Reality show creates hope for job seekers

Benoni resident Madelein Hendricks, MD of HR Company Solutions, is excited to be part of a new reality show airing on SABC1 every Wednesday at 16:30 titled The Chair.

Hendricks, who is the resident HR specialist and judge on the show, provides hopeful employees with some of the tools they need to secure much-needed employment.

She has been a resident of Benoni since 2007 and attended Boksburg High School and Hoërskool Oosterlig.

Created and produced by Mountain Top Productions and with Brian Motlafi being the mastermind behind the concept, the show is aimed at creating hope and fighting the dwindling unemployment rates in our country.

The show connects job seekers with potential employers to promote themselves, get hired and advance their careers.

Speaking to the City Times, Hendricks said through the show they are hoping to connect employers and employees with job opportunities as well as create hope through education to better the chances of job seekers.

According to Hendricks, job seekers genuinely do not know where to apply for work, how to structure their CVs for the best results and even what it takes to nail an interview.

“The reality of the job market is that employers no longer have the time to invest in youngsters and prefer hiring employees with work experience, making it harder for youth to identify opportunities to develop on-the-job skills that are essential for their career path,” said Hendricks.

The Benoni resident has dedicated her own career to understanding the challenges that people experience through their job hunting, among other things.

“I am a connector and a communicator, I instantly see a link to how companies and people can benefit one another, and I am aware of the culture and the need for ensuring that in unison.

“All of these factors play an important role in employing someone new, who can genuinely grow and flourish within a company,” she said.

Meanwhile, she has offered valuable insight into how graduates can position themselves within the job market by following these tips:

• Don’t stop learning new skills
We know how exhausted you are from the pressure of Grade 12 exams, but this has only prepared you as a foundation for what lies ahead. No matter the path you take, whether it is tertiary education, an apprenticeship, volunteer work, full-time employment, or a gap year, learning new skills is essential to your growth and relevance in a rapidly changing economy.
As an example, Udemy is an online learning platform with thousands of short courses that enable you to educate yourself in the areas that interest you. For instance, if you are interested in web design, you can learn the basics here and put them on your resume.
This will ensure that when you apply for your first job, you are equipped with some background information.

• The bottom of the career ladder is always bleak
With your newfound freedom, we understand that you have things to do and places to visit, but entry-level jobs do not fund extravagant lifestyles.
This first job will stand out as the most memorable. Focus on being present, positive, and persistent about your career goals. Find as many learning opportunities as you can in this job and be committed to learning as much as you can through mentors and managers in this role.

• Your resume is important and is a showcase of who you are
Putting together your own resume is critical; it’s an investment that you make in yourself and it’s worthwhile for you to do it. Keep your resume updated often, even if it is so that you can see how far you have come and what you have learned.
Put your best foot forward since it is the first impression that you make and sets the tone for your career. Hiring managers and recruiters receive hundreds of resumes for one vacancy advertised, and they spend only three seconds looking at the CV when they open it. Take advantage of the CV templates from these platforms to stand out from the competition.
• Canva – this is a free graphic design platform that allows you to edit and personalise resume templates.
• CvCiti – this is a free platform that allows you to download templates into Microsoft Word to edit with your information.
• Microsoft Word – The old-fashioned Microsoft Word has many resume templates, simply go to file, new and type resumes in the search bar.

• Where to find jobs to apply for:
Having created a powerful resume to leave a brilliant first impression, it’s time to apply for jobs. The opportunity to upload your resume to many different job portals is available for recruiters to locate you.
It’s essential to know that when you upload your resume there are many steps to complete in the process. It might feel like you’re re-doing it and you might become frustrated, but you are providing necessary information for input into the database for us to find you. Here are some job portals that you can use to find employment.
• LinkedIn – this is the social media platform created to connect hiring managers and job seekers.
• PNet and Careers24 – here you can upload your resume and apply for vacancies advertised on the platform.
• Indeed – this platform is a one-stop job spot whereby it generates vacancies from all the smaller job sites, in one place.
• Facebook – Facebook has created a job service whereby you can apply for vacancies through your Facebook account.

* Plan your career – start at the finish line and work backwards
What do you see yourself doing in five years is not just a standard interview question; it’s a highly relevant question focused on your career goals. Now that you know what your purpose is, you need to devise a strategy that makes it a reality.
What is your vision for the next five years? Here is a recipe to follow:
• Take the following example: Where do you want to be in five years? Perhaps it is the sales director at a leading FMCG company. You are at the finish line, now work yourself back to the starting line.
• Determine how many positions you must work through to achieve your goal. For instance, in the example above of a sales director, you will need to be in at least three positions to get there, such as sales administrator, sales representative, or sales manager.
• Identify the companies that would be best suited for you to gather industry knowledge.

Hendricks encourages job seekers to follow her on social media through her handle @madelein_madness where she shares regular career advice with her followers.

Also Read: CvCiti empowers job seekers

Also Read: Unemployment in SA: Is There Any Hope Left?