How to choose a good career after KCSE Exams

GUIDE ON CAREER CHOICES

With KCSE results out, many students, parents, teachers and others are seeking information on careers. Career placement is an important aspect as it determines the path one is likely to take for life.

Academic performance, salary projections, talents and interest, family background, opportunity for future progression, availability of training institutions among others are some of the factors to consider when choosing a career.

Career information is not always readily available, and one needs to make deliberate efforts to look for it. You can however get tips from teachers, career coaches, the internet, career fairs, friends and family among others.

Feel free to call or whatsapp for consultations either as a school, especially for form twos choosing subjects, or as individuals. There is so much that it cannot be all shared here. Please call 0723857534 [email protected] for help.

1. General information about careers.

Name any five careers you have ever heard of.

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Name any five careers you think are most prestigious.

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Name any five careers you think are most paying, with a very good salary?

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List any five careers you have heard of, but you need more information about

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List any five careers you think are old-fashioned and boring. Explain.

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Which careers do you think are in most demand, and will be easy to get jobs in future?

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List any six careers that you may consider as your possible careers in future.

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2. Information about subjects done in school.

If you were to study only two subjects you are doing in school, which will they be?

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What two subjects done in high school that you would not want to study in collage?

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What are your three favorite subjects in school?

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3. Information on colleges and universities.

Name any five public universities in Kenya you know ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name any five private universities you know ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name any five public diploma collages you know ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name any five Private collages you know. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name your two favorite universities you would wish to join ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Why do you wish to join the universities you have named above? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Name five diploma courses you know ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Which diploma courses do you think can help one easily get a job? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Which course do you think will easily make you self-employed and successful? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Information on talent and abilities

List down five things you enjoy doing ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

List down five talents that you can easily turn into a career or business ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Information about academic performance.

What grade do you think you can easily get at KCSE? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

List down the subject you will sit for at KCSE, and your target grades in each.

1. English ………..
2. Kiswahili ……….
3. Maths ……….
4. Biology ……….
5. Chemistry ……….
6. ………… ……….
7. ……….. ……….
8. ………… ……….

Knec grading system

Grade.                         Points              Aggregate Points

A                     12                    81-84

A-                    11                    74-80

B+                   10                    67-73

B                     9                      60-66

B-                    8                      53-59

C+                   7                      46-52

C                     6                      39-45

C-                    5                      32-38

D+                   4                      25-31

D                     3                      18-25

D-                    2                      11-17

E                      1                      07-10

Simple formula for setting targets.

G=5X+2(X-1)

Where G is the target grade.

X is the subject grade

For example

C+ =5 C+ and 2(C)

That is C+ = 5* 7 = (6)

C+ = 35 ₊ 12. That is 47 points.
this means to get a C+, you just need to get C+ in five subjects, and c plain in 3 subjects. (Actually 4 C+ and 3C plain will still give you a C+ 46 points.

If you get 5 c+ and 2 B plain, you get a mean of B-, 53 points.

But you also need a cluster to secure a good course. Consider the following two student’s performance

Student A

ENGLISH                   C+

KISWAHILI                C+

MATHS                      C+

BIOLOGY                   C+

CHEMISTRY             C+

HISTORY                   C

AGRICULTURE         C

TOTAL POINTS         47 C+

STUDENT B

ENGLISH                   D

KISWAHILI                B

MATHS                      D-

BIOLOGY                   D+

CHEMISTRY             C

HISTORY                   A-

AGRICULTURE         A

TOTAL POINTS         47 C+

(This actually shows the need to balance your subjects. Most careers will need a language, esp English, and Mathematics. Poor grades in Mathematics may hinder one from pursuing any science courses. The last two subjects are student own choices, they need to be booster subjects)

List any four courses you think student A can take at the university.

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List any four courses student A may not qualify for at the university.

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List any four courses student B can qualify for at the university. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

List any four courses student B may not qualify for at the university. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

In case both student A and B wished to become teachers, which subject combinations would each have?

1. i) A …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

How many points, and grade do the target above give you:

In the best case scenario ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

In the worst case scenario ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

University and course selection.

Choose one course that in at least three universities eg. A, law Moi Uni, b) law, UoN, c) Law MKU

1a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………

1. B) …………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. c) …………………………………………………………………………………………………

Choose three other courses you would wish to apply, in any university.

2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….……

List the four subjects that you need to take at KCSE, and their cut off points to enable you pursue the course above.

