Career Guide 2022 3
Career Guide 2022 3
Career Guide 2022 3
2022/2023
Prof Robert Balfour
Welcome note
Welcome to the 2022 Career Guide! ment in the development of informa- This Career Guide aims to create
tion technology is inevitable. Sectoral opportunity awareness and intro-
Career guidance really stems even when faced with unprece- data indicates that STEM (science, duces you to a variety of employers
from school where you first made dented disruptions. We have all been technology, engineering and math- in your field of study; who are looking
the decision on different subject affected in one way or the other by ematics) related career paths are still for open-minded, well-qualified
choices to study. The world of work the Covid-19 pandemic and during typically, highest in demand. people like you, aiming to help you
is changing rapidly and to be respon- this time, we have seen companies find out more about them in discov-
sive, the NWU aims to connect you and employees embrace new skills Our country battles high graduate ering the level of training required
with opportunities as well as possi- and develop new behaviours which unemployment rates and it is worth for your field of work. They are
bilities regarding employment. We can be said - improved the way on noting that scarcity of profession- interested in your knowledge and
hope that you will find the guide how we operate. Innovative hybrid als in some fields are evident and skills, but also in the unique contri-
useful in preparation for readiness working environments, hyflex teach- demands a proper understand- bution that you can make helping
to make future career choices ing-learning approaches are being ing from prospective and current companies to be great places to
- thinking about the career that is implemented and cloud storage for students, of skill relevancy in the work at.
right and best for you. Whether you data sharing are being incorporated, modern context. Whatever career
are starting with your university to effectively work from anywhere in you choose at this point in your I hope the Career Guide will help you
course or already a graduate, con- the world. life, remember that it’s an ongoing start exploring exciting and innova-
sideration of life after graduation is developmental process, building on tive careers and choosing one best
important. There are many exciting The recent Department of Home existing knowledge and the acquiring suited for you, to achieve your full
opportunities, with careers changing Affairs government gazette publi- of new skills in order to be employ- potential. Dedicated Career Centre
and developing continually as our cation, outlining the critical skills in able and remain relevant in the staff on your campus is there to
world confronts new challenges and short supply in the South African changing dynamics of the working help you; offering a range of services
knowledge continues to develop at labour market, can assist to guide environment. Each student and and resources to facilitate dialogue,
an increasing pace. you on possible professional graduate has distinctive qualities, address concerns, guide you to the
pathways. The NWU’s strategic values and abilities. Take in what best possible career suitable for you
It is important for NWU to engage value proposition through the interest and motivates you, know and to assist you in making decisions
with students and graduates on development and implementation your potential and passion, as you for career success.
employability and being prepared of the scarce skills strategy, priori- are setting the path that will ulti-
for workplace demands. The NWU tise the attraction and retention of mately guide your future career.
is continuously reviewing its teach- excellent staff and students. With
ing-learning strategy, ensuring that the 4th Industrial Revolution upon
our graduate attributes are attained, us, digital transformation and invest- Prof Robert. J Balfour
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching-Learning
www.IQbusiness.net/graduates
CAREER GUIDE 2022/2023 vii
Campus Liaison
Officers
Vacant
M Nombulelo Malunga
P
Campus Liaison Officer
Mafikeng Campus Campus Liaison Officer
PARTNERSHIP
Building ADC Potchefstroom Campus
Office 139 Building F25
018 389 2935 018 299 4409
[email protected]
OUR LAW GRADUATES
MATTER TO US.
At CDH, we believe in partnering
with our Law Graduates.
Tshepiso Mothupi
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From Powerful Partnerships Campus Liaison Officer
Come Powerful Solutions Vaal Triangle Campus
Building 13, SL333
www.apply4law.africa
016 910 3345
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Book an appointment on
Do you feel your life is eFundi: http://scd-nwu-ac-za.web.
not worthwhile? nwu.ac.za
What stood out for you during your years What are some of the positive, personal
Which organization are you working for as a student at the NWU and what were attributes that you have gained from
and what is your current job title? your greatest lessons? NWU during your academic years?
