Are you preparing for a learnership? Pursue learnerships to gain access to training and employment opportunities. You will be paid a low stipend in exchange for your commitment and willingness to work while contracted to study. Sometimes it’s fair, sometimes it isn’t.
Preparing for a Learnership
Congratulations?! Are you accepted onto a learnership? I hope so! Let me know in the comments section ok!
Will a learnership help me gain practical experience and industry recognition?
Yebo yes. Learnerships are work-based training programs that allow you to gain valuable skills and experience. In addition, you obtain a nationally recognised qualification. You’ll be earning a stipend, not a salary. In this article, we’ll discuss how to find and prepare for a learnership in 2023.
Preparing for a Learnership: The Reality
Now, like many opportunities we face in life, there are pros and cons to being on a learnership.
You will go out less as you’ll be too tired! You won’t be making loads of money, you’ll earn a stipend. Now I know it’s not grand, but remember you’re there to learn and get connected. Oh, and hey…you might also run into romantic relationship problems because you will be too busy working on your Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) to show evidence of your love. You’d do well to start a diary and manage your relationships (and your learnership) with it! 😉
Don’t let that discourage you, let it prepare you! 🙂
Preparing for a Learnership: The brilliant intentions behind learnerships:
- To upskill and expose unemployed youth to work while gaining an occupational qualification in order to increase their employability.
- To upskill and promote lifelong learning values amongst the labour force to increase employability and opportunities for career progression.
Check out what a great selection of learnership qualifications you can expect to see advertised.
Preparing for a Learnership: What is a learnership?
A learnership is a structured training program that combines theoretical learning and practical workplace experience. Being on a learnership will help you gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in your chosen career paths. Learnerships are offered by various industries, including but not limited to engineering, finance, retail, and healthcare.
You will have a job and will be treated like any other employee who is new to the workplace. There will also be a boss who can fire you if you don’t follow the workplace policies and procedures. I once fired a learner for smoking weed right at the training venue entrance. 🙁 This conduct undermined the values inherent in a learning process. Smoke at home. Being stoned slows you down when you need to recall and remember details. The learner went on to do better things and did well. I was proud to see him flourish even though he resented me. People in education love seeing someone move on and move up regardless of the circumstances. Some people need to be fired to wake them up.
Good Luck Fire: Preparing for a Learnership
I fired another learner for bunking class to line up and audition for a talent competition. Artists can thrive when turned into rebels. She ended up having a hit song and won herself some recognition. Some learners asked me if I’d seen her on TV. When I said yes it’s great, they asked to be fired too! They said it looks like it can be good luck. Lol. So you see, if you do get fired, prove them wrong. It’s not the end of the world and your life could actually get better when you do what you’re willing to fight for. Those two stars weren’t good learnership candidates, they didn’t value it enough that’s all and it’s ok. You might be like them. No harm. But if you just want to fit in and get this learnership done, then follow the rules and don’t stand out for the wrong reasons.
Learnerships vs Internships: What’s the Difference?
While learnerships and internships share some similarities, there are some key differences between the two. Learnerships are formal training programs that are registered with the Department of Labour, while internships are typically short-term work placements that are designed to give students or recent graduates exposure to their chosen industry. Learnerships also offer a more structured approach to training, with a clear outline of what needs to be learned and achieved.
Graduates Preparing for a Learnership
In the past, graduates used to rely on internships alone to enter the labour market, learnerships now also attract graduates. Learnerships offer graduates the same opportunities as other unemployed who have not studied, however, the learnership will allow graduates to stand out.
That doesn’t mean you’re going to be a knob and make others look stupid. It means your work can be counted on to be of a superior standard. So if you’re a graduate, you are competing against yourself. If you already have a qualification and apply for a learnership, leave your ego at home. You only managed to score the same opportunity as someone who doesn’t already have a Post-Matric education.
Graduates need to use the learnership opportunity to excel at networking to increase their future prospects and should support their learnership peers. To build leadership skills you must believe in serving and supporting others or those who should follow you will never have confidence in you to do so. As we all know or will come to know, if you’re a newbie to work, business empowers narcissistic assholes and you’re bound to run into one or more of them while on your learnership.
The Learnership Contract: Preparing for a Learnership
No matter how miserable they make you feel, your contract will end and you will move on to your dream job. Just remember that when you’re starting out, if someone doesn’t make you feel worthless at some point then you haven’t had a realistic work experience. I’m not going to beat around the bush Inequality in this South Africa is vokken bad. It doesn’t happen by magic. Inequality happens because one human being decides they have the right to obstruct fair economic rights for others. That one dickhead making the decision doesn’t impact 1 or 2 others, they usually impact hundreds and hundreds of thousands. Ugh.
So when you’re on a learnership, things can stink. But suck it up, get your certificate and then go grab your future and go where you choose to go. If your next workplace sucks, feel nothing. Look for another job, don’t quit till you have something else lined up. When you’re being interviewed for a new position, never say you’re leaving because you’re unhappy. Ah hell, naa.
Only say positive shit about them, and explain that there isn’t much career opportunity for you. You’re looking for a new environment to challenge you and explore more ways of contributing to the success of an organisation.
If you’re accepted onto a learnership, what does it mean?
It means you want to work as hard as hell and that you’re willing to make some sacrifices to benefit your career development!
You’re going to need to sign a learnership agreement that includes the employer and training provider. This contract typically doubles up as your employment contract. You need to keep a copy, but many employers and training providers fail to ensure this happens. If you are only given a hard copy and must sign and return it immediately, without taking it home, then they are being dodgy.
