Retail Design Architect [R45k] - Johannesburg

Do you know somebody who qualifies for this job? Let them know about this career opportunity.

Requirements:
B Degree (university degree);
3 years+ architectural (design structures) experience

Responsibilities:
Carry out designs from concept to structure
Project management
Customer/ client orientation

Contact: Fusi Motaung - fusi.motaung@gmail.com/ 016 933 5493

Project Architect [R45k p/m] - Johannesburg

Do you know somebody who qualifies for this job? Please let them know about it.

Requirements:
Black African Male/ female;
35 years old max;
Pr Architect;
B Sc/ equivalent from Wits, TUKS, FS University or at UCT.

Responsibilities:
Monitor initial and ongoing building construction as per architectural design specifications
Project management
Stakeholder management
Problem-solve
Report writing

Contact Fusi Motaung - fusi.motaung@gmail.com/ 016 933 5493

If I am your Referee

First of all, let me tell you how surprised I was that you have chosen me to be your Referee yet you have not asked me to play that role.

Secondly, let me tell you how astounded I am that you have not contacted me over the course of two days, during which I have been receiving calls from employers wanting to confirm our working history.

Thirdly, let me tell you how difficult it was for me to try to pin your identity down, when the names you have given to your potential employer are not the “other names” you have used in the past, including the ones that are on your facebook account.

And, let me tell you how awkward it felt for me having to try to remember the work or project I’ve done with you. I have done quite a bit with many people in the recent years, you know. Touching base with me before submitting your CV to employers would have made things easier for all of us.
As I was writing this to you, my head was sore after scratching it for a long time trying to remember who you are.

Let me tell you how frustrated I was when, after discovering who you are, I tried without success to get hold of you on the phone. I do not have your number.

I am not done yet.

So let me tell you how doubtful I am about my contribution to your prospects of you getting that job. Not after that dodgy reference I have given about you. Which employer tolerates being asked to phone the next day, and the next day, simply because the Referee is not in the clear about who we are talking about? A simple “Sorry employer, I don’t know who Sepamo Mashaya is’ from me would have sealed your fate. Not only did I try to keep your credibility intact this morning. I was fighting tooth and nail to defend my own reputation.

If you have ever asked me to be your referee, then I apologise for having a short memory. But if you have not done so, I am damn well justified to give you a dressing down about this! So why, in the world where people a trying new ways to land a job, are you calling yourself Trigga-happy Molesta on facebook? Have you not heard of Oskido and his 5 year jail term which has the country divided down the middle? Okay; Oscar Pistorius. I hope you get the point.

Let me tell you how embarrassing it is going to be, and career limiting it might be, when the employer confronts you about the mis-match of information which came from you and me. Ausi, on the second day the employer pinned me down, I found myself piecing things together so that you could get that job.

Before I let you go… Referees can stand between you and the job. History between Referee and Applicant, including a ridiculous thing like the mood of the latter, are critical.

Another thing is, Referees who have vouched for somebody who was not what they claimed to being have found themselves in trouble. So no one is taking the role of being referee lightly these days. Think for a minute about a person whose name is appearing in the Referee section of the CV of the SABC Chairperson. That Referee is not sleeping well at night, judging by the developments of that matter.

Good luck with getting that job. Now I am done.

How stressful is your job?

http://www.jobmail.co.za/blog/the-5-most-stressful-jobs-in-south-africa/

http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/research-outputs/view/4159

The door

A man went to apply for a job. After filling out all of his applications he waited anxiously for the outcome. The employer read all his applications and said, ‘We have an opening for people like you.’
‘Oh, great,’ the man said, ‘What is it?’
‘It's called the door!’

No job is for sale

A local newspaper, Vaal Ster, reported last week “Job seekers defrauded by SDM employee.” The administrative official working at a municipality’s corporate services was nabbed by the police for fleecing job-seekers of their money.

According to the story, the suspect masqueraded as an HR Manager. She solicited R1 000 deposit from each applicant to place them “on top of the list.” The understanding between her and the non-suspecting applicants was that they will have to pay her another R5 000 after they were employed.

Sometime in May this year a story broke out. A well known teachers union was alleged to be involved in a scandal of selling school principal jobs. According to the story, “school principals were placed in posts in return for R30 000 bribe upwards per post.”

Other sources from within the union and department of education revealed that entry level jobs were being sold upwards of R6 500 by principals to make back the money they paid for their own posts. Deputy Principal and HOD posts were being sold for R15 000 and R10 000 respectively’ revealed the source.

