Ultimate Career Guide 2021

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CONTRIBUTORS CREDITS PUBLISHER Jacques Breytenbach EDITOR Madelaine Page SUB EDITOR Tristan Snijders HEAD OF DESIGN Beren Bauermeister PRODUCTION & CLIENT LIAISON MANAGER Antois-Leigh Nepgen GROUP SALES MANAGER Chilomia Van Wijk KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGERS Elri Klee, Candy Mukhwa, Lynda Kapsimalis RESEARCHER Margaret Callado BOOKKEEPER Tonya Hebenton DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Asha Pursotham DISTRIBUTION: ON THE DOT Melt Van Der Walt, Category Manager: External PUBLISHED BY PRINTED BY 46 Milkyway Avenue, Frankenwald, 2090 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 www.3smedia.co.za NOTICE OF RIGHTS AND DISCLAIMER THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE Information and statistics have been taken from publicly available documents, research as well as interviews that may or may not reflect the absolute correct numbers and statistics applicable at the time of going to print. All rights reserved. This publication, its form and contents vest in Novus Print (Pty) Ltd t/a 3S Media. Reg. No. 2003/021005/07. No part of this publication, including cover and interior designs, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published. The publisher obtained permission for the use of images that are protected by copyright. The views contained herein may not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation and compilation of this publication, the publisher, editors and editorial contributors accept no responsibility for errors, omissions, completeness or accuracy of its contents, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. While every effort has been taken to ensure that no copyright or copyright issues is/are infringed, Novus Print (Pty) Ltd t/a 3S Media, its directors, publisher, officers and employees cannot be held responsible and consequently disclaim any liability for any loss, liability damage, direct or consequential of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising. Madelaine Page Freelance writer and editor Phakamile Khumalo Public and media skills development manager Media Monitoring Africa Margarethe Booysens Freelance writer, leadership and research coach Jamaine Krige Author, freelance writer and medic Jahni de Villiers Director at Labour Amplified Dr Morne Mostert Director of the Institute for Futures Research Stellenbosch University Anne Schauffer Freelance journalist and copywriter Dalaine Krige Freelance writer and teacher in South Korea Master’s in Political Science Delia Krystal Hamlett Writer and teacher Master’s of Educational Psychology student Mia Jansen van Rensburg Writer and teacher Master’s of Anthropology student Dr Sandra Roberts Academic head and researcher Fray College Karen Gray Learning and training consultant CEO of Gray Training Raj Naran Career development educator Wits Counselling and Careers Development Unit Lungi Langa Organisational psychologist and career counsellor Amanda Chembezi Governance and policy sector lead African Leadership Academy Dr Sara Black Postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation University of Johannesburg Paula Fray Entrepreneur, media expert and business consultant CEO at Fray Intermedia Zakiyya Ismail Essa Counselling psychologist and lecturer Nicolene de Wee Freelance journalist and writer Master’s in Journalism student Monique de Klerk Counselling psychologist Centre for Health & Human Performance, North-West University Professor Simphiwe Sasanti Author and academic Department of Language Education, University of the Western Cape 4 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021

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CONTENTS 09 Editor’s Notes The future is yours for the taking… and the shaping 10 The Gen-Z Effect Greta Thunberg – Leading the game-changers of the next decade 12 Internet and Social Media Savvy Becoming a digital citizen – Build your future in the digital world 18 Love What You Do and Call It Work Choices, choices, choices 23 Preparing You For The Workplace Of Tomorrow – Today Society 5.0 – Making the 4th (and the 5th) Industrial Revolution work for you 28 Soft Skills – The Trampoline To Propel You Higher Communication is key – what you say is as important as how you say it 32 COVID Vaccination and Your Rights How Covid-19 vaccination policies will affect you 39 Are You Getting The Education You’ve Been Promised Alive with possibility and inspiring new ways – Focusing on your rights as a learner 44 Your Brand Can Make Or Break You Building a brand that sets you apart – Your brand – your reputation 18 44 6 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021

50 Don’t Panic – Nail That Interview Prepare; Don’t panic – Don’t lose your nerve; nail that interview 55 When Your Best Just Isn’t Good Enough Resilience in the face of rejection – Turning your failures into stepping stones 60 Test Drive Your Career Finding out what you really want to do – Boost your CV while gaining real-world experience 64 A Year On; Not A Year Off Becoming a gapper 69 Cashing In The Bursary Chips Footing the education bill – Get the financial support you need and deserve 85 Entrepreneurship It all starts with an idea – How to make money on your own terms 93 University Isn’t Your Only Option Gather your skills in a suitcase 100 Work Could And Should Be Fun Your greatest adventure ever 105 The Education King Who Fell In Love With His Statue King Pygmalion goes private – The perfect storm has arrived 112 Immersive Learning Practical skills for any occasion – Learn the right thing… the right way 114 Last Word The efficacy of interdependence 75 So You Want To Study Abroad It all starts with a dream – Pursuing your passion overseas 79 Teach English Abroad A new world of opportunities – Becoming a global citizen while earning a living 82 Student Exchange Beyond the classroom – Learn a foreign language to enjoy the benefits of a student exchange programme 82 100 39 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 7

The future is yours for the taking... and the shaping EDITOR’S NOTES Y ou are young and outspoken, digitally smart and technologically savvy. You know what you want for the world you live in, and you’re prepared to fight for it. You’re pragmatic, resilient and adaptive. Expectations have shifted Previous generations have seen climate change as a far-off threat in the distant future. You know that they were wrong – it’s on our doorstep. You’re willing to step up and be the change you want to see in the world. After all, if you don’t do it, who will? Because you expect the same from the brands you support and the leaders you follow, you won’t hesitate to call them out when they don’t behave in an authentic and transparent way. Your generation, Gen Z, identifies strongly with characteristics like loyalty, thoughtfulness, determination, compassion, open-mindedness and responsibility. Research has also shown you to be eager, hardworking, creative and motivated. Unlike the Millennials that came before you, your primary motivations are not positive feedback or financial rewards. Instead, your generation strives to make a difference in the lives of others, and follow through on commitments as to not let others down. Studies show that Gen Z’ers are motivated by being able to tap into their passions to advocate for something they believe in, as well as see the progress of their own work. With your tech-savvy skills and personcentred approach, you’re perfectly positioned to step into not just the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but also the Fifth Industrial Revolution – a new phase of industry and work where technology will be redeployed with a focus on making the world a better, kinder, safer and more equitable place for all who live in it. While previous generations were made to believe that work – or learning – can only happen in an office or classroom, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the nature of work and learning. And of course, the Gen Z’ers were quick to adapt and embrace this new way of living! It was just a matter of time before entrepreneurs and universities, like the University of Cape Town, would take the gap in offering online learning for high school learners. No longer a forced option, but one of choice. It’s your future You’re in a unique position. Experts say that more than half of school students will one day work in jobs that don’t even exist yet. This means the world is your oyster, and the future is yours for the taking… and the shaping. You can decide what you want to do, and how you want to do it. You can start working for the future you want, and the future you know you deserve. And you can start today! I hope our Ultimate Career Guide will help steer you in your choices as you enter this new phase of your life, and open your eyes to the exciting world of possibilities – some, not yet even imagined – that lie ahead for you and your peers. THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 9 The world around us is changing, and no generation is more uniquely prepared for these changes than yours. And perhaps, no generation is more equipped to change the world for the better than yours is right now. Madelaine Page Gen Z – the world is your oyster

10 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 THE GEN Z EFFECT Leading the game-changers of the next decade Greta Thunberg Environmental and climate-change activist Greta Thunberg Young, outspoken, internet and social media savvy. More aware of social injustices, more inclined to take a gap year and often bullied online. Worried about the future and more concerned with academic performance and job prospects. Does this sound familiar? It should. If you’re finishing up with school and starting this new phase of your life, this should speak to you. You are Gen Z, writes Madelaine Page. Y our generation wants real change, and you want it now. You and your peers won’t hesitate to call out politicians, companies and brands when they do not behave in a transparent and authentic way. You’re pragmatic, resilient and ready to adapt to change. You have to be… at the speed the world around you is changing. But your generation is also likely to suffer more from mental disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorders, behavioural disorders, depression and sleep deprivation. Maybe because you are more inclined to talk and be open about it. The social media you’re exposed to daily may make you more likely to have body image and selfesteem issues. Also called the iGen or Centennials, your generation was born between 1996 and 2010, following on from the Millennials, and you’re about to enter the workforce and change the way things were done before. We talk about our future, they talk about their present.”

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 11 Greta says she heard of climate change when she was eight years old and was so depressed about it three years later that she stopped eating and speaking for two months. Her activism started when she convinced her parents to change their own lifestyles and reduce their carbon footprint. Her mother, an opera singer, gave up her job as it depended on flying all over the world. When Greta went to speak at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in North America, she decided to sail from Europe instead of flying, which is very energy-intensive and bad for the environment. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and selective mutism, she chooses to see every condition as a superpower and not something to hold her back. She usually starts her speech in every city by acknowledging the indigenous people whom the land originally belonged to: “In acknowledging the enormous injustices inflicted upon these people, we must also mention the many enslaved and indentured servants whose labour the world still profits from today.” The Greta effect Greta Thunberg, 18, has for many become the face of Gen Z. Whether you like her or not, she is steadfast in her quest to challenge world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation. It started in 2018 when she staged a solo protest during school hours outside the Swedish parliament, advocating a “school strike for climate” after the heat waves and wildfires. It was Sweden’s hottest summer in almost three centuries. She demanded that the Swedish government reduce carbon emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Internet and social media savvy, she posted on Instagram and Twitter, setting the ball rolling for others to join her cause. One of her tweets was retweeted by someone with more than 200 000 followers, and the next thing her message was being shared on social media, along with her photo, and YouTube channels were dedicated to her story. In the days that followed, she wasn’t alone outside parliament – she was joined by others, making first national and then international headlines. Two months later, she joined protests across Europe, inspired by her initial stand, and gave speeches urging world leaders to take climate change seriously. She continued to grow and mobilise followers on her social media platforms from all corners of the world. After being invited to speak at the 2018 United Nations’ Climate Change Conference, her presentation went viral. Following this, student strikes took place every week somewhere in the world. In 2019, there were scores of coordinated multicity protests, with more than a million students at each one! When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, she responded: “In a crisis, we change our behaviour and adapt to the new circumstances for the greater good of society.” A virtual strike followed in September, because “the climate crisis doesn’t pause”, even while the world is in lockdown. Praised by many, she was also cyberbullied, even by adults who should know better (including former US president Donald Trump), and called “obese” by a Chinese newspaper after she said that China’s carbon emissions exceeded those of all developed countries combined. The photograph they used was digitally altered. Greta took a sabbatical year from school to meet like-minded people from the climate movement in the USA. A year later, she was back at school, getting excellent grades while still inspiring people everywhere to take action and protect the planet. At the UN Climate Action Summit, New York, 23 September 2019: ‘This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you! ‘You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!’ I want to feel safe. How can I feel safe when I know we are in the greatest crisis in human history?” – Greta in her winning essay on climate change THE GEN Z EFFECT @gretathunberg | @GretaThunberg

