How to apply for government jobs online

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 3 Aug, 2022 09:19 | 3 mins read
Kenyans searching for PSC jobs
Kenyans searching for jobs. PHOTO/Internet

There is no doubt a big percentage of Kenyans actively searching for jobs want to work for the government. A majority of job seekers are attracted by the perceived good working environment and employment terms in state agencies.

This is often true because most government employees are employed on permanent and pensionable terms. Working schedules are also more predictable in government than in the private sector.

Further, for individuals looking for job security, government jobs are the real deal. For instance, opportunities in government offer professionals a platform to grow their careers while at the same time giving them time to further their academic studies without necessarily having to quit their jobs.

Every year, government parastatals advertise jobs in various fields as the demand for skilled workers continues to rise.

All state agencies are, by law, required to conduct competitive recruitment processes. The jobs are publicly advertised in both print and electronic media for transparency purposes.

With the rise of digital media, it’s easy to spot a government job if you know where to look.

Most state agencies publish job opportunities on their websites and official social media pages for ease of access by members of the public.

Apply for Jobs through Public Service Commission portal

A few years ago, the Public Service Commission (PSC) launched a career portal to help job seekers easily apply for jobs online as opposed to the traditional post office method.

Individuals seeking employment are required to register and make their applications through the PSC portal accessible through www.publicservice.go.ke or www.psckjobs.go.ke.

A screenshot of the Public Service Commission career portal.
A screenshot of the Public Service Commission career portal.

The commission also allows recent graduates seeking internship opportunities to submit their applications through the same portal.

In July, PSC announced 3,000 internship vacancies for Government ministries, departments and agencies.

"The Public Service Internship Programme (PSIP) is a government initiative designed to offer opportunities for graduates to acquire and develop valuable technical and professional skills as well as work experience in the Public Service," PSC said.

"The Public Service Commission (PSC) is pleased to announce to the public the recruitment of 3,000 interns (Cohort) under PSIP for the financial year 2022/2023."

Successful candidates enjoy a monthly stipend throughout the 12-month internship period.

Some government institutions like the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) require candidates to apply for jobs through their portals.

To apply for a TSC job visit, the commission’s portable is accessible through. https://hrmis.tsc.go.ke/ To apply for KRA jobs visit https://erecruitment.kra.go.ke/.

Tricks to help your secure your dream job

i. Build a strong profile

For your application to stand out, ensure you fill and upload all required information and documents.

PSC requires candidates to submit their biodata, academic papers as well as provide their employment history and a list of referees. In some cases, a cover letter is mandatory

ii. Apply for jobs you are qualified for

To increase your chances of being shortlisted, it’s advisable to apply for jobs you are qualified for instead of applying for every job you come across.

iii. Submit additional documents

State agencies require candidates to provide clearance certificates from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other institutions such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) and Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) at the application stage. Ensure you attach the documents when submitting your application.

iv. Meet the deadline

Ensure you submit your application before the set deadline. Thousands of Kenyans apply for limited job opportunities every day. It’s therefore advisable that you submit your application as soon as possible.

A report by the World Bank estimates that at least 800,000 Kenyan youth enter the job market every year. This shows how competitive the market is.