Comments on: Arrogance or Laziness

By: HASH

HASH — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 07:05:39 +0000

@William – Neither of these examples are about the top end of the funnel, about the application level, which you keep pointing towards. This is about what people do when they are shortlisted and you have to step up to the plate to make the final cut.

For the Pivot East example it wasn’t the public, so had nothing to do with the points you’re raising. We had no problems getting applications from all over East Africa, this was the 25 finalists who were set to go on stage in a week from that time. The point you’re putting forward has no bearing on this example at all.

Similarly, the points you’re raising around the IBM example don’t apply. I’m not even sure how to address this with you as it’s so far off base. IBM is one of the best known brands in the world, they were working directly through a university. They gave clear communication on the program. 100+ applied. 20 were shortlisted. 11 showed up.

By: Tuti

Tuti — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 06:46:19 +0000

They picked the wrong guys (clearly). I was told how the interview went and I most certainly would have aced it.

By: Eve Odeck

Eve Odeck — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 06:02:18 +0000

It might not be laziness and arrogance. I think it is a matter of expectations. IBM is big compared to any other small enterprise therefore expectations are always high. Then there is also an aspect of weighing if the opportunity will benefit you as an individual job seeker or one in need of skill development.
GEN Y in my opinion never lets opportunity slip right before their eyes. The 8 individuals who dint show up, was any follow up done? were they informed through all means possible? Maybe they thought they got better deals elsewhere on the very same day and same time.
However, we need to do our research and consult before making decisions, which means always asking questions.

By: William Warero

William Warero — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 05:36:12 +0000

Let’s go back to the data.
I would look at the two issues discretely.
For Pivot East,the fundamental question everyone asks is where are the previous winners now? If a better job of highlighting previous Pivot East winners who are currently running successful businesses
Is done, then the program would get from the get go, a larger percentage of students willing to run successful businesses.
The public knows nothing of the success stories so the public can only think the worst.

With regard to IBM, I belive a valid question has been raised on the criteria of the selection.

Ignorance and fear are huge barriers. The onus is on organisations to properly brand and communicate to as many people as possible in its target audience to get the results they expect.

Technology internship programs should be integrated with universities.

The opportunities with IBM research, should be a permanent program integrated with the universities, so that prospective students are dreaming of the opportunity long beforehand.

Other well known organisations that have been in the region, local and multinational,have consistent internship programs, and their headache is that of turning people away.

By: WHY DO GEN Y KENYANS SQUANDER OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO THEM ON A PLATE? Is the problem Arrogance or Laziness? | AfricaTalentbank.com (ATB) Blog

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 19:49:59 +0000

[…] The sad thing is, there are so, so many young unemployed Kenyans who are struggling to find jobs, or start a business and are on the verge of giving up, while many others simply squander opportunities thus making it more difficult for those that follow behind. More no show stories like these will simply result in some companies recruiting graduates from neighbouring or other countries to work in Kenya – people can only accept or tolerate unprofessional behaviour and poor attitudes for only a short time. How can Africa talk about “Trade not Aid” when companies like IBM cannot even get university students to attend interviews for PAID internships? Press link to original article […]

By: gitts

gitts — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 15:43:18 +0000

I am shocked that students would turn away such an opportunity to improve themselves. With the reate of unemployment I would think interviews would never be missed. I think though they assume the internship is nonpaying and they want to be paid for work but still students in university still pursuing their courses can make time during vacations. I wish such opportunities were there when I was in school, would have jumped at them!

I think it’s more a case of expectations, they want money fast not just skills

By: Douglas Logedi

Douglas Logedi — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 15:21:11 +0000

Well, Gen Y is a generation of people who value their ego higher than they can be valued themselves. To me, it is a question of the society values and lack of clear focus. The current generation assumes that being at the university or graduating is a status in itself and that they must get to the peak of their pride. they are all wrong. Ignorance could be the major factor. A money minded society kills all the morals in the Gen Y. The moment ethical maturity controls the mindset of the people, the employment and generally professional arena will benefit from the GEN Y

By: Geofrey Wesley

Geofrey Wesley — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 12:49:38 +0000

hook me up pliz with that or any other opportunity that arises I need it and I wont disappoint

By: skaheru

skaheru — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 12:03:25 +0000

I don’t have the final and complete response to this, but I know that there is a lot of laziness borne out of the belief that there is a quick fix somewhere that will give “them” a lot of money without too much effort being put into anything.
It’s one of the reasons there are many entries to competitions and initiatives that promise funding but very little preparation into achieving the very objectives for which these initiatives are set up.

By: Tabby W Kim

Tabby W Kim — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 11:50:52 +0000

I think it’s a bit of both as discussed above and more importantly the fact that students don’t want to waste their time.
Very many oppurtunities are currently on offer for those who can achieve and unlike in the past,its more of ”what an organisation can do for me”.
Achievers are no longer begging for oppurtunities but rather weighing and evaluating where to utilize their skills. Ignorance comes in here when students let their pride precede them