How To Get A Foot In The Career Door
With Matric finals and the end of their school careers mere months away, thousands upon thousands of Grade 12s have yet to finalise their plans for next year, with many of them uncertain about their options if university study is not on the cards.
“For many young people, university study simply isn’t an option. The reasons are many – they are unlikely to receive a Bachelor’s pass, they can’t afford to go study full-time for three or more years, they are not sure what they want to do, or they are not located close to a university,” says education expert Elbie Liebenberg, MD at Oxbridge Academy, a private college that serves more than 20 000 South African distance learning students every year.
“Unfortunately, due to South Africa’s high unemployment rate and fierce competition in the jobs marketplace, going the route of trying for entry-level positions without a qualification also doesn’t present with great prospects,” she says.
But there is an option that will provide these young people with the basic knowledge and skills they need to get a foot in the door in a wide range of careers, within a relatively short period of time – that vocational training.
“These days, employers seek candidates who are able to contribute in the workplace from the very first day, because they have a specific basket of skills required in a specific role. Vocational training is ideally positioned to empower students to be ready to enter a specific career or trade because it focuses on the practical application of skills in the workplace,” says Liebenberg.
Vocational training covers a wide range of fields, so prospective students are highly likely to find training suited to their vision for their future that matches their interests and aptitude.
Fields covered include:
- Advertising and marketing
- Bookkeeping and Accounting
- Business Management
- Childhood Development
- IT
- Contact Centre Operations
- Engineering
- Events Management
- Farming Management
- Health and Wellness
- HR
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Project Management
- Public Relations
- Public Sector Management
- Secretarial
- Tourism and Hospitality.
“Through vocational education, students can gain the practical knowledge and skills they need to find a job, without having to spend unnecessary time learning about theoretical principles and abstract concepts that are not directly relevant in the working environment,” notes Liebenberg.
Training also caters to students’ individual academic and skills development needs. For instance, National Courses are nationally accredited and equip students with the vocational skills and formal qualifications that prepare them for working in their chosen field. Students who completed a course at the N6 level, combined with evidence of 18 months of relevant practical experience, may go on to apply for a National Diploma.
She adds that South African employers are familiar with the national qualifications framework that is followed in vocational training and that the value of such training, provided it is from a respected institute, is recognised.
“So for those who are finishing their school careers this year, and who have been concerned about their path next year, the message is that you really do have excellent options outside of the university system. In fact, for many people, vocational training might very well be their best option of the first choice because you gain useful, recognised skills in a short period of time.
For further information or comment, please contact Sanet at Oxbridge Academy: 021 1100 144 or email snel@oxbridgeacademy.edu.za.