Discussion Request: From an Unemployed Graduate
Update:
It is with happiness to tell you that Khams has found a job. Here is message relaying the good news.
Guys,
I get a lot of feedback from you but this one really touches on issues that, I think, affect many people out there. Especially the young. I don’t agree or disagree with it but, and in agreement with the sender, I decided to post it here to find out what others think or have to say.
Here is the message (I have edited it, slightly, for readability):
Dear Corporate South Africa
I’m deeply shocked at the state of unemployment in South Africa. Government and private companies are in partnership with a golden lie. I have been, since last year, unemployed whilst the government, whatever that means, continues with this fallacy that the world, and more so South Africa, needs Scientist and Engineers.
I’m here to tell you that this puff and pass site is unnecessary because we are unemployed, and at the shebeen and taverns, and in fact we are registered in all their websites.
Were simply tired of buying newspapers, data bundles for internet, airtime, faxing R5 per page by the way, posting, making copies, filling in Z83 forms and every other temple these companies have.
Last but not least paying with our unemployed grandparent’s pension’s money to attend these pretentious interviews. Whilst they know that already have someone in mind. It is sad that in South Africa or as some might say poor Africa getting funding in the form of loans to study is easy but getting a job can kill your empty pocket and hopeful dreams while uneducated illiterate people continue to steal oxygen in all our so called skills lacking companies.
Yours drank at the shebeen after applying yet again at the post office today: Scientist/ Engineer: Graduate.
Khams
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I decided to post it online because I don’t have all the answers and also that I may not know how deep a problem it is to try to find a job. What do you have to say? #Use the comments section below for your feedback#
One more thing: All comments with SMS/Mixit or shorthand writing style will be deleted.
UPDATE: just so that we don’t turn this discussion into a political party cheerleading contest, all comments about political party A is better than political party B will be deleted. Talking about the government is fine but campaigning is something else….
517 Comments
I feel u, I also graduated in 2004(chem Eng)hav been looking for engineering employment ever since with no luck. I’ve even given up on everytin nd now working in a call centre#SAD#
I get the frustration that we as graduates go through, but pointing fingers won’t bring about a solution even though I second your views about corporate SA having people in mind before the post is advertised. Its a crappy situation, spending money you don’t have to apply for posts n going to interviews with nothing coming from it. But ultimately giving and spending your days in the tarvens/shebeens isn’t being productive at all. Been unemployed for a year in 2009, went back to school and have been looking for a job since graduating in 2011. But some things do work out, even after these long periods of frustration(someone I know who graduated back in 2010 only now just got a job). Do your bit, have a tailor-made cv for the companies you apply to and just hope for the best because you did your part and the blame can’t fall on you. And graduates who have relevant qualifications can have a look at the SA defence force(navy, marines, air force), you don’t have to limit yourself to just a job in corporate SA.
Hi,its true that the government is not enough to assist unemployed graduetes.I myself studied Travel and Tourism Management graduated in 2008 with a Diploma.
I thought because the World Cup is in my country I would get a job.I thought the world cup would bring opportunities for all South Africans.I’ve applied for internship, emailed,faxed,hand delivered.its either you no someone or you buy the job.government I have applied matter times no respond.
I have graduated in march with a Public Adminstration degree(uwc) I know and feel your pain guys, however drinking is not the solution since May I have been volunteering @my high school unpaid just to get experience and I can happily say that I do not have to fax, make copies at any cost as I’m there as part of their staff. I have also taken interest in starting my on company so I do a lot of research at the place where I volunteer because I have so much time on my hands. Let us change our negetive attitudes into more positive one and see what will happen.
This is very sad, as much as we believe what ever we want to believe about what our government is doing or not doing we must also look at ourselves and what we want. Are we go getters, in the mean time you are not employed what are doing with your time? Better be at the tavern than doing voluntery work that can add an experience in your cv rather than the pay you are so in need of. Let us not always put the blame on other people but rather try to empower ourselves with what ever that might be useful in future.
Next time you decide to drop off your CV ask to speak with the boss and see if he can give you a job that you can do so as to gain experience without being paid, maybe that will take you somewhere with your career.
They always say good things comes to those who actualy wait. I have also applied plenty of times in this site but yet no action happens. So my advice is to stay calm,God is preparing something good for those who aren’t employed.
thank you for the hope…i want to believe the same…it gets harder after 10 years!
I do agree with Khams Our country is failing our youth especially graduates.
I got friends who completed their are degrees in 2007 even today they still haven’t find a job or even internships.
the questions should lie if is it the quality of education or our economy cant provide for our fellow brothers and sisters?
