In the Kenyan job market, there are a lot of things that employers are looking for in job seekers. Apart from having the right skills and experience needed in a job, integrity will also play a key role in your job search. This is one of the most important qualities, not only in your personal life but professional life as well.
Welcome to the world of background checks. If there is anything Kenyan employers are keen on before they can hire a job seeker, it is a clean background record. If you are looking for a job, watch out because employers will embark on this procedure just to ensure that you are a credible candidate.
Why Kenyan Employers Conduct Background Checks
So why do employers conduct background checks? According to Muthoni Ndegwa, a Client Service Manager at Corporate Staffing Services, there are many factors that employers are keen on when conducting background checks.
“First, employers want to find out your work ethic. They want to be sure that no issue can jeopardize the position you are applying for. In any case, if they find out about something questionable you did in the past that can affect your credibility; they will have to start the hiring process all over again,” she says.
Another thing they are keen on is to be sure they are getting the right candidates so as to enable them make a final decision. For instance, if you worked in a Sales job and happened to be fired because you were not meeting your target, it is going to be tough to convince the employer to hire you. Read here on how employers find the right candidate
How do Employers detect dubious characteristics in job seekers?
According to Ms Ndegwa, it is going to be very easy to detect a lying a job seeker no matter how smart they appear. “First, they won’t just rely on the professional referees you provided on the CV. Some go as far as calling your immediate supervisor or former company in order to find out the kind of person you were at work,” she explains.
The main reason why they do this is they want to hear how you operated on a daily basis. Are you a team player? Are you a hard worker and is your work of high quality? These are a few of the type of questions that a hiring manager might ask so as to get an idea of the kind of experience they would have if you were to work for them.
Unfortunately, if you left your job on bad terms or had a hard time relating with your colleagues, this is where you get caught and it might affect your chances of being hired.
So which is the best way to pass a background check and get hired?
Be authentic in your CV. Put the correct information and don’t give out inconsistent information. Putting exaggerated information in your CV will not improve your chances of being hired. In other words, let the information on your CV be a true reflection of who you are in your career. After all, no employer would want to hire a person with a questionable character. Find out what employers look for in a CV in this article here
On the other hand, Ms Ndegwa says that as much as employers give attention to background checks, it does not seal your fate as a job seeker. “Some employers can give you the benefit of doubt if they find out that your mistakes were in good faith,” she says.
Bottom line, honesty is the best policy.
