My CV: From a Jobless Diploma Holder To Landing a Well Paying Job in The Middle East

I am sure you have seen and read all the gory stories, on the newspapers, on the news bulletins and several media outlets of how scores of Kenyans have it bad in Middle East while in search of job opportunities.

But are there Kenyans who thrive in the dreaded region? Are there people who get what they were looking for all along?

In a past Interview with The Star, Erick Ondongo tells a whole different story from the countless chilling confessions

Let’s have a look at his career journey

When did he leave Kenya?

He tells the paper of how he left the county 6 years ago as Diploma holder from Mombasa Polytechnic (Mombasa Technical University)

How did he land his first job?

He says, “In 2007, there were job advertisement in the dailies and also on the radio by two companies looking for Kenyans to work in Middle East,” he adds that he was lucky to land a job opportunity in Middle East on a Sunday after missing the cut on another job interview on the previous day.

What did he major in at Mombasa Polytechnic?

He studied instrumentation and control engineering which is part of the wider electrical engineering

Who was his first employer?

“First I worked for Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia between 2008 and 2010,” he adds that while the company helped him to gain experience and knowledge, in 2011, he joined Dyncorp International, a US international company.

“I joined it because they had a contract in Afghanistan. I was employed as an environmental and health safety coordinator for this company. I worked there until July 2012,” he tells the paper.

What was his next career move?

With commendable experience, he narrates of how he found yet another job at ATCO Frontec, a Canadian international group of companies dealing in oil and gas, engineering and waste management.

I worked there in the same capacity(EHS coordinator) until I came back home,” he says.

How did he get his next job?

The engineer talks of how KK called him while he was still working for ATCO.

“It was surprising to receive a strange call from Kenya because this was not usually the case while in (Afghanistan). We first did a phone interview. When I came back I did a physical interview

He adds that he supposes that KK got to know him through LinkedIn. “I had earlier received two other calls from Tullow Oil and Base Titanium but I never got the job.”

Is the industry marketable for other job seekers?

He shares, “So many guys want to train in oil and gas industry. I can foresee many of them coming forward because they want to get that experience.

He adds that, “Even if the oil is not yet viable, guys are already working in Turkana and Lamu. The companies there need people. Those with experience but working abroad need to come to Kenya because those companies need them.”

What his advice to young people looking for jobs in Middle East?

I think you must not just go to any company in the Middle East. You must know the company you are going to work for. Those who suffer go through agents and some of them are out to make money. IT is better to go directly through the company you are going to work for,” he is quoted by the paper.

Courtesy: The Star

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