Preparing For a Job in Kathmandu

Growing up many have heard this phrase, "There are no jobs in Kathmandu." This negative impression has resulted in many choosing to leave Nepal and discouraged them from returning home. We have always viewed the job scenario in Nepal as a glass half empty

Is it true that there are no jobs in Kathmandu? Why is it so difficult to find a job in Kathmandu? 

In all honesty, their neeIs it true that there are no jobs in Kathmandu? Why is it so difficult to find a job in Kathmandu? 

In all honesty, their needs to be a change in the general perspective; there are jobs in Kathmandu! Educational institutions are more oriented towards just doing their job. They are not developing curriculum in a career centric manner but are more inclined on just teaching the curriculum set by their affiliated universities. 

Educational institutions are not to be blamed as a whole. Speaking of my own experience, I was in the United States for nine years. I was not taught to make a resume, cover letter or an application letter through the curriculum. But the universities had a Career Center, where the students would be prepared for their future through consultation. 

How can one truly be prepared for a job in Kathmandu? 

Individuals need to learn the basics of applying for a job. They need to create their resume and it is also important to update them. The resumes need to be tailored according to the position they are applying for. The individual may have numerous skills in various fields but they cannot apply for a job with the skills of another. 

One needs to learn how to write application letter, develop interview etiquette, acquire communication skills and have the attitude which projects a proficient persona. The interviewer will definitely ask questions which are generic, but still many fail to answer them. This severely hampers their chances. The individual needs to be prepared for the questions and can do so through various means such as job portal blogs, articles and there are plenty of online videos.  They also need to be very specific in terms of what they want to do in the company. If they project an "I just want this job persona" then they most probably won't get the job. Stating that this is my area of interest and I want to develop my skills and build a career in this field, is the right way to answer as this generates credibility and interest. 

Is there a lack of growth culture? 

Students are injected with the thought that their course of study will provide them a position with a certain amount of salary. What they are not told is that a high ranking position is not something that they get fresh out of university. They have high expectations, which when they enter the market breaks their morale. It is important to start from an entry level and no course of study will equip them for the final position which they are told they shall have. 

Individuals need to visualize where they want to be in the next five to ten years and orient themselves on learning the skills required for that position, regardless the fact that they are not taught those skills in their course of study. This unpreparedness causes a huge gap in the market, where there are educated individuals but they lack the skills that a company is looking for. 

What I have also seen in students is that they are so confused on what path to take. Students seem to put money over their ability to complete the course, their capacity, and field of interest. Thus what I recommend is asking an individual who already has a job in the sector that you are aspiring, gain their insight on the difficulties of developing a career, and understand what it really takes to become an expert in the field. 

What do companies look for when they are hiring? 

Nowadays companies focus more on the attitude of the individual rather than their resume. If the applicant comes to the interview with determination and the right attitude they are more likely to get the position.  

How long should tenure last? 

There is a trend where once an individual gets the job, they start looking for a job in two to three months. An individual should gain at least a year's experience in a company. If one doesn’t do so, then if you look at it from the perspective of an HR Manager, what s/he sees is that the individual lacks commitment. The HR Managers prime motive is to retain the employee. The period of 4-6 months is viewed as a period of investment and if the employee cannot be retained then it is a loss for the company. 

What should educational institutions do, to prepare their students for the market? 

Educational institutions need to impart not just knowledge for them to have a career, but vital skills which they can utilize in the process of acquiring the job.  Skills such as how to write the application email, dressing skills, social media presence, communication and negotiation skills and attitude are vital for them to score the job. 

It's not just the educational institutions, various entities such as job portals and companies all need to develop a coherent understanding and move accordingly. This allows educational institutions to know the job scenario and also the exact needs of the job market. In this aspect, job portals can play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the two groups by facilitating various programs where students can learn the required skills to prepare for a job. 

How has merojob been changing the scenario in Nepal? 

As the leading job site of Nepal, what we persevere to do is that we provide critical feedback to all the applicants who apply through merojob. When they fail to achieve the job they have applied, we provide them with feedback on which sectors they have to improve in their next application. 

merojob has been a platform where they can build their resume and this can be extracted from the website itself. Through our digital platforms they can instantly apply for a job, if they have signed up in merojob. As soon as the applicant presses apply now, his or her resume is sent directly to the company they are applying for. 

Our blog, "Job Kurakani" features content related to job preparation and career development. Having a job is not enough. Once an individual aces the interview and creates a commitment plan they need to focus on how to excel in the company. Through our blog, job seekers and individuals who want to become the best at the company can gain the knowledge to do so.