Work experience is often a necessary requirement from potential employers that you need to include on CV when you are applying for jobs.

According to Stats SA’s latest quarterly employment figures, more than four out of every 10 young South Africans is currently jobless.

Rather than struggling for work experience, young people should consider other options like learnerships or volunteering.

Learnerships

According to Rudi Mdima, Business Development and Relationships Manager at HyperionDev, a learnership is a work-based learning programme that leads to a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) registered qualification. Learnerships are also directly related to an occupation or field of work.

Rajan Naidoo, Managing Director of EduPower Skills Academy calls learnerships a bridge between education and employment as well as a lifeline to a brighter future for the youth of the nation.

Learnerships can bridge the gap between education and employment when executed effectively by combining theoretical classroom learning with practical on-the-job training.

The allow young people that have completed school to gain a comprehensive skill set that is immediately applicable in the workplace and the experience necessary for meaningful employment.

"Through learnerships, we can expand our young people's prospects in the labour market, providing income security and instilling hope and dignity. A skilled and employed youth population drives economic prosperity, offering a more promising future for our nation,“ Naidoo said.

Volunteering

Patronella Sono, Staff Volunteerism Portfolio (SVP) Specialist at Momentum Metropolitan said that job-seekers often find that prospective employers don’t want to hire someone that does not have work experience.

This results in a chicken-egg conundrum, as these people cannot gain the necessary experience through gainful employment without any existing experience.

According to Sono, volunteering can provide you with a valuable opportunity to gain experience in your field of interest, which can be included in your CV.

People surveyed in Momentum Metropolitan’s Volunteerism Report 2022 said that volunteerism helped them learn valuable skills that would help them in their career including teamwork (61%), planning (40%), leadership skills (40%) and compassion (57%).

“Through volunteerism, you can learn how to identify individual strengths, delegate tasks accordingly, and foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration among diverse group members,” Sono said.

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Need work experience for your CV? Here are some options