Other scams which were revealed included lateral appointments within and between provinces for upwards of R10 000. As for the teachers who were opting for early retirement, they could get their teaching job back within a year of leaving by paying upwards of R30 000.

What the two scenarios are revealing is that as the practice of taking advantage of job-seekers escalates, more people will believe that a job is for sale; and that this is normal.

A recruitment Agency invited me to interview in Randburg about 10 years ago. I had gone there with my colleague who was also a graduate. Instead of us being interviewed, we were made to cough up R100 each in return for having our CVs re-written into a particularly uniform format. Everybody who went there to find a job came away with a CV that looked like everybody else’s, and a pocket which is minus R100. They promised us jobs, which we are still waiting for.

No job is for sale. If you are made to pay in order to get the job, then you are no longer applying for a job; you are buying one. What is worse is that the job you will be doing is not yours. It belongs to the one who orchestrates transactions. It is like having two bosses - the one you are reporting to, and the one who you are paying.

You do not have to look any further than the alleged scam happening in our education system. Suddenly a teacher who got promoted is being looked at with suspicion. Did he/ she get this on merit or… you know? When a teaching relative or neighbor is telling you about their transfer, you begin to flinch and “pray to God.”

If the allegations of scam are true, therefore a teacher who – out of nowhere - bought a huge car, or the one who settled their bond, or the one who bought very nice furniture or the one who did grand house renovations is being looked at with suspicion. And you know that, should they feel the need to return to teaching, they are at the mercy of those running the scam.

I often receive messages from young people who are being asked to pay some money in order to secure employment. I often advise them to go for one of the two options: 1. Report this to the police. 2. Run as fast as you can away from that swindler!

http://www.salabournews.co.za/index.php/component/content/article/70-labour-news/17289-sadtu-selling-of-school-principal-jobs-widespread-scam-includes-other-posts-transfers-and-early-retirement-manipulation.html

http://www.citypress.co.za/news/more-jobs-for-sale-sadtu-racket/

This interviewee is honest

‘What’s your greatest weakness?’

“Honesty.”

‘I don’t think that honesty is a weakness.’

“I don’t give a s##t what you think.”

Meaning is everything

Interviewer: You say you have the experience; I don’t see any in your CV.

Interviewee: I can clarify that… I have the job search experience.

Young people, bring your Art. Somebody needs it.

Often we say to those whom we look up to, 'I want to start a business, but I don't know what type of business; I don't even know how to start.' We also say this a lot to our friends and colleagues.

I often ask myself: Why do we want to own a business? Usually, our answers range from...  'to make money'; 'being my own boss'; 'to create employment' to 'being in control of my own life.'

The question of "Why?" and "How?" are serious questions indeed. Perhaps there is the right reason why we should start up and run businesses.  Therefore I am inviting great people like Roche Mamabolo, Lebo Pule, Ntsoaki Phali, Patrick Zimba Mawire, Tebogo Hlapi, Muzi Zwane and Siphiwe Moyo to share their thoughts.

As for me, I think that until we have identified the problem about which we want to offer ourselves in order to solve it, then the idea of being in business, or being an entrepreneur, will remain an elusive dream.

Entrepreneurs are authentic people. They are not always brave. Sometimes they were so scared of the problem they decided to do something to solve it. They have surrendered to the life of serving, of giving something of themselves which others won’t give, or are too afraid, or are lazy, to offer. They are providing something which is 'new', 'real' and 'important.'

So, what do you want to help mankind with? Yes. That. That is the Art we are calling you to bring to the table. Bring your Art; because somebody needs it.

Crying all the way to the job interview

Crying all the way to the job interview

It has been 5 years since the crying happened. I am thinking of this as I walk into the meeting place. I look around. I cannot spot my date.

Charles, whom I cannot tell if he is smiling or simply grinning at me, is following my cue. I reject his table-for-one offer by politely telling him that I am meeting somebody who is already seated. We both look this way and that way. He is feeling awkward about this. His job is to serve food for patrons, not to perform Tracker services for them.

