Apply for learnerships, apprenticeships and internships if you’re an unemployed youth. Job training can be a strategic way to start your career path.
Learnerships, Apprenticeships and Internships can be Strategic Career Moves
Doing job training programs such as learnerships, internships or apprenticeships can be a strategic way to start a career path.
Learnerships, apprenticeships and internships are practical and cost-effective ways for the unemployed or new graduates to become members of the workforce. Learners can build their network, impress managers and increase their job prospects by being on a learnership.
People often ask: Is it worthwhile applying for Learnerships, Apprenticeships or Internships? Are these occupational programmes worth the effort to find? Most times the answer is a definite yes, join a learnership.
Reasons why you should consider applying for job training:
- Real-World Experience: Job training programs provide you with real-world experience that you can’t get in a classroom. This experience will give you a better understanding of what the job entails and whether it’s a good fit for you.
- Networking Opportunities: While in a job training program, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with professionals in your field. These connections can be invaluable when you’re looking for a job or trying to advance in your career.
- Skill Development: Job training programs are designed to help you develop the skills you need to succeed in your chosen career. You’ll receive hands-on training and feedback from experts in the field, which will help you become more competent and confident in your abilities.
- Better Job Prospects: Having real-world experience and skills will make you a more attractive candidate to potential employers. You’ll have a better chance of finding a job and advancing in your career.
- Clear Pathway: Job training programs can provide you with a clear pathway to a specific career. By completing a program, you’ll have the necessary skills and experience to pursue jobs in your field.
Overall, doing job training programs such as learnerships, internships or apprenticeships can help you jumpstart your career by providing you with real-world experience, networking opportunities, skill development, better job prospects, and a clear pathway to your desired career.
How to Apply for Learnerships, Apprenticeships and Internships
1. Do your research.
- Know thyself!: Decide what fields you want to gain experience in and plan your career path. Do some thinking about what your career goals are as you’ll be asked to explain them.
- Research the industries you’re interested in: Click to read how to research the industries you want to find opportunities in.
- Learnership or apprenticeship?: Do the fields you’re interested in offer learnerships or apprenticeships? Check this latest list of qualifications that can be obtained through learnerships.
- Internships: Internships can usually be found in any industry. Research companies in the fields you have selected and approach them for an internship.
- Prepare your application pack. We have you covered:
2. Apply for Learnerships
Learnership Disadvantages
The learnership experience will allow you to develop important job skills such as negotiation and provide you with professional contacts in the industry of your choice. However, there can be disadvantages to being on a learnership.
8 Disadvantages of being on a learnership
- Lower Pay: Typically, learnerships offer a lower salary than a regular job. This can be a big disadvantage for those who need to support themselves and their families.
- Limited Job Security: Learnerships are temporary and may not guarantee employment after the completion. This means that you may need to start your job search from scratch once their learnership is over.
- Limited Freedom: As a learner, you may not have the same level of freedom and independence as a regular employee. You may be expected to follow a strict schedule and have limited decision-making power.
- Limited Benefits: Learnerships may not offer the same benefits as regular jobs, such as health insurance, retirement plans, or paid time off. This can be a significant disadvantage for those who need these benefits.
- Limited Mobility: Learnerships may be limited to a specific location or industry. This can make it difficult to pursue other job opportunities or to move to a different location.
- Limited Skill Development: While learnerships provide valuable training and work experience, they may not offer the same level of skill development as a regular job. This can be a disadvantage for those who want to develop their skills quickly and advance their careers.
- Difficult Employers: You might have an employer who doesn’t balance the work and training expectations they have of you.
- No Career Pathing: even though the learnership requires mentoring and coaching, you may have to depend on the facilitator for this. The learnership may not offer any opportunity for you to develop your career path further in the industry, such as referring you for employment.
- Unlawful Learnerships: sadly there are times when youth register for unlawful learnerships, such as at PSG Wealth.
Who can apply for a learnership?
If you are unemployed you can register as a work-seeker or potential learner with the Department of Employment and Labour. Read this post on how to register and prepare your applications for learnerships.
Learnerships are worthwhile for those youth who have no contacts in a field they want to work in.
If you’re committed to the process you can achieve amazing career results, but a learnership requires your full attention. Balancing the interests of employers who are hellbent on productivity and profit at all costs (mainly yours) is part of the process. It’s also part of a larger system that we must change together.
Read More
3. Apply for Apprenticeships
Read our detailed post on apprenticeships in South Africa and where you can find them, click here. The post also includes cover letters for qualified apprentices and new apprenticeships.
4. Apply for Internships
When you have been selected for a learnership, join a union
Don’t ask your supervisor anything about a union or you will immediately be labeled a potential troublemaker.
The first thing youth should do after becoming employed or placed on a learnership, internship or apprenticeship is join a union. The labour market is structured corruptly and can only be changed by you, youth. Comment below if you’re a justice warrior.
Here’s a list of unions for you.
Make it happen! The more youth join now, the sooner they can hold leadership positions and outvote the ones holding us back. We love them all but they must go somewhere else, rest and write their biographies. Meh!
Hi Wezo
Sorry to hear your troubles! We’ve published links to sites where you can find learnerships and apprenticeships. PLease click on GET QUALIFIED.
Good luck and best wishes!
Leo
i need learnership because its hard for me to pay for my fees.i have matric an nated 2 for motormechanic engineer