Why Some First-Class Graduates Find It Hard to Secure a Job

In the competitive landscape of Kenya’s job market, there is a belief that employers are reluctant to employ first class graduates. But is it true?

We often hear cases of graduates with high academic qualifications struggling to find jobs in Kenya, many of them resorting to beg for opportunities by displaying their qualifications on placards or posting videos online, to bring attention to their plight.

Drawing from the insights of recruiters and First class graduates in the country, The Kenya Times sheds light into the real picture of what matters during job search and recruitment.

The recruiter consulted for this article has navigated the intricacies of hiring and talent acquisition as well as interviewed some of Kenya’s top-tier graduates.

On the other hand, we also had the privilege of speaking with first class graduates, who openly shared their personal journeys and how they are navigating the job market to find meaningful employment.

Their stories are a source of inspiration and practical guidance for those who are embarking on their own job-seeking journeys.

HR and Recruitment Professional on First Class Graduates

Yes, it is true, many graduates in Kenya get employment because of having a god father or mother in high places. Yes, it is also true that some people get jobs out of pure luck.

However, it is also true that others secure good opportunities because of merit. 

According to Ann, there are so many things that a recruiter looks for when getting the best candidate for a role. A first-class honor’s is far from being at the top of that list.

“There is an array of things you are looking for in a potential candidate. You might find that a good candidate may not be necessarily a first class student because there are people who are gifted academically and when it comes to work it might be a challenge and vice versa.

“Getting a first class does not mean you will automatically get a job. Sometimes it is luck, there are those who get hired one month into the job market and there are those who can job search for even 7 years,” she said. 

In her experience, there are individuals who continuously stress that they have a first class honor’s during an interview without indicating the relevance of their skills for a role. This, she noted, was a disservice to the candidate despite the academic qualifications. 

“When you go out saying that you are a first-class graduate, some people may perceive that is unnecessary pride. It is important that when you look for work you are not just selling yourself as an academician, but you are also selling yourself as a potential candidate.

Also Read: Kimani Ichung’wa Promises to Offer Viral First Class Graduate a Job

“There are also instances where people feel that first class students are overqualified, and Kenyans generally tend to think that if someone is doing well academically, then they are not gifted at the work itself. It is an assumption that people make,” she explained. 

Personal Testimonies 

Leo Macharia

Armed with his first class honor’s from Strathmore University, Leo believed that navigating the job market would be easier. However, that was not the case. 

He narrated that he spent countless hours applying for jobs and getting rejection emails almost immediately. He was disappointed when he learnt that his first-class honors would not immediately secure him his dream job.

“I never even got to the interview level, I used to get rejection emails almost immediately after applying for a job. People would think that when you have a first class you will get a job immediately, which was not the case for me.

“I was job hunting for over four months after graduation. When I graduated, I hoped that I would get job more easily because I had a first class from Strathmore University, so it was disappointing when I was applying for jobs and getting one rejection after another,” he said. 

However, despite the challenges, Leo believes that it is the very same achievement that opened his world to multiple opportunities and accorded him respect among his peers and employers.

Leo secured a position at Britam and later moved to German Sparkassenstiftung Eastern Africa. 

“Although I would say maybe it helped and I wasn’t aware because my university Strathmore, there were times they would call me to inform me of job openings in different companies. I feel that they were calling first class graduates first to inform them of the opportunities before calling other students. 

“Also, during my interactions with managers and directors or different companies, when they heard that I had a first class, they would respect me more. It did not land me any job but there is a respect that you get,” he added. 

Further, he said that from his experience, both Kenyan and international employers cared more about a person’s delivery and work ethic adding that his colleagues did not have to know about his first class. 

“What matters is how you relate with your team. Employers want to know if you are a reliable employee whose work is good,” Explained Leo. 

Daisy Mukasa

Daisy graduated with a first-class honors in Bachelor of Arts Honors in Global Challenges from the Africa Leadership University. An achievement she is very proud of.

However, while working hard for her first Class, her desire was to get into grad school after getting her degree.  The achievement for her was in no way tailored to the unpredictable and rough job searching journey she would later experience.

Nonetheless, as she waits on grad school, she says her first class has had a huge impact in her search for internships and jobs. She has had the opportunity to intern in some of the top global institutions including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in New York.

