EPISODE 14: Unajali sana kuhusu muonekano mzuri kazini? Jiangalie upya
Muda ulipowadia nilianza kazi kwenye lile shirika la wazungu baada ya kukamilisha taratibu zote muhimu. Asikuambie mtu kufanya kazi kwenye haya mashirika international kuna vetting kubwa sana ambazo new employee unafanyiwa ili kujiridhisha na uhali wa vibali vya wewe kufanya kazi nchini ikiwemo maswala ya criminal records, nakumbuka ilibidi mpaka kupata police report, wenyewe wanaita background and reference check.
Nakumbuka siku ya kwanza kufika pale kazini nilipokelewa vizuri tu nikatambulishwa pale kisha nikaonyeshwa ofisi ambapo ndio nitakkuwa nafanyia kazi zangu. Kisha nikapewa utaratibu pale wa mambo muhimu ya pale ofisini kama vile muda wa kula nk. Then nikapatiwa baadhi ya document nizisome huku nikiambiwa kwamba kesho yake nitaanza orientation walau ya siku mbili ili kujua shughuli mbali mbali za pale ofsini. Kweli siku ya pili yake nikafanya skype meeting na makao makuu ulaya na Nairobi. Then zikaendelea orientation za pale ndani ofsini, kwa kweli hizi orientation zinasaidia na inatakiwa uzitumie vizuri kuuliza maswali. Hapa niseme hivi proffesionally, asking questions to your supervisors or coleagues helps in Building Relationships. What I mean is, asking questions demonstrate your interest in the job and a commitment to understanding the company's culture and processes. It also provides an opportunity to build a positive working relationship with your supervisor, as they see you as engaged and eager to contribute. Proactively seeking information through critical questions shows that you are proactive and take initiative. This can leave a positive impression on your supervisors or coleagues signaling that you are committed to your role and willing to go the extra mile.
Hata kwa watu ambao mnaitwa kwenye interview ya kazi yoyote jitahidi usitoke bila kuuliza swali. Kwa uzoefu wangu wa kufanya interview mbalimbali za kazi kunai le nafasi inatolewa kwa job applicant kuuliza maswali kama yapo. Sasa ile nafasi inatakiwa uitumie vizuri sana kwa kuuliza maswali hususani yanayohusiana na nafasi husika unayoomba au kuhusu kampuni/shirika unalotarajia kuajiriwa nalo. Asking insightful questions leave a positive impression on the panelists. This demonstrates that you are not only interested in the position but you are also thoughtful and strategic in your approach. It indicates your genuine curiosity about the company's operations, work culture, and future direction. Hapo utakuwa umejitengenezea nafasi nzuri yaw ewe kuonekana wa tofauti na kuwa na nafasi kubwa ya kuwin hiyo job, unaona kazi hiyo? Sio tu unaishia kusema “I don’t have any question for now”, utafeli. Jitutumue uulize maswali kama “Can you describe the company culture and how employees collaborate here?” Au hata “What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within the company?” Shauri yako. Such question demonstrates your long-term commitment and ambition. It shows that you are not just looking for a job but you are also interested in building a career within the company.
Turudi kwenye point yetu ya leo maana hayo mengine hapo juu yameingilia tuu mada. Basi nikamaliza wiki pale na kila kitu kikaenda sawa. Lakini kitu kimoja nikanote kwamba asee mimi pale ofisini ndio nilikuwa more than formal, yaani nilikuwa napiga dress code zile za kiexecutive kwa wiki ile tuu nilibadili suti kama mbili. Wengine walikuwa wanadress very casual kwa wanaume ila wanawake walau wengi wao walikuwa ni smart casual. Country representative ni mdingi wa kizungu alikuwa amesafiri wakati mimi nafanyiwa orientation japo niliweza kuskype nae, siku alipoingia ofisini nilishangaa sana kwani jamaa alikuwa amepiga kinjunga kimoja matata sana. Ndio amekuja ofisini ivo halafu ndio top pale. Basi jamaa alikuwa anapita kwa kila staff anagawa vichoclate kama zawadi na kinjunga chake hana habari. Mimi ukiangalia hapo nimepiga suti kasoro tai halafu nipo level za kawaida tuu.
