JOBS: How to Position Your Body During An Interview

Interviewers take note of how you appear and what you say, but they also interpret your body language, whether you are aware of it or not.

In some cases, you might find that interviewers will majorly want to know how you react or respond to a situation. Especially when it comes to customer relations services, employers want to recruit people who are going to bring out a good image for their company.

From our previous article on how to appear during an interview, you should be able to prepare thoroughly in order to impress the panel that you are just about to meet.

It's normal to feel nervous when walking into an interview room. You need to practice several things before walking into the interview room so that when you finally get to arrive at the place, you are all set and ready for whatever comes.

Here are some tips on how you can perfect your body language during an interview.

1. Sitting posture

Lean slightly forward when the interviewer speaks to demonstrate that you are paying attention. Altering between sitting up and leaning in shows the interviewer that you are interested.

For example, you could lean forward to listen to a question, then sit up and back for a few seconds to show you're thinking before leaning forward again to respond. While you don't want to rock back and forth with each exchange, changing your position from time to time shows that you're paying attention and keeps you from looking stiff and nervous.

2. Positioning your hands and arms

Because of a lack of information on how to use body language during an interview, many people struggle with what to do with their hands and arms. Practice holding your arms and hands in a relaxed position before the interview.

Don't cross your arms in front of you because it makes you appear defensive and closed. Use your chair's arms, and if you're sitting at a table, rest your forearms on it. You can show openness by holding your hands in a variety of ways and having them ready when you decide to use a gesture.

The key is to be at ease, to project confidence, and to avoid fidgeting. Experiment, choose a hand position in advance, and practice until it feels natural.

3. Gestures

Gestures are important when displaying appropriate body language during an interview to demonstrate confidence to the interviewer. The handshake is an important gesture. Offer your hand, firmly grasp your interviewer's hand, make eye contact, and smile.

Use nods to show enthusiasm or comprehension of the interviewer's point. To make a point, use subtle hand and arm gestures sparingly.

4. Facial expression

Examine yourself in the mirror and practice maintaining a pleasant and natural expression. Make an effort to smile when appropriate. If you have difficulty naturally smiling, think of something that makes you happy and observe how your face changes.

If necessary, keep that thought in mind while interviewing. Use your brows and eyes to express surprise or excitement.

5. Eye contact

If your interviewer loses eye contact during the interview, this can be a red flag. To reengage, you might ask a question or offer some additional information about a topic you've been discussing.

You can develop positive nonverbal communication skills and confidently use body language during an interview by practicing in front of a mirror or camera ahead of time. The more practice you get, the less you'll have to think about that aspect of the interview.

Appropriate body language used during an interview could be among the best options considered to recruit you into a company.

Here are job samples in Kenya that you can apply for:

JOB 1: Director at Strathmore University

About Strathmore University

Strathmore University is a Chartered University located in Nairobi, Kenya. It was the first multiracial and multi-religious educational institution in English-speaking Eastern Africa and more recently the first institute of higher learning to be ISO certified in East and Central Africa in 2004. Our mission is to provide all-around quality education in an atmosphere of freedom and responsibility; excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship; ethical and social development; and service to society.

Basic job summary:  

This position will be responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of the department’s strategy to ensure success in training, research, testing, and consultancy programs within SERC. This position will also act as a link between SERC, partners, external parties, and the management of the University.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop new initiatives to support the strategic direction of SERC by scanning the environment to identify new opportunities, developing innovative programs that seek to address identified opportunities in accordance with SERCs’ strategic plan; creating linkages, and partnering with likeminded institutions.
• Oversee development and implementation of long-term goals and objectives to guide the strategic direction of SERC.
• Lead financial sustainability of the center by overseeing financial forecasting at the project and organizational level, identifying and proactively pursuing grants and fundraising opportunities, and overseeing the preparation of grant applications, concept notes, and proposals to donors.
• Build a solid donor intelligence network/base representing the local, regional, and international donor communities, with a view to expanding SERCs’ renewable energy portfolio.
• Actively represent the organization’s program development interests at relevant meetings, events, and within resource mobilization fora or donor-specific peer networks, as they relate to SERCs’ work.
• Coordinate the development interface with project management and operations teams to assure customer satisfaction.
• Review project submittals for quality assurance, technical accuracy, and customer-oriented solutions.

Minimum Academic Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in Renewable Energy, Energy Management or in Energy and Environmental Management with an Electrical Engineering background or any other relevant field

Experience:

• Passionate about renewable energy
• Experience and knowledge of the Renewable Energy sector and issues within the region.
• 10 years of post-graduate work experience in the renewable energy field ideally in carrying out program development and/or fundraising within the private sector and/or international development organizations.
• Demonstrated donor network in Kenya (required) and in the region (preferred).
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of research and grant project proposal cycles, contract terms, and project implementation.
• Ability to work on short-term assignments with tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks and pipelines

Competencies and Attributes

• Must have excellent interpersonal skills
• Must have people skills
• Demonstrate evidence of negotiation skills
• Excellent communication skills and public relations.
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to understand and manage the research process

Deadline: 29th July 2022

Method of Application

Are you qualified for this position and interested in working with us? We would like to hear from you. Kindly send us a copy of your updated resume and letter of application and the position in the subject line to recruitment@strathmore.edu 

JOB 2: Head, Impact Capacity Development (ICD) at Mastercard Foundation

About Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper.

