Why is Onja always hiring?

Why is Onja always hiring?

You’ve seen the same Onja role advertised multiple times in a LinkedIn post or on a job board, and now you might be thinking to yourself…why are they always hiring? Do people not stay with the organisation for very long?

In actual fact, it’s all part of our hiring strategy. Read on to learn more about why we seem to always be posting about the same positions!

Onja is Growing and so is Our Impact

Onja is in an exciting period of growth. Our model is now proven - students didn’t only thrive in their training; they have all successfully transitioned to working with international companies, some now for three years!

With a goal to take on 360 new students in the next four years, we are in a high-volume hiring phase to make sure we have the underlying internal infrastructure to support this rapid growth. That means we are hiring now for roles to help build out departments like Human Resources and Operations. We are also hiring to build out teams like English Course Design and Coding Course Design, which are urgent projects to support the scaled education needs of our next waves of students.

This is a very exciting time for Onja as we find the right people for the right roles to help us build for the future.

Onja's Model Creates a Constant Need for Talent

Onja’s model demands a constant need for new talent. Whichever phase of their career they are at - students, interns, or experienced professionals - developers need different support. While studying, Onja’s students need educators to help in their learning journey as they work towards English proficiency and learning how to code. In their first years working for international companies, they need mentors to support their development in professionalism and in technical proficiency while they apply their learning to a real-world job.

Even later into their professional journeys, support staff are needed to ensure the operations of the campus run smoothly and the internet connectivity is functional. These kinds of positions will be needed for each wave that comes through, and at scale as we recruit more students. This is why you might see the same position being advertised a few times, because we will often hire multiple people in the same position. For example, our English Course Design team now has seven members with the same job function and role title.

Onja's Hiring Strategy Takes Time

As Onja has grown over the last few years, we’ve learned that hiring right is better than hiring quickly. Our Hiring team has worked hard to create a system that works to find the kinds of people that Onja is looking for. Relocating to work at Onja is a big commitment, so we tend to hire for potential and general organisational fit, rather than just for a specific position.

This means locally in Madagascar, we can hire amazing staff who might not have a lot of work experience, but who show a real commitment to Onja’s mission and a willingness to work hard and learn any additional skills they need to for the job (unless specific technical skills are required, in which case this is considered just as highly as potential and fit).

There is always a lot to do at Onja, so we prefer to have people on board who are a great fit for the team culture and who can work in priority areas or where their interests align, instead of having a lot of highly specialised people who might not align with Onja’s values and culture as highly.

One really important thing to note is that we prefer to have people working on-site at our campus in Toamasina. This move can be quite a big commitment for both international staff and Malagasy staff. So, on top of being the right organisational fit and having the required skills for the role, we also need to find people who are willing and able to come and work with us in-person.

A Career With Purpose

All in all, Onja is a very attractive workplace for those who are passionate about education and social impact, and who want to be part of a tight knit team. The coastal living in beautiful Madagascar is also a big bonus! It makes sense for Onja to approach hiring the way that we do, and the result is a team of passionate, committed individuals who get to make a real difference when they come to the office every day.

You can learn more about what it’s like to work at Onja here. Join us! Looking for your next opportunity? Onja has multiple opportunities open for Malagasy and international staff. Just head to onja.org/careers to see current roles.