John Mutinda, founder of BigShop Online Kenya, talks about shifting from entrepreneurship to the corporate world to expand his skills and perspective.
Ghosting is no longer just limited to the dating scene. Increasingly, people, especially the current generation, are treating their would-be employers like bad dates and failing to show up for job interviews.
Others, upon getting the job, become no-shows and worse, they don’t bother to call or communicate, just like some potential dates disappear into nothingness after a few meetings.
This week, five young individuals say why they ghosted potential employers even though the country is grappling with a huge unemployment burden.
Christine Karimi*, 24, is a recent graduate who admits to ghosting potential employers a few times.
After completing her degree in advertising and PR, she began applying to various digital media roles. One particular opportunity at a Nairobi-based digital agency led to three video interviews and a written test.
“After all the time and effort I had invested in the process, I was told I had made it to the references stage,” she recalls. “That’s when I decided to ghost them. It felt like an endless series of obstacles for an entry-level position I wasn’t even sure I’d get in the first place.”
The repetitive nature of the process made her feel her employers would be difficult to please even if she eventually got the job.
Shortly after, a PR agency offered her an internship after just one interview and a test. However, when her placement ended in late 2023, her employers didn’t offer her a full-time role due to hiring freezes and redundancies, which sent her back to the job market.
“The interview processes were terrible for my morale. There were endless Zoom calls that led nowhere. I automatically began to view how a company recruits as a reflection of its work culture,” she says.
She also relied on reviews from past employees to determine whether or not to stay committed to the interview process, especially when she realised some employers expected one person to handle three roles for a starting salary as low as Sh25,000.
Goldie Atieno, 25, is a digital marketing professional who went silent after securing a job.
"I applied for the job because, like most people, I needed a job. I applied for random opportunities and attended many interviews where they asked both technical and soft skills questions."
Goldie got the job, but after the company gave her a job offer with details on salary and work hours, she started to have doubts.
“The offer didn’t meet my expectations in terms of the time I would spend versus the money they were offering. I felt like they were in a hurry to fill the position. I didn’t want to feel like a cog in a machine.”
Goldie declined the opportunity and informed the employer.
“Interestingly, they simply asked me why I declined. I explained my reasons, and after that, I didn’t hear from them.”
Jane Mutisya is a HR professional, and the vice president of Women in Africa, HR Projects Director, and MD Career Management Centre Limited.
A year later, Goldie received another invitation from the same company for an interview.
“They even sent several follow-up emails saying it was the ‘last chance’ to interview. It made no sense,” she laughs.
Asked whether her decision has come back to haunt her in any way, Goldie says, “I don’t regret my decision at all.
Applying for a job is like dating – you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you. If their vibes aren’t right, why stick around?"
Goldie’s experience resonates with many young professionals who are navigating tough economic times but are still unwilling to settle for jobs that don’t meet their expectations.
“We are often told to take whatever job we can get, but some companies just won’t value you. In my case, the work environment felt cold. Even though I wasn’t there for long, the interactions were minimal, and everything felt very transactional. It didn’t feel like a place where I would grow.”
John Mutinda, founder of BigShop Online Kenya e-commerce platform
Manoeuvring the challenging job market is something John Mutinda, a seasoned entrepreneur, knows all too well. John is the founder of BigShop Online Kenya, an e-commerce platform specialising in digital marketing and customer experience strategies.
He built both ventures from the ground up, driven by his deep knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) and business development. However, like many professionals who are eager to explore new horizons, John recently found himself seeking a corporate role to broaden his experience and test his skills in a different environment.
“I’ve always been passionate about client relationships and understanding what makes businesses tick. But after several years in the entrepreneurial space, I was eager to add a new chapter to my career—one that allowed me to work within a larger organisation and perhaps bring in new insights.
“I saw the job opening online, and it seemed like a perfect match for my skills. I have a strong background in building and maintaining customer relationships, so I thought this would be a chance to leverage my expertise in a corporate setting.”
But the hiring process was far from what John had expected. After submitting his application through email, he was surprised to receive a response in just three minutes.
“That alone should have been a red flag,” John admits. In my experience, such quick replies in the corporate world can sometimes indicate a lack of thoroughness or a high turnover rate.”
Nonetheless, he proceeded with the interview, curious about the opportunity. The company invited him for a physical interview at their offices, and John prepared diligently.
“I was expecting a discussion about customer touchpoints, engagement metrics, and client feedback management,” John says. “But as soon as I walked into that room, I realised that what they were offering wasn’t what they had advertised.”
