Mercy Terer

 “My name is Mercy Terer, a student at Kikuyu campus awaiting graduation. I applied for an internship late 2019 through the Office of Career Services. I was called for an interview in January 2020 which I attended and succeeded.  I am happy the exposure at Solar Panda has given me a feel of the job market and has helped me get money which I am using to undertake a post graduate diploma and pay for my bills.  Solar Panda is a diverse organization. My duties include but are not limited to; Customer service assistance, follow up calls, approving sales, and trouble shooting. It gives me immense pleasure when customers are satisfied with my services. Working at Solar Panda has equipped me with Communication, interpersonal, customer care skills and the ability to work under pressure. I am greatly indebted to the UoN Office of Career Services for gifting me with a platform to start my career journey."

Edage Were

“My name is Edage Were, a 4th year student at the School of Physical Sciences, Department of Meteorology at the University of Nairobi. During the unexpected break due to Covid 19, I happened to apply for a job opportunity via the Office of Career Services in April 2020. A day later, I received a call from Solar Panda to attend an interview for a job opportunity on May 1st, 2020. To my surprise my interview was successful courtesy of the training that I had undertaken on “How to Handle Interviews” offered by the UoN Office of Career Services and I was offered an opportunity at the Solar Panda Call Centre. My role entails making follow up calls with clients to give them after sale customer care services such as; trouble shooting on various malfunctioning of the system, issuing updates on their loan status and helping in installation of newly acquired kits. I enjoy my job and am forever grateful to the Office of Career Services for this job opportunity. The job has greatly impacted on my life positively, I am now able to meet my daily needs and even set aside some savings. The Office of Career Services is indeed playing a critical role in linking students to the job market.”

Makedi Urbanus

“My name is Makedi Urbanus. I am a 4th year first Semester student in the School of Economics, at the University of Nairobi, pursuing Bachelor of Economics and Statistics. I firmly ascribe to William Arthur Ward’s conviction, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it” which has guided most of my adult life.

In September 2019, as our first semester of third year drew to an end, I sought the assistance of the Office of Career Services in securing an internship oppportunity. I admit self-doubt as I applied to Solar Panda Kenya Ltd, but to my surprise, a week later I received a call from this company inviting me for an interview.

My journey with the Solar Panda team started on 2nd October 2019 on a part time basis as I continue to attend school. Working with this company has been worthwhile and each moment at work has been another opportunity to learn. Customer service has been the most exciting department that I have been in since my posting. Receiving calls to approve sales, making calls to customers regarding the products available, reminding them about their payment plans and replying to their needs in the chat option, have sharpened my interpersonal skills.  A mere thank you call to the Office of Career Services would not be enough, but expressing my gratitude and joy through these words, would speak better for me. The allowance from the job has gone into paying my fees, running personal errands and upkeep thus allowing me a conducive environment to study. Indeed, the Office of Career Services, since its inception, has been doing a great and commendable work in linking the students to the job market. Once again, Muchas Gracias!”

Phedinard Ongayo

“Am Phedinard Ongayo a third year student studying B.A Sociology in the Faculty of Arts, University of Nairobi. I applied for a job placement/internship in January 2020 with the Office Career Services. In March I received a call from Solar Panda Ltd (K) for an interview but due to COVID 19 pandemic, the interview was rescheduled to an unknown date. Through the Office of Career Services able and supportive staff led by the Director and Chief Information Officer, I was again called for an interview and with the qualities embodied in me I was offered an opportunity at Solar Panda Ltd (K) call centre. I execute duties like; doing reminder calls to our customers to ensure they do their daily payments as per the policy. Doing screening/approving sales for the new customers, undertaking upgrade calls for those that have attained the required level of getting other products i.e. Tvs. attending to customers via sms those that are seeking help via sms and finally depending on the call que at times doing inbound calls to attend to customers’ needs and offering after sale services and assistance. I find the job in Solar Panda so amazing and becoming part and parcel of my hobbies. I am very beholden to the Office of Career Services for the marvelous work and opportunity. The job has greatly changed my life since I am now able to settle my expenses and be sure of a living and something for my family back at home even at this time of the pandemic. The work that the Office of Career Services is doing am acquiescently sure that its only Almighty God that can reward it since it can't be matched with any pay.”

Adhiambo Valentine

“My name is Adhiambo Valentine Okong'o, a 3rd Year student pursuing Bsc. Statistics in School of Biological and Physical Sciences at the University of Nairobi. I recently applied for an internship through the Office of Career services in September, 2019 where I was called for an interview and successfully landed a paid internship at Solar Panda Company as a call centre agent in November. This job entails answering incoming calls from customers and responding to inquiries on products, managing complaints by troubleshooting significant customer service problems and providing general information to potential customers. It also involves outgoing calls where we complete purchases through screenings and educate customers on product terms and features and project a professional company image through voice interaction. Furthermore, we receive, record and attend to all customer complaints for use during report compilation. This job has helped improve my communication skills, ability to work as part of a team as well as multitasking skills. Through this job, I have been able to raise my school fees, cater for my personal needs as well as setting aside savings. The Office of Career Services has indeed played a key role in linking students to the job market.”

Jackline Akinyi

I'm Jackline Akinyi, I cleared campus and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Planning from the University of Nairobi. Graduate planners better understand the hustle of getting a job after school. However, for me, the case was different because I applied for a job opportunity with the Office of Career Services in November 2019 just after graduation, and received a call from solar panda to attend an interview on 19th March, just on the onset of Covid 19 in Kenya. Guess what! My interview was successful, I still wow at the fact that I was able to get a job at the Solar Panda call centre during the pandemic, right when many were losing jobs. My work entails screening new customers and making follow up calls; finding out if there are any issues with the kits and reminding the customers of their payment. I enjoy my work and feel so indebted to the Office of Career Services for this job opportunity. Besides the financial advantage, I've really grown in patience due to the nature of the job. I'm about to transit to a planning-related job and just wondering what I would have done all that while before securing the job! The Office of Career Services is indeed playing a critical role to link students to the job market.

Jeremiah Nthumo

“My name is Jeremiah Nthumo, a former Bachelor of Arts student of Economics and Sociology from The University of Nairobi. The Covid-19 pandemic caught me by surprise immediately after doing my final examinations in February 2020. Stepping out of school into the job market made me fret at first. However, I got in touch with the Office of Career Services hoping that I would benefit from being connected with employers who were looking for employees to work with at their companies.

With support from the Office of Career Services, I luckily got invited for an interview at Liddem International Construction Co Ltd and later managed to secure a job role as a Sales Representative in the company after a series of interviews. The opportunity has been a great game changer in my life. This job has not only helped me transition from school life to the job market smoothly, but has also enabled me get exposure, improve on my personal skills and learn a lot as a sales representative in our company. Being a first-born in our family, I am now able to support my parents and siblings during these hard times of the Corona Pandemic. I sincerely appreciate the Office of Career Services for such great support.”