UWC Career Update 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

CAREER UPDATE A HANDBOOK FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT

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MY CAREER JOURNEY

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ALUMNI FOCUS

JOB PROSPECTS INTO THE FUTURE

PREPARING FOR A VIRTUAL INTERVIEW

New careers for a new generation IS TECHNOLOGY DESTROYING OR EMPLOYING?

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EDITORIAL

The new normal The damage to our economy prior to and after the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, has given rise to job cuts, retrenchments and the closing down of businesses.

Stats SA reported that unemployment in the 15-24 age group has soared to 59%. Amid these challenging times, young people are encouraged not to disengage with the labour market nor lose hope of finding a job.

Covid-19 could be seen as an innovator’s dream. It has been said that once we learn to become comfortable with the uncomfortable, the ‘new normal’ will become the norm.

The decision in 2016 by UWC Careers Service to purchase the Career Service Management tool by Symplicity has paid dividends. When UWC was suddenly closed down in March, we seamlessly continued providing valuable services to our students and recruiters. The prospects are weak that blended learning, virtual recruitment and online working will be reversed. Graduate recruitment has been ‘turbo-charged’ onto a new trajectory.

We have embarked on a new format for our Magazine and trust that you will enjoy it. At UWC we celebrate our 60th Anniversary this year. We decided to take a trip down memory lane and reflect on the past.

Winston Middleton shares his career journey across three provinces and two countries.

We plot the passage of career services on campus and alumni share stories of their student days. For the graduates entering the world of work, we examine the job prospects for the future, new and emerging careers that embrace the wonder of technology, new careers for a new generation, and inform you about discerning a ‘legit’ job advert, conducting virtual interviews, the work contract and relocation.

John Lennon is credited with saying, “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

From the Ed Team Winston Middleton, Nazrana Parker, Natalie Thomas and Mihlali Ncukana.

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ON THE PAGES

CAREER UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2020 Acknowledgements Career Update is produced by the Office for Student Development, University of the Western Cape.

Content

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Editors: Winston Middleton, Nazrana Parker, Mihlali Ncukana and Natalie Thomas.

Subbing, design & layout: Kult Creative.

Printing: FingerPrint Worker Co-operative Ltd. Thank you to all the writers and participants.

Career Update, Sep 2020.

Telephone: 021 959 2436.

Email: cdp@uwc.ac.za.

Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and writers and do not necessarily represent nor reflect the views of the University of the Western Cape. All rights reserved. Articles may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted with written permission of the copyright holder.

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Letters to the Editor My career journey The journey of Careers Service Job prospects into the future New and emerging careers in the world of work Wall of fame New careers for a new generation Accounting profession through the eyes of a recruiter Alumni focus Discerning a ‘legit’ job advert Preparing for a Virtual Interview Unpacking the employment contract Relocation. Where to begin Understanding your leave Symply the ‘Best’ Ace your job interview

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

It’s not about the outcome, it’s about how you get there from all the other ‘yeses’ that were out there for me. A battle of the mind is definitely not an easy one to win, especially during when receiving those dreadful “We regret to inform you” emails.

Tamzen Thomas Business and Integration Architecture Analyst BCom Information Systems and Financial Accounting

APPLYING FOR A JOB IS THE EASY PART, what’s hard is staying motivated throughout the process. I will not forget the excitement I felt during my final year, especially around the time of the career fair. I would attend the career fair every year, and for once it finally felt real. It felt like opportunity was right on my doorstep!

What I found particularly important was to constantly remind myself that I am good enough and that the right opportunity will come along, I just had to practice some patience in the meantime. So send that application, even if you aren’t sure if you are going to get the job or not. Your degree does not determine your future, you do.

So here I am, working at one of the top consulting firms in the world and I could not be happier. If there is one thing that I’ve learned through this process is that patience and perseverance goes a long way. CU

Interview tip One of the first companies I interviewed with was actually through a connection that I established with a recruiter from the university career fair. I was initially very disappointed when I heard that my interview was unsuccessful, especially because I believed that company would be “the one”.

I refused to let the one ‘no’ hold me back

Sell your personality, not your qualification. This is what landed me the job at Accenture and made me stand out from the rest of the candidates. Dress professionally and avoid bright colours.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A good foundation studied Environmental and Water Sciences at UWC, set a good foundation. After consultation with staff at Careers Service about my job search documents, I realised that my CV and Letter of Motivation were not up to standard. However, I did not lose heart but revised it several times before the staff give it the thumbs up.

Trevor Malgas Marketing Analyst, Regenize.

B Sc Environmental and Water Science, 2019.

AFTER READING THE ARTICLE ABOUT REGENIZE, the recycling-tech company, in the 2019 Career Update magazine, I was attracted to them as a prospective employer. This company provides solutions to environmental problems that are faced by South Africans through behaviour change methods.

As a start-up, Regenize was the perfect place for me to gain experience in this sector.

Then I saw their job advert on Career Xplora for Recycling Activators and on LinkedIn. This seemed an ideal match because Regenize wanted someone who can teach others about recycling and help them with behaviour change. Being part of Save the World from A to Z (ASEZ), I learned about the practical aspects of environmental issues by participating in their projects. Having 4

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I believe that my Letter of Motivation set me apart from other applicants as I was one of the few to submit one.

This was a great learning experience. I believe that my Letter of Motivation set me apart from other applicants as I was one of the few to submit one. I showcased that my education and volunteer work was relevant to the job description. These efforts helped me to become an employee of Regenize.

Thank you so much Careers Service.

CU

Writing tip A well edited CV and Letter of Motivation is appealing and stands out amongst the rest, thus increasing your chances of being called for an interview.

MY CAREER JOURNEY

My career journey…

Respice Prospice

by Winston Middleton Career Update (CU) was curious about the career journey of Winston Middleton, Manager of the Office for Student Development, that spans four decades across three provinces and two countries.

HE WILL FINALLY BOW OUT OF UWC IN DECEMBER 2020.

We trust that our readers will extract learnings from his story as you plan your career.

Four employers and six posts – How did your journey start?

I enjoyed each work opportunity and took away so many learnings. After completing Matric in 1971 at Little Flower School, Ixopo, I registered for an Electrical Engineering degree at the then University of Natal (UN). UWC CAREER UPDATE 2020 |

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MY CAREER JOURNEY

I battled with the unfamiliar subjects and subtle racism, and dropped out at the end of 1972. Thereafter, I had a short stint as a “bedding-boy” for the Railways.

After months of hunting, I was appointed in 1973 as an apprentice electrician by a large electrical cable-making company and qualified in 1977. This trade was the last one reserved for White persons. All the electricians were White and most of them did not support my appointment. Also, I could not share the same toilet and tearoom, and had to wear a brown overall instead of the white one. My Dad told me after contemplating resigning after six months, “Stay to learn the trade and become a qualified artisan.” After four years, I was the highest qualified journeyman and my colleagues frowned upon my qualifications. Besides the technical knowledge, I learned to solve problems logically and deal with racism. These skills have been useful ever since.