Instead of the CRM-focused role John had applied for, the company presented him with a position in sales and marketing—specifically focused on selling real estate, mortgages, and properties.
“I was taken aback. For me, that was a deal breaker,” he says.
Moreover, the company offered John a basic salary of sh15,000, a compensation package he found underwhelming.
“For a position that involves hardcore sales, particularly in the real estate sector where commission-based income is so unpredictable, the basic salary was far too low,” John says.
“Real estate is a volatile market; sometimes, it takes months to close a deal. So if you’re relying on commission to sustain yourself, you need a solid safety net, which this offer simply didn’t provide.”
John's decision not to proceed with the offer was about staying true to his professional values.
“Also, I’m already an entrepreneur with my hands in several growing ventures. I’ve built businesses that align with my passion and I wasn’t willing to settle for a job that would have taken me off that path.”
Despite the setback, John remains optimistic about his career journey.
“The experience didn’t discourage me. It actually reaffirmed my commitment to my businesses and to finding the right opportunity. I believe the right job will come when the time is right,” he says.
Wanjau Kahoro’s first real chance at a corporate career came to an abrupt halt when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the world into lockdown, barely days after he started working at a Sacco.
"I was frustrated and sad. I was just getting started, then everything came to a screeching halt. But I realised it wasn’t just me. Everyone was affected.
Wanjau Kahoro’s first job was interrupted by the Covid-19 lockdown, giving him a chance to reassess his career. A low salary offer from a financial institution later reinforced his decision not to settle.
Although it wasn’t a break he wanted, Wanjau found an opportunity to reflect on his career.
"It was strange to suddenly have time on my hands. I had time to think about everything. Young Kenyans rarely have breathing space after finishing school. It’s always about getting the next job, sometimes without caring if it’s the right fit."
By September 2020, Wanjau had applied for a role at a financial institution.
"I wasn’t thrilled about working for a bank or a financial institution. I had bigger ambitions and I desired something more dynamic. But the reality in Kenya is that you take what you get, and that was the opportunity available," he confesses.
When he was offered a starting salary of just Sh5,000, he was shocked.
"I couldn’t believe it. Sh5,000 for a degree-holder? No way I was going to accept that," he says.
Determined not to be undervalued, Wanjau decided to negotiate, doubling the pay to Sh10,000.
"I knew my worth and I was ready to stand my ground. I went in and said, ‘Look, I can’t work for that. You need to pay me more if you want me to stay.’" His boss responded positively, by raising the salaries for all new hires, an outcome Wanjau appreciated.
“That showed that they were willing to listen and make adjustments, and that felt good.”
Despite the initial satisfaction, Wanjau soon realised that entry-level roles are often undervalued, with little room for growth.
"I quickly found out that as a junior employee, you are not treated like a part of the team. You’re expected to just do the work, with no recognition or opportunity to grow. And if you push back, it’s like you’re a nuisance," he adds.
Wanjau decided to tackle these challenges head-on, and took issue once when his boss showed no empathy during a situation where he was late to work after an emergency.
"I got held up by the police one morning, and instead of understanding, they reprimanded me. That was it for me. I didn’t care if I was getting paid or not. It wasn’t worth my peace of mind."
Reggie Kalee’s career journey wasn’t without bumps. After working for a struggling media house, he decided to leave.
"It wasn’t even about the salary amount. I was working hard yet they wouldn’t pay me when they said they would.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with his previous employer, Reggie felt confident walking into his next job interview.
Reggie Kalee left a media house plagued by financial instability and salary delays, only to turn down a better-paying job due to red flags and a rushed, disrespectful hiring process.
"I knew I had the qualifications and experience. Plus, I’d worked with some of the interviewers before, so I was ready.,” he says.
The interview went well, but the offer didn’t impress Reggie.
"There were a lot of red flags. A major one was how quickly they wanted me to start. They wanted me immediately and expected me to have all the documents ready. Everything felt rushed. Also, during the onboarding process, they acted like I should be grateful to even be offered the job. They treated me like I was so desperate," he says.
While the position offered a better salary than his previous role, the toxic environment made him rethink everything.
After careful consideration, Reggie declined the offer.
“I would rather take a job that pays less but respects me and offers a good workplace culture. A bad environment affects everything—your health, your peace, and ultimately, your productivity. No salary is worth sacrificing your dignity and well-being,” he concludes.
jngari@ke.nationmedia.com