Hi all
i fully agree with each comment, but this Government is not occupying us with jobs, so is time for us to stand up and act as one big family, i have studied FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT at a certain college, but i havent got a job on my field…i have tried all my best to apply and i’ve never been called for an interview on that field, but i hope that maybe one day i will get something better…..
Lets not loose hope and keep on trying because you will never know the time and day of your luck, lets stay positive and also lets not blame Puff and Pass these Agency is doing its best to inform us on what is going on out there…but we have to stand up for the Government.
vincent
I fully concore with the person who sent though the e-mail. Nepotism is a major problem in this country! We the youth are exploited by Power hungry polititians who dont give a rats shoe about us yet they want our vote! Job hunting is a ‘job’ on its own, defferance is its your very own cash that being utillised. I’ ve since found a job by the grace of GOD! But im still far from reaching my full potential. Abantu bafakana bodwa emsebenzini! Based on your culture,clan, or spiritual belief! Kunzima and kubi out there. Thanks for the opportunity.
Don’t loose hope guys, God will open doors for you,keep appying and having faith in him
Well im currently doing my Bachelors degree,also a student assistant and busy applying for a job, what often comes to my mind is “well, let me just further my degrees and Doctorates while the government is paying the fees”1 of the good days my time will come for me to put into practice what i have learned. Those in them shebeens and tarvens i thnk dats what they want, i mean our Gov is trying,or iz it bcos our ppl are misinformed?? And well instead of spending on 1 bottle of beer y not take dat R15 and buy a Fast Mail……..i promise u 1day struggle setla fela!! And Please Fellow South Africans lets get our english ryt…..somehow i think dats 1 of the factors we fail interviews
I understand where khams is coming from. I graduated in 2010, I’ve been applying for jobs ever since. I got a job as an administrator at a construction company, I file, fax, make copies and I even clean. It is very frustrating being ordered around like a little child but I have to be grateful and keep at it because I atleast earn a living. I dont however agree with the comment that there is no point to this website, it gives me hope. Everytime I get a job alert I feel hopeful that maybe this is might be it… I’m grateful for the website
It’s true that the period between leaving school and finding the first job can be really frustrating and emotional, speaking as a graduate. Of course the government has to do something about the problem, on the other hand, we the youth must try to change our attitude when we have found a jobs because if a certain company employs a fresh-from-school graduate and realise that s/he is good for nothing, chances are that the company will never wish to employ such graduates in future. Let us meet the government halfway.
It is very painfull,people like to say education come first but it stil has no difference. We have degrees, diploma, certificates but they are useless.
As I’m reading this comment my eyes are filled with tears I have completed my Degree in internal Auditing 2009 and I have been applying for every internship, graduate progr etc but with no luck what pains a lot is that Iam 29 years old this year already some companies require young bloods soon I wont be qualifying for internships yet I don’t have any working experience in my field I work as receptionist/cleaner in one of our local surgeries while I also envy to have a nice house,car,save for my kids.its sucks realy
I graduated last year and yes it sucks that my other friends without degrees are working and getting paid good amounts,this very morning I droped a cv at some place I was told I’d be called but I’ve lost count of how many cv’s I’ve dropped at some offices or faxed even emailed and posted!
I am in the IT industry and let me tell you that jobs are available in this sector and they are high paying, the problem is getting in.
If you are a developer without experience then you gonna struggle, companies are not willing to pay for up skilling someone they rather pay high salaries to experience developers hence the job hopping in this sector.
With that being said, it’s not impossible to get in but you have to sharpen your will this world is for believers.
I like what what professor Jonathan Jansen wrote on The Times newspaper a few weeks ago, he said :
Jobless Graduate writes to me often, posing a question filled with emotion and frustration. “I have a degree, but I cannot find a job. How do you explain that, professor?”
There is a veiled accusation in the question, something like “you are always telling people to study and get an education; well, my parents sacrificed much to send me to university and now, look, I cannot even find a simple job with this qualification.”
JG is male and female, in the early to mid-20s, mostly black, from a poor family, and from all nine provinces.
JG has applied for every job available, starting with one that fits the degree that she studied for and then, later, going for any job that could earn her some money.
JG feels frustrated because he is invited to interviews but the companies nevercall back. He feels he is there simply to make up the numbers; at his lowest points, he believes they need black faces on parade without feeling the need to hire one. After all, they can claim they made the effort.
So JG, here is my message to you.
The reason you fail to get a job has little to do with your degree. It has everything to do with the other things employers look for in a candidate.
