“I made some mistakes in my career growth. I always feell should have made better choices, but again we make choices given the options we have. The choices made in every career determine how far your career grows how much money you make and the quality of life you eventually retire to and live through. I am not living badly but I would like to warn you about who to work for. Every organization has its challenges, but one really stood out for me. Between 2008 and 2016 I worked for one of the best employers in the country. At least that is what I thought at the time
From the outside they seemed superb here I was sure I would grow and most importantly make money. I really got neither until I left. Coming from Central Kenya equity bank or member was always looked at as our thing. Our space, the place to go. So, when I received a call to interview for a job there, I was ecstatic. My family wondered how I had landed this interview. My extended family thought and believed I must have known someone. Even more I was not working in a regional branch I was going to the head office. I did my best and scored highly on the interviewed. Or that is what I thought. I later learned some of the people I interviewed with refused to take up the job offer. They were wiser
So, I joined the company. Within the three months I should have left because the signs were on the wall. If you have just joined, consider my advice. For a company of this magnitude, it didn’t make sense that getting a working PC was such an issue. On top of that they used desktops I came from an office that used Laptops. When I told my friends this, they asked me if they even had money to pay me. I was not an intern so how did I not have a working laptop. After some time at equity 2nd floor, I lost touch with my friends. Little did I know what this employer would take from me. I wish someone had warned me. My job involved rolling out new money programmes around the country.
This is where the greed of the organisations became visible. I was used to receiving money to travel across the country as per diem pay. Equity does not give per diem ever. Instead, I was to take money from the organization, that I was to use then bring back receipts and the difference would be deducted from money given. This was such a cheap organization. What did I expect from central Kenya mindsets and ways of life. Given where I had come from, I was ashamed of sharing this with people close to me. I felt foolish. To have chosen this. Maybe I shouldn’t have, in fact I should have been more vocal. Now note that in my tenure there I was never given per diem for any domestic travel. Only accountable facilitation.
It didn’t matter if I was to be in Wajir for two weeks. I only got my salary as is. Nothing. How greedy and stingy. Even the smallest.”
KenyanHour 