In a notice published in MyGov, HELB expressed its commitment to recruiting transformative, competent, and self-driven professionals to join its team.

The available positions include one Director of Operations, six Deputy Directors across various departments, and eight Assistant Directors. Additional roles include Principal Officer (Legal Services), Principal Customer Experience Officer (Digital and Creative Services), Senior Customer Experience Officer (Digital and Creative Services), and an Internal Audit Officer.

HELB is also hiring two drivers and 11 Assistant Customer Experience Officers.

“The successful candidates will join a highly performing team and must not only be passionate, innovative, and qualified but also dependable, emotionally intelligent, and possess effective interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills,” the announcement stated.

Also Read: HELB Invites Applications For CEO Position

Qualified applicants are required to submit two hard copies of their application, including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, academic and professional certificates, and relevant testimonials. Applications should be addressed to: The Chairman, Higher Education Loans Board ,Anniversary Towers, 19th Floor P.O. Box 69489 – 00400 Nairobi, Kenya.

Alternatively, candidates can email their application and supporting documents to recruitment2024@helb.co.ke. All applications must be received by Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

“We encourage applications from all qualified individuals including Women, Youth, Marginalized Communities and Persons With Disabilities.”

The institution said only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For more information click here.

The post HELB Announces Job Openings: Here Is How To Apply appeared first on KahawaTungu.

1. Respond Promptly
   Timing is crucial when declining a job offer.

• Why it’s important: Delaying your response may inconvenience the employer and reflect poorly on your professionalism.
• When to respond: As soon as you’ve made your decision, typically within 1–2 days of receiving the offer.

Prompt communication shows respect for the employer’s time and allows them to move forward with other candidates.

2. Use a Professional Tone
   Start your response with gratitude and maintain a courteous tone throughout.

• Acknowledge the effort the employer made during the hiring process.
• Express appreciation for the opportunity and their interest in you as a candidate.

This approach leaves a positive impression, even if you’re declining the offer.

3. Be Honest (But Diplomatic)
   Clearly state that you’re declining the offer, but avoid overly detailed or negative explanations.

• Common reasons include:
  • The role doesn’t align with your career goals.
  • You’ve accepted another offer that better suits your aspirations.
  • Personal circumstances that prevent you from taking the role.
• Example: “After careful consideration, I’ve decided to pursue an opportunity that aligns more closely with my current career goals.”

4. Keep the Door Open
   If you value the employer or organization, express your interest in staying connected.

• Example: “I greatly admire your company and would love to stay in touch for potential opportunities in the future.”

This leaves room for future collaboration or networking opportunities.

5. Deliver the Message Through the Right Channel

• Email: The most common and convenient way to decline a job offer professionally.
• Phone Call: Appropriate for high-level roles or when you’ve had extensive interactions with the hiring manager.

If possible, mirror the communication style used during the hiring process.

Sample Email to Decline a Job Offer

Subject: Thank You for the Opportunity

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

Thank you for offering me the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I truly appreciate the time and effort you invested in the recruitment process and your belief in my abilities.

After careful consideration, I have decided to decline the offer. While this role is appealing, I believe another opportunity aligns more closely with my current career goals.

It was a pleasure meeting you and learning about the innovative work being done at [Company Name]. I hope we can stay in touch, and I wish you and your team continued success.

Thank you once again for the opportunity.

Best regards,
[Your Full Name]

6. Stay Respectful if Pressed
   Sometimes employers may ask for more details about your decision. Respond respectfully without sharing unnecessary specifics.

• Example: “Thank you for understanding. I made this decision based on my long-term career aspirations and priorities.”

Tips

• Ensure it’s free of typos and conveys a professional tone.
• Declining an offer is a normal part of career decisions; handle it with poise.
• Avoid criticizing the company, role, or offer in your response.

Also Read: How To Motivate Your Team

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Following a meeting with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday, Mutua shared the update, revealing that the government is in discussions with other countries to increase Kenya’s employment opportunities abroad.

“During our meeting, I briefed the Deputy President on the recruitment and sensitization program aiming for one million annual job placements through our labor export initiative,” Mutua announced in an online post.