To begin with, take a close look at your curriculum vitae. You will notice spelling errors and large gaps between words. You will see that your paragraphs are not always aligned, and that your references at the end are missing information.
Your sloppy CV is one reason that employers decide, there and then, that you would probably make a careless worker.
You will also see that your CV is quite thin. From this important document it is clear that you did nothing else with your life while you were a student.
You did not belong to youth associations, and I do not mean the destructive political ones that go around insulting people and disrupting classes. You were not part of progressive social, cultural and political organisations that sought to make a difference in the lives of poor people.
Your CV makes no reference to voluntary work or holiday occupations. That part-time job at the Spur might have brought in much-needed cash, but volunteering at an Aids hospice or starting up your own youth literacy project or reading club in the township would have shortlisted you for the job.
Then take a look at the marks you took from your transcripts and pasted onto your CV.
Your marks reveal that you concentrated on passing, and so your 40% in mathematical literacy at school, and your 52% in sociology at university, send all the wrong signals, and here I am not even talking about your meaningless 90% in life orientation.
While you were concentrating on passing, other students were focused on excelling; there is a big difference.
I also noticed from your transcript that you repeated anthropology and political science three times each; fat chance of an interview, to be honest.
Now I want you to reflect on your last interview.
The way you walked into the interview room suggested a serious energy deficit. There was no smile, and you looked depressed, with your drooping shoulders. And for heaven’s sake, dress properly.
The way you used language was not upbeat, and you made several grammatical errors that the panel members noticed.
You were not prepared, and this showed when one of the panellists asked you what you had found out about their organisation from Google. Your answer was not cool: “I have not yet met Mr Google.”
I am glad you did not respond when one of the interviewers, out of frustration, mumbled, “Bring me Jack Daniels.”
And so you see, JG, it is not about showing up with a degree that matters. It is the other stuff they are looking for, the value added to the degree.
You see, unlike with political appointments, they are looking for competence, composure and confidence, and evidence of a life well lived. They want proof of an energetic self-starter who filled her leisure time with service to others.
They want an articulate and accomplished employee who can be trusted to represent the organisation well to the outside world.
They regard an investment in a professional CV writer as demonstrating care and concern for the small things that matter.
And by the way, that line on the CV that says “Criminal Record – None.” Please remove that useless information just in case they do a background check.
How do you solve this, Mr A wants to construct a bridge he approaches engineering company B then this company B they chose what they think is good location for the bridge and an old inhabitant C tells Mr A that the chosen location is not ideal! Mr A should he believe the engineering company bcoz they are educated or two is better than one? or the old inhabitant? neither of them provides presumptive evidence to their thesis!
Problem with induction, is that you can not use too small sample to conclude a universal! The thing is sometimes we humans we want to solve convenient problems with complex methods. In a nutshell is not everybody outhere who has that grammar and spelling errors you bragin about!
They (Graduates) are telling you, that SOMETIMES these learnerships,bursaries,vacancy etc… they come at a price or relativism and some are showing-out with an aggragate of 70% no failed modules you mentioned and no 90% for that sociology or L.O of yours. Don’t forget that some don’t even receive that call to get interviewed!
But you still blame the CV’s and extracurricula activities, and am not implying that Govt is responsible. You cannot expect a historian to obtain 80% for calculus in higher dimensions and 60% for an actuary student! that’s absurd!
Reality is, if it exists Not all companies recruite top academic achievers. They have all right reasons to believe that relativism and nepotism still exist but its not something we should entertain!
I FULL AGREE WITH THE PERSON WROTE THIS, I THINK ITS TIME OUR GOVERNMENT DO TAKE ACTION ABOUT THIS, SINCE LAST YEAR BEEN TO MORE THAN 20 INTERVIEWS BUT NON I GOT A REPLY. AS FOR PUFF AND PASS I SALUTE YOU GUYS I DNT AGREE WITH THE PERSON SAYS ITS NO POINT OF IT.
wow this is one real comment/statement from Khams and to be honest i kind of feel the same way sometimes cause iv heard from people who work within these major corporation that its all about who you know or who you’re connected to and most of the if you apply for a certain position it has already been decided who will fill the position and interviewing process is just a formality but im not losing hope!
I understand the frustration. I have noticed the newly graduates, don’t want to start small, in life one must start somewhere and grow. On my second job, most graduates were joining, fresh from the Universities. It would be hard for a senior to send them to make copies or prepare a file cause the answer would be, I did not study filing or faxing. The service deteriorated because of the I do not want people to take advantage attitude. Who knows maybe the jobs are created for certain people because of the saying “better the devil you know”.