List of subjects                       cut off points

1. ………………………. ……………………….
2. ………………………. ……………………….
3. ………………………. ……………………….
4. ………………………. ………………………

List down any diploma courses you would apply for, and the collage you wish to join, e.g

1. Diploma in Nursing KMTC Eldoret, 2. Diploma in Civil Engineering at Kitale National polytechnic, 3. Diploma in Business Information systems at Kenya Institute of Management

a). …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1. b) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. c) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

d …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Careers in Kenya

1. Accountant Actor                                       Actuary
2. Administrator Aeronautical Engineer           Air traffic controller
3. Animal farmer             Animator                                Archaeologist
4. Architect             Army Officer                          Auditor
5. Author Automotive Engineer             Banker
6. Blogger Brail Transcriber                    Bricklayer
7. Broadcast journalist             Building contractor                Cabin crew
8. Career coach             Carpenter                                Caterer
9. Chef Chemical Engineer                 Choreographer
10. Civil engineer Comedian                   Community development officer
11. Crop farmer Curator                                    Dentist
12. Dietician Disc jockey (DJ)                     Dog breeder
13. Drill operator Economist                               Electrician
14. Emcee (MC) Entrepreneur                           Environmental Scientist
15. Fashion Designer Film director                          Fine artist
16. Fitness trainer Food technologist                   Forensic Scientist
17. Forester Fuel attendant                         Game warden
18. Gardener General Practitioner               Genetic Engineer
19. Geomantic Engineer Graphic designer                    Gynecologist
20. Hairdresser Human Resource Manager     Image consultant
21. Imam Insurance Broker                    Interior Designer
22. Jeweler Lab technician                        Lawyer
23. Lecturer Librarian                                 Marketing executive
24. Mechanic Mechanical Engineer             Meteorologist
25. Microbiologist Model                                     Musician
26. Nurse Ophthalmologist                     Painter
27. Paralegal Pharmacist                              Photographer
28. Physiotherapist Pilot                                        Playwright
29. Plumber Police                                      Political scientist
30. Priest Print journalist                                   Prison warder
31. Procurement officer Product Designer                    Psychologist
32. Public Relations Practitioner Publisher Quantity Surveyor
33. Radiologist Real estate Agent                   Researcher
34. Sales Representative Security Guard                       Shop attendant
35. Sign Language Interpreter Social Worker                        Software Developer
36. Sports Person             Statistician                              Tailor
37. Teacher Telecom Engineer                  Television Producer
38. Tiler Tours and Travel Agent         Translator
39. Urban planner Veterinarian                            Video Editor
40. Web Designer Welder

Careers in Engineering

1. Aerospace engineering Agricultural Engineering
2. Automotive Engineering Biomedical Engineering
3. Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering
4. Computer Engineering Data Engineering
5. Drafting and Design Engineering Electrical Engineering
6. Geological and Mining Engineering Industrial Engineering
7. Marine Engineering Mechanical Engineering
8. Molecular Engineering Nano engineering
9. Nuclear Engineering Petroleum Engineering
10. Software Engineering Software Engineering
11. Structural Engineering Telecommunication Engineering
12. Thermal Engineering

Best non stem subjects.

1. Teaching Broadcast Journalist
2. Print journalism Administration
3. Real estate agency and property management Purchasing and supplies
4. Quantity survey Accounting + CPA
5. Economics Information technology
6. Sign language Publishing
7. Graphic design Hotel and restaurant management
8. Television production Project management, monitoring and evaluation
9. Community development Communication
10. Cabin crew Tourism and tour guiding
11. Hospitality Library science
12. Preaching Music production
13. Law Paralegal
14. Animation Customer care
15. Secretarial Chef
16. Career coach Film directing
17. Disk Jockey DJ Emcee (MC)
18. Event planning and management Beauty and fashion
19. International relations Peace and conflict resolution
20. Criminology Forestry
21. Food science Fitness training
22. fine art Sales and marketing
23. Business administration Human resource management
24. Political science Choreography
25. Archaeology Anthropology
26. Gender studies East Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)

Business related courses

1. Entrepreneurship General commerce
2. Business Administration and Management Marketing management
3. Management Information systems Accounting and Finance
4. Accounting and Business Administration Retail management
5. Operations management and supervision International commerce/trade
6. Management science Public Administration
7. International marketing Credit Management
8. Small Business Management Accounting
9. Organizational leadership Marketing research
10. Sales, distribution and marketing operations Supply chain management
11. Procurement

Medical diplomas at KMTC source. Kmtc.ac.ke

KMTC has 7 Faculties with 18 Departments offering 76 Medical Courses. The College also offers short courses.

Below are the 18 departments and programs offered therein.

• Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery
• Department of Dental Technology
• Department of Health Promotion and Community Health
• Department of Health Records and Information Technology
• Department of Medical Education
• Department of Medical Engineering
• Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
• Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Department of Nursing
• Department of Occupational Therapy
• Department of Optometry
• Department of Orthopaedic Technology
• Department of Pharmacy
• Department of Public Health
• Department of Radiography and Imaging (Medical Imaging Sciences)
• Department Orthopaedic and Trauma Medicine
• Department of Community Oral Health
• Department of Physiotherapy

Universities in Kenya

Public Universities

• Kenyatta University
• JaramogiOgingaOdinga University Of Science And Technology
• Jomo Kenyatta University Of Agriculture And Technology
• Machakos University Maseno University
• University of Nairobi Chuka University
• Co-operative University of Kenya  DedanKimathi University of Technology
• Egerton University  Garissa University
• Karatina University  Kibabii University
• Kirinyaga University Kisii University
• Laikipia University  Maasai Mara University
• MasindeMuliro University Of Science And Technology
• Meru University Of Science And Technology
• Moi University  Multimedia University Of Kenya
• Murang’a University of Technology  Pwani University
• Rongo University  South Eastern Kenya University
• TaitaTaveta University  Technical University Of Kenya
• Technical University Of Mombasa University Of Eldoret
• University of Embu  University of Kabianga
• Alupe University College.             Kaimosi Friends University College
• Tom Mboya University College

Private Universities

• Strathmore University Africa Nazarene University
• Catholic University of Eastern Africa  Daystar University
• KCA University  Kenya Methodist University
• Zetech University  United States International University
• Great Lakes University Of Kisumu  Gretsa University
• Inoorero University  International Leadership University
• Kabarak University  KAG East University
• Africa International University  African Leadership University
• St Paul’s University  Kenya Highlands Evangelical University
• Kiriri Women’s University of Sc. & Tech. Lukenya University
• Marist International University College  Mount Kenya University
• Pan Africa Christian University Pioneer International University
• Regina Pacis University College  Riara University
• Scott Christian University  Tangaza University College
• The East Africa University  The Management University Of Africa
• The Presbyterian University Of East Africa  University Of Eastern Africa, Baraton
• Uzima University College  Umma University

National polytechnics.

• There are 10 national polytechnics offering diploma, higher diploma, certificate and artisan courses.
• Kisumu National Polytechnic – 0723 446 773
• Eldoret National Polytechnic – 0714 871 685 / 0738 092 12
• Kabete National Polytechnic – 0713 338 683
• Meru National Polytechnic – 0719 347 059/ 0742 428 095
• Mombasa National Polytechnic (Kenya Coast National poly) – 0712 725 554/ 0710 389 727
• Nyeri National Polytechnic – 0724 477 942/ +254(061)2032330
• Kisii National Polytechnic – 0700 152 177 / 0752 031 300
• Sigalagala National Polytechnic – 0726 806 105/ 0736 101 803
• North Eastern National Polytechnic – +254716 061 788
• Kitale National Polytechnic – 0721 379 304/ 0780 379 304

Other top technical training institutes.

• Rift Valley Technical Training Institute RVIST
• Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIBHIT)
• Kenya School of Revenue Administration Kenya School of Agriculture
• Kenya Technical Trainers College Bukura Agricultural College
• Nairobi Institute of Business Studies Kenya Industrial Training Institute
• East Africa School of Aviation Friends College- Kaimosi
• Kenya Forestry College Kenya Water Institute
• Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute Kibabii Diploma Teachers College
• Kagumo Diploma Teachers College Michuki Technical Training Institute
• Nairobi Technical Training Institute Railways Training Institute
• PS Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology
• Regional Center for Mapping and Resource Demt. Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology
• Coast Institute of Technology Kenya Utalii College
• Kenya Scholl of Monetary Studies Kenya Institute of Advanced Technology
• Kenya Institute of Management Kenya School of Government
• Kenya Institute of Special Education Kenya school of Petroleum Studies