Build your future in the digital world Web Rangers is an international digital literacy programme, implemented right here in South Africa to help young people navigate the digital challenges and grab online opportunities. It aims to improve digital literacy skills, helping you develop your own capabilities and become an active digital citizen who contributes to the development of this country. Phakamile Khumalo is the Web Rangers public and media skills development manager. She share some tips to help you navigate the ever-changing digital landscape, empower you to use the internet and social media safely and responsibly, and help you build your future in the digital world! Becoming a digital citizen Web Rangers, in partnership with Media Monitoring Agency (MMA), Google South Africa, the Film and Publications Board (FPB), MTN, DTPS and Diana Schwartz Attorneys, is designed to empower the youth to become digital citizens who know how to use the Internet responsibly and encourage others to do the same. It is a digital literacy programme designed to allow young people to gain critical skills and knowledge around online safety. This is used to create innovative campaigns that promote safe internet usage and champion their rights in the digital world. The Web Rangers programme is open to South African school learners between 12 and 17 years old. T he world you live in isn’t the same one that your parents grew up in, and while this means you’re faced with challenges that they never had to deal with, it also means you have opportunities that they never dreamed of! Becoming a digital citizen As you prepare for your future, it’s important to understand that there are ways in which you can use the internet and social media to further your passion and your dreams, while promoting the advocacy work of keeping other young people safe online. You can do this by being a digital citizen! 12 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY Phakamile Khumalo

Digital citizenship is made up of two words: ‘digital’ and ‘citizenship’. Digital means the use of digital technology. Citizenship means being a member of and supporting one’s community and country. Digital citizenship is using the internet and social media platforms in a way that is ethical and reflects your rights and responsibilities. Active digital citizens have online social skills that allow them to use technology in a fun, safe, responsible and respectful way within the digital community. The story of your digital footprint Almost everything we do communicates a message, whether it’s on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram - even the videos you upload on YouTube or TikTok. When we look at all these messages, it all tells the story of your DIGITAL FOOTPRINT! INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 13 Managing your digital footprint • Pay careful attention to what you say in your email, texts and social media posts. • Pay careful attention to what you ‘like’ or ‘share’ on social media and online. • Before you post, think about what information to share, where to share it and how to share it (what platform, what medium, what format, what tone?). • Read the fine print (privacy policies and terms) before clicking ‘agree’. Personal Information and Privacy Online As a young person online, there is a certain pressure to be visible and have your information out there so people can get to know you better. This can be a problem when you put your safety at risk by not protecting your privacy on the internet. Below are ways you can protect your privacy online. Identity thieves, scam artists, debt collectors, stalkers, and corporations looking for a market advantage are using social networks to gather information about consumers. Personal information you should never share on social media: Let’s get started! Your digital footprint is the mark that you leave behind when using the internet and it can shape your online reputation The Protection from Harassment Act provides protection to those who are victimised or harassed, both offline and online. You can go to court and get a protection order under this law, even if you don’t know who the person that is bullying you is • Your name • Race • Gender • Identity number • The school you attend • Where you live 1 WHO? Who is asking for this information? Do you really know them or could they be pretending to be someone else? 2 WHAT? What are they asking foar? STOP if it is your personal information. 3 WHY? Why do they need it? Remember the following 3 Ws:

INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY • The film and publication board has a hotline that you can call anonymously to report child pornography, sexual abuse & exploitation on the internet. Phone 0800148148. • Hashplay online game. Hashplay (https://game.hashplay.co.za/) is designed to help people make informed decisions online and provides guidance on ways to protect yourself online. • Auntinet. MMA’s social media agony aunt, otherwise known as Auntienet, was created to listen and help you. #Auntienet is here to lend an ear and assist you with all the problems and challenges you encounter online. You can access it here: https:// hashplay.co.za/info/social-mediaagony-aunt-2/ • To find out more about how you can stay safe, visit our Web Rangers website on www. webrangers.co.za or chat to our Web Rangers team on [email protected] Important resources Cyber ills and their impact on youth Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place online using electronic technology, like cell phones, computers and tablets, as well as communication tools like social media sites, text messages, chats and websites. While cyberbullying is similar to ‘real life’ bullying it differs in the following ways: • It can occur 24/7 and you can be targeted even when at home. • It can involve harmful material being widely and quickly sent to a large audience. For example, rumours and humiliating pictures can be posted on public forums or sent in group chats. • It can provide the bully with a sense of relative anonymity and distance from the target. So there is a lack of immediate feedback, consequences or accountability. Cyber stalking is just like stalking in real life - someone watches your actions on social media and can see where you are going or find your location. They may even create a fake profile to become your friend on social media. Online grooming is when an adult forms a relationship with a child or younger person with the intent of later having sexual contact or committing other crimes. This can take place in chat rooms, on instant messaging platforms or on social networking sites. The ultimate goal of the ‘groomer’ is to arrange an in-person meeting to engage in sexual relations with the child or teen! Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit images, text messages and videos of either yourself or other people. We encourage people to use the term Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), instead of child pornography A catfish is someone who creates a false online identity. Catfishing is common on social networking and online dating sites. Sometimes a catfish’s sole purpose is to engage in a fantasy, but sometimes the catfish’s intent is to defraud a victim, seek revenge or commit identity theft. So you have sent nude pics. What now? Try having an honest conversation with the person you sent the image to. Ask them to delete the pictures. The quicker you’re able to do this the better. You can’t control what someone will do with an image, but having an honest conversation can help to prevent the picture being spread further. Online stalking should be referred directly to the police The Films and Publications Act 1996 regards sexting as a serious sexual offence, and classified it as child pornography when minors are involved

INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 15 AND YOUR CAREER Potential employers as well as bursary institutions might reference public information across social media platforms for a background or consistency check. You need to ensure that your social media footprint strengthens your personal brand instead of causing damage and questioning your ethics and integrity. Effective navigation of social media can and will open up a magnitude of career opportunities. I t all starts by executing a safe, effective and consistent digital presence. Personal and professional barriers are blurred on a daily basis when it comes to our personal brands vs professional careers, when we interact in the digital space. It is crucial to start building a professional digital presence as well as be digitally active in order to establish an online personal portfolio and brand. You need to ensure that your integrity and ethics are maintained, protected and promoted across all the integrated digital applications, tools, platforms and networks. The ultimate outcome is to establish digital credibility that would operate similar to real currency. Purposefully managing your digital footprint establish a secure and credible network of connections and content to drive, steer and grow your career. It is critical to start establishing a credible network as early as possible and continue to nurture and expand your digital social network. It is through this network that you will engage regarding bursaries, internships, learnerships, volunteer work, extra credit field projects, student exchange programmes and yes, your first job. This network of professionals can How can social media promote my personal brand? include teachers, mentors, life coaches, sport coaches, study groups, sports clubs, family and friends. For example, when you join a volunteer group for a project, ensure that you share social media contacts with same minded individuals in the project. Be active in your digital community. You’ll be surprised how many doors community members can open for you. One of your most significant digital networking applications to utilise would be LinkedIn. You need to join this networking application as soon as possible. It will guide you through a magnitude of business and professional information, potential employers, mentors, study and career growth opportunities. The networking pool for LinkedIn is sitting at 750 million members. It allows business professionals access to insights, share business ideas, networking groups and career opportunities. Job seekers create and post their digital CV’s whilst employers are posting job opportunities. It is considered more professional to send a personalised introductory note with your LinkedIn Connect request. Once the person accepted your request to connect, you should send a followup message to start networking or connecting. You can also use LinkedIn to follow companies and brand ambassadors, thereby learning from them but also getting exposed to a wider networking pool. If you are not a LinkedIn member yet, please click visit https://linkedin.com to sign up and follow the prompts. You can also download the LinkedIn app from the Play Store or Apple Store on your smartphone. Twitter is another useful social media tool for job seekers as well as recruiters. Twitter is not just about the latest social scene trends. It’s a professional network giving you direct access to many career opportunities. This includes topics such as bursaries, volunteering, internships and learnerships. You can search for tweets promoting job vacancies, follow industries of interest or preferred employers, even mentors and industry captains. Common hashtags that can be used for job hunting are: #jobs #jobsearch #vacancies #hireme #jobhunt #internship #bursaries.

18 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND CALL IT WORK Choices, choices, Find what you love, love what you do… and let the money find you Steve Jobs – former chairman, CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc – said: “You’ve got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” An inspirational and moving sentiment, but how realistic and attainable is Jobs’ view in a country with a staggering unemployment rate? Between the idealistic view that anything is possible and the pessimistic view that nothing matters, there might just be an attainable middle ground. Finding this point of agreement starts with the way we think about careers. Raj Naran, a career development educator at Wits’ Counselling and Careers Development Unit, says: “It would be useful to come to some understanding that careers are usually developed rather than chosen. When looking at career development this way, it would usually be good practice to think of career development as a series of goals that one sets throughout life.” As such, career decisionmaking is an ongoing process. The first goal is to decide what to do after completing your secondary education. How do I go about choosing a career? 1. Know yourself The starting point of choosing a career is YOU. When considering your career Your career defines what you do and, to some extent, who you are. Ideally, your job should be financially and emotionally rewarding and make your life more meaningful. In essence, career decisions matter, writes Margarethe Booysen.

LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND CALL IT WORK Your motivators: What am I passionate about? Your assets: What experience or qualifications do I have? What languages do I speak? *Psychometric tests conducted by a psychometrist will also give you an idea of your personality type and your aptitude. 2. Know your options In the past, career expos were popular go-to places to explore potential career paths and get to know the companies who were hiring. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, many of these events have been cancelled, or are not being held on the scale they used to be. Some have moved online. Luckily, there are many other avenues you can follow, says Lungi Langa, organisational psychologist and experienced career counsellor. Lungi says that one of your first stops is your school career guidance counsellor. If this is not offered by your school, you can also make an appointment with a counsellor at a university’s career guidance centre. Raj suggests visiting organisations’ websites, which provide useful information about the fields in which they operate and the opportunities they offer. In organisations that permit this under Covid-19 regulations, you can also job-shadow someone to see what their job entails. Virtual internships also open up a new spectrum of opportunities. What remain key is that you continue to learn. LinkedIn Learning, for example, offers more than 16 000 free, up-to-date and expert-led online courses. 3. Which occupations are in high demand? Your third step is to research what occupations are in high demand. You can consult options, it is important to know who you are. What are the things you need to know about yourself? Your values: What is important to me? The answer to this question is probably the most important and complex. Renowned occupational psychologist Edgar Schein referred to ‘career anchors’ as those things in life that motivate you and that you value. When we understand what our career anchors are, we have an internal compass that can assist us in making important decisions that will be aligned with our values. This is because our values are the driving force behind our actions and motivations, and help us to achieve our goals. Our goals are what we want to be, where we want to be, and what we want to achieve in the future. Knowing this helps you to make decisions and set your priorities. Other important factors you should consider: Your interests: What do I enjoy doing? Your skills and abilities: What am I good at? Your strengths: What comes easily to me?* Raj Naran To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” – Socrates THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 19

the National List of Occupations in High Demand in South Africa, which is available online. Here are a few links to explore: Department of Higher Education and Training: tinyurl.com/zyzpfv3s or tinyurl. com/eamcbewa Skills Portal: tinyurl.com/458266pe GCIS: tinyurl.com/3ub8eaks Green Gazette: tinyurl.com/3jnckmjn Bear in mind that these demands change continuously and that you need to be able to adapt and retrain to stay relevant in today’s workplace. Raj’s advice to young people entering the workplace is to develop career resilience. This entails being comfortable with taking risks and understanding that it is necessary to be adaptable and flexible in this rapidly changing world. Learning and training should further be seen as something you would usually need to engage with throughout your life. 4. Find the overlap Ideally, you should find the overlap between who you are, your personality, your attributes, the type of job that suits you best, and a job for which there is (or will) be a demand. It is helpful to develop a scorecard of the various factors that will influence your career decisionmaking process. Lungi Langa 1 Digital tool savvy and technological skills – the ability to learn new systems and to configure and customise these tools. 2 Comfort with analytics and data – including interpretation, visualisation and communication of data analytics. 3 Business, leadership and management skills – will be required irrespective of the position or field of expertise. 4 Design and creative skills – an essential part of the future of work in all areas, from business analysis to finance and manufacturing. The job market of the future will require four key work skills: LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND CALL IT WORK CASE STUDY From selling burgers to CEO/PhD Lungi Langa completed her BA Psychology degree at one of the top universities in South Africa but was unable to find a job in her field. She spent five years working for a fastfood chain as the restaurant’s admin assistant. Her shift was from 08:00 to 17:00, but she always completed her tasks by 11:00 each day. To keep busy, she would leave her tiny office and sell burgers with the rest of the staff. Finally, in her sixth year of working this job, she got her foot in the corporate door as an HR assistant. She got this breakthrough by persistently seeking suitable opportunities in line with her career aspirations. She applied for hundreds of jobs before she finally secured an interview. While she was working, she continued to further her studies. Today, after many promotions, Lungi is a seasoned corporate executive. She owns a company with top local and international clients, and is in the process of completing her PhD in Consulting Psychology. Consulting psychology is a branch of organisational psychology that is focused on empowering clients and improving workplace functioning. Lungi’s advice to the young people of South Africa is to know yourself and what is important to you, set your goals, work hard, and take pride in any work you manage to find. The rest will follow. GO TO: For more information to help you on your journey of career decisionmaking, have a look at Deloitte’s ‘Welcome to Generation Z’ report about the future of work: tinyurl.com/62w7vysd. What occupations match who you are? Who are you? What occupations are in high demand? 20 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021

PROFILE | GLOBAL EDUCATION Have you ever wanted to study abroad? Do you want to earn an international degree? Not sure how and what to do? Are you looking to study abroad? Global Education is more than just a business. It’s a family! Our team value is to expose interested students to a world of opportunity, and we are here to guide and assist you through the entire process Global Education: the study abroad experts in South Africa & Zimbabwe For over 15 years, we have been the home of overseas university applications, assisting self-funded students through the entire university application process. Our services include direct access to hundreds of our university partners, providing all the necessary information and documentation to ensure your successful application to study abroad. Global Education is your ‘incountry admissions’ team to over 300 directly contracted world-class universities and colleges. We represent universities and colleges across the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Cyprus, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. Whether you wish to study for a diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate degree, Global Education will find the right international college or university for you. Prospective students are empowered with all the knowledge required to begin their studies in a new country with ease and confidence. This is all part of the professional and personal service offered by the company, including individual counselling and student advice. In short, leave the worrying, chasing and sorting out of all paperwork to us. We are your direct link to the universities worldwide and handle everything without intermediaries. We aim to ensure the application process to study abroad is as stress-free as possible. Our services include: Application Advice Guiding students on exactly what documents are required to apply and how they need to be verified, and assisting with admissions and placement at international universities. We also assist high-achieving sport and academic students to connect with the top institutions and ensure you have the comprehensive support to make a successful application. Student Visas We assist you with your student visa by providing all the necessary information and checking through all documentation to ensure a successful study visa application. We have a 100% track record for student visas. Campus Accommodation We guide and assist students with securing their on-campus accommodation. Pre-departure & Arrival Events We coordinate pre-departure and arrival events to help our students connect with the university and other successful applicants to ensure that they are prepared and have all the knowledge necessary to have a successful start to their new adventure. Start your journey with us today! THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 21

For over 15 years, we have been the ‘home’ of overseas university applications, assisting self-funded students through the entire university application process. We aim to ensure the application process to study abroad is as stress-free as possible. Your Journey to Study Abroad Starts Here! Our team value is to expose interested students to a world of opportunity, we are here to guide and assist you through the entire process. Global Education is more than just a business. It’s a family! We coordinate pre-departure and arrival events to help our students connect with the university, ensuring you are prepared for a successful start to your new adventure. Pre-departure & Arrival Events We assist you with your student visa by providing all the necessary information and checking through all documentation to ensure a successful study visa application. Student Visas We guide students on exactly what documents are required to apply, how they need to be verified with admissions and placement at international universities. Application Advice Whether you wish to study for a diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate degree, Global Education will find the right international college or university for you. Prospective students are empowered with all the knowledge required to begin their studies in a new country with ease and confidence. This is all part of the professional and personal service offered by the company, including individual counselling and student advice. Global Education is your in-country admissions team to over 300 world-class universities & colleges. Contact: Miguel Rodrigues Tel: +31 (0) 830 5556 Email: [email protected] DURBAN OFFICE CONTACTS: Contact: Nico Eleftheriades Tel: +27 (0)11 268 6545 Email: [email protected] HEAD OFFICE CONTACTS:

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 23 PREPARING YOU FOR THE WORKPLACE OF TOMORROW - TODAY The world around us is changing, and if you don’t change with it, you will get left behind, writes Jamaine Krige. So, what can you do to prepare yourself for the workplace of the future, today? By now, you know that the world you live in isn’t the same world your parents grew up in, and the nature of work is changing rapidly. It can be hard to plan for the future when none of us really knows what that future holds. Even experts who make a career from predicting future trends based on current trends admit that it’s hard to know what we don’t know yet! A couple of years ago, nobody would have known what you were on about if you said you were an Uber driver, a drone pilot or a blockchain engineer. You would have gotten funny looks if you told someone you were considering a career in virtual reality design, while artificial intelligence (AI) was something from sci-fi movies where machines take over the world. You couldn’t consider a career as a social Making the 4th (and 5th!) Industrial Revolution work for you

