Noloyiso Siqele, founder of SA Job Spot, a Unisa alumna and former student mentor at the university, recently invited the East London Counselling Office to take part in a Mandela Day community outreach initiative in Duncan Village, aimed at equipping unemployed community members with job-seeking skills.

A total of 55 participants attended the training, which focused on preparing for interviews, understanding the role of recruitment agencies, and accessing support from the Department of Employment and Labour. The programme emphasised the importance of empowering jobseekers.

The session opened with a prayer and welcome by the SA Job Spot representative, who shared how her Unisa journey had prepared her for the Fourth Industrial Revolution through online learning, digital assessments and tutorials presented on MS Teams.

In addition to Unisa and the Department of Employment and Labour, Phakisa Holdings participated in the initiative.

Nolwazi Somtsewu, a Unisa student counsellor, launched the programme with an interactive exercise on mastering a one-minute voice pitch to sell oneself. This exercise allowed participants to practise presenting their skills and experience in a clear and impactful way. The emphasis was on self-awareness, and participants reflected on their abilities, transferable skills, strengths, achievements, values, goals and areas of personal development.  

She highlighted the importance of responsible digital behaviour, notably through maintaining a positive digital footprint, as prospective employers often review candidates’ social media profiles. Attendees received information about feedback from potential employers that participated in the 2023 Mock Interviews Programme and practised answering behavioural interview questions using the STAR (situation, task, action, results) technique. They were encouraged to do research on different companies as part of the interview preparation process.

Siphokazi Mqopi, a Unisa trainee career guidance practitioner, delivered a presentation on an effective cover letter. She outlined aspects such as structure, key elements and practical tips for making a strong first impression with potential employers, providing examples of both strong and weak cover letters. The emphasis was on tailoring a cover letter to match the requirements of a job.

The Department of Employment and Labour shared information about its services and explained how unemployed individuals can register on its online database and use the Employment Services of South Africa platform to find work opportunities. The department also gave practical guidance on completing the Z83 application form for government jobs. Attendees’ CVs were reviewed and improvement tips were provided.

Lulamile Bavuma from Phakisa Holdings concluded the presentations with insights into the role of recruitment agencies. He motivated participants by sharing his educational and employment journey, highlighting the value of being anchored in God. He emphasised the importance of discipline, integrity, accountability, ethical conduct and a positive reputation in the workplace.

The Unisa Counselling Office introduced participants to resources from the Directorate: Counselling and Career Development, including its YouTube channel and resources on careers, study success, employment preparation, personal development and mental health. A booklet titled "GRADnext - Crossing the divide from student to working adults was distributed, covering topics such as

• taking responsibility for your future.
• self-knowledge and personal branding.
• emotional intelligence.
• finding opportunities and entrepreneurship.
• getting the job (CVs, cover letters, interviews, contracts).
• adjusting to the workplace (professionalism, communication, time and money management, diversity).

Participant feedback

Participants shared positive feedback on the training, describing it as educational and informative. They also suggested topics they would like to be covered in future sessions. Some of the comments included the following: 

• "The meeting was very educational. It really opened my eyes when it comes to job-seeking and interview preparation. Next time, I would like to be taught more about how important education is and to dwell more on how to apply for a job step by step."
• "The session was great. I got to learn more about job applications, CVs, cover letters and codes of conduct in the workplace."
• "Very informative, self-developing. Next time, I would love it to have more job opportunities, so that we can all apply together and participate in the activities given right away."

The day concluded with a networking session over lunch, followed by closing remarks from Noloyiso Siqele, who thanked all stakeholders and participants, noting her gratitude to Unisa for instilling in her the values of community engagement and lifelong learning. She also expressed appreciation to the Counselling Office for supporting her academic, career and personal journey.

In the spirit of Mandela Day and Unisa’s principle of Ubuntu, the East London Counselling Office expressed appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to youth and community empowerment.

* By Siphokazi Mqopi and Nonhlanhla Koni, Counselling Interns, and Nolwazi Somtsewu, East London  Student Counsellor