So I pull out my phone. I dial and pull it to the ear. Oh, there she is. I abandon the call, and Charles. She stands up. We hug. We are happy to see each other. We sit. Charles carefully interrupts. He wants me to order a drink. Kemong insists that I take wine or cider. Charles is nodding. A debate ensues.
‘I am driving 99 kilos after this,’ I protest.
‘Ah, just one glass, my brother, hau,’ she insists.
 When I look at her glass, it is not of Grapetiser (her favourite, as far as I know) but something which looks like Redd’s. Right there, peer pressure gets the better of me.
‘I will take Savannah, provided it is just one glass,’ I say, pointing to the heavens with my index finger to emphasise this declaration.
Suddenly, that TV ad of Kagiso Lediga, wearing dark shades inside a pub, and gigantic wrist watch, lustily wooing a clearly unimpressed lady, across the room, and demonstrating to a white dude next to him what buffoonery looks like, is running through my head. I quietly pray for safe passage, despite Savannah in my bloodstream.

Kemong has just accepted a job offer. She is relocating to another city. But why has she invited me here to celebrate with her? I ask myself. It is a long story.

It was in April 2009. My sister and I had just pulled over at a salon when I received the phone call. The caller was crying. I was startled.

‘What is wrong?’ I had asked.
‘My car won’t start!
‘What? Where are you?
‘I am at my place… I’m about to leave but it won’t start!’ she says hysterically. ‘Fusi… I don’t think I’ll make it to the interview… I have messed up!’

‘Calm down,’ I said. It was exactly 55 minutes before the interview at 10h am.

‘Look Kemong, I am in Qwaqwa right now; is there somebody nearby who can help you?’
‘I can phone my boyfriend to come from work... he understands this car… but I’m late, Fusi!’ the crying is not stopping.
‘How about you call the cab to Sandton?’ I offered a suggestion.
‘No Fusi, I don’t have much money on me!’
I understood where she was coming from. The other night I had taken a cab from Midrand to Craighallpark. I paid an arm and a leg and remained traumatized for a long time.
‘Okay, okay… this is what you must do. Ask Vuyo (boyfriend) to rush. Then, phone Pansy (HR Officer); tell her that your car is delaying you; request a 30 minute delay for your interview while you work on a solution to get there.’
‘Okay,’ she says.

‘I will phone you later.’ I assure her before ending the call.
[6-8 minutes pass]

‘Kemong, what’s the latest?’
‘Vuyo is on his way; Pansy and the Manager agreed to start the interview at 10h30.’
Excellent! Now, focus on yourself, lady. You are going to that interview and you are going to get that HR Consultant job, do you hear me?
She laughs nervously and says ‘Okay.’

Vuyo solved the engine problem and escorted Kemong to the interview. She got the job. She worked for a company for over 2 years. Today she has invited me to supper to celebrate because she has found other greener pastures. So we are sitting at Carlswald, in Midrand. We are recounting that old drama. And we are in stitches.

Charles appears. He is flashing his trademark “smile.” We compose ourselves and we watch him as he places scrumptious-looking things on our table.
‘So what can you say you learned from that experience?’ I ask Kemong.

She’s holding her glass in both hands. She looks up and says, ‘… that whenever you encounter a problem on your way to the interview, have the presence of mind to inform the company immediately.’

‘What else?’ I ask, not thinking for a minute that I am questioning a seasoned HR professional. She is studying my face for a clue.

‘That I must know how to fix that troublesome Citi Golf of mine,’ she chuckles.
We burst out laughing, knowing that she OLXd that damned thing. Today she gets around in a shimmering BMW, which is waiting snobbishly for her in the parking lot.
‘Well, what if you did not have airtime at that moment?’ I ask her.
‘Hei wena… airtime is king, I guess,’ she exclaims, and contemplates for a while. She is stabbing food with her fork.
‘And what if you did not have the phone number of Pansy… mind you I was not in the office that day?’
‘I would have been in big trouble, Fusi,’ she says.

The first casualty from my plate is a mound of spinach. It launches “heavenly” sensations inside my mouth. I can feel my nostrils come to life as I let the taste to take effect.
‘Well, you have been through a lot,’ I say as I tumble down from dizzying heights of spinach-in-my-mouth, and violate the table manners in the process.
‘You have actually cried all the way to the interview.’
Her fork, which had taken a sizeable stab at the green leaves and heading to her mouth, plunges back to the plate as she bursts out laughing.

We enjoyed the food, and the drinks, and the memories. Kemong is now HR Manager at a new company, in a different city, 5 years on.