media manager or influencer in the year 2000 because MySpace hadn’t even been invented yet. Facebook also only came along in 2004! Today, however, these are all viable career options that seemed unimaginable just a decade ago. So how can you prepare yourself for an uncertain future, and ensure that you will thrive in a job that might not even exist yet? The automation of work will no doubt bring new levels of efficiency to all sectors and industries, which makes people worried that this could destroy a number of jobs. PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts that within the next 15 years, 38% of jobs in the USA and 35% of jobs in Germany will be lost to automation. The future of work is already here Saadia Zahidi, managing director of the World Economic Forum, says the future of work is no longer something that we can expect 10 years from now – the future of work is already here! The arrival of the PREPARING YOU FOR THE WORKPLACE OF TOMORROW - TODAY Source: DataProt Jobs that existed 12 years ago but are now gone or disappearing Jobs that weren’t around 12 years ago but here today Jobs we can only imagine being around 12 years from now Meter reader Blockchain engineer Quantum programmer Switch board operator Mobile App developer Climate change scientist Electronics assembler Sustainability manager Rocket design architect Assembly line worker Cloud compuing specialist Space craft pilot Video store manager/clerk AI/Big data analyst Blockchain crypto specialitst Dictaphone operator Autonomous vehicle designer Cultured meat farmer Film projectionist YouTube contnent creator Hazardous waste engineer 37% of businesses and organisations employ AI today. However, for 28% of people, the human touch is still needed to get the job done. More than 46%of Americans use voice-controlled virtual assistants. Two in three Americans believe self-driving cars are safer than regular cars. The AI industry will be earning $118 billion a year by 2025. The robot revolution will create more jobs than it will destroy The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” – Alvin Toffler So how can you prepare yourself for an uncertain future, and ensure that you will thrive in a job that might not even exist yet? 24 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 25 workplace of the future was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact it had on the way businesses operate. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs report, around 65% of children who are in primary school now will end up working in a job that doesn’t exist yet! In many industries and countries around the world, the 10 most in-demand occupations today didn’t even exist 5 or 10 years ago. Also, the changes that lie ahead are expected to happen even faster than before. That is why they say it’s important to be able to anticipate and prepare for the jobs and the workplace of tomorrow. The WEF also estimates that by 2025, around 85 million jobs will be displaced or lost because of automation and the increasing capabilities of machines to do certain tasks. Despite this, they say there will be around 97 million new roles in the workplace that will emerge that are more suited to a workplace where humans share the workload with machines and algorithms. This means that the ‘robot revolution’ will actually create more jobs than it will destroy! Unfortunately, the individuals and communities who will be most negatively affected by the changes to the world of work are likely to be those who are already most disadvantaged. If we don’t act quickly and equip people with the skills needed to survive in the workplace of the future, the inequalities in our country and in the world will be made worse by the impact of technology and the Covid-19 pandemic. The job landscape of the future By the year 2025, around half of all employees in the workplace will need to reskill in order to keep doing their jobs, and the core skills needed to do the job will change for at least 40% of workers. Around 94% of business leaders say that employees will be expected to pick up new skills on the job. The top 10 workplace skills of 2025 can be divided into four categories, namely: • problem-solving • self-management • working with people • technology use and development. PREPARING YOU FOR THE WORKPLACE OF TOMORROW - TODAY By 2025, new jobs will emerge and others will be displaced by a shift in the division of labour between humans and machines, affecting: Growing job demand 01 Data analysts and scientists 02 AI and machine learning specialists 03 Big data specialists 04 Digital marketing and strategy specialists 05 Process automation specialists 06 Business development professionals 07 Digital transformation specialists 08 Information security specialists 09 Software and application developers 10 Internet of things specialists Job landscape Decreasing job demand 01 Data entry clerks 02 Administration and executive secretaries 03 Accounting, bookkeeping and payroll clerks 04 Accountants and auditors 05 Assembly and factory workers 06 Business services and administration managers 07 Client information and customer service workers 08 General and operations managers 09 Mechanics and machinery repairers 10 Material recording and stock keeping clerks Source: Future Jobs Report World Economic Forum 01 Analytical thinking and innovation 02 Active learning and learning strategies 03 Complex problem-solving 04 Critical thinking and analysis 05 Creativity, originality, and initiative 06 Leadership and social influence 07 Technology design and programming 08 Technology design and programming 09 Resilience, stress tolerance, and flexibility 10 Reasoning, problem-solving, and ideation SKILLS 10 OF 2025 top Problem-solving Self-management Working with people Technology use and development Source: Future Jobs Report World Economic Forum

26 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 PREPARING YOU FOR THE WORKPLACE OF TOMORROW - TODAY The Industrial Revolutions What is the Fifth Industrial Revolution / Society 5.0? While you’ve no doubt heard about the Fourth Industrial Revolution, experts now say it’s time to start preparing for the Fifth Industrial Revolution, or Society 5.0. But what does this mean? One definition is this: “a human-centred society that balances economic advancement while resolving social problems by a system that highly integrates cyberspace and physical space”. During this industrial revolution, machines and humans will work together, transforming industry, accelerating technological advancements, and hopefully making the world a better place! This will be different from the industrial revolutions we’ve seen in the past. In the past, the trends leaned towards dehumanisation, technological advancement and innovation best practices. During this one, those advancements will be bent back towards the service of humanity, towards solving social problems, and building a more inclusive and prosperous society. While technology and AI will help us, this new revolution places greater importance on human intelligence than ever before. We may see less repetitive and mundane tasks or jobs, but this will pave the way for curiosity, empathy and creativity. We will, therefore, need a special type of problem-solving judgement to ensure a balance between people and machines. In Society 5.0, the way we look at work will change. It’s already changing! Companies are increasingly making use of freelancers and contractors, and it’s rare for an employee to work at one company for 40 years. The way employers look at their workers will also change, with a greater focus on humanity in the workplace and employee wellness, mental and physical health taking centre stage. We know today that work isn’t something you go to every day; it’s something you do from wherever you are. People who will do well in this society are those who realise that while there may be fewer jobs, there will be more work to be done than ever before! 18-19th Century in Europe and North America, featuring steam engines 1870-1914, featuring steel, oil, electricity, and combustion engines 1880s Digital Revolution, featuring personal computers and the internet 21st Century advance of AI, big data, robotics, IoT, blockchain and crypto Responsive 21st Century connection of innovation to purpose and industry 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH While it’s impossible to say for sure what the future will hold, we know that the world of work is changing quickly and drastically. If current trends hold, experts say these career paths are examples of what you could be doing in the future – if you start preparing for it today! 1 Human-machine integration specialist In this role, you’ll be a team manager in charge of making sure the human employees and AI employees of a company communicate and work well together. This means you’ll need to understand both AI systems and human psychology to make sure that the office interactions and work relationships run smoothly. 2 Drone professional Drones aren’t just popular for aviation enthusiasts or filmmakers anymore – they are used to deliver medicines and food, count livestock on farms, and can be integrated into security systems. And there won’t just be opportunities for drone operators or pilots – there will be a need for drone fleet managers, drone mechanics and repairmen, as well as air traffic controllers. 3 Augmented reality journey builder Augmented reality (AR) customer experiences are no longer a distant dream. Gone will be the days where you shop online while cursing the fact that the website doesn’t have a fitting room. AR journey builders will work to make it possible for customers to enter a virtual shopping world, walk around stores, and try on new clothes – all from the comfort of their home! Not into shopping? That’s okay. There are also options in this field for travel and tourism. You can create journeys to help people make a decision before booking a specific hotel room, or even allow them to virtually visit a country before booking their plane ticket! You could design visual museum tours that people can do from their living rooms. There are several avenues into the field of augmented reality because it is not only about the technical skills – it incorporates elements of design, psychology and art. If you’re thinking about a career in AR, then a background in audio technology, engineering, applied mathematics, user experience design, and customer experience will help you get a head start. 4 3D-printed food chef 3D printing is one of the technologies experts predict will creatively disrupt how we live and work in coming years. Engineers are creating biomeat products in labs and 3D printers can be loaded with these organic materials. If you’ve got a passion for food, coupled with technology, you could find yourself working in a 3D-printing restaurant as a chef! A number of restaurants around the world already serve 3D printed food. These jobs don’t exist… yet!

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 27 CASE STUDY I deal with investigations not even the police can do Thabo Mahlangu is a senior artificial intelligence (AI) researcher at South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He is part of an elite team that is tasked with defending the country against cybersecurity threats and attacks. He says that, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, South Africa has seen a sharp rise in ransomware attacks on hospital systems and medical facilities. During this type of attack, cybercriminals infiltrate networks and then lock legitimate users out of a system, demanding large amounts of money before they release access back to the rightful owners. None of the attacks in South Africa have been successful, with Thabo and his team stopping them all before they were even launched – saving both money and lives. Thabo provides cybersecurity awareness training and develops cybersecurity tools to make threat hunting and detection quick and easy. “I use AI to solve a variety of problems in various domains, specifically in the cybersecurity domain,” he explains. “At the CSIR, we make use of huge datasets to build AI models that can predict threats in cyberspace and give insights into how to best fight these threats.” The cybersecurity space is an exciting one to work in. “As a cybersecurity engineer, you get to deal with investigations that not even the police can do, because it’s very difficult to get tangible evidence in cybercrime cases,” he says. “You are forced to constantly learn new things because the cybercriminals are always trying new ways to hack and attack digital spaces. We have to be on the top of our game to ensure that we are always one step ahead.” He says technology should be embraced. “Many people fear that technological advances and AI will take away their jobs, but I see AI as having given birth to data science, PREPARING YOU FOR THE WORKPLACE OF TOMORROW - TODAY Thabo Mahlangu 10 top When we think about careers in health, we often think about doctors. But you don’t need to go to medical school to land a top-paying job in the healthcare field. Here’s a list of 15 jobs to consider if you want to help people towards better health but don’t want to become a doctor: • Nurse anaesthetist • Physician assistant • Nuclear medicine technologist • Speech-language therapist or pathologist • Genetic counsellor • Radiation therapist • Occupational therapist • Nurse midwife • Orthotist and prosthetist • Magnetic resonance imaging technologist • Medical sonographer • Dental hygienist • Respiratory therapist • Dietician and nutritionist • Biomedical engineer 01 Agricultural scientist 02 Food and beverage scientist 03 Web designer/developer 04 Multimedia designer 05 Software developer 06 Computer network and symptoms engineer 07 Geographic information systems technician 08 Biotechnologist 09 Registered nurse 10 Safety, health, environmental and quality (SHEQ) practitioner IN-DEMAND JOBS IN SOUTH AFRICA RIGHT NOW In November 2020, the South African government launched the National List of Occupations in High Demand and identified the top 10 occupations currently in demand. They are: HIGH-PAYING HEALTH JOBS… WITHOUT A MEDICAL DEGREE He inspires me because he is a superhero without superpowers, which shows that anyone can be a hero. You don’t need special abilities to make the world a better place. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields can empower a generation to solve its current problems, while making it easy for future generations to continue advancing machine learning and deep learning engineering… all fields that did not exist 10 years ago.” Technology may have changed certain jobs, but it hasn’t stolen them. According to a non-profit IT security organisation, ISC², there are currently 2.93 million cybersecurity positions open and unfilled globally. Data scientists are in short supply. “This is exciting,” Thabo says. “When these numbers are considered, the problem is not creating jobs, but rather bridging the skills shortages needed to access opportunities and keep up with an ever-changing world. ” Technology, he says, can make the world a better place. His film hero, Tony Stark (and his Iron Man persona), uses knowledge and technology to solve problems.