During those years, I became a community activist in Pietermaritzburg. Henry Isaacs, a student of UWC who was served with a banning order and restricted to Pietermaritzburg, coached and mentored me into Black Consciousness, and encouraged me in later years to pursue tertiary studies so that our activism could be informed by theory and not only by “trial and error”. In commemoration of June 16, 1976, our Church Youth arranged a commemoration event in June 1977 for the youth on a Friday evening. On that morning, the Security Branch (SB) officers of the Police served a prohibition order on me at work. The event was prohibited and nobody could enter the Church building until 10h00 on Sunday. Despite this, we went to the Church to be met by armed police. Our Minister, late Rev Peter Lamoela, arrived and persuaded us to disperse.

Describe your student days at UWC and how it influenced your career.

I enrolled at UWC in 1979 for the Social Work degree after being refused a study permit for the universities of Natal and DurbanWestville. However, I do not regret the Government’s decision.

During our first year, a few of us started advocating for an SRC that was banned in 1977. Learner and student protests erupted during the Second Term of 1980 in Cape Town. The ‘Economic Disruption’ on the Saturday of shopping malls by learners and students, and the ‘Purple Rain’ demonstration will remain embedded in my mind. As part of the campus Student Action Committee, we were informed that pupils of a Primary School in Modderdam Road were raided and arrested by police after staging a UWC CAREER UPDATE 2020 |

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MY CAREER JOURNEY

demonstration. We made our way to the Bellville Police Station to meet with parents and arrange for legal assistance. At that moment, I was arrested by a policeman and immediately served with a 14-day detention order of solitary confinement and taken to the Parow Police Station. There I was interrogated regularly at 4h00 in the morning. The SBs wanted me to confess the names of student activists including Cecyl Esau and Ebrahim Patel. Of course, I refused their order. I busied myself in a 2x1m jail cell even following the ants. Among the graffiti on the wall, it was uplifting to discover the following message, “Basil Kivedo was here”.

He was my Sociology lecturer.

My Holy Bible and a jacket were sent by my Dad. I read it from cover to cover. I discovered a note in the seam of my jacket written by my Dad, “Be strong. We are with you.” I burst into tears of joy. I had so many hours to think about so much and distill past events on campus. To keep sane, one had to stay in touch with the day of the week and time of the day. I still get flashbacks on driving past that Police Station. After the 14 days, I was transferred to the Victor Verster Prison in Paarl where I was held for three months with comrades - learners, students, workers and UWC lecturers. After a successful hunger strike of over two weeks, we forced the prison authorities to provide

I discovered a note in the seam of my jacket written by my Dad, “Be strong.

We are with you.” I burst into tears of joy. I had so many hours to think about so much and distill past events on campus.

all detainees with the “White diet” and to release us seeing that we were not to be charged for any offence. On a Saturday, we were released and driven back to Cape Town to be united with our families.

By then, the schools and UWC had resumed classes. I requested counselling from our Student Services. However, the White Psychologist was not knowledgeable about my (political) context and was not of much help. I dived into my studies as I lost three months of lectures and completed my degree in 1981, cum laude.

During our final year, a group of students told the Social Work Department that we wanted to do our practical work at schools.

After contacting a few Principals, we were placed there. This initiated the School Social Work model for our profession as we carefully documented and evaluated our interventions. At the end of the year, we invited the education authorities to a seminar to present our report and convinced them to create posts for social workers at schools. The rest is history.

You then moved to the Eastern Cape?

I knew where I did not want to work – government and private welfare organisations – and searched for community-based posts.

After due process, I started working in 1982 as a social worker for the then Grahamstown Municipality and immediately pursued the Honours degree in Social Work at Rhodes University. Given my background and radical views about social work, I ran into problems with my employer during the first six months.

They wanted me to do only “casework” but I reminded them that I had clarified this issue at the interview where I stated that I would UWC CAREER UPDATE 2020 |

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apply the “integrated approach” of casework, group work, community work and research.

The consequence was that my probation period was extended. I proceeded to pioneer social services in local authorities in SA and later completed a Master’s degree on this topic. Today it is an established practice across the country. I was accepted for a year-long scholarship for Youth Leaders and Social Workers to Chicago, USA from the Council of International Programmes. I was exposed to American society but, in particular, the Afro-American community on the Southside. My world view expanded as I met people from across the world.

Winston Middleton meeting Mayor Washington (first black mayor of Chicago) joined by the CEO of the Abraham Lincoln Center, Mr Othello Ellis, in Chicago.

I returned in 1987 to my post. In 1988, I was recruited to the post of Faculty Officer at UWC for the newly established Community and Health Sciences under Dean, Prof Fanie Sonn. Later, I moved to Student Counselling in 1990 and then appointed in 2001 as the Head of the newly established Office for Student Development where I retired in 2019 after 32 years of loyal service.

Again, you did pioneering work in this post.

Working with wonderful colleagues over the years, we built out four key programmes, namely, Careers Service, Student Orientation, Student Governance and Student 10

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Development. These became groundbreaking initiatives in higher education institutions with many universities benchmarking themselves against our programmes. We received several accolades for our dreamwork. We presented our Student Orientation Programme, initiated long before the “First Year Experience” paradigm became popular in SA, at many national and international conferences. Since 2013, our Careers Service featured consistently in the Top 7 for the “Best Careers Service” and the “Best Career Fair” categories of the national employer benchmark survey among leading recruiters in South Africa conducted by the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA). This demonstrates that UWC remains an institution of choice for employers when searching for graduate talent. Our SRC elections have been declared credible, free and fair since 2003 when we started managing it and the SRC Constitution and Election Regulations were penned in our Office. 

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Who had an impact on your career and outlook on life?

It is a law of life that we become like the people we gaze at. Others state that we are known by the friends we keep. Besides my parents, others are the late Henry Isaacs and Mr Madiba Mandela, Prof Fanie Sonn, colleagues of the former UWC Centre for Student Counselling and Prof Brian O’Connell. Many others have touched my life in different ways.

What shaped your interest in student development?

As a social worker, I have always been interested in community and youth development. Our youth are not the future leaders but also in the present. I do not want the leaders of tomorrow to point an accusing finger at me and say, “Where were you when…?” I am obligated to create a better future for us all.

What inspires you about our students and staff?

Students are firmly anchored in why they are here, how they got here and what they want to achieve. Moreover, they are resilient and have consistently demonstrated that they are not defined by the labels placed on them and proceed to achieve despite the odds.

The warmth of the staff is easily felt and their dedication is visible. If not, why is UWC a recruiting ground for other universities?

How do you manage stress?

I maintain a good work-life balance and have strong genes. I having been walking and running on the road for over 25 years having completed multiple races from 5 kms up to ultras. I started six Comrades Marathons (89kms) and completed two, and am not done yet. This form of exercise has helped me to destress and keep sane. Running keeps me grounded during tough times.

What will you miss about UWC? No two days are the same (before Covid-19) and things could change in a flash – and we have to be ready for it. The unique campus culture is entrenched and the environment is welcoming and dynamic. I have a strong emotional bond with UWC nurtured over 42 years of struggle, reconstruction and recalculating as a student, alumnus and staffer.

I often ask myself, “How did UWC become a trail-blazer among historically disadvantaged institutions despite being in deep financial debt at the turn of the century?” My reasoning points to “because of its people”. I often joke that my corpse should be draped in a UWC T-shirt. I wear our branded apparel with pride.

I am sensitive to the burden of responsibility that we carry as staff members.

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Winston Middleton at finish line of 2017 Comrades.

Share some thoughts about the job search and career The economy is in distress and thus the competition for graduate posts is tough.

Students should focus on getting their first

MY CAREER JOURNEY

job even if outside of their field of study.

