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showing you

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Sound advice

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Dealing with

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Explore South

Africa's

top employers

Showing you the way

Magnet Communications’ Annual Career Guide 2011

Featuring34 of South Africa’s

top employer brands

Useful tips and advicefrom career specialists from

South Africa's universities

2011 Magnet Communications Research and Media (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved. Distribution of material in this publication is prohibited without the approval of Magnet Communications Research and Media (Pty) Ltd. Publisher Peter Johansson | Production manager Malin Sundin | Writer & editor Madeline Lass | Design & layout Julie Taylor, Perception Design CPT | Printers ABC Press | Address Magnet Communications 1st Floor | Atterbury House | 20 Georgian Crescent | Hampton Office Park | Bryanston 2191 | Telephone 011 706 0670 | Email malin@magnetcomm.co.za | Website www.magnetcommunications.co.za

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Join the most influential leadership network in the world

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Connecting with leadersWe give you access to leaders of the most influential organisations in the world, and plenty of opportunities to build enduring relationships with them.

Magnet Communications will once again be running the South African Student Survey on campuses around the country in 2011. Please look out for the Magnet posters on your campus – or grab hold of one of our ambassadors – and be sure to complete the survey questionnaire. Remember: you stand to win fabulous prizes throughout the field period.

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Students are often told that their university days are the best days of their lives — carefree, social, fun filled and without a thought about the future. If only! For most students it’s more a case of “all work and no play!” because they know that their future careers will be shaped by their results. They take their studies seriously because they are committed to landing a dream job when they graduate. It’s easier said than done, though, and that is why we here at Magnet Communications take great care in compiling CareerCompass for you. Our aim is to assist you to improve your career-management skills and to assist you in realising your ambitions.

In this edition we focus on ways in which you can jumpstart your career by developing skills outside your academic programme. This aspect of career development has become increasingly important in recent years. Lerato Kekana, the winner of our Magnet Student Survey lucky draw, confirms this: “The only regret I have about my university days,” he says, “is that I didn’t do more extracurricular activities. Because this is what employers want when you go for interviews. They want to know that you did things beyond your studies, such as joining campus organisations and sports teams.”

It is for this reason we asked career specialists from universities around the country to provide us with some hot tips on how to get ahead in the career stakes. We also feature some of the country’s top employers, giving you an insight into their offering as well as their recruitment needs.

We look forward to interacting with you through the course of the year and wish you the best of luck in your endeavours.

Magnet Communications team

From left to rightFront: Madeline Lass, Peter Johansson.Back: Bongiwe Kotta, Malin Sundin, Gavin Groenmeyer, Batandwa Ndovela

Dear Reader

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Employer brands p036

Absa

Absa capital

Accenture

African Rainbow Minerals

Allan Gray

Auditor-General of SA

BDO

CSIR

Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Department of Rural Development and Land Reform

Deutsche Bank

Dimension Data

Ernst & Young

Exxaro

First National Bank

Grant Thornton

Hatch

Hewlett-Packard

The IQ Business Group

JD Group

KPMG

Legal Aid

Massmart

Mazars

Nedbank

Procter & Gamble

PwC

Reckitt Benckiser

The Shoprite Group

South African Breweries

South African Revenue Services

Sun International

Total SA

Volkswagen Group SA

Company weblisting p106

About Magnet Communications p006

Attitude is ever ything p008

Is your communication style

holding you back? p009

My dog ate my homework p010

Be there on the dot! p011

If your body were a Ferrari p012

Money, money, money p013

Jumpstarting your career p015

Your degree does not guarantee a career – North-West University

Bookshelf

Snif f ing out a career in the arts – Stellenbosch University

Goal + Action = Success – Central University of Technology

What makes you desirable? – Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Make your CV a powerful sell ing tool – University of Pretoria

Interview jitters – University of the Western Cape

Getting the basics right – Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

You get only one shot at creating a good f irst impression – University of Venda

Be bold! – Tshwane University of Technology

Off ice no-nos – Univerisity of Zululand

The thief of time – University of Fort Hare

What keeps you going? – UNISA

Hello Career Sevices – University of Johannesburg

Play to win – Vaal University of Technology

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Magnet Communications forms part of Universum, the global leader in the field of employer branding. Universum has operations in Europe, the US, Asia, Australia and Africa. Magnet Communications, in turn, is South Africa’s leading employer branding specialist. We have been helping top employers attract and retain the right talent with our research, strategy development and communications services for seven years.

ReseaRch Every year Magnet Communications and Research undertakes the biggest student and professionals’ survey on employer branding in the country. (In 2010 we elicited responses from 38 769 students; 13 445 professionals and 448 MBA students.) Among other things, we ask students about their ideal employers, career goals, expected salaries and working conditions, opinions on social media and much more. The information that we gather during our research assists employers to develop the kind of recruitment strategies that would help them attract and retain the brightest and best students from our South African campuses.

Our research also gives you an opportunity to vote for your Ideal™ Employer. Last year the companies listed opposite were voted into the top ten positions in four categories.

Publications The knowledge that we gain from our research — particularly our Ideal™ Employer rankings — further helps us to shape our three annual employer branding publications aimed at university students and professionals: Companies of the Future, Destination: the Future and CareerCompass.

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About Magnet Communications

South Africa’s only independent research-based employer branding specialists

about emPloyeR bRanding Employer branding has become increasingly important as employers battle to attract and retain the kind of talent they need to succeed in today’s highly competitive world. They understand that creating great products and customer experiences depends on the quality of their people. “It just is not possible to build a successful company without great people,” says Peter Johansson, MD of Magnet Communications. “To develop a great employer brand, an organisation must be perceived to be a great place to work in the minds of current employees; as well as key stakeholders in the external market, such as prospective employees, clients, customers, suppliers and other key stakeholders.”

Winner! Magnet Student Survey lucky draw All students who sign up to take part in the Lucky Draw upon completing the Student Survey questionnaire stand a chance to win a big prize. Last year the top prize was an Apple MacBook Pro. And the lucky winner is Lerato Kekana, who was doing his Honours in Econometrics at the University of Johannesburg. Congratulations, Lerato!

BUSinESS / CoMMERCE1. KPMG2. Absa3. South African Reserve Bank (SARB)4. Deloitte5. PricewaterhouseCoopers6. Coca-Cola South Africa7. South African Revenue Service (Sars)8. BMW South Africa9. Eskom10. South African Breweries (SAB)

EnginEERing / TEChnoLogy1. Eskom2. Sasol3. Anglo Platinum4. BMW South Africa5. De Beers6. Transnet7. Murray & Roberts8. Telkom9. Anglo American10. CSIR

hUMAniTiES / LiBERAL ARTS / LAW 1. Department of Education2. SABC3. United Nations4. Media245. Department of Health6. Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO)7. Absa8. Deneys Reitz Attorneys9. Department of Home Affairs10. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)

hEALTh CARE / hEALTh SCiEnCES / SCiEnCES1. Department of Health2. CSIR3. National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)4. Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries5. Sasol6. Medi-Clinic Southern Africa7. Anglo Platinum8. South African Breweries (SAB)9. Eskom10. De Beers

Here’s your chance to fulfi l your ambition! At Engen, we offer bursaries to deserving students who don’t have the means to further their education. Let us know if you are interested in building your future with us.

FIELDS OF STUDY• BCom Accounting • BCom Information Systems• BSc Electrical Engineering• BSc Chemical Engineering• BSc Mechanical Engineering• BSc Electronics

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS• Good academic results with at least a 65% average (for applicants at 2nd year level)• High achievers• South African citizens• Preferably from previously disadvantaged backgrounds• Only students who are at 3rd year level in 2012 are invited to apply

TO APPLY Forward a brief CV with a copy of all results and/or certifi cates, by no later than31 May 2011, to:

The Engen Bursary Department and quote Ref. No. BUR0003 Fax: 021 403 5921 or E-mail: bursaries@engenoil.com

Should you not hear from us by 31 July 2011, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful. Kindly do not contact Engen directly.

Engen reserves the right to award bursaries in line with its Employment Equity strategy.

Are you thinking about your future?

ENGE000176 Engen CA Talent Attraction Ad_238x168E.indd 1 2011/03/25 5:12 PM

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Is your communication style holding you back?

t is almost universally accepted that you can’t build a great company without great people. Employers know that having good

people in their businesses, means — at the very least — that the business will run efficiently, provide a great customer experience and act responsibly towards the environment and the communities in which it operates.

When all these elements converge, there is a greater likelihood of a business providing owners, investors and shareholders with a satisfactory return on their investment.

Once we understand this, it becomes clear why organisations go to extraordinary lengths to hire the best talent they can find. But what is the “best talent”? Jim Collins, author of the highly regarded book, Good to Great, says, “People are not your most important asset. The right people are. Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.”

hiRe foR attitude, tRain foR skill Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of Southwest Airlines, Herb Kelleher, takes this idea a little further with his phrase, “Hire for attitude, train for skill”. Attitude is what makes all the difference. It involves the willingness to make mistakes, to learn, to take risks, to work independently and in a team and to go the extra mile.

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Attitude is everythingPeter Johansson, MD of Magnet Communications and Research, says, “We have adopted the ‘Hire for attitude, train for skill’ philosophy because in the pressured environment of business it is easier to teach employees new skills than new attitudes.”

It means that who you are as a person counts for as much as what you know at any point in time.

chaRacteR, comPetence and commitment For Johansson a winning attitude comes down to three core traits — character, competence and commitment. “Generally, we mean good character to include qualities such as integrity, courage, resilience, tenacity, honesty and loyalty,” he says. “But we also value qualities such as not blaming others when things go wrong, looking for workable solutions and doing the ‘right thing’.”

While competence clearly refers to the knowledge required to manage the various functions of any business or organisation, Johansson sees it including qualities such as a passion for innovation, creativity and the desire for continual learning.

He defines commitment as “the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself”, but believes that commitment is also closely allied to integrity. “It’s about doing what you say you will do. Working at something even though it is difficult and no fun,” he says. “It is about finishing the job because the team depends on you to do it.”

build youR own attitude Johansson, however, points out that these characteristic can be acquired by graduates wishing to enter the economy. “Just because it is easier for employers to train for skill than for attitude, it does not mean that job seekers cannot work at developing the necessary character traits,” he says. “Start off by doing a thorough audit of your strengths and weakness. Ask friends to assist you and be sure to be open to criticism. Once you are clear about which areas to work on, everything will depend on your determination and desire for success.”

The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is vital for success in business. Yet many employers complain that the communication skills of job seekers are frequently inadequate. This is hardly surprising in a country that has 11 official languages and a schooling system that has historically been poor on so many levels. No matter what the reasons, though, poor business communication skills will hold you back.

The challenge, therefore, is to discover what communication skills employers want and how to acquire them.

the bad news The bad news is that the organisational world is becoming increasingly complex day by day. This demands better language skills. People are working virtually – often for companies that span the globe – interacting in real time with colleagues on different continents. In addition, the rate at which we work, process and share information is escalating every day; and many of us are hard pressed to keep up. We can’t be blamed for feeling that it’s a big ask to become highly competent in our second, third or fourth language — especially if we are not communications or languages students. Unfortunately there is no way around it. For now English is the predominant language of business. (Don’t be surprised if you soon find yourself having to learn Mandarin though!) the good news As fast and complex as the world of work may be, communication is not rocket science. All it requires is determination and a long, steady slog.

The aim is to learn to express your ideas clearly in writing and speech. If you know what you are talking about, it is much easier to write in a way that is easily understood by your readers: clear and direct, free of cliché and unnecessary jargon.

know youR audience An important starting point is to understand who will read your report, email, request,

story or memo. Treat your reader with respect. Don’t be sloppy, leave out information, make mistakes; provide the information your reader needs in language that he or she can read quickly, understand effortlessly and remember easily.

Rules As long ago as 1946 George Orwell (of Animal Farm fame) wrote the following six rules in his essay, “Politics and the English Language”. They remain indispensible: Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Never use the passive where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

You may be thinking, “That’s easier said than done! My grammar is not good, I often get my tenses wrong, and I don’t know the difference between passive and active voice. Also, I often find it difficult to say what I want to.” It is a challenge that many of us have faced and there are ways to tackle it. Here are a few ideas: Find a mentor. Never ever be tempted to use texting language in business documents — not even in business texting. Take an English course — either on-line or locally. Start by reading comics, newspaper and magazine articles and progress to books. Learn a new word every day. Listen to an English language radio programme once a day. Follow an English programme — even if it is a soap opera — on television. Watch an English film at least once a month.

Improving your communication skills takes time and definitely won’t happen without effort from you. But the rewards are worth it! “Hire for attitude, train for skill”

Is your communication style holding you back?

yes

no

maybe

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Here’s a story: Little Thabo’s teacher asks him to share his essay with the class. Thabo says, “Ma’am, I don’t have my essay here because my dog ate it.” The class sniggers.“Thabo, how did that happen?” Miss Ndovela asks, giving the class a sharp look.“Well, Ma’am, I had just finished my essay when my mom called me to take out the dirt bin,” says Thabo. “I jumped up and ran out to do as she asked, and while I was outside, the dog ate my essay. He’s very naughty.”

We all know where this is going, don’t we? Rover is being blamed for Thabo’s missing essay and Thabo fully expects to get off scot free. But Miss Ndovela isn’t buying his story. She’s heard too many similar ones. I didn’t do my homework because: I had to cook supper; I was tired; we had no electricity; my mother made me go to my auntie with her; my father tore up my book; my baby sister was crying; I was feeling sick.

Somebody or something else is always to blame for what is going wrong in life. But what if we were to accept that we are completely, 100 percent, responsible for how our lives turn out?

This idea is fine when everything is going well in our lives. But it’s really difficult when things aren’t so good. Then we’re so quick to point fingers at other people and place the blame on them.

Play the Right game Let’s draw an imaginary line and say that playing below the line involves shifting the focus away from the real issue by blaming others. When we play below the line, we blame, make excuses and deny responsibility.

he dictionary definition of “punctuality” is “arriving or taking place at an arranged time; prompt; and (of a person) having the

characteristic of always keeping to arranged times, as for appointments, meetings, etc”. Essentially, it means turning up when you said you would; and doing something by when you said you would. It means that you have integrity.

Being punctual in your day-to-day life has no doubt earned you the respect of your friends and family; and at university it will have earned you a reputation for somebody with respect for others. The world of work, however, will take the importance of being punctual to a whole new level. Here it is not just a nice-to-have characteristic — it is absolutely vital.

Once you enter the world of work the course of your career will be shaped to some extent by your level of punctuality. Why is punctuality so important and why is a lack of punctuality considered a serious shortcoming by employers? Let’s look at a few reasons:

My dog ate my homework When we play above the line, we accept responsibility for our actions and behaviour — no matter what the consequences. Let’s look at the example of Thabo and his dog. Let’s say Thabo’s dog did really eat his homework. Playing below the line, Thabo would explain that it was not his fault that his naughty dog ate his homework. He would use it as justification for not having his essay with him.

If he was playing above the line, he would say, “I do not have my homework with me.” If pushed for a reason he might add that he neglected to put his book out of reach of his dog and that he failed to re-do his essay when the dog destroyed it. In such a case he would be taking responsibility for what happened as well as the result.

on which side of the line do you Play? It’s time for a reality check. Ask yourself whether you ever do any of the following:

make excuses The reason I am doing so badly is because the lecturer is boring. I’m always late for class because the buses/trains don’t stick to the time table. I don’t have money for that book because I just had to have a new pair of shoes. I’m really just not good at maths.

blame and comPlain I don’t know why the university makes classes start so early when they know we have transport problems. Our lecturers are so strict. It just isn’t fair that they don’t accept assignments after the deadline. We have so much work to do! I’m so tired. I don’t know how they expect me to do everything. I just couldn’t study because my boyfriend and I had an argument.

make commitments and then bReak them I promised her that I would go to the clinic with her, but now I am too tired. She can go alone. I’m not going to work tomorrow because I have just been working too hard. I don’t feel like going to visit my family. I’ll just phone and say I have a headache. I said I would look after my baby sister, but now I have been invited to a party. I’ll just tell my mother I have work to do.

Be there on the dot!

1. Showing respect for your employer and colleagues: Being on time for a meeting or an event shows that

you respect the person who arranged the event as well as all the other people attending the event. Respect for the effort he or she went to; respect for their time; and respect for yourself. It shows that you realise/are aware that the other attendees may have better things to do with their time than wait for you.

2. you can be counted on: People who are punctual can be counted on. They build a reputation around

being reliable, dependable and trustworthy. Generally, employers are hesitant to trust those who are habitually late with important assignments.

3. Punctual people are good team players: When you are punctual it tells others that you know

how to be a team player. A good team player shares responsibility for the task at hand and never lets his or her colleagues down.

4. you don’t waste company resources: You are paid to work for a certain amount of time every day.

When you habitually turn up late, you are not earning your full pay. Your boss will not be pleased about this because it is a waste of money that could be allocated to other resources.

5. you are disorganised: Being late is also an indication that you are disorganised. It could also

mean that your mind is disorganised.

6. you are not a good planner: Being late shows that you are not prepared to plan your life so that you

can get to work on time.

Think about all the times that you have depended on the punctuality of others, such as trains, buses, aeroplanes arriving and departing on time; your bursary money being paid in on time; your parents turning up on time for your graduation; shops opening on time; and so on. If you think about it, our society has an unspoken agreement that certain things will happen at certain times. And when they don’t, we get pretty upset. Imagine the bank opening when its employees feel like turning up for work; or nurses and doctors seeing their hospital shift times as vague guidelines only. The world would quickly descend into chaos.

You play an important part in making sure that our world works effectively and efficiently. Why would you not take it seriously? now, tell yourself, honestly: do you play above the line or below the line?

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a FerrariImagine being given, completely free of charge, a beautiful red Ferrari. There is no doubt that you would be in awe of its effortless style and its precision engineering. It is difficult to believe that something so complex and sensitive can be so beautiful. Driving a car like a Ferrari is an experience because it responds to your every whim.

When it needed fuel, would you pull up to the nearest garage and fill it up with whatever happens to be available? No, of course not. You would make sure that it gets the fuel that is specially made for it. Would you lubricate it with any old lubricant? No way! You would use the best that your money can buy because you know it won’t perform or last very long if you neglect to take care of it.

Now, think of this: on the day that you were born, you were given a brand new body. Your parents were in awe of its beauty and the sheer miracle of its existence. The complex systems all somehow knew exactly how to work together. What did they feed you? Not a cola drink and a hamburger!

Fast forward to the present moment. You still have the amazing body you were born with. How have you been treating it? What kind of condition is it in at the moment? How many cigarettes do you smoke a day? How many glasses of alcohol do you drink? What is your Body Mass Index?

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If your body were

“Cut your coat according to your cloth”

Most South Africans have a little twitch of worry the day before the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, presents his budget to Parliament. This is because we worry about the extra taxes he may levy if he has not managed to balance his budget. The parents of many students often experience this same twitchiness when they hear that their offspring have not managed to make their allocated funds stretch as far as they would have liked.

why budget Balancing one’s budget is really difficult, especially when it’s a shoestring budget. But it is the best way to control your finances, stick to a savings plan and long-term financial goals.

On its simplest level, budgeting involves three main steps: listing the money coming into your account; adding up all the expenses you are committed to (rent, electricity, food, transport, etc); and subtracting the second amount from the first to give you your disposable income with which you can do as you please.

wRite it down The best way to prepare a budget is by committing it to paper or your computer screen. Done properly, this exercise will tell you a lot about your financial situation. If you are like most people, you will find that your expenses exceed your income. This is when you have to think very carefully about “cutting your coat according to your cloth”. You may very well consider wearing Prada or Gucci as “essential” but if your income does not stretch that far, you may have to revise your definition of “essential”.

tRack youR exPenses Once you have established what your budget can afford, the next step is to start tracking your daily expenses. If you have a global sum for, say, snacks and lunches, you may find that you run through that sum long before the end of the month. The trick here is to keep track of what you spend every day and to stick to the amount allocated. Some people find it helpful to write down

the Right stuff Is your body getting the right stuff? The human body is designed to use fuel derived from the food we eat to support our activities. The best fuel for our bodies is derived from a balanced combination of food. Because we are so often rushed and stressed out, we tend to grab food that is conveniently available — mainly fast foods. The problem with most fast foods is that they tend to be high in fat and carbohydrates, which not only leads to weight problems, but also makes us sluggish. And then, when we feel sluggish, we tend to have some caffeine (coffee and cola drinks) to perk up. But come time to sleep, we are so tanked up on caffeine that we lie awake in frustration. In the morning, we wake up feeling groggy and immediately grab a cup of coffee and head off to lectures. And so the cycle continues.... The problem is that you never actually feel on top of your game. You never have enough mental or physical energy to go the extra mile.

theRe is a betteR way Fuelling your body with high octane food, specially designed by nature, is more likely to provide the kind of sustained energy that you need to be a top student. For your brain to work well you need a good supply of energy and oxygen. You get this by eating a balanced diet (plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, potatoes, pasta, fish, lean meat, etc) and regular meals. To oxygenate your brain you need to exercise at least once a day. This way you are also more likely to get sufficient sleep.

Eating healthily does not need to be more time consuming or an effort. Think of some of nature’s really great snacks, like nuts, bananas, apples, pears, oranges and dried fruit like raisins, peaches, mangoes, etc. How about a glass of milk instead of a cola drink or coffee?

some healthy tiPs to staRt with: Eat lots of fruit and vegetables Eat more fish – including a portion of oily fish each week Cut down on saturated fat and sugar Try to eat less salt – no more than 6g a day Get active and try to be a healthy weight Drink plenty of water Don’t skip breakfast

So, if your body were a Ferrari, would you be treating it like an old rust bucket?

a FerrariMoney, money, money

everything they spend. (It may not stop you from spending unnecessarily, but it certainly will be an eye opener when you look at what you have spent during a month.)

All this does not mean that you need to be a boring stick in the mud. Of course you can decide to have sushi one day, but then you are going to have to eat bread and peanut butter the next. Be extreme, but make sure it all balances out in the end.

Planning ahead Budgeting has the added advantage of helping you buy those big-ticket items that you may otherwise never afford. Say you decide to go overseas on holiday after graduating and that you need to save for it. Your budget will tell you how much disposable income you have, and then you can decide how much of that you are prepared to commit to your holiday savings plan. All you require after that is commitment and a real desire to go on that holiday.

no stRess When you live without a budget, you tend to spend until your money runs out — and it sometimes runs out sooner than you hoped it would. Budgeting means not just hoping that things will turn out all right: it means that you have planned for expected expenses and also put something away for unexpected expenses. It means that you have more control, which also means that you have less stress.

How do you apply?Send a one-page CV, which includes your first name, surname, university, campus, year of study, programme of study, and gender* to research@magnetcomm.co.za.

*This information is required to ensure that our ambassadors are representative of university demographics.

This year Magnet Communications will once again be undertaking its highly regarded South African Student Survey. And we are once again recruiting student ambassadors to help us do this important work.

When will you be working?From July to September 2011, in your spare time.

Where will you be working?On your campus or in your residence.

What will you be doing?Your job will be to get your fellow students to complete the questionnaire either on paper or online. Students who fill in the questionnaire stand a chance to win fantastic prizes. You will be paid per questionnaire filled in.

Magnet Student Survey 2011

North-West University p016Stellenbosch University p018Central University of Technology p019Cape Peninsula University of Technology p020University of Pretoria p022University of the Western Cape p024Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University p025University of Venda p026Tshwane University of Technology p027University of Zululand p028University of Fort Hare p029Unisa p030University of Johannesburg p032Vaal University of Technology p034

Career specialists from South Africa’s universities provide sound advice

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take action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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north-west university

ost of us, while at university, tend to concentrate on the immediate goal of graduating. This sometimes

means that we forget to think about what happens after we get the degree. We forget that having a degree does not guarantee a career. Peet Roos, North-West University Career Consultant, gives us his take on the difference between a degree and a career.

The relationship between a degree and a career is in many ways similar to the relationship between the documents we need for travelling to another country. When we make the decision to visit a foreign country, we frequently discover that a passport isn't enough: we need a visa too.

Definitions Let us first consider the definition and purpose of each of the above-mentioned travel documents, and then use these to explain the degree versus career dilemma.

By definition, a passport is the official government document that certifies one’s identity and citizenship and permits one to travel beyond the borders of one’s country. A visa is the official authorisation permitting entry into and travel within a particular country or region.

Your passport is issued by your country of origin, and the visa, on the other hand, is issued by the country you want to visit. Your passport is a requirement for obtaining a visa, but not a guarantee that a visa will be issued. The visa will be issued only if you meet the criteria set by the country you want to visit. These criteria, of which the first is a valid and legal passport, include among others, proof that the reason for your visit is legal, proof that you can afford the trip and related expenses, and proof that you have booked accommodation for all the nights you intend to spend there.

necessary criteria To continue the analogy, a degree is the official university document that certifies that you have met the requirements for graduation in the specific degree. But that's not enough. The next step on your career

journey will be to receive a letter of appointment – the official authorisation permitting you entry into an employer’s organisation, with all the benefits associated with it.

In very much the same way that a passport is related to a visa, your degree certificate is also a requirement for applying for certain positions, but not a guarantee that you will meet all the criteria for appointment by the employer. These criteria, of which the first is a valid and legal degree, include certain personality traits, skills, competencies, abilities and the potential to develop, among others.

Consider this: If all the dentists in your town have exactly the same qualification (degree), why would you choose to visit one and not the others? People may say: “Go to Dr Zondo, because he is friendly/ he explains the procedures to you/ he never hurts you/ he uses modern equipment.” In this way we see that we use criteria other than the dentist’s qualifications. We consider personality traits as well as skills, behaviour and competencies. Employers do exactly the same in choosing their employees, although they use more objective and scientific methods to determine their criteria.

You must know exactly what the criteria for entry are. These are set by specific employers for specific positions and you must provide all the required information,

including your degree certificate, when applying. Only then do they begin the process of weighing up your application and those of all the other applicants.

In our passport example, one can also imagine that you apply for a visa to a country that allows very few (sometimes only one) persons entry. Yet they may very well receive a large number of applications, all of them with legal passports.

Making sure you fit the requireMents So, you may ask yourself: “How do I know what they require?” Most job advertisements state the duties or tasks required for the position and many also give a description of the traits, skills and competencies required. You must ensure that you find out what those requirements are and that you meet those requirements. You must use your CV and covering letter to draw their attention to these facts; and when the opportunity is presented, use your interview to demonstrate and convince the employer that you offer exactly those qualities that he or she needs.

The applicant who receives the letter of appointment is the one who has most successfully convinced the employer that the total package he or she offers (that is, qualifications, skills, knowledge, personal traits, behaviour, potential, etc) matches the employer’s needs exactly.

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BookshelfSome of the CareerCompass team’s favourite books for you to try.

The Leader Who had No TiTLe: a moderN fabLe oN reaL SuCCeSS iN buSiNeSS aNd iN Lifeby robiN SharmaFree Press: New York, London, Toronto and Sydney, 2010. The broad message of the book is that everyone has the power to lead and

make their role something meaningful to them. If we spend more time focusing on developing our leadership abilities and less time focused on our salary, the corner office or the powerful title, we will find that the latter won't matter any more, but that they will come – naturally.

The LiTTLe biG ThiNGS: 163 WayS To PurSue eXCeLLeNCeby Tom PeTerS HarperBusiness, 2010.The Little BIG Things is a compendium of 163 ways to pursue Excellence — with tips ranging from the blatantly obvious, “Design Is ... Everywhere!”

and “It’s All About ... the Quality of the Workforce,” to the wildly counterintuitive, “Boring Is Beautiful” and “’Failure’—Celebrate It!” to the often repeated, “The Customer Is ‘She.’” Its main message is that EXCELLENCE is the result of many small tasks, all of which can be practised and mastered.

The femaLe ViSioN: WomeN'S reaL PoWer aT Workby SaLLy heLGeSeN & JuLie JohNSoNBerrett-Koehler Publishers, 2010.The Female Vision suggests that the real power of women lies in the way in which they look at things within business and beyond. It demonstrates that

these unique perceptions go unnoticed and unrewarded. The irony is that the resulting insights are exactly what so many companies need to succeed. The authors show how companies can create environments that welcome and encourage women to share what they notice, to the benefit not only of the women themselves but also, perhaps ironically, to the all important bottom line.

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and knowledge to achieve my goal? Rather try to strike an appropriate balance between a challenging goal and a realistic goal. Setting a goal that you are unlikely to achieve will demotivate you, which is not the point of the exercise. At the same time, it is also important to remember that you do not have to do everything yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Bigger isn’t Better One of the frequent mistakes people make is to set goals that are really huge. Big goals can be intimidating and are more difficult to achieve. If you have one big goal (a long-term goal), break it down into smaller parts (or short-term goals). In this way you can make these smaller, short-term goals mesh together to create a larger, long-term one.

Many people will tell you that setting goals for your career is vital for future success. CareerCompass asked Maritha Bosch, Careers Officer at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein, for advice on how to set goals and achieve them.

Somebody once said, “The problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you have finished.” Not having goals is something similar. We can’t achieve goals that we don’t have. Without goals, we just drift along.

But when you set a goal, you have a destination in mind. You know what you need to do to get there. And, here is the good news. Research shows that the harder and more specific goals are, the easier it is to achieve them. For example, you are more likely to be successful if you say, “I am going to get 90% for my next accounting test” (a specific goal) than “I am going to do my best in my next accounting test”, which is vague and abstract.

sMart goals It is very easy to set goals, but achieving them is not. One of the most useful ways of setting goals is through the SMART goals process, where you check that your goals are Specific, Measurable, Agreed Upon and Achievable, Realistic and Reachable, and Time Based.

But even when you use the SMART goal method, it is important to remember that setting your goal is just the first step in a process. It isn’t an exercise that you can finish in five minutes. Goal setting is a process, a route to achievement.

is your goal realistic? You are more likely to be successful if you set a goal that is realistic. For this reason it is important to know your own strengths and shortcomings. It’s no use setting the goal of becoming a marathon runner in one month if you hate running, have shin splints and asthma.

also ask yourself: Is my goal reachable within the time frame I have set aside? Do I have the necessary resources

Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage, but simply because they have never organised their energies around a goal. elBert huBBarD AmericAn philAnthropist

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stellenbosch university central university of technology

n a world that seems to be increasingly pragmatic and competitive, education is frequently reduced to the functional basics

of getting a job. But there are many students who want to study subjects such as art, which are not thought to command big salaries. A common response from parents is, “What kind of job can you get with an arts degree and what kind of salary will you get?” CareerCompass spoke to Professor Keith Dietrich from Stellenbosch University and asked his opinion.

Of course, for most people who want to study art, that’s not the point. They want to study art because they are driven to make art, to experience it and to engage with the global art community; not because they expect to outdo Damien Hirst or William Kentridge in the earnings stakes. “It’s a matter of dedicating your life to something about which you are passionate, rather than grinding your way through a degree that will get you a satisfactory job,” says Dietrich.

Stellenbosch University’s four-year programme offers training in four areas: fine arts, visual communication design, jewellery and metal design, or art education. There are also quite a few subjects to choose from within the broader framework of the visual arts, such as drawing, graphic design, illustration, painting, sculpture, photography, print-making, new media (digital imaging and multimedia), jewellery design and metal techniques.

Dietrich makes no bones about it: “We cannot guarantee that our students will walk into jobs when they graduate,” he says. “But that does not mean that we ignore the need that some of our students have of making a career in the arts. Indeed, many of our former students are very successful and have attained recognition in various parts of the world.”

“When our students graduate from the Stellenbosch University Visual Arts Department, they would typically be able to work as professional artists, graphic designers, illustrators, jewellery designers, art critics, art academics or art teachers,” he says. “Some have also ended up in related careers, such as stage designers, book designers, museum officials, art dealers, art managers in various

fields (such as, art galleries, public and corporate collections, and regional and national art councils), art entrepreneurs, gemmologists and technicians.”

A number of students have also done well in the fields of film production, art direction, photography, multimedia, the mass production of jewellery and client account management in advertising.

For Dietrich, art is much like any other field of study. “If you want to be successful, you need to be good at what you do; you need to be a high performer; and you need to be intelligent and innovative. And, you need to be street smart,” he says.

There is a perception that humanities graduates don’t find jobs as do, say, engineering, accountancy and IT graduates. “But the humanities do teach people to think,” says Dietrich. “And, while people may not step into specific jobs for which they have been groomed, they do find jobs.”

Comparing the ability of humanities graduates to find jobs with engineering, commerce and IT graduates is like comparing kiwi fruit with bananas. More often than not, arts graduates land up in all kinds of interesting positions because of the mental agility and flexibility they acquire while studying the arts. In case you are thinking that “interesting” could be a euphemism for being a waitress or a bartender, think again. Says Dietrich, “When you study the arts, or humanities in general, you develop intuition. You find what you want without necessarily being rational about it. You smell you way through life like a bloodhound.”

Personal goals are iMPortant Our lives are not divided into separate bits. This means that our career goals and personal goals cannot really be separated. And for this reason, employers often ask whether prospective employees have attained the life goals they have set themselves thus far.

Don’t give uP If you encounter barriers that seem like they might impede your progress, don’t give up on your goals. Instead, modify them to meet your current situation. However, if a particular goal ceases to be important to you, then you should be open to letting it go.

take action It’s no good just setting goals. One actually has to take some action. Once you have defined your goals, you need to list all the steps necessary to reach your goal. And, of course, you need to be committed to reaching those goals.

It is always helpful to share your goals and action plans with other people and establish a support system. For goals to be effective, you need feedback that reveals progress in relation to the goals. Set due dates for each step and reward yourself as you reach certain milestones.

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Sniffing out a career in the arts

Goal + Action = Success

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cape peninsula university of technology

Once you have acquired the basic educational, experiential and licensing qualifications, and registered with a professional body, if necessary, you will be ready to apply for that dream job. But be aware that employers will be looking for more. Beyond the six to eight competencies that most jobs will require, you will also have to demonstrate that you possess a range of additional qualities if you hope to succeed in the job market. Elisabet Smit, Head of Department of Student Counselling at the Cape Town Campus of Cape Peninsula University of Technology, has good news. She says that most job seekers possess these additional skills to some extent. More importantly, those with weaknesses can improve their skills through training, professional development, or by obtaining on-the-job coaching or mentoring from someone who understands these skills. Here she provides some insight into what these skills are. Try the self-assessment exercise to find out to what extent you have already developed these qualities!

DesiraBle qualities in an eMPloyee Adaptability / flexibility Analytical / research skills Building customer loyalty Building positive workplace relations Building trust Communication skills (listening, oral and writing) Contributing to team success Customer focus Innovation Interest in the job Managing work Planning and organising Positive work attitude / work ethic Professional and technical knowledge Problem solving and decision making Sales ability / persuasiveness Self-management Specific functional skills, for example computer / technical literacy Stress tolerance Work standards

DesiraBle Personal values Confidence in self Dedication/hardworking/tenacity Honesty, integrity, loyalty Maturity/professional attitude Reliability/dependability/ responsibility Willingness to learn/enthusiastic/ ambitious

self-assessMent exercise Read through the listed qualities and their descriptions opposite, and rate yourself in terms of the extent to which you’ve already developed and possess each of them. For example, if you believe that you already possess that specific quality (based on previous experience and positive feedback from others) then you tick off in the “Current strength” column ( ).

If you’re not sure, then you make a tick in the “Currently unsure” column ( ); and if you know that the specific quality is not yet well developed and therefore could still be regarded as a personal weakness, then you tick in the “Currently weak” column ( ).

iMPortant note The above contribution is based on an extract from the Jumpstart your Career Workshop Series. This series of workshops, aimed at increasing students’ readiness to enter the world of work, was developed by Student Counselling of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The series was developed in 2010 as part of a National Life Skills development Project by the Golden Key International Honour Society (SA) and the Southern African Association for Student Counselling and Development Services in Higher Education (SAACDHE). Copyright is reserved. For more information on where and when to attend the Jumpstart your Career Workshop series at your university, contact the career centre or student counselling centre.

What makes you desirable?

Adaptability / flexibility Can remain effective when experiencing major changes in work tasks,

new work processes, procedures and demands; can manage multiple

assignments and tasks; are open to new ideas and concepts; can carry out

multiple tasks or projects.

Analytical / research

skills

Can assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information

if necessary and identify key issues that need to be addressed.

Building customer loyalty Can effectively meet customer / client needs, build positive customer

relationships and take responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Building positive

workplace relations

Can develop and maintain collaborative relationships with others at

work and inspire them to participate in order to accomplish work goals.

Building trust Interact with others and support them in ways that instil confidence

in your own intentions, your honesty, integrity and reliability.

Communication skills Can listen well and express information and ideas clearly and convincingly,

both verbally / orally and in writing.

Contributing to team

success

Actively participate as a member of a team to help the team

accomplish its goals.

Customer focus Can make customers and their needs a primary focus of their actions.

Innovation

Have an interest in the job and the company, enjoy what they do

and are committed to their job.

Interest in the job

Can stick to tasks and complete work assignments effectively

and by set deadlines.

Managing work

Can design, plan, organise and implement projects and tasks

within an allotted time frame and can set goals.

Planning & organising

Have the required academic, technical and/or professional qualification(s)

(and work experience), which enable them to do the job.

Professional and

technical knowledge

Have good knowledge of products and ranges available and the ability to

advise and recommend suitable products to clients.

Sales ability /

persuasiveness

Are self-starters, have high energy levels, can motivate and discipline

themselves and have a positive “can-do” attitude.

Have some basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially

word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail and internet; sometimes even other

software programs e.g. for accounting or computer-aided designing.

Self-management

Specific functional skills,

e.g. IT / technical literacy

Stress tolerance

Work standards

Are able to work under pressure and manage stress while maintaining

professionalism.

Can adhere to workplace standards and be professional in your

communication, dress and conduct.

Generate innovative, creative solutions to work situations / problems.

ToP quaLiTieS emPLoyerS Seek ouT emPLoyeeS Who…

coMPetencies A competency or transferable skill is an attribute you have acquired and which you are able to apply to a work setting. In other words, you can transfer it to the work environment. To identify your attributes, think of something you have knowledge of, have the ability to do and have experience in doing.

aDDitional achievements This includes all the awards and prizes you have won. Do not include too much information and try to keep it relevant. associations, professional registrations, societies you belong to. extra-curricular activities you participate in. Voluntary work

Conradie reiterates that your CV is your opportunity to show that you are exceptional. “I suggest that you include a career objective or personal mission statement in your CV,” she says. “Your career objective or personal mission statement is a short paragraph and will help place the spotlight on personal values that shape you and the goals you have.”

exaMPle I treat others with respect. I always do my best. Perseverance is my motto. I practise self-control and discipline. I consider consequences before acting and know that I am accountable.

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university of pretoria

Make your CV a powerful selling tool

well-written CV is a powerful selling tool that can help you land that life-changing bursary, internship and, ultimately, the

job you dream about. So, it’s really important to make sure that your CV is as close to perfect as it can get. CareeerCompass asked Manager of the University of Pretoria Career Office, Lizanne Conradie, to give us some valuable insights into writing a winning CV.

Basically, like most things in life, when writing and formatting your CV you should conform to a bunch of complex “rules”. These rules change over time and can even vary within industries and it is up to you to make sure that you gather sufficient information to get it right. “Think of your CV as the first piece of work you are presenting to your potential employer,” says Conradie. “You should therefore make sure that it is benchmarked against the employer’s standards.”

The most common mistake applicants make is to rush the job of compiling their CV. “It’s a bad idea to wait until you see a job for which you want to apply before starting to compile your CV,” says Conradie. “Compiling your CV at this point will leave you too little time to do a thorough audit of your skills, knowledge and abilities or to give a true reflection of your suitability for the position.”

A further error is to assume that you will be given an opportunity to share some of your most valuable information during the interview. “This is a problem,” says Conradie. “Because you might not make it to that stage if your CV is incomplete.”

Conradie’s advice is to create a master copy of your CV — with all the relevant information — and then to update it whenever you wish to apply for a position. At this point you can add any further information that may be required for your application for this specific position. “It’s important to keep your master copy up to date,” she says. “But make sure not to fall into the trap of thinking that having a master copy means that you don’t have to think your application through.”

It takes time and concentration to create a CV that stands out above the rest.

conraDie's 10 golDen rules for writing a cv Templates Try not to use CV templates. Create your own template to display your uniqueness. But also make sure that your template is professional, visually appealing and free of errors. keep it simple Do not be gimmicky or use clip art, images or borders as these will only make you stand out as being unprofessional. format Keep it professional. Less is more. Keep your font and size consistent throughout. Your font and size should be easy to read. I recommend Arial 11pt with a line spacing of 1.5. Also make sure that the text is aligned correctly. Use capitalisation sparingly, if at all. Remember that capital letters are the equivalent of shouting. Make your headings slightly bigger and bold or underline them. electronic copies Your CV should be available electronically. Always ensure that you have an updated copy saved and backed up somewhere. regular updates Update your CV regularly to ensure that you don’t leave out any important information. Customise Your CV for each application should match the requirements of the job or bursary you are applying for. be honest Do not lie or give misleading information. Structure Organise your information into logical sections and keep the information relevant, summarised and to the point. Your CV should not be longer than two to three pages – it is a summary, not an essay. Get it right: Spelling and grammar mistakes may cost you the job. Ask a friend, family member or mentor to read through your CV to check for spelling, grammar and formatting issues, but remember your CV should be a true reflection of your uniqueness as it is ultimately your sales pitch. Covering letter: Do not overlook the covering letter as this is an important part of your application. Done properly, it could increase your chances.

Conradie points out that not all the information you need to share is equally important. It will be up to you to decide on the sequence.

As a guideline, your CV could be divided into a number of basic categories:

Personal anD contact Details Name and surname Contact details – telephone number where you can be reached at all times and an email address that is easily accessible to you. availability – when you will be available to start work, for instance 30 calendar days or 1 January 2012. drivers licence and transport situation (for example, own reliable vehicle). Although you are not obliged to submit information that relates to race, gender, disability, age, language proficiency or other arbitrary ground, volunteer as much information as you feel comfortable with.

eDucational Details Go as far back as matric but write in reverse chronological order. In other words, start with what you are busy with currently and then work backwards. Include the dates, qualifications and institutions where you completed or are completing the qualification.

eMPloyMent history This section should also be in reverse chronological order starting with your most recent employment, back to your first position. List the position / title you held, the company name, full dates of your employment and a full list of your duties and responsibilities whilst with the company.

“Think of your CV as the first piece of work

you are presenting to your potential employer”

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university of the western cape nelson mandela metropolitan university. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ven people who have been working for a while find going for a job interview pretty daunting. We always wonder whether we will answer questions appropriately, while managing to sound open and relaxed. Nazrana Parker, from the Career Development

Programme Office for Student Development at the Centre for Student Support Services, University of the Western Cape, says one of the most important things is to practise as much as possible. The following tips from her will also help you prepare for the meeting.

keep up to date with current issues particularly in your sector or career field. be 10 to 15 minutes early for the interview. if you need to fill in a form before the actual interview, do so neatly and give as much information as possible. Choose an appropriate and comfortable outfit; dress smartly. checklist Make sure that you take everything along that you need by writing a checklist: Supporting documents to submit at the interview. directions to the company and actual venue of the interview in the building. Contact details (name of the interviewer(s), their landline and cell phone numbers) in case of an emergency. Possible questions for the interviewer.

golDen rules Switch off your cell phone. Formal behaviour is expected. Greet those present on entering the location, maintain eye contact, shake hands. Don’t chew gum. Wait until you are asked to take a seat. Relax and be yourself. Be polite, confident and enthusiastic. Watch your body language. Listen carefully to the question and then formulate your answer. Do not lie. Ever. Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewers questions at the end. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity.

what haPPens if i aM late for My interview?Assuming that it is not through your own negligence or oversight … call the contact person as soon as possible to explain your situation and apologise for the delay. Request their guidance on how to proceed — whether to continue to the venue or to reschedule.

coMMon questions Tell us about yourself. This question is often asked to get you to relax and settle in. Why did you apply to our company/organisation? Here they want to test your motivation and interest: are you looking for a (any) job; or are you looking for a career? Check if your options are well thought through and goal directed. What do you know about our organisation? This will show whether you have done research on the company. This is also a good time to indicate that you have a career plan. are you satisfied with your academic performance over the years? They will want to know how much effort you have put into your studies and whether your marks have improved over the course of your studies. What do you have to offer our company? As a graduate trainee, not much. Focus on your interest in the field/ sector, motivation, academic background, willingness to learn and your “soft” skills. how have you developed these skills? Cite real/ practical situations where you developed these skills. What are your career goals? You should explain where you see yourself starting out and where you wish to be in the medium and long term in the organisation. Why should we select you to join our trainee programme? This is your chance to shine in a non-arrogant way.

Do your hoMework formulate answers to all the possible questions that you may be asked. Compile your personal balance sheet: strengths/ assets, weaknesses/liabilities, competitive edge, others’ perception of you and potential areas for growth and development. Participate in the campus mock interview programme or have a friend or family member assist you. Consult with the advisors at your campus careers office. research the company thoroughly. know the content of your CV well.

Getting the basics rightGoing for a job interview is always stressful because you know that first impressions are terribly important. But you also know that you sometimes do silly things when you are nervous ... and there is no way you are not going to be nervous when you go for an interview. What to do? CareerCompass asked Ronel Rizzo, Senior Manager at the Graduate and Student Placement Unit at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, ten questions about getting the basics right.

cc: how should i address the interviewer?rr: You should be formal, but polite. You should try to find out the name of your interviewer/s before the interview.

cc: What should i wear?rr: Make sure that you look professional. Generally, a suit is always a good idea. Wear something simple, in a neutral tone. The more conservative your field is, the more conservative your suit should be. For example, if you’re applying for a job in an investment firm, go with a navy blue or dark gray suit. However, if you are applying for a job at an advertising agency, a suit may be too formal. In all instances, wear closed-toe shoes. Sandals are never appropriate for a job interview. Stick with a conservative style. Women should not wear very high heels; nor should they wear low-cut and revealing blouses.

cc: What should i carry with me – a handbag, a briefcase, a backpack? rr: Leave the backpack at home. You want to look professional, not like you’re taking a stroll across campus. A woman can carry a small- to medium-sized handbag. A man or woman can carry a briefcase if he or she wishes, or a folder or portfolio.

cc: Should i shake hands? how should i shake hands?rr: A firm handshake indicates confidence. Also maintain

good eye contact. Avoid trendy handshakes and just stick to the basics. cc: Should i wait to be told to sit down? rr: It is always a sign of respect and good manners to wait until the interviewer tells you to be seated. You don’t want to appear too confident or relaxed. cc: if they offer me tea or coffee, should i accept? rr: You should accept tea or coffee if you are certain that you will be able to manage to drink the beverage without shaking or spilling. If you are feeling really nervous, you could request a glass of water or have nothing at all. cc: how much talking should i do?rr: Answer questions by relating to past experiences or examples, making it evident that you can fulfil the requirements for the position. Never answer with a simple “yes” or “no” but do not “waffle” either. cc: is it in order for me to ask some questions?rr: You are welcome to ask the interviewer questions about the position and/or the company, benefits and future opportunities for growth. It shows that you’re interested. cc: are there any questions i should not answer?rr: Answer all questions related to the position. Do not answer questions about politics or religion if the job is completely unrelated. If you are not sure about a question, ask the interviewer to repeat it and if you are not sure about the answer, ask the interviewer if you can answer at the end of the interview. Very often, the questions that follow trigger your memory. Remember, however, that interviewers sometimes rate your answers. cc: What do i say before i leave?rr: Thank the interviewer/s for their time and for considering you for the interview and say that you look forward to hearing from them.

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university of venda tshwane university of technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

If you want to make a good first impression on somebody, it’s no use waiting until you meet that person. You need to plan and prepare for the moment in advance. This is the advice of Tshimangadzo Daniel Sikhwari, of the Career Development Unit at the University of Venda.

We often see people on television, or in real life, who seem to be perfectly groomed, poised and articulate — without any effort at all. Some may even give you the impression that it all comes to them completely naturally. The truth is that there are very few people who can step out of their homes in the morning without attending to their grooming. Most of us have to work at it. If you have neglected your skin, hair, teeth, nails, hands, feet and nutrition, it will take more than a few minutes to get yourself back into shape. And it’s not optional: no prospective employer is going to take you seriously if you have body odour, stains on your clothes, dirty and snagged nails, greasy, uncombed hair and dirty shoes.

ost graduates face a classic Catch-22 situation when they start looking for work: Getting a good job requires work

experience; but you can’t gain that experience without getting a job. It’s frustrating and a serious concern for many students. Last year, when we asked students what prevents them from applying for positions, 52 percent of respondents in the 2010 Magnet South Africa Student Survey gave “lack of experience” as their reason. So we asked Joany de Bruyn, Programme Manager, Facilitator, Coordinator & Cooperative Education and Employability Services of Tshwane University of Technology, to give us some advice on the issue.

It’s true that many employers want prospective employees to have experience. There is a good reason for this. Employers want to know that you can actually apply your theoretical knowledge in a practical and creative way. Experience also tells your prospective employer that you know something about the “real world of work” and have some insight into how to conduct yourself within a new environment or corporate culture. The extent of your experience will also give an employer some insight into your level of maturity, sense of responsibility and an array of other important desirable character traits.

This is not necessarily a negative thing, because — here’s the good news — there are many ways of gaining useful experience.

any kinD of exPerience Work-related experience always gets first prize, but it is important to remember that there is no such thing as a useless experience. All experience is worth something, whether it is being a waiter, shop assistant, gardener, au pair, or working in the circus or at the SPCA. What is of cardinal importance

is that you have interacted with other people and gained certain skills and attributes, such as listening, accuracy, dependability, time management, compassion, creativity, responsibility, patience, and so forth.

By taking on volunteer or vacation work, you gain experience and receive exposure in real work situations. It also introduces you to various organisations and industries. And it shows that you are eager to learn.

The fact that you have used your time to become involved and to secure certain knowledge and skills shows that there is more to you than just waiting for weekends, off periods and holidays to come so that you can relax and wait for things to happen. You are somebody who makes things happen.

take charge Take every opportunity that comes your way. And if nothing comes your way, go out there and create opportunities for yourself. The worst that could happen to you when asking for the opportunity to gain experience is that you might hear, “Sorry, we have nothing available right now.” But there is just as much chance of hearing, “Certainly, we could really do with an extra pair of hands right now.”

A positive outcome depends on your attitude and will certainly be enhanced if you are prepared to work just for the experience without expecting pay.

work integrateD learning Students who are attending universities of technology (UoT) are fortunate in that many UoTs have compulsory Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programmes. Here universities and students have a joint responsibility to search for WIL opportunities within an industry or company that has the required disciplines and programmes that will enable students to qualify.

remember — the future belongs to the bold.

So, when you start thinking about going for interviews, also think about what you are going to wear and how you can improve your appearance.

1. make sure that your clothes are clean and ironed. Check buttons, hems and zips and

make sure that they are all in order.

2. Think about having a good haircut, if your hair needs attention. Don’t wear a hat of

any kind.

3. Check your shoes. Are they clean? Are they in good shape? Are the heels worn down or

damaged? Take them to a shoemaker if necessary. Don’t wear sandals or gym shoes.

4. are your teeth stained or do they have plaque build up? Visit a dental hygienist

and have them cleaned.

5. make sure that your nails are clean and of uniform length. Women should avoid overly

bright or long nails.

6. do you have bad acne? Be sure to get onto a good treatment regime so that you can

minimise the effect. This will not only help you to look more groomed, but will also improve your confidence.

7. Check your smile. Be sure to use it whenever appropriate. Employers are more likely to

warm to you if you are friendly and upbeat.

Be bold!Be bold!

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university of zululand university of fort hare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Some employers are telling us that there is a sizable gap between the kind of behaviour that is appropriate for the modern world of work and the behaviour that some graduates are displaying. CareerCompasss (CC) asked Nontokozo Mnisi, Career Services Counsellor and Graduate Recruitment Officer at the University of Zululand, for advice on how to behave at work.

cc: We all love the fresh effect of chewing gum. is it okay to chew gum at work?nM: I think that it is disrespectful to talk to a person while chewing gum. It creates a negative impression and could seem disrespectful.

cc: We live in the digital age of instant messaging, Tweeting, visiting social networking sites and so forth. To what extent can we “stay connected” while at work?nM: I really discourage professional employees from spending time on personal networking and chatting. It gives the impression that you are not being loyal to your employer or your clients and customers. A professional employee would do what needs to be done at work so that deadlines can be met and customers made happy.

cc: Can one make friends with people at work? or should one keep it strictly professional? nM: In my view it is always sensible to keep social interaction on a professional level. Friendships can influence your objectivity and judgement about matters.

cc: Can one eat at one’s desk? nM: It is not a good idea to eat at your desk as you may spill something on your documents or your keyboard. But apart from that, it makes good sense to take a break and to socialise with your colleagues in your lunch area. Taking a break over lunch will renew your energy and improve your concentration.

Procrastination is something that we all suffer from to some degree or other. We know it wastes time, ruins chances and sometimes can even end up giving us a reputation for never delivering on our promises. Fort Hare University’s Samuel van Musschenbroek suggests that procrastination is a kind of stew that we get ourselves into. He asks whether making use of logic could possibly get us out of the stew:

Let’s start off the discussion by looking at a good, general definition of procrastination: “to put off; to delay taking action; to wait until later”. This in itself does not sound as serious as it can be because it leaves out an important element. Procrastination usually involves putting off things, which, if not done, can cause a great deal of stress in one’s life.

We all know the feeling. We have something that needs to be done, but a little voice in our mind is already whispering, “Maybe later …” Our subconscious mind is already rebelling against the idea — even though it is possible for our conscious minds to overrule the subconscious rebellion. Say, you need to read an article — a very boring article that could actually replace the world’s need for sleeping pills. There is no choice — it has to be read before tomorrow morning. Yet, you suddenly find that the fridge needs cleaning; the dog needs bathing; the car needs a service; the laundry needs doing … And then it’s so late and you decide to get up early in the morning to read the article. But you keep pressing that snooze button … and OMG ... it’s time for that tutorial and you have not read the article! Your tutor is going to hang you by your toenails!

Try this: Imagine the mental state of procrastination being like a pot of stew, full of excuses, tiredness, laziness and other similar ingredients. As the pot boils, it gives off feelings of guilt, frustration and dissatisfaction. question: Can we use logic to help us get out of the stew?

In this case, employing logical thinking would essentially involve us stripping everything down to the hard facts. We get rid of feelings, emotions and wishful thinking. To do this we need to apply a set of tried and tested questions. In this way we can have a dispassionate look at our

cc: There are always a few people who fail to clean up after themselves in the office environment. is this acceptable?nM: Definitely not. As members of a community it is our duty to keep our communal space clean. One should always keep one’s office clean, and wash our dishes and cups after using them.

cc: They say familiarity breeds contempt. how does one strike a balance between being withdrawn and friendly and outgoing?nM: African culture demands that we greet each other when we see each other. And this I believe is a good thing. But these days there are so many ways of greeting — hugging, kissing, shaking hands, nodding or just smiling — that it is difficult to know what is right. To my mind it depends on the person that you are greeting and his or her level of seniority. When greeting your seniors, it may be a good idea to look the person in the eye and clearly say “good morning, good afternoon, etc” in a friendly but firm voice. Of course one has particular ways of greeting one’s peers and friends and the rule of thumb here is not to overdo things and become too familiar in the workplace. Hugging and kissing is something that is frowned upon in the workplace, unless both parties tacitly agree that it is acceptable. With all these things one has to rely on one’s own sensitivity and insight into what people find acceptable and what not. Some people put a very high premium on their privacy and personal space. You need to understand this and respect it.

cc: how would you describe a professional employee?nM: A professional keeps his or her work area clean and orderly at all times. A professional is focused, clear-headed and delivers the best service at all times. A professional uses higher emotional tones: enthusiasm, cheerfulness, interest, contentment. A professional learns every aspect of the job, respects colleagues, does what is expected at a right time. How you look, talk, write, act and work will determine your level of professionalism.

"When greeting your seniors, it may be a good idea to look the person in the eye and clearly say 'good morning, good afternoon, etc' in a friendly but firm voice."

Office no-nos procrastination and possibly prevent ourselves from staying

stuck in the stew.

ask yourself these questions anD see what haPPens If I don’t do this, who will? Will I eventually have to do it? What is the worst thing that can happen to me if I do it now? What will happen if I don’t do this now?

in the case of our exaMPle You know only you can read the article. You will eventually have to read the article. If you do it now, you will get the full value out of your tutorial tomorrow; you will maintain your reputation as somebody who does what is required of him or her; you will add to your knowledge of the subject that you are studying. If you don’t do it now, you will be penalised by your tutor; you will be seen as somebody without integrity — who does not do what he or she undertakes to do; and you will miss out on the opportunity to increase your understanding and knowledge of your subject.

Now you know what the consequences are and you can take full responsibility for them.

ou have to be highly motivated if you’re going to be learning at a distance because

it is a difficult road full of challenges — despite being exciting and hugely rewarding. If you are going to stay the course, you have to find something within and outside yourself. We call this thing “motivation”. CareerCompass spoke to Tshifhiwa Kodisang, Leza Deyzel, Sonja Barnard and Dr At van Schoor of the Directorate for Counselling, Career and Academic Development at Unisa to get a deeper insight into motivation and how it can help one succeed.

what is Motivation? Motivation is a kind of energy that enables us to take action towards achieving our desired goals. It gives purpose and direction to those actions. We all have times when we feel really motivated; and then we have times when we have no motivation whatsoever... and then we procrastinate. Without motivation we stop working towards achieving our goals, we stop achieving the things we really want to achieve; and we stop believing that we are capable of achieving our goals.

In the course of your studies you will constantly come up against things that will affect your motivation — either positively or negatively. For example, when your assignment is returned to you after it has been marked and you find that you have a high score, it may increase your motivation because you feel good about yourself. Conversely, you may hear that you will not be given an increase when you complete your qualification, despite being promised that you would. This may decrease your motivation.

Tip: Ultimately, your motivation levels will be determined by the vision you have for your future and whether or not you think that you will be able to make this vision a reality.

internal versus external Motivation Often we hear people speak about internal (intrinsic) or external (extrinsic) motivation. Internal motivation is where you are motivated from within yourself. Internal or intrinsic motivation occurs when performing a task is rewarding in itself. For example, you study extra hours over a weekend because you are really interested in a specific topic.

question: What motivates you from the inside? Think about these motivators and write them down so that you can be

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unisa

What keeps you going?reminded of what motivates you when things are difficult. We all need things within ourselves that provide a sense of hope. Now let’s look at external motivation. External or extrinsic motivation is when we are motivated and driven to achieve our goals by factors outside ourselves. Here you feel motivated to continue with your studies because you desire recognition from the community, or want to be looked up to, earn more money and so on ...

Tip: It is unwise to rely on external motivators alone because you are not able to control those factors and they are often a matter of perception. For example, you might have written a difficult exam and expect your parents or partner to be happy that you passed. But they may tell you that you could have obtained a better mark, thinking that they are motivating you. This could leave you discouraged.

question: What are your external motivating factors? Write them down for rainy days so that you can keep yourself focused.

Tip: It is important to have a balance between internal and external motivational factors. All of us have to deal with challenges, and so it is important to have resources within ourselves as much as outside ourselves that we can use when the destination looks unreachable.

your Motivation anD your stuDies Our experience is that there is a relationship between motivation and factors such as your experience or perception of your studies. Students normally complain about not feeling motivated to study because they are feeling that they are struggling with the subject or have a perception that they are not doing well. On the other hand, students who feel they are doing well tend to be more motivated.

question: How do you feel about your studies and what impact does that have on your studies?

Tip: Another possible reason for your lack of motivation may be that you are unsure about your career decision or career choice. You might feel that you have chosen the wrong qualification and this would have an impact on your motivation to study. If you are unsure, please talk to a student counsellor about this.

Practical ways for you to increase your Motivation We could discuss many factors but we would like to end with a few recommendations to keep yourself motivated.

revisit your goal Think about why you originally decided to study. What do you need to do to achieve this goal? Write this down and place it where you can see it every time that you study. Think about the things that decrease your motivation and what you can do to manage these issues. It could be that you need to adjust your attitude or perception towards the modules that you are studying or that you need to negotiate with others to be able to spend more time on your studies. Write a letter to yourself about why you are studying, what your dreams are and encourage yourself to become your ideal future self. Seal the letter in an envelope and write the following: “I promise to open this letter on a day that I need the motivation to complete my Unisa studies.”

finD suPPort Think about establishing some form of support or using your own community of learning to create a sense of belonging. People have a fundamental need to feel connected or related to other people — especially if you are a distance learning student. Identify people that you can share your study experience with.

Decide who fulfils this role for you: other students who are or are not registered for the same modules as you are; your friends; your family or even your pets! Make use of Unisa support services. Visit myUnisa, attend tutorial classes or discussion classes in person or via satellite. Find other students who are registered for the same modules as you are so that you can form your own study group. You can find their details on myUnisa, or you can phone the Unisa Contact Centre at 086 167 0411.

sPeak to a counsellor The Directorate for Counselling, Career and Academic Development has counsellors who are able to assist you with exploring practical ways to stay focused and motivated. We have many study-related self-help resources available on our website www.unisa.ac.za/counselling. You can also chat to us by e-mailing us on counselling@unisa.ac.za, or join us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/unisacounselling.

never give uP! It might be easy to say to yourself that you will never give up. But, it is much harder to find or create solutions for the problems you are experiencing. If you fail, but you have a “never-give-up mindset” then you re-enrol and make sure that you approach the module differently because the same approach will give a similar result. The never-give-up mindset allows you to think about creative solutions for problems and it makes you stronger and your sense of achievement greater. This could have a large impact on whether or not you will complete your qualification at Unisa.

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university of johannesburg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Most of us have discovered that our universities have a career advice office or centre of some kind and many of us have even visited them. But do we really know how much they can help us in planning our careers and finding great jobs? CareerCompass spoke to career consultants, Keketso Rabotho and Siphiwe Moshugi, from the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development (PsyCaD) to find out more.

related workshops, such as their very popular Career Development for the First Year Experience Workshop. Rabotho says, “PsyCaD Career Services is really dedicated to helping students participate in and fully utilise the services and activities offered by us on all four of our campuses.”

Siphiwe Moshugi says,“Our services also help students acquire the skills they need to complete their academic studies successfully and make the transition into the world of work. For example, we offer advice on searching for jobs, writing CVs and covering letters, how to prepare for an interview and how to manage your career.”

The team at the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development also offers a career assessment and counselling programme; career development and career education workshops;

Main purpose to educate and assist clients in effectively developing,

evaluating and implementing career and educational plans

Provides resources to assist with questions like:

Who am I? Where am I going? How do

I get there?

advises on possible employment

opportunities

allows individuals to conduct career related research

allows planning of a comprehensive

job search

allows self insight and awareness in order to pursue

a fulfilling career appropriate to

one’s needs

Career Resource Centre: Purpose

a careers website and online job portal; graduate recruitment programme; and four fully functional career resource centres, one for each of the four campuses.

Rabotho is at pains to point out that they do not only serve UJ students. He believes that most university career services centres see their main aim as engaging with prospective and enrolled students, alumni and the working population, as well as the employer community and the faculties of the university.

“We serve a community that has different roles to play and has different needs,” agrees Moshugi. “But, of course, we are not the only university offering these services. Most South African universities offer career services in some shape or form.”

Active career services centres offer comprehensive personal counselling to students and are able to refer them to other professionals when necessary. In some instances, career services that are situated within

“Career counselling assists prospective students to explore what they know about themselves and the careers they are interested in. It allows them to make informed career choices before they reach university,”

university student counselling units have psychologists who actively offer comprehensive and confidential counselling to students. The idea is to assist them in dealing with a range of personal, emotional and vocational problems.

Career services also offer guidance with regard to degree and diploma regulations and curriculum structure and also assist with queries regarding admissions and matriculation exemptions.

A very important part of their work involves facilitating contact and networking opportunities between prospective employers and students. It provides students to meet with prospective employers and to ask them all manner of questions about the world of work.

“Some students know where they are headed; others want to find out,” says Moshugi. “Either way, a visit to the career centre will give students wide exposure to study and career opportunities.”

In an ideal world, young people would start thinking about their future careers as early as grade 10, when they choose their subjects and learner fields. By grades 11 or 12 they would be focusing on what career they want to follow, what subjects they will need for it and which universities offer the best opportunities in those areas of study.

That is why Keketso Rabotho encourages learners to take part in a career assessment and counselling process. “Career counselling assists prospective students to explore what they know about themselves and the careers they are interested in. It allows them to make informed career choices before they reach university,” he says.

But all is not lost if you started thinking about your career only once you landed at university. At UJ, PsyCaD Career Services assists students whose career options are still a bit vague with a range of services and career-

Hello career services!

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vaal university of technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Former President Nelson Mandela has always made the point that education is the key to success – and there is hardly a person anywhere who would disagree. The challenge, however, is to ensure that one’s education translates into a fulfilling and successful career. How to go about this is not always immediately obvious. CareerCompass asked Alpheus Maphosa, Director of Co-operative Education at the Vaal University of Technology, the Secretary for the Southern African Society for Co-operative Education and a Member of the Board of Directors at the World Association for Cooperative Education, to give us some pointers.

We no longer live in a world where simply getting a degree is sufficient to secure the career that you desire. The world of work now asks a lot more of graduates — personal skills and attributes that mark you as a winner.

take charge Fortunately our universities have kept pace with employers’ demands and are able to assist students in preparing themselves for their careers. This does not mean that students should expect to be spoon fed. Students must be active partners in developing their career skills. It means having a positive attitude and a desire to win.

Start by developing a profile for yourself and create goals for your future. Compile a CV that clearly shows what you are capable of. Let that CV do the talking on your behalf.

ask for helP Of course, you have to accept that creating a winning CV takes time and effort. Make sure you do some research, look at examples and ask for help. Wherever you are studying, you will find people willing to help you. All you need to do is seek them out and ask for their advice.

Vaal University of Technology, for example, has a vast range of aids to help students in developing their careers. The library has a good range of career development material; and the Counselling Department in the Students Support Services Department has many experts who help students prepare for job interviews. The Department of Co-operative Education runs Work Integrated Learning Campaigns during which they host capacity-building workshops on personal mastery and job search skills.

notes

soft skills Once you have begun to build your CV and to develop your career skills, it is also important to start thinking about the acquisition of soft skills such as time keeping, interpersonal relationships, public speaking and rules for conducting a meeting.

first things first Keep in mind Stephen Covey’s rule: “First things first.” By this he means planning, prioritising and executing your week’s tasks based on importance rather than urgency. This is valuable advice because we are sometimes driven by what other people consider to be urgent and it is then good to consider whether something is really important in terms of the goals you have set yourself.

stuDy sMart Study and study smart to become the best in your group. Be exceptional, extra-ordinary and a problem solver. Think on your feet, be an independent thinker and be flexible so that you can adapt to all conditions — whether they be rain or shine.

Winners! Vaal University of Technology filled in the most surveys in the 2010 magnet Communications South african Student Survey! Congratulations!

Play to win

"The world of work now asks a lot more of graduates — personal skills and attributes that mark you as a winner."