28 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 What you say is as important as how you say it Communication IS KEY A critical skill is a skill you need in order to do a specific task; a soft skill is what will set you apart from everyone else who can do the job as well as you can. Regardless of where you end up in life and what career you decide on, communication skills will remain key to your success, writes Jamaine Krige. T he real benefit of doing a short course or qualification in journalism or communication, regardless of where you see yourself in 10 years, is that by the time you’re done, you should be able to communicate clearly and effectively – a must in any job and every workplace, says Dr Sandra Roberts. Sandra is the academic head of fraycollege, which provides communications training that focuses on writing, speaking and presenting, social media, and audiovisual communication skills like making videos. In short, she says, this is everything you need to get your message out there in a clear and confident way. These skills, she says, are crucial in every industry and sector, regardless of your job title or role. “Communication skills are desperately needed in the current world of work, or what we call the ‘knowledge economy’. It is not only about the product we sell, but also what is said about it that matters!” It’s not enough for a company just to produce a product, they also need someone who can write or speak about that product in a number of different ways, and on a number of different platforms. Communication between the different people building the product is also important for the production process. “Even something as simple as a stapler comes with writing and instructions that tell you it is a good product and how to use it safely and correctly.” She says every person at every company, and even entrepreneurs, must be able to communicate what they do, why they’re doing it and why others should care. Targeted, effective and tailored Karen Gray, a training and learning consultant, is the CEO of Gray Training. She agrees that communication skills – or rather communication skill sets – are important for the workplace of the future. “These skill sets are obviously the bedrock of everything, because you won’t get far Everything you need to get your message out there in a clear and effective way if you can’t write clearly and if you can’t speak clearly.” Communication is about much more than just speaking and writing properly and having a good vocabulary. It must also be targeted, effective and tailored to the specific context of the situation. “It’s about choosing the right medium. So, if everyone in your organisation uses email or WhatsApp to communicate, that’s fine. You, however, need to use the correct tone of language and at least be able to punctuate correctly so that your message comes across clearly and you are understood. When it comes to verbal communication, your job might not entail public speaking or large presentations, SOFT SKILLS – THE TRAMPOLINE TO PROPEL YOU HIGHER

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 29 SOFT SKILLS – THE TRAMPOLINE TO PROPEL YOU HIGHER a clear sentence, then the bridge they’re building could fall down! If they’re not reporting clearly and accurately, or not communicating instructions properly, then we could have a disaster on our hands!” It was during this revelation that she decided to take her academic skills, which were grounded in linguistics and literature, into the real world and help people communicate in the workplace. In her business writing training, Karen doesn’t teach you the boring theories that underpin the rules of grammar; she teaches you how to apply those rules in real-life situations. “That’s the difference, and that is what you get in short courses. You learn the value of the skill you’re learning, and how to actually use it in the workplace,” she explains. “The learning is outcome-based, which means you learn how to put your knowledge into practice, and the knowledge Karen’s advice as you enter this new phase of your life: “Each of us has such a unique skill set and talent set, and we’ve got to push ourselves. It’s not going to come to us – we’ve got to go out there and shine. We’ve got to seize every opportunity that we can and make the best of it.” Her second piece of advice: “Never close a door! Keep them open, because if you’re surrounded by open doors, you can go through them – but more importantly, other people can come through them towards you. As you leave school, you’re not sure what you’re going to be doing in 10 years. You’ll probably have various jobs or occupations, possibly in several different fields, during the span of your working years. Every experience leads to new opportunities and the chance to take your career in a new direction.” And remember your skills are transferable, because you can take your suitcase with you wherever you go. Once you’ve got a skill or skill set mastered, Karen adds, another door opens for you – and that’s the door of teaching others. Advice for entering this new phase but you probably need to communicate with your colleagues and give instructions. All these scenarios require a cluster of spoken, written and maybe even graphic communication skills for you to communicate effectively.” This, says Karen, is why she’s so passionate about teaching business writing. She was working as a lecturer in communications when she went on an outing with a group of engineering students: “It opened my eyes, because for the first time in my life I realised that if a civil engineer can’t write and theory just supports the practical application – as opposed to university, where theory is usually the foundation for everything.” Soft skills will set you apart Communication, in this regard, is a soft skill. Karen says soft skills refer to skills that you need to succeed in the workplace that aren’t directly related to the work you are doing. Stress management is another example of an important soft skill, and so is time management. These skills are not only relevant to a specific job or industry; they’re necessary whether you’re a doctor, an engineer, a project manager or a hairdresser. These are the skills that set people apart and can be the difference between thriving and just surviving in the workplace. Karen Gray If a civil engineer can’t write a clear sentence, then the bridge they’re building could fall down and we will have a disaster on our hands

At Gray Training, Karen teaches a number of short courses that help hone these soft skills. “A good way to understand soft skills is to think about them as the foundation that you stand on before you jump,” she explains. “Without soft skills, you’re jumping from a cement surface – but with soft skills, you’re jumping on a trampoline that gives you life, vuma and allows you to go even higher! Your soft skills give you that lift, even when applying your practical and vocational skills. That is why they’re so important for you to develop.” Learning isn’t confined to a classroom though. “You can develop and hone these skills in or out of school, in or out of university, in and out of a classroom, and in or out of the workplace.” Karen says every skill you acquire through life can be tucked away in your suitcase of life, and can be applied to a number of different situations and occupations. “Like many other skills in your suitcase, you don’t need a piece of paper to prove you can do them; just being in a situation where you are negotiating, facilitating, presenting ideas… you collect experience that you can use again and again. No skill is ever wasted.” Perhaps you were part of the debate team at school, or captained a sports team, or really shone in mathematics. “We tend to move on and maybe in your next life, at varsity or in the workplace, you don’t use that particular skill every day,” she explains. “But that skill is still with you, and it never really goes away, especially if it is something you developed as a young person.” It’s not that companies will look at applicants and specify that they are looking for someone who was a prefect in high school, or who played netball or field hockey. “What they’re looking for is the underlying skills that are implied – a prefect usually has leadership and organisational skills, and if you played group sports then you’re likely to be a team player in the workplace too,” she explains. These skills are not officially taught in the school curriculum, but are vital for success in life and in the workplace. “What we grow up learning outside of a classroom – teamwork, respect, sharing and leadership – becomes a part of us,” she says. “We might not always realise how important they are, but these soft skills end up transferring into critical skills as we grow older and progress in life.” A soft skill is what will set you apart from the crowd Karen says a critical skill is something that will render you inadequate in the workplace if you don’t have it. A soft skill, however, is what will set you apart from the crowd. Soft skills can be the difference between just fulfilling your duties and getting promoted to manager “You can be a functioning cashier or waiter at a restaurant, and you can perform all your work duties,” she explains. “But if you have good people skills and a strong sense of respect, you might pick up that an older person needs some extra assistance.If you are honest, you may notice that a customer has left something behind and return it, because that is just who you are.” It’s when you dig into your suitcase and pull out these skills that you will really shine as an employee. “Doing this puts you one step ahead, and can be the difference between just fulfilling your duties and getting promoted to manager.” Learn how to learn Sandra also has a word of advice for you as you embark on your next adventure, regardless of whether you decide to study at a university, complete a short course or qualification, or jump head-first into the world of work: learn how to learn. “I think the most valuable thing to know is how to teach yourself to do things. Through the internet, you’ve got the entire world of learning at your fingertips. Empower yourself!” 30 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 SOFT SKILLS – THE TRAMPOLINE TO PROPEL YOU HIGHER Soft skills will give you the extra lift that will set you apart

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 31 UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA The JuniorTukkie (JT) Online platform at the University of Pretoria was established to provide Grade 10 to 12 learners with a host of key learning resources that will enable them to prepare well for their examinations in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, English, Accounting and Life Sciences. The new JuniorTukkie e-learning platform T here are a range of enrichment programmes, which include life skills sessions in creativity, critical thinking, decisionmaking, mathematical reasoning, time management, communication skills, as well as community engagement opportunities, which will enable learners to prepare for their academic career and entering the world of work. JuniorTukkie Online allows you to work at times that are convenient for you in the comfort and safety of your home. This flexibility allows for you to study on your own terms but leaves you with the knowledge and peace of mind that what you are learning • Register at juniortukkie.online • You will receive an email that confirms your registration • Go back online and log in with the username and password you created • Gain access to all learning content on the JT Online platform • Notifications will appear on the home page when new learning content is uploaded • Go to www.up.ac.za/apply, select ‘JuniorTukkie’ OR • Go to www.up.ac.za/juniortukkie, select ‘Become a JuniorTukkie’ OR • On the JT App, select the ‘JuniorTukkie’ tile, then ‘Become a JuniorTukkie (Gr 9-12)’ JT members who qualify will be invited to attend the following events (adhering strictly to Covid-19 protocols): • Preparation Conference for Grade 12 learners • Faculty information sessions for learners and their parents offered by Health Sciences: Grade 12 and Veterinary Science: Grade 10, 11 & 12 • Grade 10 Walk-the-Talk Day • Information sessions for Grade 9, 10 and 11 learners and their parents Enquiries: [email protected] Download the JT App: juniortukkieapp.co.za Enquiries: [email protected] Make an appointment with a Specialist Senior Student Advisor if you want to discuss the following: • Grade 10 subject choices • Study and career options • Your UP online application Email: [email protected] REGISTER NOW Grade 9 to 12 learners: Become a JuniorTukkie member! is impacting positively on your study preparation and future career goals. Direct enquiries can be sent to Mr Themba Maluleka: [email protected].

COVID VACCINATION & YOUR RIGHTS Schools, universities, job hunting and the workplace T he South African Constitution makes provision for only one absolute right and that is the right to life. All other rights fall under Section 36 of the Constitution, which means that they may be limited by a generally applied law that is ‘reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on dignity, freedom and equality’. When we talk about our human rights, the burning question right now is whether government, institutions or private companies can force people to get Covid-19 vaccines. The easy answer is no, but, according to Jahni de Villiers, director of Labour Amplified, it’s more complicated than that. While nobody can force another person to be vaccinated, government and private companies can implement mandatory vaccine policies. Government Gazette No. 44 700, published on 11 June 2021, gives employers the power to decide whether or not they want to make vaccinations mandatory in their workplace. “This must be done in accordance with the employer’s own risk assessment. It means the employer must identify those employees that must be vaccinated, taking into account the risk of transmission through How Covid-19 vaccination policies WILL AFFECT YOU The Covid-19 pandemic isn’t going anywhere, and more decisive action is needed to keep South Africa – and the world – safe. One way to do this is for government and private companies to implement mandatory vaccination policies. But how will these policies impact on your Constitutional right to freedom and security? And how do your individual rights measure up when compared with the best interest of the public at large? Can schools and universities make vaccines mandatory? Madelaine Page reports. their work or their risk for severe Covid-19 disease or death due to their age or comorbidities,” says Jahni. The Government Gazette is free online at www.gpwonline.co.za Jahni makes it clear that mandatory vaccination to perform certain tasks is not the same as forcing someone to be vaccinated, because employees still have a choice. And employers, when doing the risk assessment, must first try to find other ways to accommodate people who don’t want the vaccine, like moving an employee to a different workstation or a different role with lower risks for contracting the virus. If, however, this can’t