After all, research shows that people change jobs more than five times in their working life – I am a living example. Work hard and diligently wherever you are; keep your eye on the ball. You will be spotted by someone.

Do you have any regrets?

Yes, two. Firstly, I regret boycotting my first UWC graduation. I stood by the majority decision of the 1981 student mass meeting to do so despite my voting against it. I was shocked to see students attending who supported the motion. My Mother never forgave me. With my Honours graduation at Rhodes University, she told me that she would attend even if I boycotted it – of course, I had no option. Since then, I realise that graduation is for our family and sponsors and that my decision, in retrospect, was selfish. I also regret not completing doctoral studies despite me having collected valuable data over the years about our first-year students and their experience.

How would you like to be remembered?

Students have ascribed several descriptors to me: • Disciplinarian, uncompromising, a stickler for rules and a hard taskmaster.

• Also, understanding, caring, fair and approachable.

My response is always, “Give it some time and you be the judge.” I believe, as a former referee of junior soccer, that once the whistle is blown to start the match, then all

players implicitly accept the rules of play till the end. It sounds a bit ‘old school’ but it has worked well for me. I also tell students about myself that “what they see is what they will get”. I believe in providing the best for our students, UWC, South Africa and even Africa. The accolades received by the Office for Student Development are testimony to our commitment.

My critical writing skills coupled with attention to detail, task-orientation, integrity and ability to take a drone (helicopter) view of a situation have stood the test of time. I have not been afraid to speak ‘truth to power’ and am open to uncomfortable conversations. I do not allow personalities to obstruct strategy and goals.

Share your parting strokes?

• Be mindful and sensitive about the opinions of team members.

• Be careful how you live; you are the only religious book some students read.

• First impressions are lasting.

• Do not leave room for deceitfulness, shameful deeds or doubtful behaviour.

The commitment of our OSD Team to building UWC into a place of quality and a place to grow for our students, staff and communities remains unshaken. Until each person in our beloved country can live in dignity, the education project of UWC will remain ‘work in progress’. I have tried to live a life above reproach but realise that I might have disappointed some. If so, I ask your forgiveness. Praise be to God for the opportunities presented to me and for guiding me along this journey. CU

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1970

The journey of

Careers Service

by Nazrana Parker and Winston Middleton As UWC celebrates our 60th Anniversary, we have compiled a story graphic of the journey of career services on campus from an add-on support service to a self-sufficient, award-winning entity.

1970 1983

THE CHILD GUIDANCE UNIT, under the leadership of Dr. Edna van Harte facilitates campus interviews for students with recruiters and company presentations with the assistance of Ms Evadne Abrahams.

1990

1988 1989

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MR ERROL NOURSE of the then Institute of Counselling takes over the Recruitment Programme with the assistance of Ms Abrahams.

JOB SEARCH SKILLS PROJECT implemented to assist students prepare for the job search and interviews.

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2001

STARTS NETWORKING with career services at other universities.

1992

1983 1987

GRADUATE RECRUITMENT SUPPORT becomes the responsibility of Mr Winston Middleton.

1999

2000

SEPARATE OFFICE ESTABLISHED in the University Centre.

FORMAL GRADUATE RECRUITMENT PROJECT established to include active recruitment of prospective employers, including job search skills training for students.

FUNDING PROPOSAL SUBMITTED to the South African Norwegian Tertiary Education Development Programme (SANTED) to develop a Career Development Programme.

FUNDING PROPOSAL APPROVED.

MR MIDDLETON APPOINTED as Head of the Office for Student Development (OSD) reporting directly to the Vice-Rector: Student Affairs.

GRADUATE RECRUITMENT PROGRAMME RE-IMAGINED to become a comprehensive Career Development Programme.

2002

FIRST GRADUATE PLACEMENT OFFICER, Ms Melody Windvogel, appointed in OSD. FIRST CV MANUAL PUBLISHED. FIRST CAREER MAGAZINE PUBLISHED.

2020

2002

FIRST PC for the OSD Resource Centre donated

by Ms Cathy Sims, Graduate Recruiter at Accenture.

2003

FIRST CAREER XPO held in April, 10 companies present.

2004

PILOT MOCK INTERVIEW PROJECT and the Skills Development Project launched.

UWC BECOMES AN AFFILIATE MEMBER of the newly established South African Graduate Recruiters Association (SAGRA).

2005

2010

FIRST SEPARATE LAW CAREER XPO HELD.

2011

FIRST SEPARATE ACCOUNTING XPO HELD.

2012

RELAUNCH OF THE MOCK INTERVIEW PROGRAMME with Bowmans and Accenture.

2013

2007

2009

MS SINETTE JOOSTE appointed as Career Development Programme Coordinator.

MS NAZRANA PARKER appointed as Career Development Programme Coordinator.

‘JOB SEARCH SKILLS PREPARATION’ exercise embedded into a final year Oral Hygiene module.

FIRST STUDENT INTERN, MS LAUREN FRANKE, appointed at OSD and a new intern every subsequent year.

VOTED 4TH FOR “BEST CAREERS SERVICE” and 6TH FOR “BEST CAREER FAIR” in the SAGEA Employer Benchmarking Survey.

UWC CAREERS SERVICE FACEBOOK page launched.

OSD RELOCATED to the current office space in the University Centre.

FUNDING FROM SANTED ENDED and UWC takes over funding OSD.

2015

CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME RENAMED “Careers Service” (CS) in line with national trend.

JOINT WINNERS OF THE SAGEA AWARD FOR “BEST EMPLOYABILITY / WORK READINESS INITIATIVE” at the SAGEA Annual Awards for our re-imagined Mock Interview Project.

UWC CAREERS SERVICE VOTED 5TH PLACE for the “Best Careers Service” and “Best Career Fair” categories of the SAGRA Employer Benchmarking Survey.

FIRST ‘JOB SEARCH SKILLS PREPARATION’ EXERCISE embedded into a second year Life Sciences 152 module.

CAREER SERVICE RESOURCE LIBRARY LAUNCHED.

2006

2014

2014

MS NATALIE THOMAS appointed as Administrative Assistant – Programmes.

2016

PURCHASED AND STARTED CUSTOMISING the online Career Service Management tool by Symplicity.

VOTED 2ND FOR “BEST CAREERS SERVICE” and 3RD FOR “BEST CAREER FAIR” in the SA Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) Employer Benchmarking Survey.

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1970 - 2020

2016

VOTED 5TH FOR “BEST CAREERS SERVICE” and “BEST CAREER FAIR” in the SAGEA Employer Benchmarking Survey.

2018

VOTED 6TH FOR “BEST CAREERS SERVICE” and “BEST CAREER FAIR” in the SAGEA Employer Benchmarking Survey.

2019

WINNER OF THE SAGEA “BEST WORK READINESS INITIATIVE” AWARD at the SAGEA Annual Awards for the UWC Career Xplora.

EXPLORATIVE RESEARCH ON A WORK READINESS PROGRAMME for students initiated. Report of the Graduate Competency Development Programme adopted.

2017

UWC “CAREER XPLORA” ONLINE CAREERS SERVICE PORTAL LAUNCHED greatly enhancing the efficiency and quality of our services to recruiters and students.

VOTED 3RD FOR “BEST CAREERS SERVICE” and 4TH FOR “BEST CAREER FAIR” in the SAGEA Employer Benchmarking Survey.