The initiative also includes establishing ICT hubs in each of Kenya’s 290 constituencies, aimed at giving young people access to digital job opportunities that will enhance their economic potential and strengthen Kenya’s future workforce.

Mutua emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing youth unemployment through significant investments in Technical and Vocational Education, which will equip young Kenyans with essential skills and knowledge for both local and international markets.

Also Read: CS Alfred Mutua Announces New Unit to Tackle Workplace Sexual Harassment

He added that the Kenya Kwanza administration is actively negotiating more job opportunities abroad under its labor export program.

DP Kindiki echoed Mutua’s remarks, highlighting that the government is forming more bilateral labor agreements to secure positions for Kenyans in semi-skilled and professional fields globally.

“While trained youth are being deployed to support Kenya’s industrialization and manufacturing efforts, President William Ruto’s administration is expanding opportunities abroad through the labor export program,” Kindiki stated.

The post Kenya To Export One Million Workers Abroad Annually, Says Labour CS Mutua appeared first on KahawaTungu.

According to recent data, 1.23 million out of the total of 2.49 million jobless Kenyans aged between 15 and 64 are not actively looking for jobs, despite being qualified.

Those not looking for jobs aged between 20 and 24 are 363,018, while those aged between 25 to 29 are 232,146.

“It is a reflection of the reality in the economy right now, depending on the sectors. So long as businesses are not back to full recovery and people are facing uncertainties and more people are out of work, job seekers realise their chances of getting an opening are very slim,” said Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) executive director Jacqueline Mugo.

Read: Internet Economy to Contribute Sh786 Billion to Kenya’s GDP in 2020

In the last quarter of 2020, the number of those who were unemployed stood at 1.04 million, while those not actively seeking work stood at 1.52 million.

730,000 jobs were lost in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused the economy to contract by 0.3 percent.

“Unless it is the emerging sectors like information technology, most companies are not hiring and are even struggling to keep their current workforce. So potential workers are just biding their time surviving day to day until they see an element of recovery,” said Ms Mugo.

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Millions of workers were affected by the pandemic as it disrupted economic activities resulting in hardships in both the formal and informal sector.

“A majority 60 per cent of those who were employed from January to March 2020 say that Covid-19 has stopped them from being able to work,” said the report that surveyed workers in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique and Cote d’Ivoire.

In Kenya, 60 percent of workers said their jobs were affected by the pandemic with 26 percent reporting that they had dipped into their savings to sustain themselves due to the shortfall in their earnings.

Low income earners strapped for cash resorted to borrowing from mobile loans and digital lending apps.

“In addition to the inability for many to work, we found that almost half (49 per cent), stated that their income had ‘decreased a lot’ since Covid-19, and an additional 27 per cent stated that their income had ‘decreased a bit’,” said GeoPoll in the study report.

Only 5 percent of those working in farming, informal retail and service sectors reported an increase in income, while the majority reported a decline in the period under review.

Low income Kenyans and those in the informal sectors were more willing to adjust to the economic disruption compared to those in formal employment.

“Income level had a slight impact on likelihood of being able to work, but this varied by country and did not always show a linear trend,” said the study findings.

“For example, in Kenya, those in the lowest income bracket (0 –10,000 shillings per month) were more likely to report they were still able to work than the next income bracket (0 – 20,000 shillings per month).”

The study, however, indicated optimism among workers in the five countries. Most believed that they will have a job to return to once the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted and 85 percent believed that the economic disruption is only temporary.

The study tallies with a Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) study that released its report last month. In the report, 61 per cent of Kenyans reported being out of work due to the Corona virus, an increase from 50 per cent in May.However, 77.8 per cent of the individuals out of work reported being unsure if and when they would resume.

“Nationally, 37 per cent of households indicated that they were unable to pay rent for May 2020, while 31.6 per cent reported having paid the rent on time,” said KNBS.

Only 0.7 per cent of households in rented houses had been given waivers by their landlords. 30 per cent of households did not report having any coping mechanism to counter the effects of Covid-19 on their ability to pay rent.

