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UFS Mock Interviews: Shaping career-ready graduates and tackling unemployment

23 May 2025 | Story Lilitha Dingwayo | Photo Lunga Luthuli

To get senior and postgraduate students ready for the world of work, the University of the Free State (UFS) Division of Career Services’ Placement Preparation Day, which was initiated in 2023, has grown into an annual workshop – Mock Interview Day – with this year’s event taking place in the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Held on 14 and 15 May 2025, this UFS initiative – aimed at addressing employability – has evolved through the implementation of several educational subdivisions tasked with the responsibility of assisting all registered students understand the professional environment. One of these divisions is the Centre for Teaching and Learning’s (CTL) ‘Graduate Attributes’ – an initiative that seeks to assess a student’s development of valuable attributes during lectures.

According to Belinda Janeke, Assistant Director of Career Services, “Feedback indicates that most students have no interview experience – a critical factor. It is through these mock interviews that students’ confidence is built and their transition from student to employee is smoothened.”

With the assistance of staff members and employees in conducting the interviews, the two-day initiative has seen evident success in both attendance and reach. “Yesterday we had about 90 students come in for the mock interviews and all of them stated that it was their first time being interviewed,” said Janeke. “Even though our office is situated on the Bloemfontein Campus, we also visit the South and Qwaqwa campuses to ensure accessibility across all three UFS campuses,” Janeke added. Emphasising results, she shared that in the 12 years she has been working in this division, student engagement has grown due to improvements in technology.

Career Services sends out letters and emails on the 11th of each month to recognise the achievements of students who have used their services. In collaboration with the UFS’ Vision 130, more directions are being explored across the three campuses, starting with the cross-campus Shoe Camp project.

This initiative targets all UFS students, prioritising senior individuals on the cusp of job hunting. “As a postgraduate student, I am looking into getting a job next year and I have never been interviewed before, so I needed the trial run to get more information on accurate interview etiquette,” said Aphiwe Mbutuma, an Administration honours student. Mbutuma said the support she received from the staff was crucial in boosting her confidence for her next interview. She further described the experience as an eye-opener, adding that students should seize these opportunities to understand what is expected of them. Zukile Daki, a second-year student in the Faculty of Law, said: “I once bombed an interview, so I came here to improve, and it went well.”

News Archive

King Letsie III wishes Moshoeshoe project every success

2004-10-14

King Letsie III of Lesotho attaches great importance to the Moshoeshoe project of the University of the Free State (UFS) and wishes it every success.

This was the message of King Letsie III to the audience that attended the première of the documentary on King Moshoeshoe, the founder of the Basotho nation, at the UFS last night ( Wednesday 13 October 2004).

The message was read on his behalf by Lesotho’s Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Dr Mamphono Khaketla.

Dr Khaketla said that through this important initiative the UFS is sending an important message that the current and future leadership can learn useful lessons from past great leaders such as King Moshoeshoe.

She said the screening of the documentary on King Moshoeshoe was a joyous occasion where the leadership attributes of a great Basotho King, who lived more than two hundred years ago, have been captured on film.

“The initiative which has brought us together, demonstrates the importance which the University of the Free State attaches to leadership, particularly in our southern African region,” she said.

Dignitaries in the audience included the Lesotho Minister for Communications, Science and Technology, Dr Mamphono Khaketla, Queen Mopeli, the MEC for Education, Ouma Tsopo, the MEC for Safety and Liaison, Tate Makgoe, the Director General of the Free State, Dr Khotso de Wee, the Senior Private Secretary to King Letsie III, Mr Mabotse Lerotholi, the Vice-chancellor of the National University of Lesotho, Dr Mothibe, Acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture, Mr Jobo Molapo, Chairman of the Council of the University of the Free State, Judge Faan Hancke, and Rector and Vice-chancellor of the University of the Free State, Prof. Frederick Fourie.

The documentary on the life and legacy of King Moshoeshoe was commissioned by the UFS as part of its Centenary year. It was produced by journalist Max du Preez and it will be screened on SABC 2 on Thursday 4 November 2004.

Info here

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