Are you unemployed and looking to get experience, as well as get paid? A learnership has the chance to teach you towards a formal qualification.
Learnerships in South Africa are hosted by employers, government departments and organisations that work with sector education and training authorities, also known as SETAs.
This article will tell you where to look for learnerships, how to apply and how to stay away from scams.
What Is A Learnership?
A learnership is a programme that combines theoretical education and work experience in a specific industry, and leads to a qualification on the National Qualifications Framework.
The duration of a learnership, as well as entry requirements, are dependent on the field, as well as the qualification you want to gain.
Who Can Apply?
Depending on the opportunity, learnerships require you to have finished Grade 12, or have a certain qualification. You may need to be of a certain age, or unemployed, if that is the target demographic for the opportunity. You might also need to have done specific subjects and received specific marks in them. And, you need to have the documents the employer asks for.
Always make sure to read the job ad before applying.
Where To Look For Learnership Opportunities
1. South African Government Website
The South African Government website has information about opportunities as well as skills development.
You can find it here.
2. Department Of Employment And Labour
If you are unemployed but looking for any work opportunities, register as a work-seeker at your nearest Labour Centre. That way, when employers visit the centres to view their advertisements, they can see that you are looking for a job and reach out.
You can find it here.
3. Services SETA Learner Portal
You can register for Services SETA's Learner Portal, which is a database of all the learners that have joined and who are interested in new work opportunities. You need to fill in your personal information and make sure that it is always updated because employers may look at your information and contact you if you are a good fit for any learnership opportunities that arise.
Registration on a learner portal does not necessarily mean you get a job.
You can find the learner portal here.
4. SETAs
Different SETAs specialise in different fields, so try browsing the website of the SETA you feel most interested in, and explore what opportunities they have.
5. Company Career Web Pages
Some companies might list their learnership opportunities on their website, as well as qualifications, requirements and closing dates.
Make sure to look at the official website of the company you are interested in, where they would list their application requirements.
How To Apply For A Learnership
Step 1: Pick a field
Decide what your strengths are and what career path you want to take. This could range between business administration, retail, hospitality, engineering, IT or agriculture.
Step 2: Look for opportunities
Look on the websites mentioned above and narrow down your career choice.
Step 3: See what documents and requirements are needed
For each job ad you are interested in, make sure to look at the qualifications, experience, age requirements, documents needed and closing date.
Step 4: Prepare your documents
Depending on the company, a CV or resume, identity document, school results and proof of residence may be needed. Make sure to have all documents ready, or ask for someone's help to get them in order.
Step 5: Apply
Depending on the job ad, fill in all the requirements and make sure to apply before the closing date.
Step 6: Keep checking your communications
Make sure to keep your cellphone accessible as recruiters often contact learners via cell phone. Always make sure to update your contact information and keep records of any communication with an employer.
Do Learnerships Pay Allowance?
Some learnerships do pay allowance to unemployed learners who are accepted into the learnership. This depends on the conditions of the learnership and how much the employer is willing to pay.
Always read the job ad and learner agreement conditions to find out if the learnership you are considering will pay or not. Not all learnerships are the same, and just because one learnership pays, it does not mean another one will.
How To Avoid Learnership Scams
When you are job hunting, there are scams that could put you at risk. In order to stay as safe as possible:
• Try applying for job opportunities via the company's own website, and any official media. You should never give your money to someone promising a learnership
• Never reveal your banking PIN or secret word to anyone
• Make sure to contact the company to get their physical address and contact details before sending them documents
• Be wary of job ads that promise employment with no work trials first
A learnership programme is meant to give you skills and prepare you for a full-time position, but simply doing a learnership does not guarantee a job.
Final Thoughts
Finding a learnership takes a lot of time and dedication, so make sure to always update your CV and keep documents ready for any opportunity that comes up. Always look out for any new job ads, or updates on websites listed above.
If you are looking for more advice on learnerships, internships, bursaries and education in general, make sure to visit Job Opportunities SA.
Comments
Post a Comment