SABC, I’M Political TV Reporter Always prepare for the world, I will • Ethical and loyal.
regards NWU as one of the best insti- • Patient
After completing your studies, how was tution as everything I learned there • Dependable
your first interview and how many inter- What key competencies do you use in prepared for where I am now. • Accountable. ...
views were you invited to before getting your workplace every day? • Diligent and organized. ...
a job offer? • Reliability Would you have done anything differ- • Punctual. ...
Well I only had three interviews • Competent ently? • Flexible. ...
that come to mind now, from the • Confident Looking at where I am now, NOOOOO • Team player. ...
national treasury, provincial treasury • Learnability I wouldn’t do anything different
and the department of correctional
service. Well I used those interviews What do you enjoy most about your job
and please share strategies you us to What advice would you give to students
obviously to prepare myself for the entering the job market?
handle difficult situations.
if I didn’t make it, but over and above give your break don’t be too hard on
Well my is amongst the interesting
that they were very fair interviews yourself when you struggle just know
job, first-hand information on issues
that affects the country, interviewing this you wouldn’t be there if you were
What would you say is the most leaders of political parties and travel- not good, and
important thing to do when going for an
ling the world meeting world leaders.
interview? .
Prepare and do thorough research
But I also get to be an opinion leader
above the place you have applied
in way..
to, and it doesn’t kill to always show
confidence.
One the strategies I use always
ensuring that I’m research well
Was it difficult to adapt from being a when I do a story, and always keep
student to being a young professional? composure and trust yourself when
For me it’s the same moving being a in difficult situation , ALWAYS KNOW
child to and adult, accept now that THAT YOU WOULDN’T BE THERE IF
you are independent, accept the YOU WERE NOT GOOD.
changes that comes with it, you were
dependent now people depend on
you, and also the working environ-
ment itself…
As an entrepreneur, you should always live with your eyes wide open and learn
how to view problems as a means to create solutions.
To find business opportunities and make it happen, you need to do the following
five things: Identify problems as opportunities; be in the right place at the right
• IIE Advanced Diploma in Brand Innovation time; be quick to act without cutting corners; team up; and execute.
• IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Brand Building
• IIE BCom Honours in Strategic Brand Identify problems as opportunities
Management
You can start your business opportunities by hunting around to see what the
• IIE BA Honours in Strategic Brand
majority of people are struggling with or what they are looking for. The most
Communication
successful entrepreneurs understand how to sniff out, test and execute unique
• IIE BA Honours in Graphic Design
opportunities more efficiently than their counterparts.
• IIE BA Honours in Interior Design
• IIE MA in Creative Brand Leadership Most opportunities disguise themselves as problems. They can arise when
• IIE MCom in Strategic Brand Leadership new technology or products enter the marketplace and other people do not
• IIE DPhil in Brand Leadership yet know how to harness those technologies.
DOCTORATE MASTER’S HONOURS DEGREES DIPLOMAS CERTIFICATES Think outside the box while knowing what is inside the box.
Time Execute
Time is limited; you cannot do all the work on your own. Assemble the right Execution is the most important point. It looks different for every business, but
team that will be able to understand the opportunity and can help you meet it is important that you should be productive and not just busy.
those goals on schedule. Together, you can build a rapidly growing business
and team, and establish yourself as the market leaders. Have you ever heard of the businessman who constantly says he is just waiting
for the right opportunity to come along? Waiting to be inspired means, poten-
Collaboration and networking tially, waiting until the end of time. I am not going to do that and you should
not either. Don’t wait for the opportunity, go find the opportunity, whether it
You may prefer to be a lone wolf, but in business, this will not get you very far.
is a trading opportunity or a simple small-business opportunity.
The fact is that you have to network and collaborate, because other people
also have a lot of great ideas. Use those great ideas to propel you to greater Opportunities can appear anywhere and at any time, but it is a myth that they
heights. Go out of your way to attend events and network. Set aside some time just pop up out of nowhere and without any warning. The biggest businessmen
every day to network on social media platforms like LinkedIn. Build those rela- in the world worked hard to make those opportunities happen. However, don’t
tionships. The only way you can start to collaborate is through networking first. start patting yourself on the back because you found an opportunity. Take
advantage of it.
