I dont think the American system works in Kenya all that I can say is maybe some universities are more attractive to the one employing but the pay will generally be pegged on experience...

maka, mozenrat well noted.

My argument would then be this....if our Kenyan universities can get their act right (especially the public ones) by cutting down on the theory and incorporating actual field experience for their students à la the Harvard model.

Then they could be in a real position to offer value to employers. The graduates would then be able to demand rather than comply to a level of pay.

There's more than one Kenyan VP at JP Morgan.

The name of the school on your degree doesn't mean much AT ALL in my personal experience. It certainly doesn't mean that you are or are not well-rounded or ready for the real world. This even goes for Harvard. I've worked with Harvard MBAs. Some are capable, some are not. Many more factors go into someone's capability other than the parchment. Then again, I think that it does seem to be a big consideration in Kenya and the rest of EA, and even in the rest of Africa and the Middle East, so, plan accordingly.

An Ivy League or Red Brick school is a good conversation piece, but guarantees nothing at all. I don't even feel that it's all that impressive on a resume, at least in the US.

More important is that you are tenacious, confident (but not cocky) smart, level-headed, and realistic, and have some sort of experience, even if it was unpaid. Also have good references- professional well-spoken people that will vouch for you. Dress well- tailored and kempt. Groom well. Have pleasant odor and breath.

If you want to get into Financial Services, KNOW every financial term and what it means from memory, and go ahead and get your series 7 and 65 immediately if in the US.

Ultimately important, and I say this from years of Fortune 500 management experience:

ARRIVE EARLY. BE EXCITED. BE PREPARED. And always listen carefully and answer slowly.

Once you get the job, listen, follow-through, and follow-up. Communicate clearly and regularly. Use spelling and grammar check. If you don't know something, Google it and ask someone. Get three or four answers and decide on the best one. Work hard and work late. Eat well, relax well, and stay in shape- you'll need the energy and stress-management coping skills.

But most importantly, it's who you know, so start forging those relationships (and have good, positive or funny stories to tell) as soon as right now.

As far as pay, LOL, that's all about the deal you strike when you are hired, and if it is a commission-based job, how hard you work. Salary really has nothing to with qualifications or what school you went to. It's all about what you are willing to take, the range of what a company is willing to pay, and what you claim to have been making before. If they want you, they will pay. Look at a salary survey, and pick a number close to the top range, but not AT the top range. You'd be shocked to know the difference in pay for people in the very same positions in the very same company just because someone dared to ask and negotiate. But don't obsess; if you find out someone else is being paid more, don't get mad, negotiate better next time. And remember, compensation isn't all about pay; One guy I hired wanted to know for a fact that he could take a whole month off every year to go "home", which was sixteen hours away by plane. I said:

"What's that worth to you?"

He said "10 percent of my base".

I said, "Okay, DONE. Welcome to the team. Have all your work delegated before you leave, and you'll be working your hindquarters off when you get back.

That's it. That's all.

Best,

Hill

but I can see you won't be impress since well I got my undegra and Masters from Stanford

Drunkard, you did your undergrad and masters at Stanford!!!!
How come you didnt diversify? You could have easily packed and gone to the East coast to any Ivy League. Were you on a student visa? How did you finance your education? Please reply

Drunkard congrats, are you even a drunkard in real life? Thats a big achievement. Thanks I will check out Kensep.

@drunkard You simply have no idea what you are talking about. The standard vacation package at JP is two weeks- 10 business days, 20 business days for anyone with an officer-level title. What the person wanted to know is if he could get a guarantee that he could take the time off all at once, which is up to the discretion of your hiring manager. Two weeks straight are required for those with 4 weeks off for anti-fraud/anti-embezzlement purposes. IT IS NOT AT ALL EQUAL ACROSS THE COMPANY, and you can buy an additional week if you like, using your own money. You will gain an extra week after about 17 years of service. Buying the extra week allows one to have more "breathing room" as far as being able to take more time at once, and, if you take a lower salary up front, gives me more money to hire a consultant in your absence.

As far as cell phones, it's all about whether there is a business justification for you to have one, what percentage of time you need to communicate remotely, and if your departmental, then line-of-business budget allows for it. Even if it doesn't, you can expense cell phone calls and data if you can show proof that it was for business use.

PASS as a hiring manager? I AM a hiring manager. Are you?

If you are a Stanford alum, then you are simply reiterating my point that an Ivy League education is not at all worth it unless you can pay for it with no problem, hence you as a prime example. Especially with your atrocious grammar. What secondary did you even go to? And promising Kenyans that "once they get in, all will be just fine" flies in the face of the reality that thousands of Kenyans in the diaspora face everyday, struggling to pay university tuition, working odd jobs and going without food sometimes, of which you are recommending them to go to schools with the highest.

Please give the contact information for your "magic man" that will cover every Kenyans tuition once they just get in. What a joke.

Best,

Hill

how can I attach a JP morgan new hire orientation package to prove it to everyone that you're all talk but no action, you've never even been to JP office

wow. it's gloves off! (wazua admin should introduce a smiley with boxing gloves for conversations that get as heated as this)

Mr Hill, I don't know what you're talking about, the orientation package is so clear, I don't need to explain anything, 0-4 yrs get 4 weeks vacation for exampt employees, what else I need to explain, like I said when I started fresh from college, I had just about the same, 24 days for my first year since I started just in the middle of January and when they say 5 weeks, it is actual 25 business days,I didn't work for JP but another financial institution, all the competing companies have almost identical packages, with even 20 days vacation, no one will sign up to work for you, I am a young guy, I am not yet 30yrs but I have just over 5 yrs experience and I can tell a wannabe and I think everyone here can tell you're just some guy in a nursing home but happen to have been to school and can write and is dillusional

Yes, I don't have to prove my qualifications, you're the one who said you're a former JP vice president, you're the one who said you've been giving unpaid internship to ivy leage student, what a joke! who will accept unpaid internship? You're the one who said you negotiate vacation day when the guideline is clear that the vacation is dictated by corporate, you're the one who said you tell people," you're hired welcome to the team," when those of us who have been through actual hiring process knows that the recruiter calls you and inform you that the hiring manager would like to offer you a job. All these shows me that you've never really hold a real job leave alone hire anyone, we're not stupid here.

Mr Hill, there are so many people out there with fake linkedin we all know that. if you worked for JP contractor make God know what to supply JP, don't come here saying that you worked for JP again for those new to this here is the link please someone help me understand what I can't read as Hill said

http://newhire.jpmorganc...NewHireBook_12_2010.pdf

This is Kenya not AMERICA!

once you graduate, you have to hustle your way to a good company to get a good starting salary.
The university you went to doesnt really matter...

Thats from a Kenyan in Kenya.