From choosing subjects in Grade 9 to comparing university options, TVET colleges, apprenticeships and learnerships, career guidance can help young South Africans understand their choices and options so they make the right decisions about their future.
Many students will choose what they think are popular careers without really knowing what those careers involve, or without understanding the requirements for entering and succeeding in those professions. Some learners may decide to follow friends into a chosen career, or follow parents’ advice without knowing what the job, the working environment or the pay is like.
Careers guidance can help learners find a profession that is right for them.
Why Career guidance is important
South Africa has a wide range of education and training options, but many learners are not familiar with the various occupations, the requirements for these careers or the different study options. Career guidance helps learners to link their school subjects and abilities to occupations, enables them to explore career options, and gives them the information they need to make more informed choices.
For example, learners who enjoy practical work could explore a range of artisan careers such as electrical work or plumbing. Another learner’s interests may lie in working with computers and technology, and they may prefer exploring a career in information technology, cyber security, software development or the telecommunications industry.
Career guidance makes learners aware of the requirements for their chosen profession, the training and study needed for that career, and what that job really involves.
Choosing the right subjects in Grade 9
Grade 9 learners generally decide which subjects they will do in the Further Education and Training phase, from Grade 10 onwards.
Their choices may affect what career options remain open to them. It is important for learners to compare the subject requirements of the profession they are considering, to make sure they choose the best subjects to prepare them for that career.
For example, many engineering courses require Mathematics and Physical Science, as well as good marks in these subjects, but other occupations may require subjects like Geography or Economics. Learners should also choose subjects that they enjoy and are good at, because making a career choice based only on what looks prestigious may end up being a poor decision if those subjects do not come easily to them.
Parents, teachers and career advisers can help learners to balance the options against each other, to ensure they choose subjects that will help them to succeed.
The different options – university, TVET colleges, learnerships and apprenticeships
Many young South Africans are unaware of the different study and training options, or of the requirements of each of these institutions. Career guidance can help learners to explore the various options, and to compare the entry requirements, training time, cost and opportunities offered by each of these.
University education
Universities offer a range of education and training, from professional courses like education, law and engineering, to occupational studies like nursing, to science and technology studies.
Students need to investigate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fees and possible financial aid, and also consider whether a degree will open up enough career options in their chosen profession.
TVET Colleges
Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges offer occupationally oriented studies like engineering, catering, business management, office management, information technology and a wide range of other qualifications.
TVET colleges can be a way of obtaining a technical qualification, or of building the skills needed in a certain occupation. Learners should, however, make sure that the programme offered is relevant to their chosen profession.
Learnerships and apprenticeships
Learnerships and apprenticeships provide practical workplace experience, and can help youth develop the skills needed in a certain profession. However, learners must understand the requirements and conditions for these opportunities, and remember that completing a learnership or apprenticeship is not a guarantee of employment.
Careers guidance can enable students to compare the various options and make the best choices for their needs.
Helping learners to understand career opportunities
Many learners are unaware of the different career opportunities, and of the different industries and occupations that exist in South Africa.
Careers guidance can introduce learners to a range of occupations, like agriculture, engineering, construction, renewable energy, transport and logistics, tourism, finance, health, education and the technology industry.
Students can choose from an extensive range of occupations, and it is important that they choose an occupation that fits in with their interests and abilities, rather than one that seems glamorous. Learners should explore which training opportunities can help them to gain the qualification that they need for that profession, and make informed choices about the training they will pursue.
Schools can help learners to do this by arranging career exhibitions and discussions with professionals, and by allowing visits to places of work. Meeting a range of people in different workplaces can help learners to make more informed decisions, by providing them with first-hand knowledge of what a particular job or career entails.
The relationship between career guidance and youth unemployment
Youth unemployment is one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa today. While career guidance cannot solve this problem, it can help to provide youth with the information they need to choose the best career path for them, and to make informed choices about their training and education.
Some unemployed youth only understand the entry requirements for their chosen profession when they arrive at training or at work, having studied for a degree which does not provide the necessary academic or workplace experience. Learners should be guided to do research on the different occupations and their requirements, to compare the different training and qualification options and to make informed choices about the best way to pursue a successful career.
Learners should be made aware that not only their degree or certificate is important, but also that some employers look for transferrable skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, computer literacy and time management.
Students should not base their career choices on claims by recruiters that a certain occupation offers secure employment. Conditions in different industries can vary, and learners must compare and research different options to make the best choices.
Making bursaries and study funding options available
The cost of further education can be a barrier to learners pursuing their chosen profession. Career guidance can enable students to investigate bursary and funding options so that they can apply for any available bursaries in time to fund their studies.
Depending on individual circumstances and the chosen profession, learners can investigate the following:
- NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) funding for qualifying public institutions
- Bursaries from government, employers, trusts and other organizations
- SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) funded training and skills development
- Employer-sponsered apprenticeships, learnerships and graduate programmes
- Institution-specific bursaries and funding
Each bursary or funding scheme has its own requirements. Learners must research their chosen institution or programme, and the application documents, academic requirements and closing dates for each bursary.
Students should be warned about people who ask for payment in advance of bursaries, learnerships or employment.
The role of parents, teachers and schools
Parents and teachers can help learners to make the best choices about their education and career by encouraging them to ask the right questions and by discussing the options with them.
However, it is important that learners make the right choices based on information, and not purely on personal opinions. A learner must consider a range of possible careers based on their interests and abilities, rather than following a personal preference based on what someone else believes is best.
In the same way, schools can help learners to obtain the necessary information to make informed career choices, by providing pre-Grade 9 career guidance, by giving learners information on post-school options and by helping to identify where learners can obtain the necessary information.
If specialist career guidance is unavailable, teachers can still help learners to identify official sources of information, and can help learners to formulate the right questions to ask institutions or training providers.
What learners can do before making a career choice
Learners do not have to make all their choices before leaving school, but there are things that they can do to make informed choices:
- Identify their interests and abilities, according to school subjects, practical subjects and hobbies
- Research the different occupations and the requirements for those professions
- Compare the requirements for the relevant courses
- Investigate the different study options
- Explore funding options and closing dates
- Ask teachers and other professionals for reliable information
- Review their choices from time to time
Learners can also use the information provided by the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training, NSFAS, public colleges, and SETAs to answer their questions and to help them to make informed career choices.
Why career guidance is still important after matriculation
Career guidance does not have to stop when a learner leaves school. Many young South Africans still need to decide where to study and on what course, or need help with finding a learnership or an entry-level position, or may need help with making sure that the entry requirements for a certain profession are met.
Graduates need to be able to gain experience through internships and apprenticeships or through graduate programmes and need to develop skills that are relevant to their chosen profession. Learners who did not make the results they expected can explore alternative ways of being admitted to a relevant degree course, or explore other training or work opportunities. The most important thing is to make sure that the course or training programme is suitable for the intended profession, and is offered by a registered institution.
Conclusion
Career guidance can help South Africa’s youth to make informed choices about subjects, courses and professions. Explaining the requirements for various professions, and for studying at a university, a TVET college or on a learnership or apprenticeship, career guidance can help to clarify the choices that need to be made.
Students, parents and schools all have a role to play in this process, and the provision of reliable information, and the availability of guidance and support, can be vital to the future of South Africa’s youth
