Career development: I want to work in Africa

The book gives a useful rundown, by country, industry and sector, of the employers who are hiring. Africa is booming, due in large part so far to its huge reservoir of natural resources, and the earliest industries to benefit have been oil and gas and mining – but now banking and finance, ICT/telecoms, professional services, healthcare, infrastructure, education, retail, manufacturing, retail, hospitality and fast moving consumer goods are key for new opportunities.

Agriculture is a huge sector in which skills are needed, as is pharmaceuticals (for instance, see our Sector Focus page 38). Potential employers can be found too in both the public and private sectors, and in NGOs.

After choosing the target industry, job seekers need to be sure of exactly what they have to offer a prospective employer in terms of skills, knowledge, motivation and experience, so that they can market themselves successfully.

How to market yourself

In doing so, the author points out that, while there are considerable benefits for employers in Africa in hiring people from outside the continent, there can also be challenges to be aware of and that need to be overcome. The author calls the benefits ‘the three Es’ – experience, exposure and excellence. Employers’ negative perceptions are ‘the three Us’ – uncommitted, unrealistic and uninformed. Companies invest in their recruitment process and are reluctant to recruit people who don’t appear to be adaptable or have staying power.

One of the major complaints that companies have about those wanting to move to Africa is that they are unrealistic in their expectations in terms of salary and lifestyle. And, the author says, “Despite my many years as a career coach, I am still surprised by how little research some people will undertake before applying for a job, even when it involves making major decisions such as moving to another country.”

Do your homework, she urges, and, on top of that, don’t be complacent. “Even if you have a link to a particular country by birth or heritage, it’s not enough to assume that you will be seen as a credible candidate if you don’t come prepared.”

The author warns that the job market in Africa is “more sophisticated than you think”. Just because you have the skills, don’t assume you will get the job. However, there follows good, solid advice on how to decide on, and refine, your career strategy. She gives techniques for identifying your skills – not just what jobs you have done, but what skills you have acquired from your education and experience, and how you could transfer them into an African context, be it a different country or a different sector.

There are invaluable tips on how to do your research, how to build an effective network and on the different routes that can be used into the job market. There’s good basic advice on how to write a winning CV, prepare for interviews and – once you’ve been successful at interview – how to negotiate compensation and benefits.

Frances Mensah Williams sums up by advising on how to handle such a huge change in lifestyle and its probable culture shock by managing your expectations of Africa – she lists the challenges but also how to prepare for them.

There will be frustrations in working in a developing country and you will need to have patience and be flexible. It’s important to keep an open mind and be willing to learn, and to admit that your way is not necessarily the best. She reminds those making the change that, “Moving locations is a change that will require you to change, not the country you are going to.”

Once you’re on the move, there’s a chapter on how to organise the practicalities – immigration, visas and work permits, health and medical, transportation of personal belongings, housing and personal finances. Finally, there’s sensible advice on how to settle into work and social life, and a comprehensive list of useful resources.