Budget Planning
Budgeting is essential. It allows you to control your cash flow and make pro-
visions for larger costs, as well as giving you an indication of when the time is
right to invest in your idea further and expand it. You have to stay in control
of your expenditure at all times, whether you are a million-rand multinational
corporation or a small and operational start-up. The only difference? How much
and where budget is allocated.
See your budget as a plan to control your finances. You don’t want to run out
of cash and fall short of payments. Similarly, you want to know you can meet
your current goals, as well as plan for future ones.
How to draw up a budget business’s budget is also your budget. Owning an SME means allowing it
to impact both your business and personal considerations. Budgeting your
Dedicate time to this process and if possible, seek assistance from your accoun- own expenditure could mean the difference between success and failure.
tant or financial team to provide you with estimates for your budget. As a So be smart with your start-up. Don’t cash out before you can cash in.
start-up business it is likely that this role will land on you, and it will be your
responsibility to ensure your budget is realistic.
GARY EPSTEIN is the MD of EasyBiz, the distributors of QuickBooks Accounting
Your budget must include projected cashflow, typically on a monthly basis. This
Software in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
allows you to pinpoint any issues immediately, rather than waiting, running
the risk of making the problem far greater.
Entrepreneur Magazine: February 2014
A budget must also encompass costs – fixed ones such as rent and salaries,
variable expenses including materials and products, and one-off capital costs,
such as a lease or buying a computer. Finally, a budget must take account of
revenue forecasts. This means both historic sales and future sales must be
included.
What would you say is the most Step 3: I jot-down all my personal
important thing to do when going for an attributes on a paper. This is a very
interview? important exercise as it paves way
There is a personal policy I implement for me to be upfront pertaining to
before going for an interview and I my personal skills, achievement and
will duly lament it: possible weakness. I believe that this
exercise also allows me to dig deep
Step 1: I believe in conducting
and think of all my greatest qualities.
research on the company that have
short-listed me for an interview. I Step 4: I try with all my heart not to
believe it is critical to acknowledge overthink as this channel my mind
the company’s goals, culture, vision, into panic mode. I think originality is
and missions so that it can assist the best recipe to have when going
me in aligning my purpose for the for an interview, People always advice
company that one should research possible
questions that the panel might ask
Step 2: I further investigate on the
but memorizing the answers to the
duties and roles stipulated in the job
questions researched could be detri-
description. This is also important
mental or hazardous to the interview
as it assists me to have a clear idea
outcome.
and perspective of what is expected.
Your CV is your marketing tool and its focus should be on your skills
that contribute to the position you are applying for. The following
should be included:
At least 10 words (adjectives) which will describe your personality, personal qualities or
6. Work Experience
traits which will lead to success in the specific job/career, as explained in the CV workshop
by the Career Consultant.
Name of employer; period, job title AND a description of what you did.
Remember: “VERBS”
3. Career Goal / Objective
7. References
Explain what kind of a job you are looking for at what kind of a company. Show the pro-
spective employer what you are looking for matches their job vacancy/company. You may Employer: Lecturer:
include it only in your covering letter. Refer to: Functional area (job); level in the organi- Mr. P. Wessels; Sunshine Pharmacy; Dr. J. Alison; Department of Statis-
zation; type of organization; size of organization; eventual goals and specific skills sets. Mafikeng. tics; NWU; Mafikeng.
082 123 4567 082 234 5678
Be Concise F Has the CV been checked for spelling, grammar and typing errors?
F Is the lay-out well balanced and the space used effectively with
Continue revising and fine-tuning your CV. Proofread! Don’t rely on a spell- headings?
checker. Have two or three different people proofread your CV.
F Is it easy to read, with clear font and characters that are not too small?
Ensure that your CV is well spaced and visually attractive. Check and F Does the most relevant information occupy the most space?
recheck your CV for errors. F Did you print your CV on good quality paper?
F Did you adapt your CV to suit this specific application?
F Did you create a cover letter to accompany your CV?
F Will the employer be able to contact you by using your personal details
on the CV?
F Did you use action verbs & short sentences and phrases that are to the
point?
F Are you sure your e-mail address is professional?
F Are the pages numbered?
