Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has hit out at Kenyans who showed up for job interviews conducted by a Qatari company over the weekend dressed in casual attire, including hoodies and sneakers.
The interviews, held from Friday, October 25, to Sunday, October 27, aimed to recruit talent for roles in the hospitality and construction industries.
Mutua on Monday condemned the unprofessional presentation of many job seekers, noting that a large number were rejected due to inappropriate attire.
"People came for the interviews wearing hoodies and sneakers. You can't even borrow a suit from somebody?" the CS posed.
He emphasised that Kenyans must understand the high standards required by a first-world country like Qatar.
The interviews, which took place at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) for hospitality roles and at Kabete National Polytechnic for technical positions, were intended to offer opportunities in fields such as nursing, kitchen support, construction, and technical services.
Mutua said only a small fraction of candidates were selected.
"And many people flopped, unfortunately. You find that out of maybe 100 people interviewed, five are taken because the standards are very high," Mutua explained.
He added that job seekers must take interviews seriously and dress properly.
“Even for construction, you need to look neat,” he said, noting that appearance is critical even in technical fields.
Mutua gave an example of a young man who was turned away because of his beard.
“They refused to interview him because he had a beard, and he was angry. But the work you're going to do, you can't go and start serving people in a restaurant, in a hotel, with a beard. That's the industry standard," he said, drawing a comparison to the strict grooming policies in the military.
The Qatari company, which partnered with Kenya’s Labour Ministry for the recruitment drive, sought to hire for a range of roles including waitstaff, chefs, electricians, plumbers, and drivers.
Candidates were advised to dress in black and white official wear or overalls, depending on their industry, and were required to bring a CV, passport-sized photo, and passport.
The CS said for those without passports, arrangements would be made post-hiring.
“No fee will be charged to be interviewed or considered for a job,” Mutua assured, while also warning candidates not to hand over their passports to anyone.
Successful applicants will have their medical, visa processing, and travel expenses covered by their employer.
This initiative is part of Kenya’s broader efforts to tackle unemployment, especially among the youth.
The Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP), launched in collaboration with the World Bank, is one such program providing training, grants, and internships to young Kenyans.
However, as this recent experience demonstrates, professionalism and preparedness remain key to securing opportunities.
Mutua concluded by reminding job seekers that looking for a job is itself a job, and presenting oneself professionally is crucial to success.
"People have to realize that you are employed to work in a company, and the company has preferences of the kind of people it wants to employ," he emphasised.