FACILITATED THE ‘YOUNG ALUMNI CAREER WORKSHOP’ in collaboration with the Alumni Relations Office.

FINALIST

2019

BEST CAREER SERVICE

TWITTER HANDLE “@UWCCareerXplora” and UWC CAREERS SERVICE YOUTUBE CHANNEL launched.

2019 FIRST UWC CAREER XPLORA VIDEO TUTORIALS produced in-house.

2017

2018

UWC VOTED 4TH FOR “BEST CAREERS SERVICE” and 7TH FOR “BEST CAREER FAIR” in the SAGEA Employer Benchmarking Survey.

FIRST SEPARATE TECHNOLOGY CAREER XPO HELD.

2019

CAREER XPLORA REACHES 10 000 STUDENT ‘LOG INS’ since launch.

JOINT WINNERS OF THE SAGEA “BEST EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVE” Award at the SAGEA Annual Awards.

WINNER

CAREER XPLORA REACHES 5000 STUDENT ‘LOG INS’ since launch.

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SCORED MORE THAN THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE OF ALL UNIVERSITIES across six categories in the SAGEA Careers Service Survey.

JOB SEARCH SKILLS PREPARATION’ EXERCISE embedded into a final year Dentistry module.

2019

BEST EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVE

2019

CAREER XPLORA IS FEATURED ON eNCA. CAREER XPLORA REACHES 12 000 STUDENT ‘LOG INS’ since launch.

2020

COLLABORATION WITH SAGEA, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND EMPLOYERS in South Africa to host the first national Virtual Career Expo for 2020.

FUTURE JOB PROSPECTS

Job prospects into the future at 30.1% and 43.2% for those in the 15-34 age group. Instead of looking forward to a world of opportunities, more graduates are staring into a changing future and questioning their job prospects.

by Mihlali Ncukana In a fragile graduate market, graduates need to equip themselves for a changing future.

THE START OF 2020 SAW A SURGE IN JOB-SHEDDING across the economy with many organisations calling a halt to hiring new staff. The prospects of graduate recruitment thus look bleak given that the economy was struggling even before the Covid-19 pandemic. In April 2020, our unemployment rate was hovering

A study in March 2020 by Adzuna revealed that the hospitality, food and beverage industries would suffer the most in South Africa, along with travel, tourism and industries requiring people to meet and gather. Justin Hess, a UWC graduate who was interning at a distillery, is one of those who suffered the brunt of retrenchment together with other corporate interns. He reported, “The only interns who remained were those doing their in-service training to complete their degree.” Hundreds of graduates rely on internships to gain a competitive advantage to enter the world of work. This is demonstrated by the 1258 internships advertised in 2019 by the UWC Careers Service.  UWC CAREER UPDATE 2020 |

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FUTURE JOB PROSPECTS

On the other hand, Andisiwe Kaji, a UWC graduate, is still doing her internship that she started in March 2020 during the lockdown at a food processing company. She shares, “I am appreciative of the company in allowing my internship to proceed. It’s an intense time and I think everybody’s feeling anxious about their future.” The impact on the Class of 2020 graduating into an economy in a recession could last beyond the downturn. This can be seen in the Employers Survey conducted by the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) where they report a 0.8% decrease in their graduate intake plans for 2020. CU

Tips for graduates 1

Just like taking a gap year, employers want to know “how you utilised your time constructively during the lockdown”.

2

Consider applying for post-graduate studies to gain additional knowledge of your discipline.

3

Broaden your job search prospects by setting up job alerts on the job search engines.

4

Polish your CV and Letter of Motivation.

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Build your online professional presence on LinkedIn. Article available at https://uwc-csm. symplicity.com/students See the Menu Bar on your left to access these resources.

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Practise your online interview skills using the Career Xplora Mock Interview tool.

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Take online courses to complement your first degree and hone relevant skills.

Fast facts from the SAGEA Survey ì THE MEDIAN (MIDDLE) OF: 23 graduate vacancies in companies.

2000 applications.

82 applications per vacancy. ì

20% OF THE APPLICANTS WERE INVITED TO THE FIRST INTERVIEW.

ì

R95 000 IS THE COST PER JOINER.

ì

37% OF EMPLOYERS DID NOT FILL THEIR GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES BY MARCH 2020.

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84% OF RECRUITERS USED LINKEDIN FOR RECRUITMENT AND MARKETING.

References • Green, J. (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on SA job market. Adzuna.com; • Jacobs, E., O’Brien, A., Andrew, J., & Beioley, K. (2020). What are the job prospects for the class of 2020? Financial Times. 4 May 2020; • Statistics SA. (2020). Quarterly Labour Force Survey Quarter 1: 2020.

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What sets them apart?

CAREER UPDATE shares stories of graduates who have landed their first job.

We tracked them to find out what they did during their job search and share the “beyond the box” and remarkable efforts that gave them an edge over their peers.

Wandile Mhlanga B Com Honours in Finance, 2019 Client Service Consultant, Sanlam Collective Investments My involvement in co-curricular activities throughout my studies, maintaining a consistent academic record and managing my time well impressed recruiters. My activities included leadership at residence and SCO, as a PF, a tutor, and SRC member; ABSA scholarship and internship. I made extensive use of UWC Careers Service.

Hussain Parker B Com, Marketing and Information Systems, 2018 Security Analyst, Sanlam Personal Finance I prepared immediately and thoroughly for each interview on being invited; did extensive company research to generate relevant questions for the interviewer; dressed formally for interviews; remained calm and answered questions appropriately, and asked if I didn’t understand a question.

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WALL OF FAME

Hlengiwe Mkono B Com Honours in Finance, 2019 Graduate Trainee in Global Markets, HSBC Bank My CV set me apart. It was well-structured (thanks to Careers Service),and demonstrated my skills and interests through co-curricular activities such as a PF, tutor and a member of the Young Investor Programme). During interviews, I was well versed in current affairs and demonstrated self-confidence.

Zhytoeniesa Brophy MSc Biotechnology, 2019 Quality Compliance Intern, Accelerated Enrolment Solutions (Synexus Clinical Research Centre) I networked globally with people in the scientific and clinical industries. LinkedIn became my best friend. I followed hashtags and pages, subscribed to groups and attended discussion forums to show my hunger to get into the industry. I never gave up despite rejections.

Sibusiso Khoza B Admin Honours in Industrial Psychology, 2018 Human Capital Graduate Intern, Momentum Metropolitan Holdings I contacted the recruiter via LinkedIn. I practised online mock psychometric tests and responses to behavioural based questions using the STAR method. I conducted company research on the merger, the role and the panelists. A Personal Development Course boosted my moral and confidence.

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WALL OF FAME

Garcia Josephus PG Diploma in ICT, Software Development, 2018 and B Com Financial Accounting, 2017 Integration Developer, Pepkor IT During my internship, I completed assigned tasks and requested additional ones. I then assisted the research analyst and provided technical insight to senior cloud specialists and project managers. My willingness to learn and work after hours set me apart. My passion for I.T. was recognised by my seniors.

Tamzen Thomas B Com, Information Systems and Financial Accounting, 2019 Business and Integration Architecture Analyst, Accenture I tried to feature my personality, as recruiters hire people, not only qualiďŹ cations. My roles in the co-curricular space as a tutor, tutor coordinator, student assistant, brand ambassador and call centre agent attracted the attention of my employer. My degree alone did not determine my future; I did.