F Does your CV include a cover page?
in a group setting, because their performance allows greater freedom. Skills, Competences and Traits
Remarkable employees come to you before or after a meeting to discuss a
sensitive issue, knowing that bringing it up in a group setting could set off
a storm.
F Adaptability/Flexibility F Judgment
6. They speak when others won’t. Some employees are hesitant to speak
up in meetings. Some are even hesitant to speak up privately. Remark- F Analytical thinking F Leadership
able employees have an innate feel for the issues and concerns of those F Attention to detail F Leveraging diversity
around them, and step up to ask questions or raise important issues when F Business acumen F Listening
others hesitate.
F Career motivation F Negotiation
7. They like to prove others wrong (especially doubters, pessimists and F Commercial awareness F Numeracy
negative people). Self-motivation often springs from a desire to show
F Communication F Organisation
doubters that they are wrong. Potentially, the kid without a college degree
or the woman who was told she didn’t have leadership often possesses a F Compliance F Organisational awareness
burning desire to pull other people down to his or her level. Remarkable F Conflict management F Planning
employees are driven by a deep and personal belief in truth, honesty,
F Consulting F Problem solving
positivity and perseverance.
F Creativity/Innovation F Public speaking
8. They’re always fiddling. Some people are rarely satisfied (in a good
F Customer focus F Resilience/Tenacity
way) and are constantly tinkering with something: reworking a timeline,
adjusting a process or tweaking a workflow. Great employees follow F Decisiveness F Responsibility
processes. Remarkable employees find ways to make those processes F Dedication/Commitment F Results orientation
even better, not only because they are expected to… but because they just
F Delegation F Risk-taking
can’t stop believing that continuous improvement is always possible.
F External awareness F Sense of self
These eight qualities give us a further insight into what employers might
F Independence F Sensitivity
value and what they look for in graduates.
F Influencing F Teamwork
If you can present and emphasise these skills and attitudes in your CV, and you F Information seeking F Trustworthiness/Ethics
are able to speak about them with confidence in the interview, you are well
F IT appreciation
equipped to “sell” your competences to the employer of your choice.
F Instruction (give and receive)
F Integrity
they didn’t give me, though, was every- people, get involved in 6 MONTHS AFTER COMPLETION OF STUDIES
thing that I learned and earned in my something you love and learn
WORKING &
R20 000
first year: valuable skills.
8. Your education is yours and 14% STUDYING
1. Smile on your student card yours alone. Don’t expect any 27% ONLY MONTHLY SALARY
photo – you don’t want to look hand-outs. STUDYING BEFORE DEDUCTION
like a criminal for the next four 9. Love what you do; if you don’t,
years.
80% 83%
no one else will.
2. Buy a pair of tekkies or flip flops
for those flights of stairs.
10. Most of all, be willing to grow in
many other ways over the next 53%
29%
RETENTION OF NWU SATISFIED WITH
few years, other than just your POTCH STUDENTS FOR CONTINUED OVERALL
degree. Keep an open mind! 27% ONLY
STUDIES EXPERIENCE OF NWU
MAHIKENG WORKING
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, as they don’t define who you are;
20%
30%
VAAL DID VACATION WORK
varsity is so much more than textbooks and marks. 31% WHILE STUDYING
OF THOSE WHO DID
NEITHER 66% VACATION WORK WAS
RELATED TO THEIR STUDIES
Female students' expected first salary Male students' expected first salary
Thank you for making your voice heard. If you have any questions, send an email to [email protected]
72 CAREER GUIDE 2022/2023 CAREER GUIDE 2022/2023 73
Online
Application Tips
Preparing for online job hunting Plain text gets rid of italics, bullets • Cut and paste information from
Most people prepare their CV by and all fancy formatting. your text (.txt) file, not the word
using word processing. Unfortu- processor.
nately, this may cause your CV to be • It is not necessary to complete a
The question now is: What can you do to
unsuitable for the internet. It may field unless it is compulsory – just
enhance this plain text version?
happen that recruiters do not use the remember that the more
Open your text (.txt) file in Notepad
• information you add, the better
Examples of skills:
• The ability to communicate effectively
• The ability to write clearly
• The ability to play an instrument
• The ability to solve problems
• The ability to dance
ATTENDING CAREER FAIRS • ask prompting questions on the chat box and gather relevant information
about different career opportunities – jobs, internships and graduate
HAS BEEN MADE EASIER development opportunities offered by the different employers; and
DO NOT MISS OUT! • be active in the chat box and gain knowledge regarding the various possi-
bilities existing within the specific degree or study field(s) you have chosen.
