Deciding which career path to follow is the first big step into the adult world, followed by getting a foot in the door with your first job after graduation. Leonie Louw, Group Manager: Human Resources at MasFinance, shares some advice with the youth on how to enter the job market and build a prosperous future:
1. What, in your opinion, are the main factors to keep in mind when choosing which career path to follow?
Choose a career that you are passionate about and that you will enjoy, i.e. that best suits your talents (and not because you think about the salary, or because your friends chose it or because it looks glamorous on TV).
2. What qualities do companies look for when recruiting young talent?
Vibrant energy, positive attitude and eagerness to learn and grow. We always say: *We hire for attitude and train for skill’ – skills and experience are important, but the right attitude goes a long way and leaves a lasting impression.
3. What opportunities do iMasFinance offer graduates who are entering the job market?
We offer a variety of learnerships for matriculants and internships for graduates. These provide an opportunity to gain on-the-job experience while having only a basic qualification (in the case of internships) or while obtaining a tertiary qualification (in the case of learerships) and earing a basic income.
4. How can you upskill yourself while working?
Through continuous learning, such as studying towards further qualifications (iMas offers study bursaries to their employees for this purpose) or attending job related training programmes. Often some of the most valuable upskilling takes place by observing and learning on the job. Always be curious, ask questions and do not shy away from additional responsibilities. Make yourself available and get exposure to work experiences even if it does not
directly relate to your job – this is an excellent way to position yourself for job opportunities that may come up.
5. What advice do you wish someone gave you when you started your career?
Twas blessed with great mentors in my early career, but I wish I realised this blessing sooner and that I paid it forward earlier – sharing our skills and knowledge with others, even when we are still learning ourselves, make us all better and stronger. I suppose this is all about teamwork, taking and giving. Being part of a bigger collective at the workplace gives us the apportunity to contribute to some people’s development while we learn and grow from others’.
6. What basic financial advice can you give someone who just started their first job?
Have a detailed, well thought-through and documented budget and diligently check your expenses against this budget every month to see where yew can save or what lifestyle changes you can consider to make your money stretch further. No matter how big or small your salary is, always put a portion of it aside as savings for a rainy day (a healthy aim is to build up the equivalent of 3 months’ salary in your savings account). And finally, save for luxury items instead of incurring unnecessary debt with expensive interest rates for things that are nice to have but not absolutely necessary,