8-minute read I have owned and managed JobSearch (SL) Ltd (www.jobsearchsl.com), a Human Resources firm, for 12 years. It started as a recruitment company, which exposed us to the enormity of the skills deficit issue in Sierra Leone. We added ‘skills development’ as a service and designed a few courses to introduce first time jobbers to workplace expectations. We also became members of the TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Coalition to assist with impro

A career or a vocation is something that not only provides financial sustenance but also gives one a sense of identity. Normally, one of the first questions asked when two strangers meet and build up an acquaintance is, “What do you do?” or ‘What job are you in?” About two decades ago, the answer to such questions would have been mostly restricted to, ‘I am an engineer/doctor/in the government service/work in a bank’ Today thanks to advanced technology which has made this wor

A year ago, I posted a blog on this website called '10 tips for making yourself employable in Sierra Leone'. The feedback we received from job seekers was that they found it useful. However, we feel we should do more to help students prepare themselves for the job market. Therefore, over the next few months, we will share some benefits of following the tips. The first one will be 'Read' because it is the foundation and it is evident in CVs and cover letters that are sent t

In a recent survey, recruiters were asked about the quality of applicants they received for the positions they advertised. The general consensus was that out of a large pool of applicants, whether experienced or looking for their first job, they could only short list about 20% of them and offers were made to only 10% of those interviewed. The reasons they cited were badly formatted CVs, spelling and grammatical errors, lack of preparedness for interviews and a mismatch betwe