa, I can go to law school” (Interview, Harvard Law Today). 2. Zim Ugochukwu, 27 – Founder, Travel Noire The Nigerian-American entrepreneur of the global Black community, Travel Noire, says she began refining her career in college. She shared the following on building community and not needing permission during her interview with Black Enterprise: “I was very community-oriented in college. I majored in biology with a minor in political science and sociology at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As part of my political science course requirements, I had to choose an internship with the political campaign for Barack Obama or John McCain. Of course, I chose the Obama campaign. This experience opened my eyes to what it means to be a young person and be engaged. In addition to working on the Obama campaign, I traveled throughout the country, for the “Forget Tobacco” organization. I educated young people on tobacco use and tobacco industry marketing tactics. I also started Ignite Greensboro, an awareness campaign to raise awareness about the International Civil Rights Museum. This was the cornerstone of my career. I learned I didn’t need people to give me permission to do anything; I can just do it myself” (Interview, Black Enterprise). 3. Catherine Mahugu, 27 – Founder, Soko Hailing from Kenya, Mahugu is the founder of Soko, an e-commerce platform that sells artisanal jewelry. Sharing her long term passion for the IT industry in an interview with WMIA, she shared the following about starting a career in the otherwise male dominated field of IT: “Don’t be your own barrier. Get rid of the notion that you cannot do what men in IT are doing because it is a male dominated field. Turn every barrier into an opportunity, that is what I have done and enabled me to get this far in tech. Always keep pushing your goals to the next level to achieve personal growth and never limit yourself in a world that is full of numerous opportunities” (Interview, WMIA). 4. Angelica Nwandu, 25 – Founder, Shade Room Nwandu who is of Nigerian decent and grew up in foster care. She is a writer and video producer. Speaking on her story and work in a Buzzfeed interview, Nwandu shared a great deal about how her Nigerian culture influenced her early career success, including graduating from college, and then later, as she learned her way building the Shade Room. She said the following about being among the 6% of foster children who graduate from college: “Nigerians are some of the most successful immigrants in America. And so when I would go to class, people would say, ‘Oh, you’re Nigerian,’ so they would expect me to be smart. Somebody expected something from me” (Interview, Buzzfeed). 5. Heben Nigatu, 24 – Senior Editor, Buzzfeed Nigatu who is a writer and editor at Buzzfeed, and the cohost of the popular Itunes podcast, Another Round, was born in Ethiopian and lived in the country until she was 5. Speaking on the success of her podcast, Another Round, she shared the following on authenticity in her work: “Media people ask us, ‘How are you doing this?’ and we just don’t take ourselves so seriously. It’s funny that they think we have a secret sauce” (Interview, The Guardian). 6. Kelechi Anyadiegwu, 26 – Founder, Zuvaa Anyadiegwu, the Nigerian – American Founder, CEO and Creative Director of the premier African retail site Zuvaa, said the this on following her childhood passions and joy: “I’ve always had an interest in technology, since my parents bought me a computer as a small child. I naturally found myself attracted to online communities (chatrooms, The SIMS, neopets, etc.) and building things (websites, avatars, digital Barbies, etc.). These were interests that really shaped my career aspirations going into high school and entering college. I loved digital design and I loved creating content. Everything from the yearbook club to creating layouts, or putting together short media clips. I loved it all” (Interview, Madame Noire). How about that for career inspiration? Learn more about this year’s Forbes 30 under 30 class.
Email like a boss : Ingredients to cook-up stellar professional emails
Professional emails are to a business what healthy food is to your body, vital! You eat healthy foods to get a stronger body and longevity. Similarly, professional emails are necessary to the fruition and strength of any business. The ability to communicate thoroughly with neutrally progressive language is imperative to achieving your business or career. It seems challenging and tricky, but like every healthy habit, consistency is key. Here is a checklist to cook up a healthy and effective professional piece of art with your own clear and personable touch. Subject – Perhaps the shortest but most influential part of your email The subject is what gets the reader to open your email. Too bold and it’s regarded as spam, cheap or unimportant. Too dull and it’s forgotten. Both extremes run the risk of not being read at all. Be specific and hint a reason for their urgent attention. If time sensitive, state a deadline, i.e., “Please reply by [date]”. Greeting Salutation – Greet your reader accordingly If the reader is in a different time zone, no need for day-relevant words (morning, afternoon or night). The simplest greeting is “Dear, [name].” or “Hello” If you aren’t sure who your reader is, “ To whom it may concern” is another option (though I don’t recommend it.) Introduction – Compliments and pleasantry and Introduce yourself (2 sentences) Begin the body of message reminding them of who you are. “Thank-you”s or “it was great meeting you at [name event]” are subtly pleasant ways of reminding the reader of who you are. Setting a genuine tone at the start your message goes a long way. If you are familiar with your reader, pleasantries such as “ I hope all is well with you and yours,” works wonders. When introducing yourself for the first time, keep it brief and relevant. If you and the reader are already acquainted, rely on your well crafted signature (at the end) to speak to your current endeavors. Reason for email – Purpose (1-2 sentences) This is where your purpose resides. Use the “One Thing” rule. What do you seek and how does it serve your purpose? Brainstorm ideas before you start your email. This way, you can establish why the email is relevant to the reader/recipient, and have it laid out clearly and accurately. Call of action – What are you asking for? What actions need to occur to have the mission possible? What do you need from the reader? Be accurate, clear, and reasonable. If it takes longer than two sentences to describe this portion, listing them in bullet point is the best way to go. Bullet points are easier on the eyes and more importantly easier for your reader to note them down. Remember the one thing rule, how do your call for actions affect your purpose? Closing message – Close as you started, genuinely (1-2 sentences) Every email you send should be important. If your email is time sensitive, state a time and date you would like to hear a response, so there;s a sense of urgency. If it isn’t time sensitive, say so respectfully and tactfully. One such statement is, “I hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.” Closing Salutation and signature To keep things simple, professional closing salutations can be short, “Best”. Your signature should not exist in the body of your email. Mention your name, title, link to business address and your contact information. This way, you have a short yet effectual platform to speak of your current phones. So there you have it, a checklist of all the structure that a professional email needs. Whether you are sending this professional email to a client, co-worker or potential employer, this checklist will have you getting responses in a jiffy.