Why the PSC Internship?

So, this is it: the Public Service Commission just appointed over 8,000 interns and suddenly it's like you won the lottery but with a side of government paperwork.

Now, having navigated the labyrinth of Public Service Commission internship wonderland myself, let me toss some advice your way—partly sensible, partly whimsical—on whether it's the golden ticket to career nirvana or just a year-long carnival of government-induced affirmative action.

First off, let's rewind to that fateful day when your PSC application went from a hopeful wanderer to a shortlisted member. The joy and anxiety, fast forward, you're appointed! You check your appointment letter, and it's a cool 25K, give or take a few deductions because, well, the government has bills too. Now, you're sitting there wondering, "What can I do with 25k? Is it enough, or will I be living on ‘Ugali Mayai’ and dreams for the next year?"

As you attend the mass orientation, surrounded by thousands of other grads all hoping the government has a master plan for them, you start to wonder if this internship is a government conspiracy or the career launchpad you've been waiting for. Spoiler alert: It's a bit of both.

So, you get posted in a ministry, and suddenly your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become the networking pro you never knew you needed to be. Forget the 25K – this internship is not just about the cash, the one-year non-renewable contract, or the government's attempt at unemployment triage. It's about you, pal.

Two months in, and something shifts. Campus life, where "English-sheng" was your modus operandi and the height of formality was wearing ‘Biigie and Shakur’, is now a distant memory. This internship shakes you awake from your collegiate coma. No more 47-hour sleep fests; it's time to adult. Early mornings, snazzy outfits, and decoding the mysteries of office etiquette become your new reality.

Let's talk soft skills. Ever wondered if your ability to seamlessly merge Sheng and English would come in handy? No, not here. So, embrace the one-year crash course in professionalism. You'll thank me when you're confidently presenting reports and fielding calls from high-ranking officials without contemplating a Sheng-English hybrid response.

Remember that gangsta, ‘dont care’ attitude you rocked on campus, thinking the government gig would be a breeze? Yeah, forget that noise. There are protocols, my friend, and the Public Service Commission internship is here to school you the verified art of Doing Things in a System. It's like a finishing school for young, competent, refined individuals, and they're paying you to be just that.

365 days later, if you've soaked up enough wisdom and demonstrated competence, the outside world will be banging on your door, begging for your newfound skills. And don't pay attention to the naysayers; the PSC internship has birthed professionals who, years later, attribute their professional prowess to the government-sponsored boot camp for aspiring professionals.

Oh, and your credit score? It's about to get a makeover. Absa Bank Kenya might just throw you a lifeline in your "credit life" redemption vacation. Most of you are probably CRB alumni, survivors of the campus credit crunch. Now's your chance for a financial glow-up. Six months, a 25k salary, and suddenly you're the master of financial discipline, juggling credit cards, bank overdrafts, and Timiza loans like a seasoned financial wizard.

In conclusion, dear 8,600 appointed candidates, may the odds be ever in your favor. Embrace the chaos, dodge the naysayers, and let the Public Service Commission - Kenya internship be your gateway to professional glory. Godspeed!