“My first class has had an impact in my job search. It has validated my degree because it is somewhat difficult for employers to understand. Some of the Internships I have gotten, I got them because of the first class.

“Initially, my motivation for getting the first class was to be able to get into grad school more easily, I was not thinking about getting a job then but now I see the role that is it playing in job searching as well,'” she said.

Although it is an achievement she carries proudly, Daisy has intentionally avoided seeking opportunities from Kenyan employers because of the stereotypes on first class graduates. However, she indicated that international employers have a different view of the achievement.

“I avoid Kenyan employers because of those stereotypes about first class graduates. I have not worked directly with a Kenyan employer after graduation. But I have had interviews with Kenyan companies, and you can tell that there is that attitude, and there is also an insistence on hierarchy.

“I do not think it is a big deal for international employers. You can mention that you have a first class, but no one will focus on it. You can even have a master’s, and no one will pay too much attention to it, as long as you are doing your job,” she explained.

Her first class is something that she will always be proud of.

“I am proud of my first-class honors. It is always on my CV and cover letter. I always mention it. I was advised earlier on not to downplay the achievement,” she said.

Also Read: First Class Graduate with Highest CPA Grades Begs for Job

 Brian Khavalaji

Brian has never relied on his first-class honors or his Multimedia Journalism degree from Riara University to find a job. While in Campus, he quickly learnt that the job market was filled with a lot of flaws and decided to rely on his skills and passion.

He began sharpening his skills in different areas including photography, videography, writing and radio production, developing networks in the process.

“I have never used my First class to look for a job because I have never actually had to look for a Job. Before I graduated, I already had a job and then I quit later on to do freelance.

“I was always engaging in something on the side even in campus, whether it was writing, events or some Public Relations, so it enabled me to identify the skills that I had,” he said.

Although he applied for work a few times after finishing college, he mainly focused on doing small jobs and gigs here until he landed a job.

He quickly learnt that he had been right, he was not exactly cut out for the corporate world.

Brian went fully into freelance, writing for different clients, hosting events doing photography and video work for different clients. Freelance has not been all too kind to him, but at least he calls the shots.

“I pushed myself and did it with the little resources that I had so it has been my work that has spoken for me. I have applied a few times for work but mostly it has been referrals and my visibility online.

“It is not about the first class, it is about positioning and visibility. I have gotten gigs from people who told me that they saw my profile on LinkedIn,” he added.

Ann On Being a First-Class Graduate

At the same time, Ann is a first-class graduate who does not share in the stereotype of such graduates being incompetent or failing to secure opportunities. She says she never got a first-class rejection. 

“I started working when I was still in school.  When I graduated, I was already in the job market so I cannot say that I had a first-class degree or rejection. I don’t think the first class has made a difference. When I apply for work, I go there as a potential candidate looking for work.

“It is always there on my CV, I do not shy away from talking about my first class. I worked very hard for it,” added Ann. 

Advise to Other Graduates on Job Hunting

To students working hard on getting a first-class honors, Brian and Daisy advised that they keep going. According to Brian, it may not get you your dream job but it will open other opportunities for you. 

On the other hand, Daisy indicated that it is a great achievement and should never be downplayed, as long as the graduate works on equipping themselves with other wholistic skills. 

“Don’t lose focus because there is an assumption that failing in university does not matter, but I think if that is what you want, work for it from the beginning.

“Learn how to sell yourself. There are people who don’t have a first class, but they can really sell their skills. Communicate clearly your skills and for every role you are apply to, tailor your resume to communicate how that first class will be beneficial to that role,” she said.

Ann backed this noting that first class graduates should be aggressive in reaching out for the opportunities they desire. This means, she added, that they are able to narrow down exactly what they want to apply for and the kind of jobs they desire. 

“As a first class graduate it is dependent on how aggressive you are in getting what you are looking for. Also where are you targeting your search because sometimes you find that graduates are looking for any job, and then it happens that any job is no job.

“Then it becomes impossible for a recruiter to select you even as a first-class student because you are applying for a job that you have not interned for and don’t have any experience in,” she explained.

On the other hand, Leo advised graduates to network and have the courage to reach out to those networks for opportunities.

In addition, he indicated that one can set themselves apart by talking advantage of free online courses that help build and polish their skills. 

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