The new findings underline the financial difficulties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic forcing many Kenyans to dig into their future savings, casting uncertainty post retirement.

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This was followed by youths aged 25 to 29 making up 228,466 of the total. This comes as a confirmation that the Kenyan youth are indeed the most affected by the unemployment crisis, compared to those who are 35 years and older.

“Youth aged between 20-24 had the highest proportion of the unemployed at 12.5 percent. On the other hand, those aged 55-59 had the least unemployment rate of 0.3 percent,” the report said.

In the last quarter, the number of employed Kenyans dropped by 1.7 percent to 17.8 million from 18.1 million in the quarter ended December 2019.

“The relaxed unemployment rate for the first quarter 2020 was 13.7 percent showing a deterioration from the 12.4 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019,” read the KNBS report.

The report has come at a time when the unemployment rate owing to the COVID-19 pandemic is already causing a crisis in the country.

The ministry of Health recently announced that an estimated 300,000 Kenyans had lost their jobs since the outbreak of the corona virus in the country on March 12^th 2020.

In early May, President Uhuru Kenyatta warned that about half a million jobs would be lost in the next six months should the Coronavirus infections continue.

Many businesses continue to lay off staff as the economy takes a downward spiral and the infections rates continue to rise.

Companies including Mediamax have recently laid off their staff while a host of others like Fairmont and Sentrim lodges have closed shop all together.

So far, Kenya has 1,962 cases of the corona virus and 64 deaths with 474 recoveries.

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Africa is one of the continents leading in unemployment rates, with countries such as Kenya having almost half of its population being jobless. Around 40 per cent of Kenya’s population have no jobs.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Namibia have unemployment rates of 46.1 per cent and 34 per cent respectively while South Africa, percieved to be among the developed countries has 27 per cent unemployment rate. 18.8 per cent of Nigerians are jobless.

However, tech start ups have come up to bridge the gap between employers and those seeking for jobs.

According to the recently-released Future of Work: Exploring the African Digital Work Landscape 2018 report by Disrupt Africa, 180 tech startups across the continent have developed solutions helping users find work, be it full time or project-based.

“Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges facing the African countries and the traditional solutions that exist cannot satisfy the fast growing job market,” says Edward Vaisberg, chief operating officer (COO) of Kenyan recruitment startup Fuzu.

In Kenya, employers meet employees in various platforms such as Myjobsinkenya.com, brightermonday.com, career builder, career web among others.

Institutions and individuals are shying away from the traditional methods of recruitment, opening up opportunities for online recruitment.

“This leaves immense opportunity for investors to play integral roles in driving recruitment solutions around the world. The online recruitment space has already become saturated with investors both looking to achieve outstanding returns, as well as contribute to the social and economic development of Africa,” says Anish Shivdasani, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of South African jobs platform Giraffe

Read: How Garissa Governor Korane Planned The Murder Of Ex-CEC Idriss Mukhtar

It has gone to a level where recruitment portals are being equipped with intelligence features. HireHunt (Egyptian), for example, has introduced artificial intelligence and online gamified assessments to remove hiring bias and speed up the whole process, while Fuzu is helping jobseekers marry career planning with learning.

“Job boards may have been a step forward years ago when no digital recruitment solutions existed, however they are quickly becoming much less effective for both jobseekers and employers,” says Basil Fateen, the founder of HireHunt. “Traditional job boards need to be replaced with smarter solutions in order to handle the massive amounts of unemployed and unfilled positions.”

The trend is not only catching pace on job websites alone. Corporate and other websites are following suit by creating job sections in their websites. In fact, almost every corporate website has a section where job seekers can view current vacancies and apply for jobs.

“Most of them provide additional products that jobseekers need, such as employability courses for personal and professional growth, employment-related blog posts, personality tests and, in more advanced platforms like Fuzu, offer jobseekers feedback for the applications they make to various organisations,” adds Fateen.

Those that specialise with job posting have gone an extra mile to give special advise to potential employers and employees.

Providing such needed services that enable jobseekers to understand the full scope of the job market and what they need to do to stand out, while giving them an opportunity to be found by hiring managers, has had a positive impact on African jobseekers.

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