Snatch it, or let somebody know about it

There are several civil and building projects in the pipeline. They require the services of qualified and experienced professionals who are:

Civil Engineers
Structural/ Geo-technical Engineers
Project Managers

The Requirements include:
B Degree/ B Tech in Civil Engineering/ Engineering Geology or equivalent
3-10 post-qualification experience

Anybody who qualifies, and is interested in discussing the opportunity, may email the CV to:
fusi.motaung@gmail.com

The conundrum of Cover Letter

An HR Practitioner recently posted the following message on facebook:

 “Whoever came up with this motivational letter when applying for job must be given a warm klap! Waste of people’s time. Most HR Practitioner don’t have time to read all those love letters.” 

So I duly shared this posting and waited for people’s remarks. And they came; and they were interesting. A senior Human Capital Executive remarked by simply saying ‘True.’ Another person with relevant experience remarked, ‘It is true. I sat in several short-listing sessions and those “love letters” are never looked at.’
 
Some of the students who commented expressed with amazement how they have been – if I may gamble with the word – conscripted into fine-tuning their ability to write a compelling Cover Letter. ‘I have been wasting my flipping time all along!’ a student remarked. 

During the workshops I conduct at universities and Colleges, I often receive a barrage of questions from students and graduates about this "cover letter".


First of all, I have tried to explain to them the objective of a Motivation Letter. I have been saying to them: Instead of worrying about Cover letter, find something you can write to motivate the reader or manager or an HR official to read your CV, or to have the desire to meet even if they did not read your CV. And I call this a motivation letter.

Then I have said to them, let us not put that in a page like it had been done all along; just put it on email. Often they say, what should we put in there? I then say, if the reader did not open your CV, what is it that you would like him or her to know about your suitability for the job?

Students and graduates are often dumbfounded by this. Then I would say: What have you done recently that shows that you are a success waiting to happen? What have you done well? How have you helped somebody using your skills/ education recently?

If the employer is not going to read your Motivation Letter, or your CV, what do you want him/ her to know about you when they read your email? Usually, I pause here as I marvel at how transfixed they would be as they ponder this question. ‘Put that on the email,’ I would say.

Bring you Art. Somebody needs it.

From the moment we measure the progress and success of others through the bling they have, we have missed the point. Once we ignore the trials and tribulations the people we look up to have experienced to be where they are, we become the slaves of ill-fitting dreams.

Our country has many challenges. They are economic, political, social and spiritual. These challenges have for a long time conspired against a young generation. The highest unemployment rate is with the youth. If you are young and Black, you are worse off.

The economic and social system appears to be denying us job opportunities, because it does not trust us. Trust is scarce, (real human) connection is scarce and so is the element of surprise. We are too compliant; we are too similar; we are too average. We are trying not to ruffle the feathers.

The commitment to bringing something new or different to the table, the commitment to standing out, and the faith of saying at the time of meeting decision-makers, ‘I can help you with this,’ ‘I can do this for you,’ will propel us to the level of playing our A-game.

Entrepreneurs emerge from this mindset. They are not accidental success stories. They did not start businesses as a fall-back alternative after failing to secure employment. They are authentic people. They have surrendered to the life of serving, of giving something of themselves which others won’t give, or are too afraid, or lazy, to offer. They are providing something which is new, real and important in this era of connection economy. In the words of Seth Godin, ‘the connection economy rewards the leader, the initiator, and the rebel.’

If you don’t know what you are offering, and you are not willing to find out, wait your turn in the unfair and often dissipating promise of employment. But if you know what you are offering (as a leader, initiator and the rebel), step up. Why do you wait to be called in?

Oprah Winfrey used to call people to give them spotlight on her show. YouTube has changed the game. Rebels meet their important audience without asking to be given a chance. The real chance is not the moment you have asked for, but the moment which you seize. So grab your chance. Knock on the doors. Find out what the people need. Can you satisfy the need?

Doobsie, how could you?

Doobsie is an Accounting graduate. She attended an interview in Johannesburg last week. Being an entry-level position, and that she is new to the interview scene, the recruiting consultant phoned her a day before to prepare her.

1. Research “this” and “that” about the company (not knowing what the recruiting employer’s business is can be suicidal.) 

2. You may dress “this” way or “that” way (some graduates wear mini-skirts and show cleavage).

3. Make sure you have notepad and backup pen (somebody once tried helplessly to make his ink-less pen to write during an interview.) Doobsie laughed heartily at this.

4. Ensure that you greet and introduce yourself at the gate and at the reception (some employers put unknown hurdles on your way in.) Doobsie was now serious, and only saying ‘Okay, okay,’ the whole time.
 

5. If you are going to have questions for the interviewer, limit them to 3 only. You cannot be firing a barrage of questions to interviewer, especially when the time is over. You don’t want the interviewer to kick your throat, and kick you out in a huff. 