How will I attend the virtual career fair? The goals of virtual career fairs are to give students the opportu-
A link with login credentials will be sent to all participants, requesting them to nity to:
join the virtual platform. Companies will have up to 10 members in their booth, • get in touch with potential employers and contact persons in the future;
engaging with students who visit them there. Remember that there is no limit
to the number of students whom they will interact with. • learn more about companies and organisations;
• discover more about careers and potential job opportunities;
Students can login from anywhere in the world via smartphone, laptop or
desktop. They also have an opportunity to visit as many companies as they • have a good look at careers relating to their studies, as well as other fields
wish and will have full access to the event until it closes. and careers;
• receive advice on what employers are looking for;
At the end of the event, the Career Centre will be able to extract statistics that
indicate the number of student visitors and this information can be analysed • learn more about current internships; and
as required. • gain valuable interview experience, get job search advice and possibly
even obtain an invitation to an interview.
As a student, how do I connect?
How do I prepare to benefit most from a virtual career fair?
Enrolled NWU students can secure the link to join the virtual fair a week before
from: • Be well prepared and make a good impression by greeting the person in
the chat box and introducing yourself with your name and your field of
• the Career Centre Facebook page; study.
• Efundi – The Career Centre page;
• Write down the questions that you want to ask before joining the chat box.
• Career Centre website;
It is helpful to reflect on what it is you want to achieve from this engage-
• Academic Student Society WhatsApp groups; and
ment with the employer: Do you want to find a job or an internship?
• many other NWU internal e-platforms.
with the right tools to develop At Symplicity, we believe the “I cannot speak highly enough about
career-ready graduates
career center provides critical
services and fosters lasting
the Client Services team; they are so
connections with students accommodating with their time and
and employers. We have the
largest network of students willing to work with us to adjust the
and employers in the space. system to meet our needs”
Laureate Australia
THE BEST PLATFORM FOR CAREER SERVICES YOUR STUDENTS, YOUR DATA
When it comes to the CSM platform, we’ve built and enhanced a platform Simplicity firmly believes in pro-
with deep configurability and functionality. Our platform enables schools tecting student data - whether
to measure and report on critical KPIs around student engagement and it’s now or five years from now. FEATURES
outcomes, streamline student and employer outreach, and run robust OCR Our business model will never
and experiential learning programs. These values are core to our mission require students to give up Student CRM
and drive our decision-making in everything we do - today and in the future. their data in order to access
a core university service. Our Recruiting Toolkit
mission is to help institutions
connect students with the Appointment Scheduling
people they need to launch
successful careers. We do that On-Campus Recruitment
by equipping institutions with
an enterprise-scale employabil-
Management
ity platform they leverage to
engage students, employers,
Swipe Card Kiosks
staff, and administrators in the
career-readiness process.
Advanced Metrics &
Outcomes Reporting
CONNECT STUDENTS TO EMPLOYERS
Virtual Mock Interviews
Custom Dashboards
SUPPORTING YOUR BRAND
The information that is contained in your CV has created in the employer The interview: • Avoid asking questions about
enough interest in you to want to meet you and find out more about salary and benefits during
• Be early.
the interview. Leave those
you. An interview gives you the opportunity to showcase your qualifi- • Learn the name of your inter-
questions for when the job offer
cations, abilities and personality to an employer, so it pays to be well viewer and greet him or her with
is discussed.
prepared. a firm handshake.
• Thank the interviewer when you
• Use good manners with everyone
leave and shake hands with him
Be prepared to explain everything Personal appearance: you meet.
or her.
that you have written in your CV in • Relax and answer each question
• Be well groomed.
such a way that you convince the concisely.
interviewer that your
• Dress appropriately.
