“He started as a volunteer in my office in 2014. In 2017 he was appointed as an intern, and now he is making waves in his chosen career.”

Belinda Janeke, Head of Career Services at the UFS, can tell many stories about students who have built careers in a country where one of students’ biggest fears is that they will not find work after graduation.

Upon pondering the Hamletian dilemma, ‘to find a job after graduation, or to study further?’ students may find their heart rate accelerating, and blood pressure rising. Unlike Hamlet, students at the university do not have to navigate the drama of entering the world of work and adulthood in isolation. Enter centre stage: the Career Services team – on a mission to provide students with the necessary tools to embark on any career path of their choice.

From education to the workforce

The dynamic Career Services programme offers students a wide range of resources and services that enable them to cultivate employability skills essential in today’s competitive job market. This is done through the various career development programmes on offer that aid students in transitioning from education to the workforce. The Career Services team also hosts career fairs that allow potential employers to showcase their career opportunities, as well as faculty-specific career weeks offering students opportunities to explore careers in their chosen fields. In addition to this, Career Services provides online resources backed by the presence of the CareerHub, which serves as a centralised job portal.

Janeke describes her role as Head of Career Services as extremely rewarding, as “there is something special about guiding students on their career journeys”.

Career Services understands the importance of connecting students with potential employers and stakeholders. The university has many stakeholders, and there are many stories of students who have found their dream careers via these stakeholders. No wonder futurists recommend tapping into the power of personal and institutional networks. Networks may just be the lever that Archimedes mentioned when he said: “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” The place to stand? The Career Services office, of course.

Career Services proudly boasts a Career Closet initiative that supports students in their job-seeking journey by providing them with donated free, basic clothing items that may be hard for them to come by. Neat clothing is often the only thing one needs to bolster confidence before an intimidating interview – Career Services to the rescue.

Opportunity is knocking

To keep up with changing times and leveraging the power of mentors and networking, Career Services hosts a podcast where guests from a wide range of careers share the good, the bad, and the ugly of their chosen fields. Even if students are not interested in a specific guest’s chosen career, some experiences are universal, and students often learn something new by listening to the guests. According to Janeke, one of the most interesting guests on the podcast was Dr Rosaline Sebolao, a deputy-director from the Faculty of The Humanities, who wrote a book while engaging in multiple activities. A great example of not allowing yourself to get stuck doing one thing while pursuing a career.

There is an old adage that it is not always about what you know that matters, but also who you know. ‘To find a job after graduation or to study further?’ That is not the question. The question is: ‘Have you taken advantage of the opportunities offered by Career Services today?’ And ‘If not, why not?’ Opportunity is knocking … Career Services is ready to open the door.