Innholdsfortegnelse for YOU Careers i You South Africa

PACKED WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREERS AND HOW TO GET THERE FOLLOW your passion, chase your dreams, do what you love and it will never feel like work. . . It seems every second post on social media gives optimistic advice about how to choose your career and it feels carefree and simple. But as anyone who has ever had to think about what and where to study or which job to pursue after graduation will tell you, it’s not that clear-cut. There are so many factors to consider and it can easily become overwhelming. Where to go, what to do, when to start, how to figure out future prospects – it can be a bit much if you haven’t even got a clue how to…

LOOKING after the children of a well-off family, harvesting fresh produce on a sprawling farm, teaching English to kids in a foreign country, working at a busy hotel – many South Africans have memories of such gap-year jobs and the opportunity they offered for an adventure abroad, living and working in countries far from home. TIP Make sure you have a job offer or contract before paying any fees The “working holiday” was a chance to travel and experience new things while earning money before potentially settling down to study or getting a steady job back home. Then Covid-19 came along and the world shuttered its borders. But with the arrival of vaccines and milder variants, young South Africans are in demand again for these kinds of jobs. There’s been…

TRYING to decide what to do for the rest of your life can be about as bad as writing a matric mathematics paper. Where do you start? What factors do you consider? What if you’re not even sure what to do? It can be overwhelming to make such an important choice – which is why we’ve tried to simplify some of the information for you. Knowing what industry you’re drawn to – and which matches your personality, skills and academic achievements – can put you on track to finding the career path of your dreams. Here we look at 12 key industries and high light some of the jobs in each. 1 AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT This field covers an array of careers from land to lab to sea. HORTICULTURIST A…

It’s a term used often these days but many people don’t know what 4IR stands for. Simply put, it’s the latest period that marks a disruption leading to significant change in the way the world works – in other words, a revolution of various types of industries. In recent history we’ve had three industrial revolutions. S The first industrial revolution came in the 1700s in Europe and America through steam engines. With the introduction of steam engines, people, goods and services could be transported much faster. At the time many people lived in rural areas and worked in farming. With the introduction of the steam engine, more people moved to urban areas. The second industrial revolution took place in the 1800s in Europe, America and Asia. It was driven by…

SO YOU’VE graduated and you’re ready for your dream job. All you need to do is secure an interview and you’re in, right? Well, not quite. The most important part of your career is you – and if you’re going to land that perfect position, you need to dig deep and ensure you know yourself even better than you think you do. Here’s how to do that. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT Depending on what you’ve studied or where your interests lie, you probably have an idea of the kind of career you’d like. Research your preferred industry and speak to people working in that field to find out if it will suit you – are the hours irregular, for example, or does it require a lot of travel? If this…

ALTHOUGH these types of tests aren’t like exams, they can be stressful if you don’t prepare. There are also things you can do to make it a good experience – and this can even influence your results. Remember there’s no right or wrong answer so your mood plays a role because it affects how you’re feeling – and that plays a role in how you respond because so many of these tests tap into your thoughts and feelings. So try to create the ideal environment to give yourself the best shot. Here’s how. 〉〉 1 ENOUGH TIME Make sure you have a block of time in which you won’t be interrupted. Many of these tests have a time limit and you’re encouraged to complete the test in one go instead of…

PREPARATION is your best friend when it comes to interviews. The more you prep, the better equipped you are in any situation, no matter how nervous you are. The first thing to do is research the company. “There’s so much information online that there are no excuses to arrive unprepared,” says Lorna O’Brien of O’Brien Recruitment in Cape Town. Make notes of your positive attributes that speak to the job at hand, says industrial psychologist Phiona Martin. And have examples of how you’ve demonstrated your skills in the past. She also suggests your ecordamock interview with a friend and play it back to see if there’s anything about your appearance and body language you’d like to improve. Be on time – being late doesn’t make a good impression, says Tamara…

FOR those who fail matric it often feels like reaching a dead end. It’s difficult not to think there’s little hope of having a good job one day. But for Fungile Ngubo of Franschhoek in the Western Cape the experience with failure taught him a valuable lesson about perseverance. Finding out he’d failed Grade 12 crushed him. “I had dreams of studying further after school but unfortunately I failed maths literacy and life sciences,” he says. He decided to rewrite the subjects he’d failed the following year but didn’t want to just sit at home in the months leading up to the supplementary exams. “I grew tired and bored sitting at home – I wanted to earn an income and gain a bit of independence,” Fungile (35) says. “One of…

SWEEPSOUTH: HOME SERVICES COMPANY It was her struggle to find a nanny at short notice that sparked the idea for a home services app that was reliable and easy to use. Founder Aisha Pandor, a scientist with a PhD in human genetics, had spent most of her career as a business consultant in the telecommunications and mining industries, tackling operational and strategic projects. But she felt stuck. ‘It’smind-blowing to look backa few years later and realise you can turn an idea from thin air into a business that can positively impact thousands’ “I loved thinking through problems but struggled with the lack of scope and ability to effect change,” she says. “I was also impatient to do more in terms of making an impact.” She launched Sweep-South in 2014 and…

Self-knowledge is about knowing who you are on a deep level. It means you have an understanding of your thoughts, beliefs and values, as well as an awareness of how these have been shaped by your past experience and how they influence the decisions you makenow. An important thing to remember about self-knowledge is that it’s It an on going journey of self awareness. It ’snot something you’re ever done with. Here’s why self-knowledge is important: ◗ It boosts your confidence. Knowing yourself means you know what makes you unique and you’re more likely to embrace your abilities and potential. ◗ Making the right choices will be easier. When you know yourself, you know what will really makes you happy. This translates into being able to see more clearly what…