• Use proper language – avoid Do not:
• Do not chew gum. • spend much time talking about
slang.
• qualifications and knowledge are • Make eye contact. money and fringe benefits;
• Be cooperative and enthusiastic.
applicable and relevant to the • Use body language to show • act uninterested in the company
position that you have applied Preparation: interest – use eye contact and or job;
for; • Learn about the organisation. don’t slouch. • act defensively when questioned
• experience in formal work, as • Have a specific job or jobs in • Ask questions about the position about anything;
well as in voluntary activities, has mind. and the organisation, but avoid • speak badly about past col-
equipped you with the skills that • Review your qualifications and questions whose answers can leagues or employers;
are required in the position that experience for the job. easily be found on the company’s • answer with only a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.
you have applied for; and • Be ready to describe your expe- website. Always motivate your answer;
• personality traits and personal rience briefly, showing how it • Show your knowledge. • interrupt the interview, even if
drive, passion and interest will relates to the job. • Explain what you are able to do. you have to use the bathroom;
contribute to success in the • Be ready to answer broad • Show what type of person you and
position that you have applied questions, such as “Why should are, what it is that drives you and • let you cellphone ring or beep
for. I hire you?”, “Why do you want what you are passionate about. during the interview.
this job?” and “What are your
strengths and weaknesses?”.
• Practice an interview with a
friend or relative.
Find us on
Facebook & Instagram:
@pkfexperience
Job-hunting is a long process that takes patience. In fact, when I finally got an 4. Apply high
interview for my current job, it was after months of checking the company’s One of my favourite professors advised me not be afraid to “apply high.” She
website for an appropriate opening. I knew I wanted to work here, so I kept said this after I complained that every job I wanted required years of experi-
checking until a position opened up that I was qualified for. Start making your ence that I did not yet have. She told me that just because a job had specific
post-university career plans as soon as possible. requirements, didn’t mean I shouldn’t try for it if I believed I was capable of
performing.
2. Show off your skills
I admit, I thought my CV would get thrown away as soon as employers realised
A CV can only say so much, particularly when you don’t have a lot of experience that I didn’t meet every requirement. Yet, when I found out about the opening
yet. Consider starting a blog, creating a website or making a video to show off for my current position, I went for it, despite my minimal experience. I wrote
your specific talents. Listing “strong writing skills” on your resume isn’t nearly a strong cover letter that got my application through the door. I came to the
as effective as showcasing those skills with particular examples of your work. interview confident and well-prepared, and even though I didn’t meet each job
requirement on paper, I still got the job.
To really capture a company’s attention, try making your site or blog tailored
specifically to your dream job. This will give you an opportunity to show how As a newbie to the workforce, you have to be ready to prove that you can do
much you’ve researched the company and the requirements of your desired it – but it’s well worth the fight.
position.
For example, if you want a technical writing position, put together a sample 5. Network here, there and everywhere
proposal as if you already had the job. This not only shows what you can do, Though the job market isn’t ideal right now, new graduates have an incredible
but also gives the company examples of the ideas that you would bring to the array of networking tools at their disposal. Use every single one of them.
position. Maximise every possible resource.
Streamline all of your social media pages to reflect your job search. Use your
3. Be an active intern
Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook contacts to connect to new people in your field
The “go get me some coffee” internship stereotype exists for a reason. Just or people that work at companies that you’re interested in.
because you’re assigned menial tasks, doesn’t give you an excuse to be
passive. Ask for more difficult tasks. Offer your ideas. Find out about what Don’t make the mistake of thinking that networking ends on the computer.
the company’s hiring process is like. Talk to your superiors and seek out a Talk to anyone and everyone you can that might be able to help you. Use your
mentor. Get descriptions of entry-level positions within the company and work internship, your job, your professors and the friends of your mom. Job-hunting
towards gaining the necessary skills to land them. is not the time to be timid.
in your lap. Work hard, network and don’t give Potchefstroom Campus
up on your dreams – just be smart about them.
Building F25
Tel: 018 299 4409
Email: [email protected]
Vanderbjilpark Campus
Building 13, SL 334
Tel: 016 910 3345
Email: [email protected]