6. Please make sure that you do not ask embarrassing or controversial questions (you can’t ask the manager(s) at Eskom, ‘Why are you subjecting the country to load-shedding?’)

[The next day]

Consultant dials Doobsie’s phone number. There is no reply. This is odd. The phone continued to ring later in the afternoon. Doobsie was not answering, despite having promised to phone as soon as she was done with the interview. 
‘Doobsie, you did not answer my call yesterday.’
‘I am so sorry; I did not have airtime to call back,’ says Doobsie.
‘It’s okay; so how did the interview go?’ 
‘It went well, actually,’ replied Doobsie.
‘That’s great; well done. I will phone you as soon as I have feedback from the company,’ said the Consultant before ending the conversation.

[Conversation with Employer]
Consultant is curious. ‘How did your interview with Doobsie go yesterday?’
‘Doobsie was okay… buuut, eish… she brought her two friends to the interview,’ said the unimpressed Employer.
‘Excuse me?’
‘Yes, I ended up interviewing all of them.’

By that time the Consultant’s jaw has dropped on the floor. He manages to pull it back up…
‘I am very sorry about that incident.’
‘It’s okay, [name of consultant,]’ Employer assures Consultant.
’Did you determine if any of them was suitable for appointment?’

‘Naah, I don’t think so hey. I understand that mistakes like those happen but my interviewing colleague is not impressed by this. Please send me the other CVs. Be aware that my time is now limited. I want the person to start in April.’

You can sell or sabotage yourself through email - (Continued...

A graduate wrote me an email on Friday. It said the following, in the exact sense:

[‘afternoon mr, fufi im still waiting for your respond coz you receive my cv.

kind regards
(name and surname)’]

I was still biting my lip, and trying to calm down, when I opted to read the next email.

The next email which I read was from the employer. I was being asked to arrange the interviews for two candidates. One of them is the very applicant whose email to me you have just read. The interviews are taking place this week.

My anxiety was getting worse as I was thinking about this situation.

1. Must I proceed to send this candidate to the interview without saying a word, which is to say throwing her to the wolves?

2. Must I correct the applicant by teaching her a proper way of writing emails before I give her information about the interview?

What do you think I should have done?

So I replied to her email in this way…

[Beginning of email]
Hi “Name”,

Thank you for your email.

I have just called you now. I want to give you the details of your interview. Please phone me as soon as possible.

CORRECTION:
My name is Fusi, not fufi. Please don’t make this error again about anybody’s name. As a graduate, you are giving an impression that you are careless with peoples’ names. No employer wants to employ somebody who gets their name wrong in this way.
Secondly, I want to show you a proper and professional way of writing emails, especially when you are writing about something as serious as a job application.

1.     Every first word and sentence - as you should know by now - starts with uppercase alphabet;
2.     The same goes for Mr.;
3.     We have sorted out the issue of incorrect name already;

4.     Salutation “Afternoon (name)” takes up one line; the rest of the message must go below the salutation;
5.     Saying “I’m still waiting for respond coz…” is passive, yet demanding; Ask me if I have the latest feedback for you on the job application, something in that line.
6.     Writing ‘because’ is far more appropriate than writing ‘coz.’ Employers are not your friends. You are a graduate now who is in the job market. Coz does not exist in all the official languages. Improve your vocabulary accordingly.
7.     Replace ‘respond’ with ‘response.’
8.     Because this happened in the past, therefore replace ‘receive’ with ‘received.’



Kind regards



[End of email]



Employers take the email, which is a communication tool, very seriously. They use it to evaluate the type of professional/ graduate a person is. Email reveals whether people understand the basics of writing, which is part of communication skills. If the employer gets the impression that you don’t possess this fundamental skill, then they are not keen to interview you.
It is unacceptable that a graduate in a commercial field (not that other graduates are excused from this) is writing an email in this way. It casts doubt on them, on their self-concept, on the education they have received and on their potential to work and grow within the profession.

You can sell or sabotage yourself through email

A graduate wrote me an email on Friday. It said the following, in the exact sense:

[‘afternoon mr, fufi im still waiting for your respond coz you receive my cv.

kind regards']

I was still biting my lip, and trying to calm down, when I opted to read the next email.

The next email which I read was from the employer. I was being asked to arrange the interviews for two candidates. One of them is the very applicant whose email to me you have just read. The interviews are taking place this week.

My anxiety was getting worse as I was thinking about this situation.

