De Beers Group has given 156 young jobseekers in South Africa training on how to enter the job market successfully.
De Beers Group has given 156 young jobseekers in South Africa training on how to enter the job market successfully.
The young people at the training days, one run by Venetia mine, the other by Voorspoed mine, came from local communities. There were 40 from Musina and 40 from Blouberg (near Venetia) and 76 from Moqhaka (near Voorspoed).
The Venetia training day helped the youngsters learn more about the company’s job application process and how to do well in an interview. Recruitment statistics show that local candidates can lose out on job opportunities because of a lack of basic job entry skills.
At the Voorspoed Career Guidance and Enterprise Development workshop in Kroonstad, there was advice on dressing properly for interviews. The youngsters were also given tips on how to become an entrepreneur.
Patrick Govender, Venetia’s Human Resources Manager, said: “We have brought on board experts from the Anglo American Recruitment Team, who bring expertise from the likes of Career Junction, South Africa’s largest job portal, to transfer these skills to our communities.” (Anglo American is De Beers Group’s parent.)
The free training by both mines was designed to equip the young people to showcase their skills and qualifications and to navigate the application and interview process.
Employees at Voorspoed volunteered as models to demonstrate how to dress for an interview. Bradley Ramrattan, from Anglo American, said: “Before you have a chance to discuss your skills during the interview, you have already been judged on your appearance and choice of clothing.”
Voorspoed’s Corporate Affairs Manager Andrew Moremi outlined the mine’s support programmes in areas such as school infrastructure, mathematics and science, financial assistance and internships.
“High levels of youth unemployment and poverty are serious challenges,” he said, “but a better future is possible if we take small steps together.”
At the Venetia training day, Benford Mokoatle, General Manager of the mine, told the trainees: “Don’t let peer pressure get you down and don’t follow someone else’s dreams. Follow your own aspirations.”