By Andrea van der Merwe, Head of Mindworx Academy
Without any real workplace experience, many young people struggle to get a good, stable job where there is opportunity for growth and development. Luckily, going straight into studies or finding a job right after school are not your only options… Taking up a learnership instead could offer you the perfect balance between industry experience and theoretical knowledge – the ideal opportunity to fast-track your career.
What are learnerships and why should you care?
Think of a learnership as an educational programme which combines practical workplace-based experience with formal learning. Once you have completed a learnership, you will have a unique combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, and an accredited South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) qualification. Often offered by large reputable companies, learnerships offer an exceptional opportunity for you to develop and nurture a professional network of people who can help you grow your career. All of this while getting paid an allowance, too. Sure, you will not be making heaps of cash (considering that an allowance generally covers some transport and meal costs only), but you get to study for free and learn all about the industry and company where you have taken up your learnership. Perhaps the biggest benefit of all is that learners are often hired by the company where they have completed their learnership programme. And even if you are not hired by that specific company, having completed a learnership means that you have gained critical workplace experience, which is often the barrier to getting your first job.
Why not just do an internship instead?
Why not just do an internship instead? As opposed to learnerships, internships are supervised and structured workplace experience programmes that provide on-the-job training that is not as strictly regulated and has less specific outcomes. For the most part, official internships are required as a final step in getting a qualification, and certain tasks are required to be completed, but they are not as long, theory-intensive or practical as learnerships. By contrast, the unofficial internship (the type where you randomly ask someone you know if you can shadow them for a while) is completely unstructured. Although you do not gain as much exposure or insight, you still get critical on-the-job training and build a network, both of which are vital in getting a permanent job and building your career.
Interested in fast-tracking your personal and professional development?
The Mindworx Academy turns inexperienced graduates into confident and appropriately skilled professionals capable of fulfilling entry level roles. The Academy puts its candidates through intensive training and work experience that sets them on a path to long-term employment. The Mindworx Academy is accredited by the MICT (Media Information Communication and Technology) SETA in the field of Business Analysis Support, adding an extra level of credibility to its training and offering employer and candidates the assurance of recognised qualifications. So why not get into the driver-seat of your future, actively drive your own professional development and accelerate your career by applying to Mindworx?
At Mindworx Academy we turn inexperienced graduates into confident and appropriately skilled professionals capable of fulfilling entry level roles, through intensive training and work experience that sets them on a path to long-term employment. Our solutions, which include learnerships and internships, are customised to meet client needs. Read more about the Academy here.