All people, no matter where their starting point in life, should have an equal chance to succeed. We believe that with access to education, financial services, and skills training, people can have that chance.

THE OPPORTUNITY  

Reporting to the Head of Impact, Impact Capacity Development, the Impact Lead, Impact Capacity Development (ICD) will be responsible for leading ICD unit for Africa and supporting the Team in adapting the global Capacity Development (CD) strategy and managing CD providers on the continent. The Impact Lead, ICD will provide strategic and technical leadership to strengthen the Impact team, the Foundation, and local partners’ capacity to implement the Impact Strategy. The Impact Lead, ICD will manage external service providers to deliver high-quality, innovative services, lead the team, and coordinate the provision of ICD support. You will also lead the development of strategic partnerships on the continent to further advance the Foundation’s contribution to the evolution of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) field in Africa. 

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE  

• Lead the design and implementation of the regional ICD strategy, built from participatory consultation with Regional Heads and the Core Management Team, ensuring coherence and synergies of the regional activities with the overall ICD strategy and in line with the needs and priorities identified through ICD assessments.  
• Identify and manage collaborative partnerships with selected capacity development entities in the region (organizations, institutions, firms, networks), including regional or national capacity development experts to meet the demand of a fast-growing Impact team and to pursue sustainable ICD support for the Foundation and its partners. 
• Identify strategic opportunities to engage and collaborate with peers and internal and external stakeholders, maintaining and nurturing social capital and leading consensus building. 
• Support Country and regional experts to identify and leverage innovative experiences and establish mechanisms for disseminating ICD innovations and experiences sharing at the regional level, in coordination with KM and communication staff. 
• Ensure requirements, lessons learned, and best practices for ICD are clearly documented for internal and external uptake.
• Ensure alignment of ICD regional strategy with the Foundation’s strategic objectives, cross-cutting priorities, and policies, and procedures.
• In collaboration with the ICD team, design and pilot ICD individual, team, and institutional ICD assessment tools and processes, and tailor and adapt processes and tools to the regional context.
• Conduct ongoing assessment of capacity needs and opportunities for the Regional Impact team.  ICD activities (e.g., training and workshops) should also be used for continual assessments and to estimate the resources needed to improve team performance. 
• Support Regional Leaders in the development of SMART goals, measurable performance indicators, annual work plans, performance monitoring systems, and tools. 
• Lead the ongoing analysis of ICD implementation data and results in the region with a focus on adaptation, innovation, and potential for scaling-up and replication, within the context of the Impact Strategy. 
• Lead content curation and manage providers to create and design ICD opportunities for prioritized areas/topics, including training, mentoring, coaching, peer learning, and other methodologies. All materials and processes should address priority areas of the Impact strategy, including strategic competencies (e.g., influencing, negotiating, strategic framing) and technical competencies (e.g., designing theories of change), applying evidence-based best practices for adult learning and the principle of "learning by doing".  
• Identify and implement knowledge management practices and tools to enable uptake of ICD content and knowledge exchange within the Impact team and across the Foundation, and to key target external audiences (e.g., Impact Partner Organizations) 
• Attract and build a talented team/network of ICD specialists to support the implementation of the ICD strategy and deepen reflections and application of innovations in ICD. 
• Lead performance management to ensure delivery of workstream goals. 

WHO YOU ARE 

• Ten (10) plus years of experience designing, leading, and managing MEL and related capacity development initiatives in Africa, with at least 5 years at the Senior Management level. 
• Experience leading needs assessments and designing and managing the implementation of capacity development strategies in complex, fast-paced environments. 
• Demonstrated experience in strengthening the strategic and technical capabilities of social change organizations. 
• Strong experience motivating, inspiring, and leading high-functioning teams, driving purposeful collaboration, and leveraging team assets to reach results. 
• Experience in the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) sector, with experience in building capacity in MEL and/or systems thinking. 
• Experience in innovative and participatory approaches to learning tailored to user needs, with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Experience working in Africa for a global or regional organization in the private sector or an NGO. 
• Experience living and/or working in multiple countries in Africa and a solid understanding of the contemporary challenges and opportunities facing young people in Africa regarding accessing dignified and fulfilling work. 
• Experience living/working in a global context will be helpful.   
• Proven capacity for knowledge management and analysis, synthesis, and uptake of learning data. 
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders in the public and private sectors. 
• Excellent grasp and demonstrated experience in theories, methods, and technology in the capacity development field. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including leading dynamic presentations and preparations of briefs, learning materials, and reports. 
• Excellent facilitation, training, and mentoring skills in a variety of organizational development settings.  
• Understanding of systems thinking, thinking in an integrative, holistic systems way, and capacity to bring system transformation into the role.  
• You are proactive and balance "analysis" with "doing", sets high standards for yourself, and commits to organizational goals.
• Ability to think strategically and with vision and to formulate and execute plans efficiently and effectively. Strong problem-solving skills combined with a track record of pivoting in response to opportunities and challenges. 
• Ability to collaborate across many enterprise units, generate enthusiasm and communicate with all levels of management and staff, and inspire others by modeling great drive and commitment to the Impact team’s vision and Foundation’s mission. 
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities. 
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures. 
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity to different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.  
• You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision. 