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 33 COVID VACCINATION & YOUR RIGHTS Jahni de Villiers be accommodated, a worker will have to choose: get the jab or find a new job where vaccines aren’t required. Universities and schools What will happen at schools, universities and colleges going forward? This is a question you might have asked yourself as you enter this new phase of your life, especially if your parents or friends don’t want to be vaccinated. Will students be forced to present a vaccination card in order to enter the study halls or sit for exam sessions? At the universities in the USA, the same rules apply for international students (including students from South Africa), who are applying from all corners of the world to study at these prestigious institutions. An education lawyer says as long as universities keep the students’ data secure, there is no legal issue with asking for proof of vaccination. Nobody is forcing anybody; but if you decide to study at any of these universities, you must be vaccinated¹. Students now have an extra admission criterion to worry about! You still have to stress about whether your grades will be good enough to get accepted to your dream university and whether you will be able to afford the fees. You might, however, now also have to consider what you’ll do if you are asked to present a vaccination card stating that you’re fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as part of your admission requirements. Jahni says that, at this stage, the mandatory vaccination policies allowed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993) in South Africa only applies to employees. At universities, this means educational staff, like lecturers. “It is unlikely that universities will make vaccinations mandatory for students,” says Jahni. Within a week of the start of the Department of Basic Education’s massive education sector vaccination roll-out programme, almost 10 000 teachers in Gauteng alone refused to sit for their jabs. Despite this, the Department has as yet not indicated whether it will implement mandatory vaccination for governmentemployed teachers. “Right now, I am not aware of any private schools making vaccinations mandatory either,” says Jahni. “Given what we have seen of Covid-19, children may pose a larger risk to teachers than vice versa. But it remains to be seen how many teachers decide to get vaccinated, whether the Department of Basic Education or individual private schools decide to make the vaccinations mandatory or not.” While the Department of Basic Education has said that no learner will be forced to take the Covid-19 vaccine, it has clarified that the vaccine would be made available to all learners eventually. Campaigns will be undertaken ahead of a scholar vaccination roll-out to support learners and their families to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing, considering their right to healthcare and health education. Is there a difference between companies making it mandatory and the government doing the same? Jahni explains: “Yes, there is a difference. Government has the jurisdiction to enforce vaccinations. It can be argued that, except where an individual’s medical conditions would make vaccination life-threatening, rights can be limited in terms of Section 36 as argued above. It would need to be a law of general application. Many Many employers feel that a mandatory vaccination policy is necessary because too many people refuse to be vaccinated voluntarily. This can be because of something called vaccine hesitancy, maybe due to fear, vaccination disinformation or fake news. “That is why decisive action needs to be taken,” Jahni says. What counts more? ‘Me’ or ‘us’? In the USA, many universities and colleges like Harvard and Columbia have made full vaccination mandatory for students who want to live and study on campus. They argue that it will create a safer environment for in-person teaching and that it is the only way to return campus to ‘normal’ again.

34 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 COVID VACCINATION & YOUR RIGHTS different jurisdictions have gone this route, including Russia and Pakistan. Employers are limited to making rules for their own workplace and cannot enforce vaccination, but can make it mandatory for certain positions and individuals, in accordance with the employer’s risk assessment.” If you apply for a job or internship, can a vaccination certificate be a requirement (like having a valid driver’s licence)? Jahni says that if an employer has made vaccination mandatory for a specific job, then it would make sense that an applicant who isn’t vaccinated can’t be appointed in that position. It all depends on the employer’s risk assessment. “Good examples are customer-facing jobs or jobs where social distancing isn’t possible,” she says. Afriforum says it will defend anybody who decides to exercise their right to freedom and security and not be vaccinated. “That would be highly irrelevant in this case,” Jahni argues, adding that Afriforum isn’t a registered trade union and has no locus standi in workplace disputes. When comparing the rights of one person with the rights of the majority, Jahni explains that rights in the Constitution are not absolute and can always be limited. “In this case, an employee’s rights will not be limited, as they will have freedom of choice – knowing full well what the consequences of the choice would be.” She is confident that this mandatory direction will withstand legal scrutiny as it was agreed on by government, business, community and labour after long talks, considerations and arguments. Protection by the Constitution A lawyer and human rights activist disagrees. “Although it may be true that by vaccinating enough people herd immunity is created, there is no guarantee or certainty about the effectiveness of the vaccine, its long-term effects on people, and whether social solidarity trumps individual or patient autonomy. It is still possible to contract Covid-19 after having received a vaccine.” She believes that the Constitutional rights in South Africa would protect employees against mandatory Covid-19 vaccination. “Is it reasonable to expect that those who do not wish to be vaccinated should sacrifice fundamental human rights in order to accommodate the wishes of another group of people in favour of vaccination? The simple answer is no.” The government can certainly change its stance if the safety of the population becomes more important than individual autonomy and rights, she writes. “Workplaces and employers will still be in a position to adopt policies in line with employment legislation and the Constitution to make vaccines mandatory for employees if such policies do not infringe the right to bodily and psychological integrity.” Can I be vaccinated against Covid-19 without permission from my parents? You are only legally considered an adult when you turn 18, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t recognised as a person with rights, agency and autonomy before then! There are laws in place that allow you to make your own medical decisions from quite a young age. According to the Children’s Act (No. 38 of 2005), children may consent to their own medical treatment provided that they are over the age of 12 years and have the maturity and capacity to understand the implications of a specific treatment, including its risks and benefits. References 1 https://www.ft.com/content/906bf795- f413-43cf-9811-83c4bc1fc49a This is not the same thing as forcing someone to get vaccinated. Employees have a choice.” If the Covid-19 vaccine becomes available to your age group and you want to get vaccinated without parental consent, you can approach a doctor, teacher, nurse, social worker or another trusted adult to help you explore your options.

PROFILE | SAICA I f you want an exciting career where you can contribute to something bigger than yourself, becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA[SA]) puts you in a position to make a real difference. Giving you the skills and perspectives to build the tomorrow you want. How? Here are some compelling reasons to consider this as YOUR career path: The CA(SA) designation is your passport to: • Changing the world – As difference makers, CAs(SA) have the skills, knowledge and insight to drive business decisions that help create better societies, economies and communities – for a more prosperous future for us all. • Being the head and heart of a business – CAs(SA) are not only able to run companies (74% of the JSE’s Top 200 company chief financial officers (CFOs) and almost a third of the JSE’s top 40 CEOs are CAs[SA]), they’re able to start their own companies and be their own boss too. And that means you can make your passion a reality. • A highly promising and varied career – as a CA(SA), you can work in just about any industry of choice – in all fields of business and finance and, more specifically, in auditing/assurance, tax, financial management, information technology, management accounting, forensic accounting and insolvency – as well as academia, the public and private sector, NGOs and more. • An internationally recognised career. • Improving your chances of being headhunted by top employers throughout your career. • Holding prestigious positions in the private and public sector and in academia. • Contribute to making South Africa a If you pass everything first time, the entire qualification process takes about seven years from the time you enter university. That may sound like a long time, but it’s worth it! Become a Chartered Accountant BECOME A DIFFERENCE MAKER: THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 35 What kind of tomorrow do you want to shape? A connected world, working together to prosper and thrive? By Karin Jacobsen

36 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) is the leading accountancy body in South Africa and one of the prominent institutes globally. SAICA is at the forefront of developing, influencing and leading the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence in the delivery of quality accountancy skills. This is achieved by safeguarding the professional standards of the designations on offer; advancing and maintaining the relevance of the profession; and by regulating the members’ and associates’ professional conduct against the SAICA Code. For more information, visit www.saica.org.za. About SAICA better place through giving back in a number of different ways. How do you become a CA(SA)? The minimum requirements for university admission to a CA-stream BCom degree are a Level 5 pass in Mathematics, together with a National Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption. You need to take pure Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy) as a subject and you need to pass it well. That means achieving 60% or more. You also need a good grounding in English, as it will help you to understand the concepts you will study. Many learners believe that having accounting as a school subject is compulsory to study towards your CA(SA). While it can help you in your studies towards your degree, it isn’t necessary. Now let’s talk universities… If you want to be a CA(SA), you need to ensure that the university you’re applying to offers a BCom qualification/ programme that is accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). A full list of the universities that offer SAICA-accredited BCom Accountancy programmes can be found at www.saica.org.za. Once you’ve completed the three-year degree, you’ll need to obtain a Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA or honours equivalent). This is a postgraduate course – your fourth year at university – and focuses on Accounting, Auditing, Taxation and Financial Management. It takes a minimum of one year to complete and must be completed at a SAICAaccredited university. Once you have your BCom, it’s time to get real-world working experience. Following your CTA, you’ll enter into a three-year training contract with a SAICAregistered training office. During your training, you must pass two Qualifying Examinations: the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) and the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). If you pass everything first time, the entire qualification process takes about seven years from the time you enter university. Now that may sound like a long time, but it’s worth it. PROFILE | SAICA Exceptional CAs(SA) like Zanele Maduna have escaped the poverty cycle through SAICA’s Thuthuka Bursary, which helps academically talented but financially disadvantaged African and Coloured learners pursue their dreams of becoming CAs(SA)