Yaseen Akleker BA Honours in Industrial Psychology, 2019 Human Capital Intern, Old Mutual South Africa I knew what I wanted out of the opportunity and what I had to offer before going into an interview, and allowed my passion to be seen. I recorded the questions and my responses after interviews to build conďŹ dence in responding to similar questions. I learnt something from each interview.

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WALL OF FAME

Zolani Myalo MSc Nanochemistry, 2018 Scientist, Stellenbosch NanoďŹ ber Company My job search preparation started from my ďŹ rst year. My cocurricular activities put me on the radar of prospective employers.

These activities included being a tutor, mentor and leader of the Big Bang Club. I prepared diligently for interviews and practised my responses to possible questions.

Tamara Truter BSc Biotechnology, 2017 Medical Technician, Pathcare Grab the attention of the recruiter through your CV. The rest is up to you. Prepare well for interviews - understand the requirements and job description of the post; focus on the questions; demonstrate confidence about your skills, achievements and what you have to offer.

Mthokozisi Ngcingane BSc Biotechnology, 2018 Microbiology Laboratory Trainee, GlaxoSmithKline I practised responding to competency-based interview questions.

By studying the job descriptions, I was well prepared. During interviews, I smiled and varied my tone of voice. I was later told that I came across as curious and eager to learn. LinkedIn was a great tool in my job search.

Trevor Malgas BSc Environmental and Water Science, 2019 Content Marketer, Regenize I was attracted to Regenize by the CU magazine article and the subsequent job opportunity. This seemed an ideal match. My letter of motivation set me apart from other applicants. I enrolled for a software testing course to meet the required I.T. skills of the job.

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NEW CAREERS

New careers for a new generation

by Mechail Koker and Nazrana Parker “IS TECHNOLOGY DESTROYING OR EMPLOYING” it is often asked? Career Update explores how technology and innovation can drive new careers.

Employment and innovation in sectors such as the environment and sustainability, 3D printing and artificial intelligence, data and social media has increased over the past years. Before 2006, occupations like App developers, Uber drivers, cloud computing specialists and sustainability managers, social media managers did not exist. Today, 30

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our tutors are the new ‘social media influencers’ who use YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok that we go to for answers.

Lwando Ndodana, Junior Digital Media Specialist at Sanlam is a good example of a B Admin graduate whose interests evolved to find himself in a new generation career.

He was attracted to this role as it allowed him to integrate social media, analytics and marketing. He states that Social Media

NEW CAREERS

Account Management, Digital Enablement and Data Analytics are now the hottest careers. His role is very versatile as he is pulled into different projects. Getting colleagues who are not tech savvy to buy into using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for the business has been an interesting learning experience.

What particular skills are needed in the digital media space?

• • • •

Business applications of digital media research and awareness Digital tools/support kits Digital media applications training and support Content Library Digital support and collaboration

What advice would he give to students?

Consider doing postgraduate studies or short courses that speak to these new careers.

Check out the following courses offered at UWC: • Postgraduate Diploma in Data Analytics and Media Application • Postgraduate Diploma in Data Analytics and Business Intelligence • Postgraduate Diploma in e-Skills with Immersive Technologies Stream, which incorporates Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality • Postgraduate Diploma Information Development Infrastructure & Application • Postgraduate Diploma in ICT Software Development • The Digital Social Innovation for Impact (DSI) course offered at the Samsung Future Innovation Lab at UWC. CU

Also explore Udemy The leading global marketplace for teaching and learning, connecting millions of students to the skills they need to succeed.

GetSmarter Partners with the world’s leading universities to select, design and deliver premium online short courses.

LinkedIn Learning A website offering video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative, and business skills.

Coursera Provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.

edX The trusted platform for education and learning. edX is transforming traditional education, removing the barriers of cost, location and access.

Our tutors are the new ‘social media influencers’ who use YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok that we go to for answers.

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REFLECTIONS ON RECRUITING

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Accounting profession through the eyes of a recruiter apply their skills in different industries. In South Africa, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant CA(SA), enables individuals to be exposed and granted the opportunity of a rewarding career, travelling opportunities and working in diverse sectors. Needless to say, it takes hard work and dedication for at least seven years to qualify as a CA in South Africa.

by Fred Lucas CAREER UPDATE asked Fred Lucas to reflect on his decades of experience in recruiting Accounting students.

The accounting profession offers thousands of young people rewarding careers. Not only is it one of the highest paid professions, it gives many young people the opportunity to 32

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I have been involved with this profession since 1994 and have seen thousands of young people qualify as Chartered Accountants. Beside the many structural changes within the profession, there have been multiple changes from a recruitment perspective. When I started my career in recruiting trainee accountants, it was a straightforward mandate for me as the Recruitment Coordinator to hire 20 accounting students to fill trainee accountant positions. Back then, with our South African democracy still in its infant stage, race and

REFLECTIONS ON RECRUITING

gender were not criteria. Given our social and educational disparities, the candidates were mostly White given their family social capital. The decision makers were content with the status quo. In the early nineties, the focus of recruitment was on the historically advantaged universities with limited recruitment activities at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). With the introduction of legislative reforms such as the Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of 1998, accounting firms had to change their recruitment focus and strategies. At that time, legislation necessitated that 40% of the new intake had to be persons of colour. Many firms struggled to meet those targets and thus had to opt for recruiting from historically disadvantaged universities as well. Today, UWC is one of the top universities supplying the accounting firms, banks, financial service companies, government entities and other sectors with accounting graduates.

Ethical behaviour and professionalism Protecting public interests, acting with honesty and integrity, exercising due care, being objective and independent, avoiding conflict of interest, protecting the confidentiality of information, enhancing the profession’s reputation and adhering to professional conduct.

Personal attributes Demonstrating self-management and leadership, taking initiative and showing competence, adding value in an innovative manner, managing change, treating others in a professional manner, understanding the national and international environment, being a lifelong learner, being a team member and demonstrating time management.

Professional skills Over the past decades, the expectation of these accounting firms has radically changed. Initially, candidates were expected to be academically brilliant. In recent years, recruiters looked for competencies such as excellent academic consistency, ‘allroundedness’, connectedness to causes and communities, whether an individual can work independently and in a team, and manage their personal time. Companyspecific and value-based characteristics are also expected from candidates. In order to standardise these outcomes, SAICA developed a competency framework that was infused across all subjects and study levels of the accounting curriculum. Here is a breakdown of the required competencies and skills you are required to develop during your studies.

Critical thinking, problem solving, effective communication, supervising and managing, understanding the impact of information technology and considering basic legal concepts.

Considering all things, the accounting profession has undergone major structural, legal and human resource changes over the past 25 years. Despite more candidates of colour qualifying as CA’s especially via the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Thuthuka Programme launched in 2002, much needs to be done to facilitate the entry of African and Coloured graduates into the profession - it should be regarded as work in progress. CU UWC CAREER UPDATE 2020 |

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UNIITTIIN NG THE FINANCE AND BUSINESS COMMUN NIITY

Over 150 young CAs(SA) pledged to supporting Sustainable Development Goals

SAICA prides itself on being a critical player in creating value. Our members contribute their time and resources on projects focused on making South Africa better. Addressing SDG challenges locally and globally, demonstrates how the profession uses its skills in meeting these challenges and acting in the public interest.