Nikajiuliza hii inakuwaje. Jamaa ambaye nilikuwa nashea nae ofisi moja yeye alikuwa ni mtu wa kupiga jinzi sana sio jumatatu sio ijumaa. Mimi kote nilikokuwa nimepita pita before, jinzi ilikuwa labda ijumaa, ila nikanotes jamaa anazigongelea karibia kila siku. Kuna bro mwingine yeye alikuwa anapenda kupiga track au pensi za kuvuka magoti. Kiufupi pale swala la dress code sijui kuchomekea, suti, sijui nguo gani haikuwa ishu kabisa wewe jisitiri vyovyote unakvyoweza ili mradi usije uchi. Wadada kupiga vipedo ilikuwa ni jambo la kawaida sana. Kuna jamaa mmoja alikuwa anabeba vyuma so alikuwa na mwili mkubwa na mitatuu sana basi jamaa alikuwa anapenda sana kuvaa singlendi nadhani ili tuone mitatuu yake vizuri. Kuna kidada kimoja kilikuwa kibalck byuti hivi, kile kidada nadhani kilikuwa kimepitiliza maana alikuwa anajiachia na vinguo vifupi sana na alikuwa anavaa vipini vya ulimi, pua na kwenye nyusi kwa kweli mimi nilikuwa namuona kituko kwa kweli hahahaa. Si mnakumbuka stori ya rasi yule aliyenipa mchongo? Basi pale ofsini nilimkuta mwingine yeye ndio na mirasta mirefu mpaka mgongoni.
Kiufupi hakuna aliyekuwa anafatilia swala la mavazi na wala haikuwa kesi, kila mtu alivaa kulingana na anavyojiskia ili mradi huvunji sheria za nchi. Kwaupande wangu kwa kweli niliona vitu tofauti sana kwanza nilizoea kwamba ni kawaida kwa mabosi wa ofisi kunyuka suti au pamba za gharama sana. Madada wakitokelezea sketi au wenyewe mnaita suruali za ofisi zile za vitambaa. Lakini pale mambo yalikwa valuvalu. Ikabidi na mimi nianze kujisthukia pale kwanza kuvaa suti au kuchomekea sio hobi yangu, nilikuwa nalazimisha tuu kwa sababu ya mazingira niliyopitapita ya kazi. Kwanza nakumbuka nilipokuwa shule hususani primary na sekondari nilikuwa napewa adhabu mara nyingi sababu ya kutochomekea shati.
Ikapidi na mimi niadapt fasta utaratibu wa pale, nikajifanyia tathmini kwenye kabati langu la nguo nikaona nina upungufu mkubwa sana wa nguzo za ofisini kwa wakati huo. Weekend moja nikaenda kufanya manunuzi ya nguo za ofisi. Guess what! Nilinunua pensi cardet na jinzi za kutosha pamoja na Tshirts nyingi nyingi tuu mpaka nilipoona nimedhika. Nikasema sasa nimekamilika maana nilipanga kwa asilimia kubwa niwe napiga zangu pensi maana kiukweli ndio vazi ninaloplienda sana. Kiukweli napenda sana kuvaa pensi sijali hivi vimiguu vispoku kama vya diamond, hahaha pensi kwangu mimi ni is favorite cloth. Kwanza hata katika maisha ya kawaida ni nadra sana kunikuta weekend nimetoka nikiwa nivaa suruali asee labda sijui iwe ishu gani. Hata wakati nafanya kazi kwenye ile ofisi ya kugawa ruzuku ambapo mara kwa mara wafanyakazi tulikuwa tunalazimika kwenda job hadi weekend ilikuwa nava pensi mpaka kupewa jina la mzee wa pensi.