Where can you make a difference as a qualified CA(SA)? The CA(SA) journey equips you with exceptional commercial acumen, professional scepticism, critical thinking, and the ethical framework you need to shape your world. And that means that you don’t just have to do traditional accounting work. Studying to become a CA(SA) opens up a LOT of doors here in South Africa and internationally, including: • Auditing: CAs(SA) generally audit financial statements and provide tax or financial planning advice. They also offer consulting and advisory services in a variety of fields such as corporate finance, management accounting, information technology, and general financial and business management. • Business: CAs(SA) can specialise in management accounting, financial management, taxation, corporate governance, internal auditing and many other fields. Many lead major companies as chief executive officers, chief financial officers and managing directors. • Government and the public sector: CAs(SA) hold top-notch positions (like the AuditorGeneral or Head of National Treasury) and are widely recognised for effective financial management, leadership and providing services to their country. • Academia: Become a lecturer and develop the next generation of CAs(SA) by lecturing at universities and providing training through professional programmes. • Entrepreneurship: Follow the entrepreneurial route and become your own boss! The bottom line is: if you choose well and work smart, you too can be a difference maker because you’re a CA(SA)! PROFILE | SAICA In addition to academic support, SAICA’s Thuthuka programme also guides talented learners with life skills such as setting goals, building their confidence and counselling them through hurdles at home or school Our purpose is to develop responsible leaders for a changing future, while our main objectives are to promote the interests of SAICA members and support the development of the South African economy and society. SAICA’s strategy supports the achievement of its purpose and has six pillars: 1. Continued relevance of the accountancy profession. 2. Delivering better member value and offerings that will see our members remain relevant and in high demand in the marketplace. 3. Growth and transformation of the accountancy profession in terms of race and gender and in line with the overarching national agenda. 4. Growing the Institute’s thought leadership standing, both locally and internationally, through technical excellence and a more robust stakeholder engagement focus. 5. Making a quantifiable social contribution through nationbuilding initiatives, thereby contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. 6. Sustainability of the profession through the attraction and retention of new members. SAICA’s Mission Responsible leadership is a keystone of the SAICA philosophy today. The Institute speaks with a single voice on behalf of accountants, involves all stakeholders in decisions and maintains exceptional professional standards. In a changing world with new demands imposed by politics, new media and ways of communicating, climate change and changing corporate structures, SAICA stresses the skills and abilities demanded of the modern accountancy and management professional. However, through SAICA’s vision of responsible leadership, we will continue our efforts to elevate the value and impact of SAICA in transforming society and empowering others to create value. The ability to create a profession of national value will ensure our history is kept, states Freeman Nomvalo, CEO of SAICA. Today and tomorrow

BECOME A DIFFERENCE MAKER. BECOME A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT. ...MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHATEVER YOU MAKE... By training as a Chartered Accountant, you’ll gain the skills and perspective needed to make something tangible and enduring: a difference.

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 39 ALIVE WITH POSSIBILITY & INSPIRING NEW WAYS ARE YOU GETTING THE EDUCATION YOU’VE BEEN PROMISED Focusing on your rights as a learner Alive with possibility’ or ‘South Africa: Inspiring new ways’. Both the old and new tourism slogans could work when applied to education. South Africa boasts some of the most inclusive education policies in the world, with your rights as a learner always at the focus. But what does ‘quality education’ mean? Since 1994, the South African government has been working towards developing quality education that is accessible to all South Africans. Quality education means that – regardless of your race, culture, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or The number of children enrolled in primary school is at an all-time high, while 36.4% of last year’s matriculating class obtained a National Senior Certificate with bachelor’s exemption. Despite this, the education system still comes under fire. Delia Hamlett looks at what is being done – and what should be done – by government to ensure that you receive the best education possible. • Accessible to all. • Affordable. • Representative. The school curriculum should reflect the experiences and frames of reference of the learners. • Caters to the unique learning needs of each individual learner. • Adopts a learner-centred approach, which places the focus on the strengths of each learner and helps them address and bridge their challenges. • Offers a healthy, safe and secure environment where learners feel protected while at school. • Ensures learners are healthy and able to participate fully in the teaching-learning partnership. • Facilitates quality teachers who encourage and help learners to develop a lifelong love of learning. Characteristics of quality education Your right as a learner must always be the focus Fall in love with learning and be curious Facebook Zero Social media Opportunities for Africans Opportunity Desk for You CHECKBOX

40 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 ARE YOU GETTING THE EDUCATION YOU’VE BEEN PROMISED The Department of Basic Education says some of its key focus areas to ensure equal and quality education for South Africa’s learners include: • Improving the foundational skills of numeracy and literacy, underpinned by a ‘reading revolution’. • Implementing a curriculum with skills and competencies for a changing world in all public schools. • Completing an integrated infrastructure development plan, informed by infrastructure delivery, regular maintenance and resourcing. • Continuing to improve and strengthen provision of education for learners with special needs. • Gradually increasing the number of workbooks available in interactive formats. • Equipping all students with the skills they need to survive and thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. • Providing end-to-end ICT solutions for schools by developing and distributing digital content for online and offline learning – this also means providing connectivity and hardware to schools. Closing the gap: What is being done? socio-economic background – you have the right to high-quality, equitable education. But what does this look like in practice? Amanda Chembezi is a governance and policy sector lead at the African Leadership Academy. She says that, in its most basic form, quality education should be accessible and equitable. You, as a learner, should be able to see yourself in the curriculum that you are being taught. That, she says, is quality. It goes far beyond just ensuring that you attend school every day. It means that you are taught in a way that meets your specific needs and circumstances. You don’t have to conform to and be disadvantaged by a one-sizefits-all approach. This also means that your teachers approach their lessons in a way that makes you feel represented, included and empowered. Dr Sara Black is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation at the University of Johannesburg. She says an important question being asked today is whether your education should prepare you to live in the world as it is now or for a different future. “When we ask what we are preparing our children for, this rests heavily on how we understand the world: what is going on at the moment, how we got here, and whether this is the kind of world we want to assimilate our children into,” she says. She believes that, as a young person, your education should rather equip you to repair the damages of the past and build a new world. “I don’t think teaching children to continue doing what we’ve been doing is a wise idea... because, let’s be honest, we’re making a mess.” Amanda Chembezi Quality education is the starting point for young people to become educated adults who are creative, analytical and compassionate contributing members of their community

Dr Sara Black Education is not only the government’s responsibility – and if we want to see real-world change in the near future, then we need all hands on deck. That means you too! Education expert Amanda Chembezi says you should invest in your own education: • Fall in love with learning and be curious. “Ask questions about anything and everything, and then look for people who can help you to build knowledge in those things; that’s something you can’t always get in a classroom setting.” There has never been more information available to you than right now. Social media can be an asset if you use it correctly. Facebook Zero is also a helpful resource – a data-free version of the social media platform that allows you to access educational pages to help you in your studies. • Search for Facebook pages like Opportunities for Africans and Opportunity Desk for You. “These pages post educational content, scholarships and other opportunities for young people, especially in Africa, to tap into.” • Education is not a theoretical concept. The education you receive today directly impacts your life – today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life. • Government has a duty to ensure that you can access quality education, which will empower you to pursue your dreams and live your potential. Fall in love with learning and be curious You cannot learn on an empty stomach! It’s no secret that the education system was a disaster when South Africa first became a democracy in 1994. The impact of the apartheid education system – which largely excluded children from accessing quality education because of the colour of their skin – is still felt today and has an impact on the type of education you receive. There is a lot of work being done to try to right the wrongs of the past and fill the gaps that exist in the South African education system. Dr Black says, despite the problems that many learners face, it is important to acknowledge that the government does take education seriously. A significant portion of money and resources is dedicated towards improving the quality of education for young South Africans. South Africa has one of the highest enrolment rates for a country of its level of economic development, and nine million of South Africa’s 13 million learners receive a meal at school every day. Despite the large investment to reform and transform education in South Africa, there are still deep-rooted inequalities that add to the obstacles and challenges numerous scholars face each day. Many schools in the world are moving towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution of education. However, in South Africa, real quality education is still available mainly to those who can afford it. The majority of South African learners don’t even have access to water, toilets, food, classroom furniture or textbooks – let alone a computer lab or tablet for e-learning and computer literacy. This gap became very noticeable as the Covid-19 pandemic invaded the country and the world. Some learners and teachers ARE YOU GETTING THE EDUCATION YOU’VE BEEN PROMISED Education is everything – education is your power, education is your way in life for whatever you want to do.” – American singer and songwriter Ciara This, however, is not a small task! THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 41

42 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 were able to move learning to online platforms, and apps like Zoom, Teams and Discord became new classrooms – to those who could afford it. The biggest problem with learning during the pandemic was that some learners had access to resources like computers, smartphones and the internet, while others did not. You might have heard the phrase ‘digital divide’ being used, and this situation is what it refers to. Focus on bread and butter basics… Dr Black feels that government should focus on what she terms ‘bread and butter basics’ – you can’t learn on an empty stomach! She says a focus should be placed on fixing infrastructure, improving basic numeracy and literacy skills, and ensuring children learn on a full stomach. A school should be able to focus on being a school, and not a one-stop fix shop for all of society’s problems. “Schools have to organise transport for students because public transport is failing. Schools have to feed children because the Department of Social ARE YOU GETTING THE EDUCATION YOU’VE BEEN PROMISED Development is not supporting families. Schools check children’s eyes, ears and get them dewormed... this is a public health function.” She says schools need to be supported so that they can do what they are supposed to: teach you and help you develop a knowledge base that will carry you through the rest of your life. Bridging the digital divide is important but, as a learner, your basic needs should be met first. “Going direct to technology, digital or the Fourth Industrial Revolution is like trying to run the 100 metre sprint in under 10 seconds before you can walk. Access to online materials is not going to improve education for the vast majority who need it,” Black explains. The contribution of the private sector Inequality in South Africa’s education system is not something that the government can tackle alone; help is needed from the private sector. This means individuals and companies need to step up and help by investing time and money in initiatives that address socioeconomic challenges. Chembezi says the South African government has put a lot of money towards education. But so has the rest of South Africa. Between 2005 and 2012, education constituted about 35% to 43% of corporate social investment initiatives in South Africa. This digital divide became very noticeable with the Covid-19 pandemic The private sector can help by focusing on issues like: • infrastructure • learner safety and security • teacher development • social welfare • extracurricular activities • additional support in subjects like maths and science. Chembezi feels this should be encouraged and incentivised by government. “Where the government fails to meet all the needs and demands of learners is where the gap can be filled by the private sector,” she explains. CASE STUDY NSFAS not enough “I am studying towards a BSc Property Science at the University of the Witwatersrand. I receive funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The amount covers my tuition, residence fees, textbooks, and a monthly allowance. Now that we’re working online, they’ve offered the option of getting me a laptop as well. The money for the textbooks enables me to buy all of my books, but the allowance they’ve given this year is not enough. Things are way more expensive now. I have to ask for money from my mother to buy extra things I need, but I try to limit myself to buying the necessities first, putting luxuries aside. I applied for the data option from Wits so that I am able to attend online classes. When applying for NSFAS, you have to be patient while waiting for a response. My mother and I also spent a lot of time applying for other bursaries so that we could be sure I would be able to attend university. “ Malerato Majara (18)