But don’t stir the pot so early. Use your phone and get a clear shot of each page, do this discreetly and don’t draw attention to yourself. While you should advise your fellow learners to do the same, as long as one member of the group has a copy, everyone is made safer. So don’t expose yourself as someone who knows how to spot a problem right at the beginning.
Understanding the learnership contract: Preparing for a Learnership
If you’re accepted into a learnership program, you’ll be required to sign a contract that outlines the terms of the program. Make sure to make yourself a copy. It’s important to read this contract carefully and understand your obligations and rights as a learner.
- PSG Learnerships were an example of unlawful contracts which we fought and won.
Benefits of doing a learnership
There are several benefits to doing a learnership, including:
- Practical experience: You’ll get to work in a real-world setting and gain practical skills that will be valuable in your career.
- Formal training: You’ll receive structured training that will help you develop your skills and knowledge in your chosen field.
- Recognized qualifications: Completing a learnership can lead to a nationally recognized qualification that can boost your employability.
- Stipend: Learnerships often come with a stipend that can help cover your living expenses while you train.
How to make the most of your learnership experience
To make the most of your learnership experience, consider the following:
- Set clear goals and objectives for yourself
- Take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow
- Seek feedback from your supervisor and colleagues
- Build relationships with your colleagues and industry professionals
Common mistakes to avoid during a learnership
Some common mistakes to avoid during a learnership include:
- Being unprofessional or disrespectful in the workplace
- Failing to meet your obligations as a learner
- Failing to communicate effectively with your supervisor and colleagues
- Not taking advantage of opportunities to learn and grow
Preparing for a Learnership: Learnership Assessment
By the end of the Learnership, you’ll have cried, suffered, and been angry at everyone who pushed you each time the assessor said ‘Not Yet Competent.’ You’ll have reason to believe that assessors are bitter, unloved, uptight people. That’s until you meet the moderator. Moderators are actually pretty much hired for their ability to be uptight. These are people who dream about links at night, not links in a gold chain, but links between specific outcomes, exit-level outcomes, and industry norms and standards. When the moderator says you’re ready to be externally moderated – start organizing your party. It means they have decided you are truly worthy of being considered for the qualification and that your POE is ready for the final stage of the assessment process, external verification. This is where the SETA or external assessment centre will make the final decision and agree to certify you.
When your Learnership is completed, you’ll look back on a year when you had the opportunity to meet people who took an active interest in your development and made it happen for you. You would have been exposed to a workplace, been mentored by managers, and hopefully, been impressed by how business is organized! You would have made valuable contacts and gained references and career advice. F’king awesome isn’t it?
Top industries offering learnerships in 2023
Some of the top industries that have demands for skills and are therefore offering learnerships in 2023 include:
- Information Technology
- Finance and Accounting
- Hospitality and Tourism: apply with this hospitality letter template
- Engineering and Manufacturing
- Retail and Wholesale
Posts Related to Finding Learnerships
How to find learnerships in your area
There are several ways to find learnerships in your area, including:
- Register with the Department of Labour
- Checking with employers in your chosen industry
- Searching online job boards and classifieds
- Networking with industry professionals
Posts Related to How to Find Learnerships or Apprenticeships and Internships
Eligibility criteria for learnerships
Eligibility criteria for learnerships can vary depending on the program and the industry. However, in general, learnerships are aimed at people who:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 35
- Have completed some high school education or have an NQF level 4 qualification
- Are South African citizens or have a valid work permit
Make yourself Eligible Related Posts
Tips for preparing a successful learnership application
When applying for a learnership, there are some things you can do to increase your chances of success, including:
- Researching the company and the learnership program
- Making sure you meet the eligibility criteria
- Tailoring your application to the specific program and company
- Including a well-written cover letter and CV
Articles Related to Applying for Learnerships
Interview tips for learnerships
If you’re invited for an interview for a learnership, here are some tips to help you prepare:
- Research the company and the learnership program
- Practice your interview skills with a friend or family member
- Dress appropriately for the interview
- Be prepared to answer questions about your skills, experience, and career goals
Learnership Interview Related Articles
Articles about Learnership Assessment
Rock a ‘Can do’ Attitude!
When we select applicants for a learnership, we don’t ONLY shortlist those who have experience. We don’t expect unemployed people to have all the experience you often assume we look for. The magic is in your attitude.
If you want to be selected for a learnership, show a positive and committed attitude.
Do This if you want a Learnership
Use these 5 pointers as your learnership action plan and checklist.
- A learnership is based on a specific qualification. List the qualification title and NQF level for 3 qualifications you’re interested in.
- Find the qualifications on SAQA and check that you meet the entry criteria.
- List 5 reasons why these qualifications are suitable for you.
- Use the internet to research the company (offering the learnership) to see f you think you’d fit in and be happy there.
- Even if this opportunity did not come with a stipend – would you still take it? Check what the stipend is and if you can afford the opportunity.
Unfortunately, the training sector is rife with fraudsters and unethical companies. Know your rights in terms of the legislation.
In conclusion, finding and preparing for a learnership in 2023 requires research, preparation, and dedication. By following the tips outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to securing a valuable learning opportunity that can help you achieve your career goals.
Sources:
- https://www.gov.za/Learnerships
- https://www.careers24.com/career-advice/how-to-apply-for-a-learnership/
- https://www.careerhelp.org.za/index.php/learnerships
- https://www.skillsportal.co.za/content/why-should-you-do-learnership
- https://www.youthvillage.co.za/2018/01/top-industries-offering-learnerships-in-south-africa/
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