Matric's done - what now?

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Although some students decide on their "dream career" at a very young age, many may not know what options are available to them and where they would best fit in the South African workforce.

This is according to Kay Vittee, CEO of Quest Staffing Solutions - South Africa's leading staffing solutions company within the white-collar recruitment industry - who asks, "Do you, as a matric student, know what your options are? What are you going to do now that you have left school?"

Vittee notes that, having recently completed matric exams, students' options depend on a number of factors including whether or not they have passed, the results they have achieved and their financial situation, as well as their personal interests, strengths and abilities.

Consider all options

Vittee says, "For those who have passed their final exams with high marks and who have the financial means to study further, consider all of the options open to you."

"Bear in mind that Universities, Technikons and Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges are very different and offer a variety of study choices. Your choice of institution should depend on your individual interests, needs and abilities. Universities offer formal, academic learning for fields like the arts, medicine, law, education, commerce and engineering for example, while a Technikons focus on technically inclined degrees like business management or computer studies. A Public FET college may be more suitable for those wanting to enter a specific trade like hairdressing or mechanics," she adds.

Vittee highlights that an important factor to keep in mind when deciding on a certificate, diploma or degree is the market need for the skills specific to that qualification.

Vittee says, "After identifying where your interests and strengths lie, do some research as to what job opportunities align with your interests."

"Then, it would be advisable to research which of these jobs are needed by the job market and will guarantee you a better chance of finding a job once qualified," she says.

For those who are less fortunate and do not have the option of formal tertiary education available to them, either due to inadequate marks or finances, Vittee notes that there are still a number of ways for them to improve their skills, increase their employability and even get a qualification.

Vittee says, "One of these options is to apply for a skills or learnership programme with one of the 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA)."

These institutions aim to develop and improve the skills of South Africans by placing and training them in a specific sector.

"Like choosing a University, college, or qualification, when choosing which SETA to apply to, be sure to consider your interests so that you can match them to a relevant SETA, for example, if you have banking related interests, contact BANKSETA for a possible learnership," Vittee says.

Get experience

Another option Vittee highlights is to gain practical workplace experience in a field that interests you, whether it be through an internship, learnership or as a volunteer.

"Although you may not be paid much - or at all - you will gain valuable work experience to add to your CV, learn valuable skills from more senior employees, and may even be offered a full time position with the company," she says.

Vittee adds that the most basic requirement by the majority of businesses today is competency in Microsoft Office.

She says, "Quest offers a free-to-use online learning aid, Quest4Knowledge, which is available on our website to anyone with a valid South African ID or Passport."

"Users can complete online tutorials at their leisure as many times as they like. They can then complete the 'Test Version' of a particular tutorial - which can only be completed once - and receive a mark and competency certificate which they can include in their CV when applying for a job."

"Remember - no matter your circumstances - with a little determination, there is a world of opportunity open to you. We wish the class of 2014 the very best of luck ahead of receiving their matric results," Vittee concludes.