Building Futures One Post at a Time: An Interview with Mel, The Job Opportunity Champion

Written by Jonas Ileka

Amidst the buzz of the internet and social networks, Meliza Kahambundu stands out as a beacon of hope for countless job seekers, working tirelessly to share job opportunities and reduce unemployment, one post at a time. The hashtag #vacanciesinnamibiabymel has grown into a household brand, and Mel, as she is affectionately known, has built one of the biggest online communities in Namibia, amassing over 14 000 followers on LinkedIn alone. Balancing her career with a strong commitment to doing good, her journey portrays how one person’s efforts can make a big difference.

In this exclusive glimpse into Mel’s remarkable journey, we explore how she turned a simple idea into a powerful movement for good.

Briefly share your journey, and what inspired you to start this initiative?

My background is actually in the human resources space, specifically within the recruitment function, which actually broadened my knowledge in terms of what makes a CV stand out from the crowd. This led me to assisting job seekers with CV revamping, which enabled them to get their dream jobs. I then thought to myself, what else can I do to help others know about job opportunities that are out there? At the core, the idea was to help job seekers that are either unable to buy newspaper every day or simply don’t have time to surf through the internet daily. This is why I decided to come up with #vacanciesinnamibiabymel; a one stop shop to find vacancies, tenders and internship opportunities.

Walk us through the initial steps you took to establish your presence and build a following on platforms like LinkedIn?

To be honest, I didn’t even think about growing an online presence. My focus was on solving the challenge of access to vacancies and other opportunities. It was all for my fellow brothers and sisters.

How do you ensure the job opportunities you share are credible and beneficial for job seekers?

Job hunting can be risky, draining and stressful. The vacancies I share on a daily basis are credible because they extracted from the main newspapers, namely The Namibian and Republikein. Other vacancies are gathered from company websites and social media platforms. So my platform allows to job seekers to relax and surf through my LinkedIn profile for opportunities that matches them, in a safe and easy way.

How do you balance this initiative with your career and personal life?

When you have a passion to help people it becomes second nature and you don’t even think about it. Each day I try to assist someone, this is my small way of making the world a better place.

Do you have any advice for those who want to follow their passion while pursuing their careers?

Put your plan in motion and remain consistent – that’s the key. Firstly, think about your content and how it relates to your audience and the problem you are trying to address. Secondly, if you are afraid to try, you will never know what could have been. Personally, the best advice I have ever received is that you must be brave to face your fears and just start.

What do you find most fulfilling about your work and what keeps you going?

Each day you learn something new. I have set myself goals that I want to reach, and being self motivated and determined keeps the wheels rolling.

In what ways do you see your initiative evolving and expanding in the future?

I have added reviewing and revamping CV and LinkedIn profile updates to my service offering. I have been offering these services for free until now. I realised that there’s really a need for this type of services, because while shortlisting candidates for various positions I noticed that candidates tend to sell themselves short. Even though they might be strong candidates with a lot of potential, the quality of their CVs and documentation do not do them justice.

Mel is a true HR champion, who puts the needs of others before her own. She has created not just a platform, but a lifeline for those in search of opportunities. Her journey is a testament to the fact that in a world often preoccupied with personal interests and pursuits, there are individuals like Mel who selflessly craft bridges to brighter futures, embodying the timeless adage that the measure of one’s success is not just personal accomplishment but in the positive impact they leave on the lives of others.