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 43 PROFILE | VAN SCHAIK BOOKSTORE LEADING THE WAY Established more than 100 years ago, Van Schaik Bookstore is one of the leading academic bookstores in Southern Africa, with more than 70 stores in South Africa, as well as two in Namibia, one in Botswana and three in Eswatini. Van Schaik provides academic textbooks to the South African higher education market. Our self-help and counter stores are either situated on or within walking distance of local campuses. STUDENTS • Our account system assists parents and students with the book-buying process. • We work with other payment methods such as Fundi, Intellicard, sBux and other bursaries in our neighboring countries. • Our rewards programme offers students discounts, promotional giveaways and partner deals. BURSARY ADMINISTRATION Van Schaik works closely with institutions regarding the disbursement of bursaries and loans. Van Schaik supplies school textbooks and other learner and teacher support material to schools. Buy directly from our stores or buy the books online and have them delivered directly to your home, school or office. Our website and contact centre can host customised schoolbook and stationery lists. Learners can log onto www.vanschaik.com, order off the school booklist, pay online and get the order delivered. Van Schaik offers textbooks and learner support material to nursing students and institutions. The perks of shopping with us include: • Students can buy directly from our stores. • The Nursing Colleges can buy in bulk and supply their students. • Parents can buy books on online or in-store and have them delivered directly. Our stores can stock a full selection of nursing college prescribed textbooks based on the estimates and advice of the institution. Bulk orders can be arranged and be distributed directly to students by the college. The Van Schaik Library Division services GET, TVET, HET, corporate and government libraries and resource centres within Southern Africa. We assist libraries with all their book, subscription and media acquisition requirements. Our services include: • Submissions of selected titles based on requested subject areas. • Sourcing product and quoting based on title or subject specific requests. • Coordinating book exhibitions. • Supplying the latest printed and electronic catalogues. Leading the way with ACADEMIC TEXTBOOKS Leading the way with SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS Leading the way with NURSING TEXTBOOKS Leading the way with SERVICES FOR LIBRARIES V an Schaik also offers seasonal sales points, an online store and a library service. Our extensive experience in servicing institutions and students through appropriate sales channels, customised selling platforms and excellent resources has helped us to deliver a world-class service to institutions, staff and students. Accordingly, Van Schaik was awarded the Sefika Academic Bookseller of the Year Award from 2012–2017. Bookstores We have more than 70 retail bookstores in South Africa, including two in Namibia, one in Botswana, three in Eswatini, and five under the Bookmark brand. Our bookstores are conveniently situated on campuses or in the vicinity of tertiary institutions. Call centre We have a national call centre to assist with general enquiries, such as book availability, costs, quotes and store details. Our national share-call number is 08600 STUDY/78839. Library Division The Library Division is a dedicated national supplier focusing on the library market across Southern Africa, servicing school, TVET, university, municipal and provincial libraries. Online Our website – www.vanschaik.com – extends our services to customers who prefer the convenience of online shopping. Corporate social investment Van Schaik Bookstore is committed to responsible corporate citizenship and community investment. Our key focus areas are education and literacy projects and programmes in institutions, organisations and communities.

44 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 When we think about brands, we often think about companies or businesses and how they present themselves to the world. Brands, however, are important for individuals too, and the way we present ourselves to the world can make or break our careers. Jamaine Krige speaks to businesswoman, media expert and business consultant Paula Fray about building a personal brand that works for you. YOUR BRAND CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOU We live in an era where everyone is visible, as we present ourselves to the world on a range of platforms. A personal brand really starts by knowing who you are, what you want and where you want to go. What drives you, what contribution do you make or want to make to society? This is according to Paula Fray, who says her own brand is heavily determined by her beliefs and values. “And yours should be too,” she advises. Paula Fray Your brand, your reputation Building a brand that sets you apart She says she is passionate about social justice and the role the media plays in achieving social justice through democracy. “For me, that means my personal brand is about promoting journalism as a public good, fighting for press freedom, and advocating for freedom of expression. These values are represented on all my social media platforms, for example.” And while she doesn’t shy away from taking on projects that fall outside these strict parameters, her values are always at the

THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 45 chance to hurt it. It has become vital to make new connections and cement existing connections through the current virtual world we operate in. Covid-19 has permanently changed the way we form, establish and nurture our network. The do’s and don’ts of building your brand Paula advises that establishing your brand should really start with clarity about what you want to show the world. “This means deciding what you want to engage on and how you want to engage with that.” A comprehensive CV that highlights key information beyond your studies is also important – not only in showcasing your brand but in helping you establish it. Make sure to include volunteer work, social groupings, hobbies and part-time work. “Preparing your CV also enables you to see if there are any age-appropriate gaps in your experience and whether your peers have YOUR BRAND CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOU forefront of everything she does. “My values are my North Star and guide me home,” she says. Her own brand has continued to change and evolve. “Early in my career, my personal brand was really focused on what I would not stand for but, as I grew professionally, my personal brand evolved to encompass what I do stand for,” she explains. “The internet’s short attention span often fools us into believing that it is fleeting, but being careless about your personal brand when you are young could have an impact in later years.” When is the right time to start establishing your brand? It is worth thinking about what your public persona and online interactions say about you as soon as you start engaging publicly. Establishing your personal brand isn’t just important if you want to start your own business. Your personal brand can open and close many doors along your career path. Your personal brand guides you through the mine field of career decisionmaking. Your digital and social footprint showcase your personal brand, your reputation, your values, your image, and your attitude towards life. It is a CV of your personal brand. “Having an established brand and profile when you are looking for a job can be the difference between making the interview shortlist or not,” Paula explains. “It gives employers early insight into whether or not you would fit into the organisational culture. It’s an easy ethics checkpoint. It can also give you the edge in showing a rounded personality that does not emerge during a strict and formal interview process.” Your professional identity may change many times throughout your career, as you enter a new role within a company or start a new job, but your personal brand travels with you wherever you go and whatever you do. It is this brand that impacts and shapes the professional opportunities you might have, she says. Your personal brand is also directly linked to your personality type. This also plays a role in your career decision-making process. It’s important to remember that as you grow and evolve, so will your brand. The brand you establish today as you enter this new phase of your life isn’t set in stone. “Allow yourself to explore your own value systems,” says Paula. “And remember that brands are dynamic, and should respond to the environment around you.” She says we exist in an era where our lives, even our private lives, are much more visible than ever before. “A personal brand really starts by knowing who you are, what you want and where to go,” she says. “We must ensure that we begin to build a profile that leads towards where we want to go. Even if we don’t know our final destination, we should consider what that direction might be.” This means you must consider how you present yourself to the world. “Every interaction on a public platform – whether in person or via the internet through social media – is an opportunity to establish a personal brand.” Or, Paula says, it’s a “Some local celebrities with really good brands are Trevor Noah, Nasty C and Sho Madjozi,” says Paula. “Even South Africa’s rugby captain, Siya Kolisi, has a brand that works well.” Internationally, she says Taylor Swift also has a great brand. “These brands work because they are distinct, authentic and consistent.” WHO ARE SOME CELEBRITIES WITH WELLESTABLISHED BRANDS THAT WORK? My values are my North Star and guide me home Your professional identity may change many times throughout your career, but your personal brand travels with you A good personal brand starts with understanding yourself, your own ambitions and values

46 THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE SPRING 2021 You brand should: 01 Be focused and purposeful 02 Be genuine 03 Be consistent 04 Represent your values and beliefs 05 Tell a story 06 Be adaptable and dynamic 07 Create a positive impact 08 Follow a successful example 09 Be a vision you live 10 Leave a legacy HOW TO MAKE A GOOD BRAND EVEN BETTER experiences that might give them an edge in the job market, or even when studying,” she explains. Next, she recommends carefully considering what you post publicly across all social media platforms such as twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Do these posts represent who you are or who you want to be? “It is possible that external pressures lead us to establish a brand based on what others want for and from us, rather than what we believe in.” This is one of the common pitfalls that young people, and even working professionals, step into when trying to build and expand on their personal brand. “That is why a good personal brand really starts with understanding yourself and your own ambitions, so that your public profile is aligned to your own values,” Paula explains. Identify what motivates you. Be honest about your abilities. Be self-aware but also be clear how you want others to see you. It is of utmost importance that your personal brand aligns with your personality, your outlook in life, your ethos, your ethics and your values. This misalignment also links to another pitfall – inconsistency. “While it is good to have a brand that evolves and grows with you, you do not want to have inconsistency between what you say you believe in and what you show the world through your brand,” she warns. “For example, if you believe in social justice, you can’t post racist, sexist or homophobic statements – not even in jest.” At the same time, she says, you can’t have a brand that says ‘I am reliable’ and then post status updates about missing deadlines or work commitments to your friends. Your brand in relation to others “You are constantly building a network… at school, at sport, during your tertiary studies, and even when you start out in the workplace,” Paula says. “Having a strong brand helps you stand out in a crowd of applications and sends a clear message of what you stand for – your values and beliefs.” Knowing who you are and conveying it in a clear way can also help you join networks of like-minded individuals. “I encourage everyone to find a mentor at every stage of their career. Most importantly, getting out of the starting blocks of your career. Your values and beliefs will guide who you connect with, and who helps you facilitate your growth and development over the years.” Unpacking your EQ (emotional intelligence) and identifying role players that influence it are critical steps towards positioning your brands among the crowd of other brands and noise. Remember that EQ is a skill. This means it can be developed and mastered through hard work, honest and integrity. Relying on a coach or a mentor “A good mentor can support you in starting or growing your own career, and building your own networks, as well as identify your strengths and weaknesses as you progress. A suitable mentor also plays a critical role in making appropriate career decisions. Coaching, however, fulfils a more specific need. When you are trying to build a specific skill, for example, then a good coach is useful. I have had both coaches and mentors over the years – and I still rely on both!” Paula explains. Mentors and coaches can include teachers, your parents, family members, sports coaches, religious leaders, and so forth. Trust yourself when identifying a coach or mentor. You need to select someone significant that shares your ambition to succeed and grow. Paula says your brand can help set you apart as you embark on this new phase of your life: “I think it is important to do what you love and to love what you do. But while I encourage people to have fun, I want to advise you to be proactive, rather than reactive, when building your career. Don’t be ruled by fear – go out and strive for what you truly want.” YOUR BRAND CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOU It is of utmost importance that your personal brand aligns with your personality, your outlook in life, your ethos, your ethics and your values

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