Getting a job as a fresh graduate has always been a tough task
for many Kenyans. A few are lucky to secure an attachment that leads to
employment, a factor that maximize the rate of unemployment in the country.
But as a graduate, have you ever wondered why the first job
you get is often unrelated to your professional education?
We had a chat with Victor Anangwe, Director and CEO at KAREPS
property Marketing and Consultancy Ltd. With a degree in Bachelor of Arts
(Linguistics, Media and Communication), Anangwe ended up becoming a marketing
agent.
How did you come up
with KAREPS as a property marketing and consultancy firm?
After being fired from the bank, I looked for a job for a
year in vain. I decided to come up with my own company and grow it. But I
lacked experience in some sections.
I joined insurance as an agent for one year just to learn
marketing skills, then I resigned after a year. The next year, I voluntarily
joined my uncle’s hospital as an administrator, I needed to learn some
management skills. I also set some Targets on figures and promised myself to
leave only if I achieve the targets. After 8 months, I achieved the target and
resigned.
I was ready to launch my small company. I left the hospital
in 2019 and launched my company in 2020, we are now one-year-old, we are doing
great. KAREPS is the new home
I didn’t get a job, I created the job. For me and others. Now
we are a great team and growing strong.
Tell us your experience
as a direct sales person at Family Bank?
I earned Ksh. 20,000, and Ksh. 16,000 after deductions. But
one thing for clear. I enjoyed every bit of my work.
The job was simple, bring new accounts, bring new loans.
I strategized and packaged myself as a financial and
entrepreneurship teacher in the villages to Target accounts and in schools to
Target loans from teachers. I specialized in organizing women groups to teach
them on financial and investment issues. they liked me, and I enjoyed the job.
I specialized in teaching teachers in schools on how to
qualify for a loan, the importance of “a third rule” & how to
work within your loan limits to feel the benefits. I also booked appointments
just to answer teachers on questions about loans. They enjoyed it.
By the end of every session, I got back my targets without
any struggle. Many chamas invited me to teach them as they opened more
accounts, more teachers invited me for clarifications on loan deductions, and
in return, I got more loans
It’s about strategy, nothing is hard. If you find it not
moving, ask those who went through it. Don’t give up, don’t say it’s
impossible. Don’t say I didn’t study it. Learn as you do it. Sometimes it’s not
about money, it’s about enjoying what u are doing.
What came into your
mind the moment you lost your job?
At this time, I had even contemplated suicide. I had lost
about 19kgs of weight. From 72 to 53.
One day I rose up, picked up my college laptop, which was
still in good shape, placed it on the table in my small house in the village
and started marketing houses through Facebook. I started getting some
confidence. My mum started buying me bundles. More requests started coming in.
It started growing.
KAREPS was born. We are growing. We have a great story to
tell.
Fresh from school, how
did you secure a job at Family bank?
The first job interview in my life was in March 2014. Family
bank towers Nairobi CBD, 7th floor. Fresh from college.
I arrived at 9.00am only to find more than 200 people waiting
for the same interview. I forgot everything I had researched for a week. I
wondered if I would get a chance. Only 40 people were needed
While waiting, I saw an advert on the HR door explaining a
number of bank accounts. I got interested in the kids account and read it
thoroughly. I didn’t know anyone, I had blindly applied for the job and got the
invite
Thirty minutes later, I was called in, I was smiling, the
panel started laughing and wondering what was amusing me. After several
questions, finally came the question I was waiting. “Why do you think we
should hire you?
I vividly explained how I am going to grow the bank through
deposits and new accounts from children savings… The energy and verbal cues I
used to explain my points left them in stitches every time.
“In fact the person who introduced this Mdosi junior
account knew that I will be joining family bank soon” They all laughed
The man in charge of the panel “Leon Kiptum, laughed and
said, Victor, I will be on your neck if you don’t bring in ‘Mdosi Junior
Accounts.
My interview took 45 minutes instead of 15. I left smiling. I
got the job
Did you regret having
taken a degree course in Bachelor of Arts?
When I was in college, I frequently saw my colleagues
discussing why getting a job for our course will be hell.
Our course “Bachelor of Arts, Linguistics Media and
Communication” was new course in the school. We were among the pioneers.
My fellow classmates kept on saying that we can’t get jobs, I didn’t understand
why they were so negative yet pursuing the same course.
One day I walked straight to my HOD, Dr. Jerry Agalo, who
happened to be the founder of the course, and I asked him to clarify which
fields or sectors that we were likely to get internships and job opportunities
once we graduate.
He gave me a very beautiful answer that sunk deep into my
soul. He said, “When I founded this course, I had two things in mind;
i) To
train you to be entrepreneurs and employers.
ii) We
designed this course in a way that you can fit in any sector of employment. No
limits.
The two statements changed my way of thinking for good. I
promised myself to look for a job in any sector and work for ONLY five years,
then go into entrepreneurship after gaining some experience.
Indeed, after college I went into polytechnic
teaching(journalism), then banking, then insurance and lastly I finished in the
hospital.
While in the job
market, what strategies and objectives had crossed your mind for a better
future?
Though I took six years in employment instead of five as I
had projected, I lived to keep my own promise.
Now, am in my early stages of entrepreneurship, am still in
baby steps, but am enjoying the journey, the challenges and the growth. KAREPS is
almost two years old now.
What keeps you going?
It’s about settings goals, keeping the discipline, asking
where you need clarification and using challenges to learn as you grow.
What happens at KAREPS?
Our main services at Kareps include
I) Marketing
Modern apartments for rent or for sale.
II) Construction
of residential houses for busy clients.
We started off by marketing modern apartments. Then came the
need to relocate our clients. Our clients trusted us and requested we help them
in relocation logistics as well. Well, we introduced KAREPS Movers. We are so
far doing good. We have maintained the movers services at low scale, mainly
targeting clients seeking our home-related services.
Kareps Movers is now a functional mini-department under KAREPS.
After sometime, we introduced house arrangements as well. Our
clients are happy. Our clients tell us what they want. We serve them according
to their needs. In the same spirit, we create more indirect jobs. We may not
have the capacity to permanently employ people at the moment, but we are trying
to create opportunities. The future is bright.
Western is still our main center of operation as we gradually expand. Today We move you and we settle you. You can visit our website www.kareps.co.ke for more details about our services.