1. Must I proceed to send this candidate to the interview without saying a word, which is to say throwing her to the wolves?

2. Must I correct the applicant by teaching her a proper way of writing emails before I give her information about the interview?

What do you think I should have done?

Here is how some jobs slip through our fingers

I secured an interview for a young person last week. Let’s call this candidate YP - short for young person. The Employer, a very busy lady, proposed that they meet at a restaurant. So I liaised with the two parties.

The Employer was going to phone YP a day before to confirm the place and time of the meeting. So I imagined that this was going to be an easy-going session, over some delicious things stacked on the plates, who knows what opportunities await your hungry self when you meet Employer at the restaurant, at the end of the month? 

The interview did not happen. It was the Employer who informed me about this on Monday when I was doing follow up. ‘I called YP several times but she did not take my calls,’ said the Employer.
In my moment of embarrassment, and anxiety, I hurried to phone YP.

‘YP, how did it go on Friday? I enquired.
‘Yoh Mr. Fusi I am so sorry, I saw the miss calls from Employer but I did not have airtime to call back to explain that I don’t have money for transport,’ she pleaded.

YP had agreed to meet the employer anywhere around West/ South of Joburg, which was an attempt, on the part of the employer, to meet her candidate closer to Soweto (employer was coming from Ekurhuleni.)

‘So why did you not let me know? I did not receive your Please Call Me, at least.’ I retorted.

‘I am very sorry,’ she pleaded again.

‘So what must we do, YP? Do you want the job or not?’ I nudged her willpower.

‘Yes, I am serious about the job.’ She replied.

The Employer has lost interest in this interview. She wants to interview other candidates.

Obviously there are glaring challenges in this story.

1. Many young people, because of their unemployment status, are even struggling to search for the jobs because the money is not there.

2. A young person who can afford to have expensive items (clothing, gadgets, etc.), yet cannot afford to deal with the expenses of job search, needs to examine his/ her priorities.

3. The education of a young person does not have a built-in curriculum to prepare him/ her for the job market by way of empowering them with the requisite skills to search, to research, to articulate and to sell their skills to the employers. These things get to be learned by trial and error, sometimes the experience comes at a costly price to one’s image and the relationships they forge along the way.

She dropped out, hunted for a job, and came out with bursary

When she came through the door, she looked like somebody who had given up on something and was searching for hope. We sat down in the office to talk.

She was in her second year of university when she dropped out. She did not have the money to continue. So how can I help you? I asked her. She looked at the ceiling. Tension and desperation in her eyes let off the tears which gleamed against the light.

‘Uhm, I’m not sure. I’m here because I want to finish my studies,’ she said as she shifted slightly in the chair. ‘But my grandparents don’t have money so… I guess I have to get a job, but I don’t have qualifications, so please help me because I don’t know what else to do.’ she was fighting the tears. Her voice trembled as she hastily wrapped up. It shook something in me.

I asked her about her life and family situation. She had had a stint as news reader for a community radio station. She spoke with clarity and her emails to me indicated that she had great potential. ‘I enjoy the research part of Engineering so I want to follow that stream,’ she said. I was spell-bound to find a way to help her.

She came back the following week. I was pleasantly surprised by how meticulous she had done her homework. She had compiled the research about companies which we thought she could approach to offer her skills. She sent me evidence of her proposals to companies including the company responses to her.

For about three meetings, I shared some life lessons with her. Those lessons have shaped key moments in my own life, and in the lives of those who’ve taught me one or two things. They are long stories which I can only summarise in this way…

1.     When you aspire for something, be it a job, an important relationship, healing or even a car which you “need,” claim it. Call it forth. Say, ‘I will work at ABC soon;’ ‘I will have a meeting with so-and-so one day;’ ‘There goes my car,’ and proceed to do what is necessary to achieve it. This is the prayer that I know.

2.     When you are struggling to get ahead (and the truth is that you are actually getting ahead even during strife), and the doors don’t seem to be opening, think differently. Surrender – not “give up” - to the desperation… Yes. And soon your God-mind may abandon your selfish thoughts and then it will ask: How can I help somebody? Life is not just about you; it is about everyone. Sometimes the stumbling block in life is that I have not given myself to others; I have just been taking, taking, and trying to take more. Life says we are called to re-create ourselves even during bad times; to conquer and surprise ourselves. This is the game of aspiring to be in God. Offer YOURSELF, the universe will return the love.

