Gerrie Kapfidze was successfully recruited by Careers in Africa at the London Recruitment Summit in May 2011.
He is now back working in South Africa in the prestigious role of Country Manager for Unilever. We caught up with him several months after the Summit to find out how his experience has been since then.
Name: Gerrie Kapfidze
Born: Zimbabwe
How long in the UK: 7 years
Background: BSc at University of Zimbabwe, 5 years with Delta Beverages in Zimbabwe as Sales & Distribution Manager, MBA in Spain, spent last 3 ½ years with Pepsico UK & Ireland as a National Account Manager.
Why did you want to move back to Africa? I was keen to build my career on the continent, to share my experience and knowledge with fellow colleagues in Southern Africa and contribute to the growth of the country.
How did you find your time in the UK? Very fulfilling and demanding too. I was able to prove my expertise and acquire knowledge in a consolidated market environment, although disappointing in that I was at times required to prove my capability from scratch despite qualifications and work experience.
What happened at the Careers in Africa Recruitment Summit in May? I was invited to interview with Safal, and attended company presentations for Unilever and Barclays. Fortunately, I was invited to attend further interviews with Diageo and Unilever after on-the-spot chats and CV presentation at company stands during the networking.
What happened after the Summit? I progressed to interviews at senior level with Unilever resulting in a job offer. I accepted and am now back in Africa, working as Country Manager for South Africa.
What would be your advice to anyone thinking of going back to Africa? Do your research first on what interests you and the real reasons for moving back, ensure you are aware of you target sectors and companies and what they do. Maintain an up-to-date CV and LinkedIn profile; and ensure you have a good working relationship with your current employer for future references. Google yourself to discover what others see first when they do the same. Most importantly, have the passion and desire to move back to Africa!
Original article in The South African: http://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/the-south-african-issue-433-11-october-2011.htm
