Opportunities For 2023 KCSE Finalists 

After finishing secondary education, there is usually a hiatus moment before transitioning to tertiary education. For many, the rather long break from education goes by without being utilised in a productive way. However, that break can be an opportunity for a Form 4 leaver to get into the world of work and start getting some experience.

After Form 4, it doesn't really matter what job you pick. Most of the jobs at that level don’t require someone with special skills. However, from those jobs, you will gain valuable skills. 

The most important skill is work ethic. Having a strong work ethic is a reliable indicator of success in the future. Therefore, by taking a job after Form 4, you start cultivating your work ethic well in advance.

Here are some jobs you can decide on taking.

Teaching Assistant

As a Form 4 leaver, you can easily become a teaching assistant. If you performed well, you can get a teaching assistant job to help students currently in school improve their grades. You can go back to the school where you studied or a school near you. 

Schools appreciate teaching assistants since they help motivate students to perform well. For students, it is easy for them to approach a peer and ask questions without the barrier of the authority of a teacher. 

As a teaching assistant, though, you do not get paid much. You will only be given a stipend. If you have not had to move out of your home, the stipend is more than enough to sustain you as you wait to proceed with your education.

Some of the roles a teaching assistant may be expected to undertake include: 

• Supporting the teacher in preparing teaching materials, setting up experiments, and giving out assignments.
• Supervising students during classes and exams
• Work with individuals or groups to help improve their grades
• Motivate students to work hard

Additionally, being a teaching assistant is a way of giving back to society.

Sales Promotions

If you are extroverted and outgoing, a sales job might work for you. 

Sales is a skill that everyone needs to learn because life is about selling. Even if you do not end up in a sales job in the future, knowing how to convince people to buy a product will be an invaluable skill for your career. In a career, the pivotal moments are dictated by how well you are able to sell yourself.

Sales jobs do not require much for you to start. Find a company that has a ready product and learn how to sell it. There are books, videos, and extensive resources online that you can use to start learning how to do sales. 

In addition, you can continue doing sales even while continuing with your education.

Sales jobs mostly pay on commission, especially for inexperienced people like Form 4 leavers. This makes it somewhat difficult at the start because you can go for a while before making a sale. However, once you do and things start opening up for you, you can make a killing.

Data Entry

If you have basic computer skills, you can venture into data entry. This job involves entering, updating, and maintaining various types of information in a computer system or database. 

A data entry job requires speed and accuracy, as you will be given targets to hit as you are entering the data. These jobs might pay per hour or per day, with bonuses for working overtime. Although the pay is entry level it is sufficient for a Form 4 leaver.

While working in a data entry job, you will learn adaptability, quality assurance, resilience, and data management skills. These skills are transferable and they will come in handy as you progress in your career.

Steward Job

A steward job is a good job for a form four leaver. You get the experience of working in the real world, among many other things. You can be a steward in a restaurant, hotel, or at an event. Stewards are tasked with maintaining cleanliness, dishwashing, customer service, inventory management, and assisting kitchen staff.

A steward's role is a multipurpose role. Hence, you will get to work with different people across the company, which gives you a lot of exposure. Although the pay might not be that much, the experience gained will be useful in the future.

A steward job is perfect if you especially want to join the hospitality industry.

Office Messenger

An office messenger is a role that does not require special qualifications; hence, it is a great opportunity for Form 4 leavers. As an office messenger, you will be tasked with running office errands, assisting with office events, office supply management, basic equipment maintenance, and sometimes customer service.

An office messenger is a perfect job for Form 4 leavers since it will expose you to the organisational structure. You will learn how things are done, which will be valuable later when you start your career. You will be well suited to handle office politics much better.

Waiters

I know you understand what a waiting job entails because you have been served by a waiter before. However, that is a job that you can consider taking after your Form 4. 

You learn how to deal with customers of all sorts. There are the ones who are appreciative and leave a good tip and there are those who, even with the best service, will look down on you. Learning how to navigate and handle these different people is an experience that will make you.

Furthermore, being a waiter teaches you how to have a strong work ethic. Waiters work for long hours, and they have to maintain a good attitude and composure.

Wrapping Up

After finishing your secondary education, instead of just staying at home and waiting for the next step in your education, it is a great idea to try and get real-world experience by picking up a job. Real-world experience will help you tackle your next level of education with more understanding. 

You will also learn how to make money, how to use money, and how to manage money. 

Furthermore, most of the jobs you will pick up after Form 4 have transferable skills that will come in handy in the future.