In May 2023, South Africa became the country with the world’s highest unemployment rate (almost 33%) after 179,000 people lost their jobs. Many ambitious students and aspiring job seekers are concerned with the same question: “How to land a high-paying in this economy?” South Africa was declared one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa by the IMF, which means citizens shouldn’t lose hope about finding a decent job. As a South African, you just have to develop the right set of skills to become more employable. Here’s what you need to know if you want to land that job:
1: Hone your skills for better employability
Sharpen your soft skills to improve your employability while graduating. These versatile skills will come in handy when you start hunting for a job and during interviews.
Digital skills are the most vital skills needed for job seekers in South Africa. However, inadequate digital literacy skills prevent many South African students from seeking employment. Tech-savvy candidates have an advantage over their competitors and a higher chance of landing a high-paying job in South Africa.
2: Research different career paths
Choose the right career as per your passions and interests. Different career pathways have unique job requirements and salaries. For instance, an average employee in South Africa makes 26,000+ Rand on average a month. However, you can earn a lot more by pursuing the most sought-after degrees in the country.
Search online to find the most in-demand career paths in South Africa and pursue a relevant degree to boost your employability. These career paths are mostly tech-related. For instance, data scientists, software devs, and network administrators are some of the most lucrative careers in South Africa.
3: Gain sufficient work experience
You can gain a competitive advantage over other candidates by gaining work experience. That’s why many students pursue internships and work part-time jobs to develop their skills and add more experience to their resumes. Even unpaid internships help you gain relevant experience in your desired field and boost your employability once you have graduated (even though interns in South Africa are legally entitled to be paid).
Consider volunteering to learn more about the industry you wish to join later. These opportunities will unlock your hidden potential and prepare you for an outstanding career.
4: Expand your network steadily
Create strong relationships with your classmates and professors during your education. These relationships are important for landing a job, advancing your career, and making you a valuable asset in the industry. Networking is your key to the inner circle! Unless you learn how to do it right, you won’t succeed in finding the right job in South Africa’s saturated market.
You can build meaningful connections with different people by finding a mentor in your college. Moreover, attend relevant seminars and conferences to meet new people. Expand your network and nurture it by leveraging social media (your LinkedIn profile).
5: Look for hidden vacancies online
Not all employment positions are advertised openly; some job openings are kept hush-hush and only a select few are even aware of these opportunities. Your networking skills can help you uncover these job openings. Moreover, you need to visit a company’s website and go to the HR webpage, where you will find many employment opportunities listed.
However, most of the information about these jobs travels via word-of-mouth marketing. These jobs are kept on the lowdown and quality referrals can help you even apply for such positions. The very confidential nature of these jobs makes them pretty lucrative.
6: Write a detailed, professional CV
Ensure your CV highlights your professional capabilities and soft and hard skills. Hiring managers will merely skim through a pile of CVs for keywords matching the job description. You should conduct keyword research and tell them the story of your career’s progression. Include the following pieces of information in your resume:
- Personal information
- Educational qualifications
- Languages you speak fluently
- Basic skills and characteristics
- Any awards you have received
- Past/present employment positions
- Quality references from reliable source
7: Attach a convincing cover letter
A cover letter complements your CV and provides insights into your personality. It’s a great chance to make a commendable first impression while customizing your job application. You can stand out from other candidates applying for the same position as you and secure an interview by attaching an amazing cover letter. For a good cover letter, you need to:
- Address the hiring manager
- Express your enthusiasm for the given role
- Showcase your qualifications as per the job description
- Highlight the skills that make you well-suited to work in S. Africa
- Explain your understanding of the company’s values, mission, and culture
- Conclude your cover letter with a professional, customized closing to the recruiter
- Keep your cover letter concise and focused, aiming for around three to four paragraph
8: Tweak your social media profiles
Should you delete all the undesirable pictures and videos from your social media profiles? Yes, it’s important to purge the content you don’t want recruiters to see. South African employers have become very active against harmful content found on job candidates’ social media accounts. This negative content is mostly found on Facebook and Twitter. South African recruiters screen your social media posts to look for the following:
- Discriminatory content, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia
- Incriminating content, such as drugs, drinking, potential fraud, and prostitution
- Unprofessional content, such as profanity, sexual images, and potential defamation
It’s time you tweak your social media profiles to exhibit a more professional façade.
9: Prepare for your job interview
You’ve been screened for an interview, and tomorrow is your chance to make a lasting impression on the recruiters. How do you prepare for your first job interview? Just be professional and courteous in the interview. Be there on time and answer all the questions candidly yet professionally. You must research the company to predict what questions they’ll ask you. Talk less, dress up for the occasion, and improve your body language.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for lucrative employment opportunities in South Africa, this blog shares some tips to help you start your hunt. Follow the guidelines mentioned above, including writing an effective CV, preparing for your job interview, and expanding your network in the job market. Most importantly, look for in-demand careers in South Africa. Do your research and find the best-paying career paths in the country. That is how you can improve your employability.