Basi officially na mimi nikawa ni mzee wa kupiga pensi mara nyingi sana pale ofisini isipokuwa kama nitakuwa na kazi za nje ya ofisi kama mikutano au kutoa trainings mbali mbali ndio kidogo nilikuwa natokea smart casual. Yaani hata washkaji wa mtaani baadhi walikuwa wanajua labda nimejiajiri mjini maana ilikuwa ukoniona naenda zangu job nimekula pensi yangu, tshirt na begi langu unaweza sema naenda kuuza mitumba kariakoo. Hayo ndio yalikuwa maisha mapya ya kazi.
Ila nikaja kugundua kitu kimoja, wafanyakazi wa pale walikuwa very oraganized and very punctual kwenye muda when it comes to accomplishing their tasks. Yaani wale wafanyakazi walikuwa wamejijenge utaratibu ambapo kama mmekubaliana kitu ni lazima kifanyike kwa wakati. Hususani kwenye swala muda walikuwa very pancyual. Yaani ugomvi mkubwa na boss pale ulikuwa ni kwenye kutozingatia muda. Ni bora uharibu kazi boss anaweza akakuelewa lakini sio kuchelewa kwenye swala la muda. Yaani pale ukifika na uswahili wako kikao kinaanza saa tatu wewe unakuja saa tatu na nusu asee utaleta tafrani kubwa na wafanyakazi wa pale hususani boss. Pale ilikuwa mpaka kufikia saa mbili kila mtu ameshafika job labda uwe na dharura kwelikweli. Hakuna cha kusema sijui foleni ama nini, kama ni fole toka kwako saa 9 usiku ilimradi saa mbili ikukute umeshasaini na umeanza kupiga kupiga mzigo.
Pale ofisini kama nilivosema hakuna mtu atakaekufuatilia umevaa nini. Wale jamaa I salute them pamoja na kuonekana hawako serious kwenye mavazi lakini walikuwa vicha sana. In long run baada ya kama miezi miwili hivi nikagundua kwamba ili ukubalike pale na wakuindorse kama mfanyakazi baada ya probation period you were required to have a set of personal qualities including Professionalism & Integrity, Adaptability & Innovation as well as Teamwork & Collaboration. Kwa uzoefu nilioupata pale, in summary, these three sets of qualities contribute synergistically to a company's overall development. Professionalism and integrity build trust, adaptability and innovation ensure the company stays relevant in a changing setting, and teamwork and collaboration maximize the collective potential of the workforce. Together, these attributes create a foundation for sustained growth and success.
Kingine kilichonishangaza pale ofisini ni kwamba most of the employers hat boss hawakuwa na elimu za kutisha sana. Pale sana sana kulikuwa na degree hoders na hata dipoma zilikuwepo pia. Mwanzoni nilikuwa najua mashirika kama yale ya kimataifa yanaajiri PhD holders na labda kwa uchache ni masters. Lakini ni tofauti sana, Nyie wenye PhD na masters zenu mara nyingi mnachukuliwa kwenye short term consultation tasks kama outsourcing. I came to realize that, most of international organizations often prioritize what candidates can contribute to the organization over academic grades. Kwaufupi, while academic achievement is certainly important, international organizations focus on a broader set of criteria to ensure that candidates have the practical skills, experiences, and qualities necessary to thrive in the complex and diverse environments in which they operate. Hata katika utafutaji wao wa wafanyakazi mara nyingi unaweza ukajikuta unapitia hatua zaidi ya mbili za interview na interview zao mara byingi zinakuwa ni kuassess skills set, innovation na problem solving skills.
Nimewapata hiyo introduction fupi ili nikirudi kwenye next episodes niweze kushea nanyi mengine makubwa niliyojifunza kwa muda ambao nilifanya kazi na lile shirika la kimataifa. Kifupi wenzetu hawaangalii sana muonekano wako wan je but what yo provide to the organization.
See you.
