GRADUATE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME KEEPS FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS

Covid-19 has had a great impact on graduates in our country and the national lockdown has made it even more difficult for the young graduates entering the world of work. Despite this, The Independent Institute of Education’s Rosebank College Graduate Empowerment Programme (GEP) has been working closely with graduates irrespective of the nationwide lockdown that has caused a lot of economic activity to come to a standstill state including employment in South Africa. 

Rose Mokati, Career Centre Officer at The Independent Institute of Education’s Rosebank College, shares how the programme adapted to ensure graduates are given the assistance they need to take the next step in their careers.

It’s been an eye opener to keep on being motivated to change lives and motivate others during these challenging times, it’s a ripple effect. The challenges have been that the graduates not having data to have Zoom interviews with clients since we’ve referred their documents to for job opportunities, however some clients were willing to provide them with data to enable the interviews to proceed.

It’s been a new norm with challenges based on the availability with the stakeholders and graduates, however we have not stopped to make a mark to change lives as our slogan says. We’ve communicated with stakeholders through platforms such as Zoom, Skype and WhatsApp. As much as the statistics regarding employment are very challenging and placements is not as rapid as usual, the positives are dawning. Clients are now reverting to schedule interviews based on the prior meetings we’ve had and graduates are starting to be interviewed.

We always communicate with the graduates and share insights of other platforms they need to apply from for job opportunities which require them to apply online. 

“The career centre has been a place of refuge in this Pandemic, I would get a call from the career centre often, for motivation, encouragement and to always be positive and for that I’m grateful.

In the midst of it all, the career centre came through for me. When everyone was home enjoying time with family, we had the career centre team worrying about us. When I got a call to say there is a company that will call me for an interview I was stunned and prayed so hard to get that call. Eventually I got the call I knew that this opportunity was mine. Thank you once again to the career centre team for the hard work and determination I got an internship with IT future solutions. Great job. TEAMWORK MADE THE DREAM WORK.”

“In February this year, I visited IIE Rosebank College with an updated Curriculum Vitae to inquire about any new posts, which to my delight, there happened to be a Marketing job post. I handed in my CV, and a few days later IIE Rosebank College called me to let me know that they had submitted in my CV and documents to the company which had an opening, and that I should be expecting a call from them. 

The following week, the company called me a couple of times during the week, and even did a telephonic interview with me. I was told that if I am successful, I’d be called in for an interview in about 2 weeks from that day.

Fortunately, I was a successful candidate, and was called in for an interview. I made sure to do my research on the company to prepare myself for the interview.

My interview was in March 2020 and it went well. The research definitely came in handy. I got the job on the same day of the interview for the Digital marketing internship. That was the best news that I received in a long time. It was wonderful knowing that I had gotten a job that’s related to Digital Marketing, especially during these difficult times, where employment is scarce. 

I will be forever grateful to IIE Rosebank College for assisting me in finding employment, and also assisting me in other avenues.”