Method of Application

Interested and qualified? Go to Mastercard Foundation on boards.greenhouse.io to apply.

JOB 3: Data Privacy Manager at Plan International

About Plan International

Plan International was founded over 75 years ago with a mission to promote and protect the rights of children. The organization was set up by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge in 1937, with the original aim to provide food, accommodation, and education to children whose lives had been disrupted by the Spanish Civil War.

The Opportunity

The Governance & Executive Department is part of our Global Hub and provides advice, support, and representation on legal and regulatory issues, furthering the delivery of Plan International’s strategy, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements by Plan International, Inc. and its subsidiaries and advising on good governance and the effective management of legal, regulatory, strategic and operational risk throughout Plan International.

The Data Privacy Manager will support the organization to continue to embed a data privacy culture with a particular focus on the privacy rights of beneficiaries, working with other departments in the Global Hub (and particularly with the Risk & Compliance Team, the Safeguarding Children and Young People Unit, the Communications Team, the Sponsorship Team, the People and Culture Team, the Information Technology Team), and with Plan International’s program delivery and fundraising offices globally.  

Key Responsibilities; 

• To continue to implement an effective and appropriate organizational data privacy strategy within Plan International and its member organizations.
• Ensuring that data privacy becomes fully embedded as a part of business as usual at Plan International by fostering privacy by design approach and through the development of an extensive range of relationships within key functions of Plan International
• To act as the Data Privacy Officer for the purposes of GDPR compliance including being the contact point for the Information Commissioner’s Office and acting as the contact point for any other relevant or supervisory data privacy authorities and coordinating the organization’s response to any regulatory investigation or data privacy request for information. 
• To assess, develop, review and deliver a regular data protection training program relevant to Plan International’s personal data processing activities and its global footprint.
• To inform, advise on and monitor compliance with relevant Data Protection laws.
• Developing and maintaining appropriate Data Protection policies, protocols, and procedures and advising on the development of and data privacy compliance assurance program
• Supporting Plan International’s response to any data breach incident within its incident and crisis management frameworks.
• Develop a system to maintain comprehensive records of all data processing activities carried out by Plan International and the lawful grounds for that processing
• Provision of data privacy compliance risk management advice, strategic guidance, and consultation to business units operating globally including assistance with carrying out privacy impact assessments
• Drafting relevant data transfer agreements and data processing agreements where required.              
• Interface with data subjects is necessary to inform them about how their data is being used, their rights to have their personal information erased and the measures Plan International has put into place to protect their personal data.

Expertise, skills, and knowledge required; 

Essential

• Experience in a similar role and an understanding of the Data Privacy risks faced by large organizations carrying out significant data processing activities globally 
• Experience in advising on data privacy issues and driving data privacy-related culture change, multinationally. 
• Knowledge of data protection law including data protection regulation (GDPR)
• Excellent senior stakeholder management, including the ability to communicate effectively. 
• The ability to provide clear advice and direction even when faced with competing demands and short deadlines. 
• Experience in managing data incidents and breaches.
• The ability to conduct the role independently and with integrity and to exercise professional judgment
• Knowledge or experience in the collection of data from children and the INGO sector is desirable
• Expert knowledge of Data Protection legislation, in particular, the GDPR
• Additional recognized Privacy qualifications would be advantageous (e.g. CIPP, ISEB)
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)
• Ability to solve problems and identify and implement pragmatic solutions.  
• Able to develop efficient, effective compliance systems and processes that are user-friendly and fit for purpose, Strong drafting skills and powers of analysis with excellent attention to detail including when under pressure. 
• Ability to think and advise strategically.  
• Able to influence and build strong relationships with different types of people at all levels. 
• Self-motivated, efficient, and highly organized. 
• Creative problem solver
• Highly effective prioritization of competing requests
• Ability to influence those over whom the post holder has no direct responsibility
• Strong on delivery and effective completer-finisher 

Method of Application

Interested and qualified? Go to Plan International on jobs.plan-international.org to apply.