Cape Town - Choosing a career path after matric or entering the workplace after studying can be intimidating, and many people are not necessarily sure of exactly what they want to do.
Being forced into making a rash decision can lead to dropping out of a course or going into a career with no job satisfaction, warns Manpower SA Managing Director, Lyndy van den Barselaar.
Many students who complete their matric or their tertiary education chose to spend some time overseas before settling into a course or a career. “Contrary to the beliefs of some, this can be a positive experience in terms of the travellers’ future career development,” says van den Barselaar.
“Besides assisting to develop ones interpersonal and social skills, independence and confidence, finding work overseas can assist in gaining valuable, worldly experience.
“Taking up part time work will introduce the traveller to the workplace and could even assist them in figuring out what their chosen career path may be, whether this is an internship or contract position.”
Van den Barselaar suggests that matriculants or graduates look for work within their field of interest and where their strengths lie. “This will ensure that the traveller also becomes an asset to the business they are looking to work for.”
She explains that many businesses have cultural exchange programmes in place that will facilitate for work experience for graduates from other countries, while other businesses offer internship programmes.
Volunteer programmes also offer a positive way to explore the world while working and making a difference to the community in which you are living at the time.
“The digital nature of the evolving employment landscape makes overseas travel a valuable part of ones personal development and even ones career path,” she concludes.
Adapted from a press release for IOL