Kenyan Lady Puzzled During Job Interview As Male Interviewers Gossip About Her In Luo: "Not Thick"

• Nyaboke, a job seeker, shared her experience of being on the job market for a long time without success
• Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, she narrated a recent interview where she encountered two male interviewers who made inappropriate comments about her body
• Despite the inappropriate remarks, Nyaboke continued the interview, hoping to secure the job, only to be rejected

Job-seeking struggles vary; while some do not even get shortlisted for interviews, those who do have different stories to tell.

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Nyaboke revealed that she has been on the job market since she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 2023 but has not been lucky.

"I studied Journalism and graduated in 2023. I have been looking for a job since then but my efforts have not borne any fruits so far," she stated.

Recently, she was called for an interview for one of the many jobs she has been applying for. She admitted that she did not know much about the opportunity but decided to try her luck anyway.

"I was not sure of what the job was all about. At this point I don't really care if it is in line with my career, I will work," Nyaboke explained.

“I was prepared for the interview and even had my hair done as was in the passport photo I had sent and took off for the interview,” she narrated.

Upon reaching the interview venue, she was ushered into the room where she found two men –the interviewers.

“The first impression when I met them was off but I assumed that it was probably a tactic to scare interviewees and maybe make them nervous before the session,” she explained.

Lady body-shamed in interview

Nyaboke was asked to take a seat and introduce herself, which she did in an interview that took less than seven minutes.

After the introductory session, one of the interviewers turned to the other and expressed, in his vernacular, his thoughts about Nyaboke’s body.

She said the two gentlemen kept talking in vernacular while she looked at them.

“One interviewer turned to the other and said, 'I thought this lady had a big behind', and he said it in Luo, not knowing that I understand the language; I was shocked,” she stated.

"They only asked me my name and where I live, the rest of the time they were having a conversation with each other," she lamented.

She was even more disappointed when the other man nodded in agreement, saying those were his expectations when he saw her passport photo during the shortlisting.

Despite feeling bad about the mean and inappropriate comments, she still hoped to get the job.

“I pretended not to be pissed, thinking they may be mean now but will eventually give me the job,” she added.

Nyaboke said the two had a little discussion before telling her that she had the face for the job but that they were, unfortunately, not employing her.

“They said I had the face for the job, but I did not have all that they were looking for; they needed someone thicker and bigger. They even said I look like a child,” she lamented.

She also explained that she was unsure what the job was about because the advert only said three girls were needed.

When asked how this incident has shaped her expectations in the job market, the young content creator noted that she is not giving up on job searching even though she now fears interviews.

"I still need to find work, I have no choice and cannot give up even though I am scared of interviews based on that experience," she added.

Kenyans react after lady complained interviewers' body-shamed her

Following her story, which she also shared on TikTok, Nyaboke’s fans and friends shared their own experiences with recruiters.

Donnah Damillah said:

“On my way out, a lady told me, "Do you think your physical appearance will land you a job after my interview?"

Darryldesiderium:

“I was told am too short for work and it was an office job, I wondered where hight was needed in that job.”

Charity Ojunga:

“Am a Luo, but I go through a lot in the hands of my tribesmen because I am a little bit light-skinned.”

Ann Eagle:

“The problem is them not you, don't worry about them. Some people lack emotional intelligence.”

Kenyan employer shares poorly written job application letter

In other news reported by TUKO.co.ke, a real estate company shared a cover letter full of grammatical errors and incoherent language on social media.

The letter sparked mixed reactions from netizens, with many supporting the candidate and vouching for him to be hired.

According to his supporters, any candidate who takes the bold step to make an application for a job despite their writing skills deserves a fair chance in the job market.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke