Frank Julie, director and founder of YoungPeople@Work
As the euphoria over the matric pass rate will soon dissipate, let me share some cold facts to bring us back to reality.
Thousands of matriculants will be joining the depressing labour market with no job-hunting plan, which includes upskilling yourself. They will job hunt by default and not by design. Some people think having a matric is enough. You need to invest at least three to four years after matric - in your own skills development - to make yourself employable. You will soon discover that our school system did not prepare you for the world of work.
Sign up for any available skills development courses like computer literacy, marketing, driving, cooking, training skills, writing, bookkeeping, office admin, business admin, plumbing, welding, photography, home-based care, nursing, hospitality, tourism, sewing, knitting, crochet, etc.
Go for internships, volunteer, job shadow where possible, but invest in yourself. Don't sit at home doing nothing. You will only feel isolated and more depressed.
Build up your CV, make it look attractive. Let the interviewer see your passion to learn and to grow yourself. Show your passion to want to add value to yourself and your life. A value that can never be taken away from you.
Your attitude is more important than paper qualifications. Learn, learn and learn. The illiterates of today are those who stop learning.
And then as you empower yourself, develop a clear job-hunting plan, with clear objectives. Your objectives must be specific (never look for any job. That job does not exist in the real world). Make the objective measurable (how many CVs do you plan to submit per month), make it achievable, realistic and time-bound (there must be a beginning and end with clear dates).
To job-hunt costs money - for data, transport, food, emails, copies, etc. Create a budget. Find the money by doing odd jobs like looking after children, house cleaning, walking kids to school, recycling, plaiting hair, gardening, car wash, doing laundry, running errands for people, assisting with homework, etc. Your biggest asset is time. This is the scarcest resource for many people. Use yours wisely.
Then build your networks. Remember, to network is not who you know, but who wants to get to know you. What attracts people toward you? Build on that. Offer your skills to people for free. Get a foot in the door. If there is no door, climb through the window.
Follow certain people on social media (like the members of our Youth Business Network and many others) and learn what makes them tick.
Watch out for freebies like workshops, online events and get connected. If you don't know someone, ask for an introduction. But do something to build your network. And stop that mentality of “I want, want, want”. Change it to “how can I give, give, give?”
Then the doors of opportunity will open for you because, remember, the future belongs to those who prepare for it.