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CELEBRATING ALUMNI

Alumni Focus CAREER UPDATE caught up with some of our alumni, asking them to recall their fondest campus memories, as well as offering advice on launching your job search.

How do your studies relate to your work?

I provide technical support and training to the audit teams that I learned and developed during my studies and journey to becoming a CA(SA).

Best advice someone gave you about the job search

Nadia Ganie CA(SA) Audit Senior, Quality and Risk Management - Mazars BCom Accounting and PGDA, 2011-2016

What are your fondest memories of UWC? My fondest memory is the weekly return on Sunday evenings to the campus residence. My friends and I would meet up in one of our rooms and share treats and have a good laugh before the busy week of studying.

Dedicate yourself to your studies, have fun and enjoy your student life.

Maintain a work-life balance to navigate the stressful times. Constantly remind yourself that the road is always under construction. Don’t stop learning and developing. 

Dedicate yourself to your studies, have fun and enjoy your student life.

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CELEBRATING ALUMNI

Rayaan Pandy

Anthea Scholtz, CA(SA)

Trainee Accountant, 3rd year - Mazars BCom Accounting, 2016

Partner, Africa Tax & Legal - Deloitte & Touche B Com Honours (Accounting), 1990 - 1993

What are your fondest memories of UWC?

What is your fondest memory of UWC?

My involvement in the Muslim Student Association and tutoring remain with me. The interactions and discussions with diverse people shaped the person I am today.

Playing klawerjas in the cafeteria, chilling on the grass with friends, talking about everything and nothing.

On a serious note, my best memory of UWC was the passion and energy of the students and the privilege to see the transformative power of education.

It was an inspiring and humbling experience to be surrounded by students who were determined to succeed against all odds. I am grateful to UWC for the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty in our families.

How do your studies relate to your work?

There is a direct link. Being in the audit environment, my studies equipped me to understand what we set out to achieve with each audit. It’s not only about the numbers but everything you learn from all subjects. Trust me.

Best advice someone gave you about the job search Maintain a consistent work ethic and routine; it alleviates stress, cramming and fatigue. Believe in yourself. The more you interact, engage, debate and get involved in the co-curricular space, the more you grow.

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It was an inspiring and humbling experience to be surrounded by students who were determined to succeed against all odds.

CELEBRATING ALUMNI

How do your studies relate to your work?

My studies helped shape my character and aversions, and opened a world of opportunities.

Best advice someone gave you regarding your job search?

My Dad taught me to be fearless, figure out what I want in life and not to fear failure.

Dr Firdous Khan Advice to students • Understand your purpose in life.

Why do you get out of bed every morning to spend 8-10 hours (sometimes more) working? Once you find the alignment between your purpose and that of your employer, the how and what you do at work become easier.

• Don’t doubt yourself - take risks when opportunities arise.

• Don’t be an ‘echo chamber’. If you don’t speak out others will fill the void.

• Start building a ‘just in case fund’ from your first paycheck.

• Read. Read. Read. It allows you to borrow the minds of others.

• Proactively manage your career; it is not always linear. Sometimes you go sideways, then backward, and that’s fine - as long as you are growing. Focus on a growth-based career, rather than a promotionsbased career.

• Find a mentor to help navigate the world of work.

Director: Efficacy and Research Pearson South Africa PhD Biotechnology, 2015

What is your fondest memory of UWC? There are so many. My role in the Student Orientation Programme as a Peer Facilitator and then Student Faculty Coordinator enabled me to discover my latent qualities. This experience forced me to extend my boundaries. My participation in the UWC Apprentice Case-Study Challenge to develop new products was an amazing experience. I led the team who won the competition.

The best advice was to become educated; not certificated. My dad always told me to educate myself and that the skills will be transferable wherever I go.

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CELEBRATING ALUMNI

How do your studies relate to your work?

Academic research was a big component of my studies. I now head up the Research Department where I influence the development of educational products by ensuring that the development is informed by rigorous research. My studies prepared me to think critically and conduct socially relevant research.

Best advice someone gave you regarding your job search?

The best advice was to become educated; not certificated. My dad always told me to educate myself and that the skills will be transferable wherever I go.

with friends while revising for a test these interactions contributed to a rich university experience.

How do your studies relate to your work?

The coursework provided me with a theoretical foundation. I developed soft skills including time management, meeting tight deadlines, work-life balance, conflict resolution, teamwork and effective communication.

Discussions with peers honed my overall university experience.

Share some advice with students.

Life after university is a rock-strewn journey of self-discovery in finding the real you. ? Behind the mask of pretence yearning to fit into the mould of societal norms and standards. ? Who embraces diversity and realises what makes you who you are and sets you apart from the rest. ? Who finds strength in your roots and is not defined by your life circumstances. ? Who dares to challenge conformism and complacency. ? Who strives to be a better version of yourself. CU

Uzair Adams Director – ProBono.org LLB, 2008 – 2011

What is your fondest memory of UWC? Grabbing a morning coffee from the friendly lady in the A-Block and sharing a Gatsby from the Barn or Joe Spaza

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I developed soft skills including time management, meeting tight deadlines, work-life balance, conflict resolution, teamwork and effective communication.

REAL OR FAKE?

Discerning a ‘legit’

job advert

BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR ANY JOB OPPORTUNITY, check that the job ad is legit. Career Update provides tips to recognise an ‘illegit’ job advert.

Let’s examine the following job advert:

by Natalie Thomas

WE ARE HIRING!

An online sales company is looking for sales and marketing interns.

The requirements are good comunication skills, a lovely smile, dedicate and enjoy working, ability to make the customer feel comfortable, preferense to girls 170cm in height.

R300 per day + bonus and free tshirt.

GOOD NAME

Enter dance competition to win IphoneX/Samsung Galaxy S9+/Huawei P20/power bank/R100 Airtime.

Register on http://1.goodname.com/ and pay the required fee.

Do the following audit: - Watch out for poor grammar and spelling.

- Check the company’s website for discrepancies and indicators of professionalism - Check the company’s social media links and comments - Search for the company’s physical address, geolocation & contact details - Compare the job title with the required skills and competencies

- Do not pay money for anything.

Legitimate employers do not charge to hire - If it sounds too good to be true, you can be sure it is.

- Does the pay match the stated work - Can you find the company on the internet - Refrain from paying over money as you could be scammed CU

Clearly this job advert fails the audit and should be avoided.

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GOING VIRTUAL

Preparing for a

virtual interview

by Natalie Thomas, Nazrana Parker and Winston Middleton

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

Career Update speaks to Mthokozisi Ngcingane, a recent Biotechnology graduate and now a Microbiology Laboratory Trainee at GlaxoSmithKline, about his virtual interview experience that has become the new normal.

I do not have a strong internet connection at home and there are many potential disturbances. On request, the Office for Student Development offered me a quiet room with a strong internet connection. There were sufficient lighting and no disturbances.

Secondly, my interview date was during the country’s electrical load-shedding period. The Office had a back-up internet connection.

Thirdly, I was not familiar with virtual interviews or Skype. I did intensive research on online interviews, and downloaded the Skype app beforehand to familiarise myself with its features. UWC CAREER UPDATE 2020 |

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GOING VIRTUAL

Did you use the Mock Interview Tool on the UWC Career Xplora portal?