Pulane [not her real name] and I shared these and many other lessons, suffice it to say that when she sent me an email on 27 January, she had this to say:

‘I just had an "Aha" moment when I recall what you used to say "helping people is like doing a prayer for yourself." I couldn't continue with a mission [visiting companies with proposals] this year. We had nothing at home this month [she’s depending on pensioners] and then that's when I came to a point where I got so bored and decided to keep myself busy by helping out at the church. One day (about a week ago) the Reverend became interested in knowing what am currently doing with my life, I explained to him and he said the church can give me bursary. My application has been approved and I am submitting my results [to church] this week. I’ll be going for an interview on Sunday and hopefully I’ll be able to register soon.’

This morning of 27 February 2014 I received a long email from her. I will only quote the following extract:

‘Do you remember the last e-mail I sent to you(last month)about me going to the interview for the church bursary? It went well. But it was not easy to register because I was owing the institution R5000.00 and the bursary was only willing to pay for my 2014 fees. So I got sooo emotionally drained, I talked and talked to them, like you taught me :)… until NSFAS pledged to pay the outstanding, by God’s grace. I only registered on Valentine’s day, and started attending last week (doing a lot of catching up) and this is my second week.’

You are in the job market; here is the checklist…

1.     Can I write a CV?

2.     Can I write a Suitability Motivation Letter

3.     Can I write my own Skills and Competency Profile

4.     Can I write a brief value proposition of what I can do/ offer/ deliver on? What am I bringing?

5.     Can I use telephone skillfully?

6.     Can I use email skillfully?

7.     Do I have interviewing skills?

8.     Do I observe the basics of professionalism?

9.     Do I have the resources to search (transport fare, internet access, mentor, network, etc.)?

10.  How many people have I personally informed that I am in the job market? Am I in touch with them? Have I convinced them that I am ready or good enough?

Graduates are not having it easy in the job market

It is taking 2 days for three graduates to send me their updated CVs. The opportunity is Accounting graduate programme in Johannesburg. The closing date is today.

What could be the hold-up?

1. Lack of resources?

2. Lack of knowledge on what should be done?

3. Lack of professionalism? 

I am asking the three questions because…

Applicant 1 promised to phone me this morning at 09h00, after I protested that the noise levels in the background were assaulting my eardrum (she was commuting in a train) She called me at 09h48, no apology, and got cut off within a minute. When I called her 10 minutes later, she said she was on her way to buying airtime.

Applicant 2 kept saying "Ya" instead of "Yes" when we were on the phone yesterday. When I pointed out to him that Ya is neither polite nor consistent with, at least English, he replied 'Okay,' and that was it.

Applicant 3 phoned me this morning to inform me that the e-mail she sent to me returned undelivered. I had offered to email blank e-mail to her; she insisted that she will write my email down. That was 2 days ago.

Please share your thoughts.

The ways of finding work are shifting

Every time I make the completing students (and graduates) aware that the trend of searching for work by way of sending CVs and hoping for luck are shifting, the reactions I get from them range between shock and indifference. Times are changing. The signs are there.

Finding work takes more than just academic qualification and appealing CV. Among other things, it takes dedication and investing in your trade. It requires robust research about the industries/ organisations/ markets which need your skills.

It takes mutual connections (not only who you know, but how you influence the decision-maker at the time of the pitch) to get ahead. Those of us who do not gear up for this often miss out. Sometimes we rely on chance to give us jobs. But how often does “chance” come around?

Most of us who have been struggling to find work for over 2 years of graduating – I work with many of them - have not taken steps beyond just sending CVs into a Black hole and hoping for luck. What is holding us back?

Fear
False expectations appearing real.

I am shy

Shy people are constantly evaluating themselves negatively.

Dream job

Only deliberate research about your profession/ trade will dispel the myth about “dream job.” You don’t land a dream job passively. Only by taking proactive action can we do a worthwhile job.

Right opportunity

What exactly is the right opportunity? Put yourself out there. Use your talent more. Do what comes naturally to you a lot more. Hone your skills. Meet your opportunity. Do what you can right where you are.

Seeking approval and validation

We live up to expectations of our lecturers, parents, siblings, friends, lovers, neighbours, employers, etc. Are you trying to please someone? How about seeking the God in you instead?

Fearing rejection

When we go out to give what we can offer; to tell somebody (manager, company, investor, audience) what we are good at, we must anticipate rejection. Learning to deal with rejection is one of the most important life practices available. The industrial age rewards us for avoiding rejection. No, we must pursue rejection, until we realise that all we get for our endeavours is feedback. When people give us the feedback we did not expect, we think they are rejecting us. No, they are giving us feedback. What you do with that feedback is crucial.