Many companies use psychometric tests to assess acandidate’s suitability for a particular position. Some universities also use them for certain courses. These tests are typically specific to a role and not as generic as a personality test or general career-interest assessment. Psychometric tests usually cover a range of things, including your ability to handle pressure, your preferred style of engaging with others and your ability to do the work you’d be required to do – it’s not just a personality test. “Psychometric tests are a standard and scientific method used to measure individuals’ mental capabilities and behavioural style,” according to the Institute of Psychometric Coaching. “Psychometric tests are designed to measure candidates’ suitability for a role based on the required personality characteristics and aptitude or cognitive abilities. “They identify the…

PERHAPS you’ve always dreamt of becoming a beautician or a design whiz, or you just know a career in numbers will be your thing. The options of where to study can be overwhelming – can and should you go to university? Will a TVET certificate guarantee a career in your chosen industry and who offers what? “With so many institutions to choose from, students are in the fortunate as well as confusing position of choosing an institution that best aligns with their goals and expectations,” says Rosebank College managing director Greg Fillmore. Research by The World Bank in 2021 showed students automatically think they have to go to university when they opt for higher education, but there are many types or tertiary institutions that offer degrees, diplomas and certificates. There…

WHEN people end up not enjoying their job, one of the reasons is that it doesn’t align with who they are, says organisational psychologist Phiona Martin. “Self-awareness helps to guide us, which is why it’s especially important when it comes to making major life decisions such as choosing a career.” We asked the award-winning career coach to explain why knowing yourself is so important in the workplace. What does it mean to know yourself? For me, it means knowing your VIPS: ›V stands for values, and these are the things that are important to you. You need to be able to identify these because you want your career to align with your values. › I stands for interests, and this is about the things you enjoy doing. It’s important, especially…

There are many different types of career and personality tests – some more popular in particular countries and industries than others. Several can be found online for free – and often a more detailed version is available at a fee. Here are a few you may have heard of. 〉〉 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) This test was created by mother-daughter duo Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers and is based on the work of psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung. The principle is that essentially there are 16 distinct personality types. The test works out yours based on preferences related to whether you’re introverted or extroverted; if you prefer sensing or using intuition; whether you tend to move to thinking or feeling; and whether you judge (make quick decisions) or perceive…

WHEN you’re hunting for a job, a tip-top CV is crucial ammunition. It’s not always easy condensing your qualifications, skills, interests and possible work experience into a page or three – yes, it needs to be that concise – but it’s worth spending the time to get it right. Unless you’ve landed an interview through a personal referral, your CV is your first chance to make agoodimpres sion on a potential employer, and it’s likely to be a key factor in whether you land an interview. Recruiters and employers will use your CV to decide if you’re a suitable candidate, and many people won’t make the shortlists for jobs, says Celeste Stewart, director of Bold Curiosity, a learning and development consultancy in Cape Town. “Not because they’re not suitably qualified…

“Video interviews are just as serious as real interviews,” industrial psychologist Phiona Martin says. “I once heard of a graduate who had an interview with a global firm. When they called via Skype, he was propped up on pillows, under the blankets, in his bed!” Here are some tips to ensure your virtual presence is on point. ◗ Ensure your username and profile photo are appropriate. ◗ Dress as formally as you would for a face-to-face interview. ◗ Sit on a chair, ideally at a desk, and don’t slouch. ◗ Position your device to simulate a real-life scenario where they can see your head, shoulders and chest. Elevate your laptop or device on books if you need to. Look at the camera rather than your image on the screen. This…

Don’t just list your soft skills on your CVor in interviews – try to give examples. “If you see a job ad indicating communication is an important skill, mention times when good communication brought resolution,” says Sylvia Baloyi, an industrial psychologist and transition coach from Gauteng. Even if you don’t have work experience, keep in mind that soft skills are important in every area of your life. Laura Pycraft, a Johannesburg talent management specialist, suggest shighlighting your soft skills using the STAR method where you structure your example to include the Situation, Task at hand, Action you took (using the soft skill) and Result you achieved. “Use clear, concise examples of situations where you have exhibited a particular soft skill – making sure it is relevant to the role or…

IT WAS a day of jubilation. By sunset that evening in early January 2017 families across South Africa were hosting braais for their matriculants and social media was filled with congratulatory posts. Sipho Shayi remembers it as one of the toughest days of his life – he was among the 25% of learners who’d failed matric. For the next few days he avoided leaving his home in Vosloorus, Gauteng. “It was a difficult time for me,” he says. “I’m someone who’s naturally outgoing. But I knew the moment I went out people would ask about my results and I’d be too as hamed to say. Others would ask what I’m planning to do and I wouldn’t have an answer.” As the eldest of four children, he felt there was even…

NOT getting a matric pass can be devastating, but it doesn’t mean you can’t build a career or have to give up on your dreams. While certain doors will be closed to you, don’t despair – there are plenty of options that don’t requireamatric certificate or years of tertiary study. You can consider a career in the hospitality industry, business or project management, occupational health and safety, tourism or beauty therapy, for instance. There’s also a great need in SA for artisans – people who are good with their hands and skilled at practical tasks, such as plumbers and electricians. Artisans can make good money and tend to have low debt as they don’t have to repay sky-high student debt, says Curtis Beukes, an automotive teacher at Bellville Technical High…