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Eager job seekers crowd at Odeon building, their eyes tightly fixed at job opportunities advertised by ADPOST media. ‘Situations wanted, ‘Required urgently,’ ‘Work abroad,’ and ‘Scholarships,’ are the headings that catch their eyes.
A variety of jobs are offered here both nationally and internationally, skilled and non skilled, casual and official. Every job details are keenly read by the job seekers and some are busy writing the email addresses and phone numbers of those who are offering the jobs.
A real deal
James Andanje was told by a friend of a scholarship in Nairobi to continue with his education. Upon reaching the City he was directed to Luthuli House. He found a lady who he only identifies as Maureen. He was asked to pay KES. 200 as consultation fees. On paying the money, a number of jobs were offered to him and he was told to choose one of them as he awaits the scholarship. He opted for a sales and marketing job.
Reaching home, James decided to give up because he had been told that the scholarship will be offered later, but the same friend called him.
This time round, they went together to Luthuli House and found Maureen who told him to provide his CV, and other testimonials for the job.
A form was given to him to fill and he was later asked to take it to Ecobank Towers where he found a man who filled some part of the form and directed him to return it to Luthuli House.
Maureen asked him to pay KES. 2000 as a job security and begin to attend classes offered to insurance agents by Mercantile Insurance Company. James’s friend assured him that he had secured the job and the scholarship would come soon, so he asked him to buy them some lunch. This being his first time in Nairobi, and not knowing where economical hotels were, he took them to Six Eighty Hotel and bought them food worth KES. 3100!
He began to attend classes, at the same time selling insurance policies to clients and earning a commission. To date James is still an insurance agent with Mercantile Insurance Company in Nairobi.
James is very proud of his occupation. “I will not quit, they assisted and moulded me, and they are my mentors. In fact, I do not pay fees for the classes but I am earning at the end of every month.” James says happily. More people are joining the company but James has never asked them how they came to learn of the company.
‘Ghost office’
ADPOST being an advertising agent does not question whether these jobs exist or not. They just post a disclaimer warning the public against giving any money before getting the job and that they will not be held accountable if such occurs! Therefore, the riddle behind the existence of the job can only be cracked by the owners of the advertisement.
James had each and every reason to thank God for what he is, but Peter Adede is a sad man! Being interested in a sales and marketing job advertisement, he called the number he got from the advertisement. He was directed to Afya Centre where he found a small office in a corridor. A man told him to pay KES. 5000 and get a job. He paid the money and was given cutllery to go and sell in Kayole and told to come back for more in case he finished early.
At around 2.00pm, James had sold KES. 700 and remaining with one knife. He decided to go and get more cutlery for sell. On reaching at Afya Centre, the office had closed, and so he decided to hang around for some time to his dismay, no one turned up! The next day, he went to the same place and stayed there up to late in the evening in vain!
A week later, the office was open but Peter saw unfamiliar faces, on telling them his story, they claimed that they were not aware and had never given a sales and marketing job to anyone.
There have been a lot of cases where people have been promised jobs abroad some have got them and ended up being frustrated and some have never got them after making prior payments for the job. The big question is, who tells these advertisers of the available opportunities?
Especially abroad? When a deal is too good, think twice!
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