If you’re reading this and you’re aged 15 to 34, you’re probably not working. According to Stats SA’s latest numbers (Q1 2025), 46.1% of young people of that age are unemployed. It’s a bleak situation, and if you’re looking for employment, you need all the help you can get. Fortunately, there’s help… and it’s in the palm of your hand.
Find The Job
South Africa has several useful digital job boards, ranging from Careers24 to CareerJunction, PNet, Indeed, and Job Mail. Each of these offers a variety of job listings across industries and experience levels – which is super useful if you’re just starting out in your career.
But don’t limit your search to just those platforms. LinkedIn combines social networking with networking-networking, and it’s a great way to put your professional self out in the world for others (including recruiters!) to connect with. Glassdoor is another handy site, as it includes reviews from current and former employees. You might not be in a position to be picky about the job you apply for… but you don’t want to commit your career to a toxic or exploitative workplace either.
And don’t forget WhatsApp. There are loads of WhatsApp Groups, including Mzansi Career Hub, that have regular job postings and learnership opportunities. Use tools like WhatsApp Group Links to find and join those groups.
Get The Job
While you’re searching for vacancies, use a free design tool like Canva to create a mobile-friendly CV that’s easy to share and read on a mobile device. The frightening truth is that a lot of CVs are read by AI these days; so you’ll want an application that impresses the soulless Applicant Tracking System machine. What’s also true, though, is that many of the best employers (especially if you’re starting out) are small businesses, where the person who makes the hiring decision is an actual human who may well screen your job application on their phone.
If you haven’t already done so, set up your email on your phone to make sure you don’t miss any messages or updates from companies you’ve contacted. Then… clean up your online profile. Delete the dodgy party photos off Facebook, bury your Finsta deep, and polish up your LinkedIn profile.
Keep The Job… and Grow In The Job!
When you have a job, your number one job is to keep your job. One way to do that is to through professional development. Some employers will invest in training courses that help you grow in your career, but don’t expect your boss to do the work for you. Identify areas in which you want to grow, and spend time learning new skills. Remember: it’s your career we’re talking about!
Coursera works with international universities to offer useful open online courses; while Udemy links people who want to teach, with people who want to learn at their own pace. Some online courses come with costs attached, but not all of them do. On the paid side, LinkedIn Learning, which offers deals for teams, is the sort of thing you might want to mention to your company’s HR people. On the free side, you’d be amazed how many of your future (or current) colleagues have learned how to do mission-critical tasks by watching someone else explain how it works on YouTube.
