Jobs for Certificate in Business Management Graduates

An entry-level business qualification

A Certificate in Business Management is usually a one-year course at a technical training institute, vocational centre or private college. It introduces office practice, basic bookkeeping, customer care, entrepreneurship, communication skills and computer applications. It is designed for school leavers who want a practical qualification quickly, and it is also the first rung of a ladder that leads to a diploma and later a degree.

Jobs certificate holders find

• Shop attendant, sales assistant and cashier in supermarkets, pharmacies and retail chains
• Customer care and front-line roles in banks' agency outlets, telco shops and service centres
• Data entry clerk, office assistant and records clerk in small businesses and institutions
• Field sales and promoter roles for consumer brands

Entry requirements

Most certificate programmes accept a KCSE mean grade of D (plain), and some accept D- (minus) or a recognised artisan qualification. Public TVET institutes take applications through KUCCPS as well as directly.

Standing out with a certificate

At this level employers are mainly looking for reliability, honesty, good communication and basic numeracy. Being able to show that you have handled cash accurately, served customers well during an attachment, or run a small business of your own helps a great deal. Computer literacy, including Excel and email, is now expected even for shop and cashier roles. A certificate of good conduct and a KRA PIN are often requested, so get them ready early; our guide to documents required for jobs lists what to prepare.

Know your rights

Entry-level jobs are where workers are most often underpaid, so know the legal floor before you accept an offer. Our guide to the minimum wage in Kenya explains the current rates by job and town.

Progression

After a year or two of work, many certificate holders progress to a diploma in business management, sales and marketing or accounting, often part-time. With experience, roles such as shop supervisor, cashier supervisor and assistant branch manager become realistic.