THOBI Magudulela from Ladysmith KZN studied for diploma in finance and accounting at Mangosuthu University of Technology in Durban but felt like she wasted her time when she couldn’t find a job afterwards.
Not finding work drained her and she diverted to teaching and now works as a teacher.
“While not getting a job for my qualification really killed my spirit, I still would encourage people to do it because finance and accounting is a big platform that is rich in skills that will help enhance your CV and make you desirable to employers,” she said.
Another graduate, Foster Makhungela who graduated with a Bachelor of Accounting Science degree in 2019, said ideas keep expiring and graduates need to be creative.
“We go to tertiary because we want to become independent but failure to get jobs makes us more dependant and it’s not a good experience.
“I think leaders need to start thinking along the lines of supporting graduates to start their own businesses because this talk of creating employment is exhausted and not fruitful,” he said.
Dr Rufaro Mavunga, head of Programme for Law Faculty at the Independent Institute of Education, agrees that new graduates find themselves in the unique position of having entered tertiary with certain expectations for their student years and career path, but then having to suddenly adapt to a whole new paradigm of online learning and facing a very different jobs marketplace from the one they originally envisioned when they graduated at the end of last year. “Graduates must therefore now – more than ever before – be creative and intentional in their job search,” said Mavunga.
“If you are a recent graduate who has never worked a day in your life, writing a CV and a cover letter may seem like a daunting and intimidating task. There is, however, so much information available on so many platforms such as recruitment websites that provide tips on how to write a winning CV.”
She said it’s important to read job descriptions carefully to identify the required skills and experience so that you can ensure your CV and application aligns with these.
“It’s important to highlight your skills and competencies tailored to what the advertised jobs require. It may be necessary to tweak your CV for each job application. It is helpful to list the requirements and refer back to this list as you write your resume.”
She said at all times graduates should attempt to put their best foot forward by avoiding typos and grammatical errors that detract from the overall presentation. And priority should be given to quality over quantity to stand out from other applicants.
“Social networking is defined as the use of internet-based social media sites to stay connected with friends, family, colleagues, customers, or clients. Social networking can have a social purpose, or a professional purpose, or both, through various sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Creating a strong and professional presence on social media may link you with information and opportunities that can assist in the job search process,” said Dr Mavunga.
“Graduates should, however, develop patience and persistence to increase their chances of employability.
“Job search fatigue after searching unsuccessfully is a reality, but remaining positive and putting in the necessary effort will pay off in the long run. Graduates should look for ways to be positive in the face of the negative. Building that skill will come in handy throughout your career.”