No, and I regret it. I would have been better prepared for my previous interviews. I strongly encourage every student to take advantage of this amazing tool – it is free and you can choose from thousands of questions to design your own interview.

Did you have any misconceptions about a virtual interview?

I thought that virtual interviews are easy.

One does not sit next to the interviewer thus the anxiety level will be lower. I discovered the opposite; it is similar to live interviews.

Do you have a few tips for students?

Practise virtual interviews beforehand. Be mindful of small things such as speaking clearly, tone of voice and body language (use hand gestures when appropriate and be mindful of your posture). When listening, nod and smile to show you are engaged (even during a telephonic interview). These are the small things that could have given me an edge over the other applicants. Inform your room mate or family members about your virtual interview to minimise disturbances. CU

Virtual Interview tips 1

Find a quiet, private, well-lit room, free from distractions.

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Ensure your internet connection is stable.

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Test your computer’s webcam and audio.

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Close unnecessary web browser tabs and applications.

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Dress professionally and avoid bright colours.

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Prepare your environment and background.

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Have a pen, notepad and copy of your CV and Letter of Motivation and questions for the recruiter on your desk.

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Place your phone in silent mode.

I strongly encourage every student to take advantage of the Mock Interview Tool on the UWC Career Xplora portal – it is free and you can choose from thousands of questions to design your own interview.

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THE ABC OF CONTRACTS

Unpacking the

employment contract

by Mihlali Ncukana

AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT is an agreement between an employee and employer. It is a useful way to clarify various aspects of the post including one’s responsibilities and benefits. In this way, confusion or misinterpretation can be avoided. Let us examine the elements of a work contract.

Nature of a contract This defines if the contract is fulltime, part-time or a fixed term with a starting and an end date.

With the latter, there is no obligation of renewal or permanent appointment.

Remuneration and working hours

(per week or month) are specified for fulltime and part-time workers. The benefits could include medical insurance, provident fund, travel, and other perks.

Leave The contract will stipulate the types of leave applicable, when the leave could be taken, if leave could be accrued and if leave will be paid out upon termination of employment.

t of c a r t n Co yment Emplo

The monthly or bi-weekly salary, benefits and allowances before deductions (as applicable), and working hours

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THE ABC OF CONTRACTS

Work environment

Termination of employment

In these changing times, the contract will include whether the role is located in the company’s building or you will be required to work remotely or from home by relying on digital tools.

The conditions for termination of the contract by either party are specified.

Usually, the employee should give one month’s notice of termination.

Policies and Procedures Employees must familiarise themselves with the employer’s policies and procedures such as the disciplinary code, grievance procedures, research and intellectual property, private work, confidentiality, conflict of interest, procurement, safeguarding of equipment and security.

Contract of Employment

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Job description and key performance areas The job description and key performance areas (KPAs) are usually stipulated in a separate document. These outline the key tasks to be performed and the responsibilities of the position.

The KPAs refer to an employee’s scope of activities that are expected by the employer and are important for the overall performance of the organisation or a specific department or team. CU

Ensure that you scrutinise the contract carefully and even seek the opinion of other persons before signing it. Changing any clauses afterwards is almost impossible.

NEW BEGINNINGS

Relocation.

Where to begin.

by Natalie Thomas and Nazrana Parker

CAREER UPDATE catches up with recent graduates to chat about their relocation experiences and how they overcame the challenges of leaving home in preparation for their new journey. These graduates are:

Wélan Spogter Customer Success Manager at Microsoft (from Cape Town to Johannesburg

Yasien Meth Consultant, Business Enablement & Change at Standard Bank Group (from Durban to Johannesburg)

Ethel Teni Lead Business Analyst at Absa Group (from King William’s Town to Johannesburg)

Asiphe Cetywayo Legal Officer at Standard Bank Group (from Molteno to Johannesburg)

What support did the company offer with relocation?

Both Yasien and Ethel received a relocation stipend to assist with settling in, whereas Wélan and Asiphe paid their own way. Asiphe saw his expenses as an investment in his career.

What factors did you consider when deciding to relocate?

Asiphe, Ethel and Wélan highlights the fact the Johannesburg offered career growth and learning as it was the corporate hub of our country. Both Wélan and Yasien also considered the issue of safety, living close to work and whether it would be easy to commute  UWC CAREER UPDATE 2020 |

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NEW BEGINNINGS

with public transport if you do not have you own vehicle. Only Yasien and Ethel were exposed to the hussle and bustle of Johannesburg prior to relocation as both their employers housed them for a short period. Yasien used the ďŹ rst week to chat to locals and look around for suitable accommodation. For Ethel it was a bit different as she tapped into her network that she built from her previous employer when she visited Johannesburg for short stints. They provided a great support system and sense of community.

The graduates highlighted the importance of making friends and asking questions about the city.

Ethel tapped into her network that she built from her previous employer when she visited Johannesburg for short stints. They provided a great support system and sense of community.

What did you do to adjust to your new surroundings?

The graduates highlighted the importance of making friends and asking questions about the city. Ethel stressed the importance of planning beforehand. She managed to live and commute with a friend for the ďŹ rst month which allowed her not to make hasty decisions. She admitted she could not plan herself out of the traffic. Asiphe advised that one should connect with your neighbours in your apartment complex and peers from campus. Look them up on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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NEW BEGINNINGS

What challenges did you experience in your first few weeks?

All the graduates experienced traveling as a challenge – public transport, high volume of traffic, getting lost and working late at night. Ethel was anxious about adjusting to her new surroundings.

Asiphe struggled to find secure and affordable accommodation, and dealing with being without family and friends.

Tips for relocation All graduates:

•

•

How did you overcome these challenges?

Wélan asked for help but, being street-smart, she was always cautious about the potential challenges of urban life. Yasien befriended fellow graduate trainees as well as colleagues in Standard Bank. Ethel boasted that her networks from a previous work stint was valuable. Asiphe reminded himself of his goals for being in Johannesburg and remained positive. He shared accommodation to save money and make new friends.

What positives did you take out of relocating?

Although scary, Ethel found the relocation experience to be a fresh start. Wélan and Asiphe highlighted the independence of growing as a person and getting out of your comfort zone. Yasien developed his ability to socialise and network with new people. CU

•

• • •

Contact peers and alumni on LinkedIn for advice about relocation and finding accommodation Start saving up during your studies and do not be shy to ask a prospective employer for assistance with relocation Stay organised. Keep to-do lists for both your departure and arrival locations.

Know what’s available to you. Many companies offer a variety of relocation services and most are flexible in what they provide.

Work out your costs for the first month Avoid long-term commitments especially on accommodation Develop a work-life balance

Wélan The location of your employer should influence accommodation and travelling choices.

Yasien Do not be afraid of the big new city and company.

Ethel Trust yourself. Things always work out, no matter how long it takes.

Asiphe Do not be afraid to take a leap of faith.

Once you commence your job search, you need to think about the possibility that you will be expected to relocate to another town.

Are your prepared to do so?

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DID YOU KNOW?

Understanding the types of leave

by Mihlali Ncukana

THE BASIC CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT ACT, NO. 75 of 1997 (BCEA), determines the conditions applicable to staff leave. This article describes the types of leave applicable to employees.

Annual leave Every employee who works more than 24 hours per month, is entitled to annual leave.

