Steps to Take If You Are Frequently Rejected for Learnerships in South Africa

Do you find yourself sending off learnership applications and receiving emails saying no or no response? You are not alone. Despite having the matric certificate and being very interested in getting work experience, many young South Africans have a problem finding a learning opportunity.

Rejection isn’t because you’re not good enough. In some cases, the issue could be your CV, how you fill in the application forms or the selection requirements of the programme or the number of applications received compared to the number of available positions.

Do not give up after rejection; rather, learn from it and apply it to your next efforts. If you are rejected from learnerships often in South Africa, here is a list of 10 concrete steps to consider:

1. First, power through a review of the CV and the fixing of any errors.

One of the first documents that a recruiter scrutinize upon reviewing your application is your CV. It can be plagued with spelling errors, missing details, or formatting issues that can make it hard to get the profession.

Include your contact information, educational background, skills and work experience in your CV if you have any.

Include any school work, volunteering, computer skills and practical training that has been relevant to you if this is your first time working.

Ensure your CV is clear, professional and easy to read. Don’t include bogus qualifications or irrelevant personal data.

2. Take up Learnerships in Line with Qualifications

The most common error is to fill out applications for all learnerships without the verification of requirements.

Certain programmes may require specific subjects, a specific qualification, a driver’s licence or other conditions, or a matric certificate.

Read the advertisement carefully and make sure that you have the minimum requirements.

For instance, if a learnership calls for mathematics and you don’t have the subject, it might not be applicable. Consider opportunities that are aligned with your current skills.

3. Refine your applications.

If your CV is okay, but you make a mistake on an application form, it can impact your application.

Fill in all of the required fields with the correct information. Check your identity details, contact information, education history and other requested information before submitting.

If the employer prescribes an application form, fill out the correct form and follow the instructions.

For relevant public service vacancies, consult the official South African Government Jobs website to find advertisements and application requirements.

4. Sign up for Government Job Boards

Don’t look for learnerships solely on WhatsApp groups and social media posts.

Sign up at reputable job sites and frequent their updates for jobs.

Useful websites include:

• ESSA: https://essa.labour.gov.za/EssaOnline/WebBeans/
• SAYouth: https://sayouth.mobi/
• South African Government Jobs: https://www.gov.za/jobs
• Gauteng Government Jobs: https://jobs.gauteng.gov.za/

Fill in your profile correctly and change details if they change. Keep in mind that if you register on a platform doesn’t necessarily mean you applied for all the opportunities that are posted on the platform.

5. Gain Additional Skills

If you have multiple failures, then think about learning some skills that could boost your applications.

Helpful areas could be computer literacy, communication, customer service, and workplace safety and basic digital skills based on your career interests.

You might also explore trustworthy training providers and courses which are suitable for you.

Where relevant to the programme, practical experience in a technical career in fields such as Electrical work, Plumbing, Welding or Mechanical maintenance may be beneficial.

Only include skill and certificates that you have!

6. Be sure to follow deadlines and remember to submit things early!

Please note that there is no deadline for submitting your application. Last minute submissions are likely to contain mistakes and may not be considered.

Make a basic record of each learnership for which you apply. Please add: Organisation, programme name, application date, closing date and outcome.

It will help you to avoid re-application and facilitate tracking if it is appropriate.

7. Develop Skills for Interviews and Assessments

Some learnership programmes have interview, aptitude or practical assessment requirements.

Practise answering common questions such as:

Tell us about yourself.
What are your reasons for taking this learnership?
What skills do you have to offer the programme?
How do you deal with difficulties?
Where do you see yourself going in the future?

Do research on the organisation and what the programme entails.

Be honest and confident in your answers in an interview. State your eagerness to learn, interest in the field and how the opportunity relates to your career plans.

8. Think about Work in Different Fields of the Learnership.

If you have approached for a learnership only on that particular field but did not get any positive response, then you should try out related fields that correspond to your qualifications and interests.

For instance, a student who is thinking of studying office administration could also consider customer service, business administration, reception and records management.

Someone interested in engineering might look into the programs of technical training, apprenticeships or artisan development.

Be flexible but not apply for programmes you are not eligible for.

9. Be aware of Guaranteed Learnerships scams

For some reason, there are scammers who sometimes target the unemployed targeting them with fake learnership offers in order to get money from them.

Beware of any individual that promises to secure applications, to sell application forms or to get you a job for a fee.

Always check opportunities on the organisations official website or through their recruitment contact. Do not give away passwords, one-time verification codes or information that is unnecessary and sensitive to strangers.

Real recruitment processes must include information regarding the programme, eligibility criteria and how to apply.

10. Be consistent and learn from every application.

Rejection is a demoralizing experience but should not be a reason to give up on your career aspirations.

Analyze your applications and determine where they need improvement. Have a trusted teacher, career adviser or knowledgeable person check out your CV.

If an employer is giving feedback, use that to improve future applications. If you don’t have any feedback, concentrate on what is in your control, such as your documents, your skills, how you prepare for the interview, and which opportunities you pursue.

Take some time to fill out vacancies and well-prepared applications on a weekly basis.

Conclusion

It can be very discouraging if you are rejected from a learnership when you are out of work and ready for learning. You can strengthen your CV, verify your requirements, build the necessary skills, and apply through official channels, however, to become a better candidate.

Be mindful that learnership opportunities are competitive and that it does not automatically mean that you are not able or capable.

Continue to learn, persevere and make the most of each application. The next time may be when you come across a programme that you haven’t thought of before.