Developing key Talent for your Organisation
SA's graduates are often overwhelmed by the complexities of finding and keeping their first job, while many local employers report that young employees lack business savvy when they enter the workplace. Running a Workplace Readiness Programme for graduates is one way to deal with this challenge.
SA's graduates are often overwhelmed by the complexities of finding and keeping their first job, while many local employers report that young employees lack business savvy when they enter the workplace. Running a Workplace Readiness Programme for graduates is one way to deal with this challenge.
EOH successfully runs these Programmes for graduates across the country, one of them at 13 CTI Education Group and Midrand Graduate Institute (MGI) campuses across the country.
National trainer and courseware developer Frankie O'Donovan explains that these programmes deliver a series of intensive workshops to final year students, aiming to thoroughly prepare them for finding a job and, once they have done so, helping them to perform well in the workplace from the word go.
"The programme is in line with CTI and MGI employability strategies, whereby every effort is made to help graduates find employment. This critical step from study to the workplace has been somewhat overlooked in the past," he said.
O'Donovan says graduates are often uniformed about the very basics of developing a CV, applying for a job, and workplace ethics and culture. The programme comprises a series of modules offering practical, detailed information about creating a compelling CV and cover letter, carrying out job searches and performing well in job interviews. The programme also helps graduates understand the process of career planning, and outlines the need for realistic expectations of work ethics, hours and salary. Even concepts such as corporate culture, professional behaviour, effective communication and the value of time management and hard work are covered.
O'Donovan believes that while students may have encountered some of this information in the past, delivering it in their final year has the greatest impact. "This is the time when they are seriously thinking about their futures, and they are hungry for any information that will help them succeed," he noted.
While it is relatively difficult to fully assess the success of the programme, O'Donovan said that the feedback he has received from students is overwhelmingly positive.
"We often hear students saying ‘Wow – I didn't know that', specifically when it comes to preparing a CV. The reality of entering the job market often comes as a surprise to young people. They tend to think that once they have a degree, companies will automatically want to hire them, so it comes as an unpleasant surprise when they send out their CVs and get no call backs."
"I see the programme growing, and becoming an accredited course with longer workshops and more practical work, because there is a serious need for it. Students are crying out for more of this information," O'Donovan said.
Would you like to find out how EOH Human Capital can assist your organization with running Workplace Readiness Programmes? Drop us a note at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To find out more about EOH Human Capital, visit our website at www.eohhumancapital.co.za