Eye on the bling

From the moment we measure the progress and success of others through the bling they have, we have missed the point. Once we ignore the trials and tribulations the people we look up to have experienced to be where they are, we become the slaves of ill-fitting dreams.

Our country has many challenges (economic, political, social and spiritual. These challenges have for a long time conspired against a young generation (the highest unemployment rate is with the youth). If you are young and Black, you are worse off.

The economic and social system appears to be denying us job opportunities, because it does not trust us. Trust is scarce, (real human) connection is scarce and so is the element of surprise. We are too compliant; we are too similar; we are too average. We are trying not to ruffle the feathers.

The commitment to bringing something new or different to the table, the commitment to standing out, and the faith of saying at the time of meeting decision-makers, ‘I can help you with this,’ ‘I can do this for you,’ will propel us to the level of playing our A-game.

Entrepreneurs emerge from this mindset. They are not accidental success stories. They did not start businesses as a fall-back alternative after failing to secure employment. They are authentic people. They have surrendered (not given up) to the life of serving, of giving something of themselves which others won’t give, or are too afraid, or lazy, to offer. They are providing something which is new, real and important in this era of connection economy. In the words of Seth Godin, ‘the connection economy rewards the leader, the initiator, and the rebel.’

If you don’t know what you are offering, and you are not willing to find out, wait your turn in the unfair and often dissipating promise of employment. But if you know what you are offering (as a leader, initiator and the rebel), step up. Why do you wait to be called in?

Oprah Winfrey used to call people to give them spotlight on her show. She is no longer there. YouTube has changed the game. Rebels meet their important audience without asking to be given a chance. The real chance is not the moment you have asked for, but the moment which you seize. So grab your chance. Knock on the doors. Find out what the people need. Can you satisfy the need?

Obtain the skills and employment in 2014

Congratulations to the matric class of 2013.

To those of you who have not succeeded, this is not the time to wallow in self-pity. You have tried your best and this is an opportunity to do it again; and you will succeed this year.

'We do not fail, we obtain feedback,' a wise person once said. It is in that spirit that that we must get up, dust ourselves up and carry on in our march to arming ourselves with education. We need it to fight the ills and difficulties of life. Education, if valued and advantages seized, can be a key to success.

There is ongoing debate about the significance of the 2013 matric results. Just like in the preceding years, matric results continue to be a subject of intense debate in various circles. Understandably, there are many challenges which we are facing. They include the matric pass mark percentage, the number of those who passed - or did not pass - with the university entrance versus the number of those who passed without the university entrance.

Some quotas of society and individuals everywhere are contesting the problem of the number of learners who graduate with matric. The numbers show that only about half of those who entered primary schooling do graduate with matric. This must be a worrying situation for everyone. Where do the rest of the children end up?

South Africa is confronted by many socio-economic challenges. These challenges are compounded, and worsen, through the ongoing problem of skills shortage and high unemployment rate of youth. And it gets worse when you view this in terms of the racial groups of the country's population. Black people across ages are the most uneducated, under-educated, unemployed, under-employed and the most unskilled. In some quotas this fact is being abused to deny Black people deserved opportunities. In this instance transformation of an economy and the demographics of a society remains relevant, and urgent.

Clearly, the challenges are huge. There is a lot of work to be done. Finding opportunities is in itself a huge challenge. Utilising the available opportunities in also important. There are various ways and means to identify opportunities for further education, for up-skilling and for finding employment.

For those seeking information about training and up-skilling opportunities, you may want to visit the following institutions and/ or organisations as well as the websites:

1. The Careers portal 
Their website and facebook page has plenty of information on existing training and job opportunities for young graduates.

2. National Artisan Development Support Centre (NADSC)
Opportunities for those wanting to pursue technical and artisan careers are available here. To qualify, one must have obtained 50% or higher in Mathematics in matric. The great news is that for those who did not pass Mathematics, they can enrol for a bridging course. You can reach them on 011 736 4400.

3. MCD training
Here you will find training opportunities for apprenticeship, Learnership, Lifting operator, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Trade Test Readiness (and assessment), short courses and many others. Their website is http://www.mcdtraining.co.za/contact-us-at-our-offices.html

Action makes a huge difference. Ask the questions. Get the information. Knock on the doors. Make the most of the year 2014.