The BCEA determines the minimum number of days per annum, namely, 21 days. This leave must be with full pay. The BCEA stipulates that annual leave must be taken not later than six months after the end of the year. The employer cannot force an employee to take annual leave when another type of leave is applicable (for example, family responsibility leave cannot be regarded as annual leave). If an employee’s leave falls on a Public Holiday, and the employee would not have ordinarily worked on that Public Holiday, then the employer 48

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must give the employee an extra day’s paid leave for that Public Holiday.

Sick leave An employee who works 5 days a week is entitled to thirty (30) days paid sick leave in every 3 year cycle. During your first six months of employment, you cannot take all 30 days of leave. Rather you are entitled to one (1) day sick leave for every 26 days worked. If an employee is on sick leave for longer than which they qualify, the employer does not have to pay the employee for the extra days taken. Any sick leave not taken during the cycle falls away.

If an employee is absent from work for longer than 2 consecutive days or on more than two occasions during an 8-week period, then the employer is entitled to ask the employee for a medical certificate from a

DID YOU KNOW?

registered practitioner including traditional healers. This certificate must clearly set out the reasons why the employee was unable to work and the dates that the employee could not work. If the employee does not or cannot produce a medical certificate as set out above, then the employer does not have to pay the employee for the days off.

the employee is entitled to three (3) days paid family responsibility leave for:

Maternity leave

Adoption leave

The Act determines that an employee is entitled to at least four consecutive months of maternity leave. The timing of maternity leave is as follows:

An employee who becomes the parent of an adopted child below the age of two (2) years of age will be entitled to the same benefits as other employees who become biological parents.

• Any time from four weeks before the expected date of birth; • At a date which a medical practitioner or midwife has certified; • Not before six weeks after the birth of the child; • If the employee has a miscarriage or bears a stillborn child, then the employee can still take six weeks maternity leave.

Paternity leave An employee, who is a parent of a child is entitled to 10 consecutive days of parental leave. They are entitled to take this leave: • on the first occurring date between the date the child is born; • the date an adoption order is granted; • the date that a child is placed in the care of a prospective adoptive parent by a competent court, pending the finalisation of an adoption order.

Family responsibility leave Employees are entitled to family responsibility leave if they have been in the employ of the same employer for longer than four months and work for at least four days a week. During each annual leave cycle,

• When the child of the employee is sick or • When the employee’s spouse or life partner, parent, adoptive parent, grandparent, child, adopted child, grandchild or sister or brother dies.

Study leave Although the BCEA does not make provision for study leave, an employer could grant employees two days study leave per subject per annum with a maximum of no more than 10 days per annum. Any additional leave required for study purposes will have to be taken as unpaid leave.

Leave for religious holidays The BCEA does not regulate leave for religious holidays. Should an employee wish to take leave for the purpose of religious holidays other than an official public holiday, then the employee must take paid annual leave or unpaid leave.

Special leave Special leave is an arrangement granted to an employee who needs to be absent from work but does not qualify under other types of leave. CU

References • Republic of South Africa. (1998). Basic conditions of Employment Act. • University of the Western Cape. (2018). HR Policy Document Administrative and Support Leave UWC CAREER UPDATE 2020 |

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CAREER XPLORA

What do students say about Career Xplora?

“I value Career Xplora especially the job board because I always get notification via emails and I got an internship through this site and I know most people went to the interview through this site. I also did my CV and used the mock interview tool where I learn basic things about the interview which helped me and enhance my knowledge about the job search”.

“Career Xplora is amazing because it is everything you need in one system and it is very easy to navigate. It gives me notifications of jobs which I am interested in and I get to choose from those rather than having to search through countless job ads which I have no interest in.”

Symply the Best HAVE YOU ‘EXPLORED’ YOUR CAMPUS ONLINE CAREER XPLORA PORTAL? Do you know that you have access 24/7/365? This is a comprehensive, web-based career service management solution for careers service staff, students and recruiters.

Launched in 2017, Career Xplora enhances our University’s brand, the efficiency and quality of our services, and increased student confidence in their job search. The consequence was winning the award for the ‘Best Work Readiness Initiative’ at the South African Graduate Employers Association Awards in November 2019.

Check out the job search skill services and prospective employers. Log onto Career Xplora by visiting https://uwc-csm.symplicity.com/ select the STUDENT tab and sign in with your Ikamva details. CU

WINNER

2019

BEST WORK READINESS INITIATIVE

YO U R C A R E E R S S E R V I C E P O R TA L

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PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT

Ace your job

interview

by Winston Middleton With graduate recruitment turbo-charged into the virtual space, Career Update reflects on their useful tool that students must use to ace their job interview.

YOUR FIRST JOB INTERVIEW will be unnerving.

However, practise makes perfect. With much competition in finding your first job, students must learn to confidently ace the job interview. Interviews require diligent preparation - analyse the job advert, conduct company and sector research, prepare responses to possible questions and compile questions for the interviewer. Also, a self-analysis will help you in responding to difficult questions.

Many students practise in front of a mirror – this is ‘old school’ as feedback is not possible. Others ask a friend to conduct an interview. Your Careers Service office has provided an efficient Mock Interview Tool on Career Xplora. Asiphe Cetywayo, a UWC Law graduate, found this tool phenomenal and enabled him to take his interview preparation to the next level.

You can repeat the mock interview until you are satisfied. During my preparation, I had two interviews scheduled and ACED both. I received offers from both firms’.

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There are two options - take a pre-structured interview for your specific discipline or create your mock interview by selecting questions. You then record your interview, play it back and request others (or Careers Service) to review it.

The pre-set questions focus on your discipline and personal-behavioural competencies.

Asiphe was asked questions at his interview similar to those he selected for his mock interview. On reviewing his mock interview, he identified critical mistakes such as too many ‘uhms’, lack of eye contact, speaking too fast, and inappropriate posture and facial expressions. He shares that ‘you can repeat the mock interview until you are satisfied.

During my preparation, I had two interviews scheduled and ACED both. I received offers from both firms’.

Remember to check out the various interview preparation resources available on Career Xplora under the ‘UWC Careers Service Resource Centre’ tab of your menu bar on the left of your Career Xplora homepage (https://uwc-csm.symplicity. com/students). CU

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GET STARTED BY VISITING: https://uwc-csm.symplicity.com/students

OUR “LIVE CHAT WITH CAREERS SERVICE” feature is available during office hours.

CHECK THIS SPACE for upcoming recruitment events.

CHECK THIS SPACE for new postings and announcements.

WATCH THIS SPACE for recommended opportunities based on your activity.

YOUR CAREERS SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, SLIDESHOW AND REMINDERS.

CLICK TO ACCESS ALL THE ONLINE JOB SEARCH PREPARATION TOOLS. Use the RESUME BUILDER to assist you in developing your CV and Letter of Motivation.

The MOCK INTERVIEW TOOL offers you a recording system to practise your interview.

CLICK TO VIEW THE EMPLOYER DIRECTORY of recruiters who utilise UWC Careers Service.

CLICK TO VIEW YOUR UWC CAREERS SERVICE EVENTS CALENDAR.

CLICK TO VIEW YOUR ENTIRE JOB BOARD and explore job opportunities listed locally and internationally.

CLICK ON THE HOME TAB to access your Homepage.

CLICK ON THE PERSONAL INFORMATION TAB and complete these 3 important sections.

GETTING STARTED: Click here to access your account.

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