Address
Shop 14, Matsapha Business Centre, Matsapha, M202, Eswatini
P.O. Box 1167, Matsapha, M202, Eswatini
Telephone
+268 7958 5564
+268 7803 3230
info@likusasa.org
In the last few weeks, we explained how to write a curriculum vitae (CV) successfully. We discussed what we should include and avoid at all costs. Hopefully, you wrote a successful CV, and the company asked you to come for a job interview. Sounds scary? If you follow our advice in the coming weeks, you will know how to ace that interview.
We will write here about the research you should conduct before the interview, the questions you should prepare to answer, to ask, and how to conduct yourself during the interview.
A job interview is a conversation between a potential employer and a job
applicant. During the job interview, the employer can review the applicant’s qualifications, appearance and general fitness for the job opening. In parallel, the applicant tries to learn more about the position, consider the employer, and feel if the job answers their needs and interests.
Job interviews can take different forms, depending on the preference. Some interviews are structured and follow a specific format, while others are more informal and conversational.
The innovation that comes with technology has necessitated the need for candidates to adapt to the changing ways of interviewing, like virtual interviews such as zoom, skype, and telephone interviews. Additionally, some employers may do multiple interviews to ensure they make the right hiring decision.
As a candidate, it is essential to prepare for the interview to increase your chances of success. You should research the company, location and job role, practice responses to common interview questions, and prepare a list of questions to ask the employer.
During the interview, making an excellent first impression is crucial as dressing professionally, arriving on time, and being polite. Additionally, it is essential to listen carefully to the employer’s questions, answer honestly and confidently, and provide specific examples of your experience and qualifications.
After the interview, you should follow up by making a phone call within a week if they do not call you back. Moreover, send a thank you
letter to the people who interviewed them and reiterate your interest in the job.
We will examine the avenues for preparing for the job interview in the following weeks. We would explain why job interviews are essential and scary and how to gain confidence and win the job.
Your CV aims to catch the attention of the reader. You can do it by using a colourful CV, adding photos and having a fantastic Profile Statement.
A Personal Statement is a short introduction which outlines your characteristics, telling the prospective employer what kind of a person you are, the attributes and qualities you possess and your work experience.
The statement can include the following:
Tips on how to write a CV personal profile
Example of a good profile statement:
“I am a young Swati passionate about numbers, accounting and admin. I graduated with a diploma in Accounting and Finance and would like to start my career in this profession. I am ready to gain more knowledge and experience in my career path. My experience as a shop manager taught me how to conduct myself with customers and management in the workplace. ”
Who she is, what her career goals and what she can offer. Perfect.
Example of what not to write:
“Driven and passionate individual who works hard to achieve the result for the company’s growth. I am honest and transparent, always working towards completing tasks in the given time frame whilst paying close attention to detail. Able to work together with a team and individually.”
Sounds good, but all of us can write that there is nothing specific about you.
Do you need help with your CV? Visit the Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability, and our interns will help you write your perfect resume. LLYCE is in Shp 14, Matsapha Business Centre, next to FNB, in the middle of Matsapha. Contact us: 79585564, info@likusasa.org
Our CV includes personal details, profile sentences, work experience, education, references and skills. Today I would like to take a stand and talk about your References. The people in your CV references can vouch for your character, skills, and work performance. Recruiters like to contact your references to find out more about you.
The questions that the recruiters are most likely to ask the people you noted can be:
When choosing your references, you should remember that recruiting professionals will always check them; here are some tips:
Use a clear and short format to present your reference: Full name, job title, company name, work phone number and/or email. Briefly describe your relationship with the contact.
For example, My mentor, Yael Uzan-Tidhar, Programme Director, Nhloso Likusasa Le’lichakazile, info@likusasa.org
Need help with your CV? Visit us at Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for employability. You can also find us on social at Likusasa Letfu, email info@likusasaleftu.com or call us on 79585564/78033230.
When writing your CV, we recommend you add your educational history, even if you did not finish high school.
While the basics are obvious, there are some valuable tips to impress the H.R. manager who reads your CV.
Let’s start with the basics: this is the information you need to include:
Now let’s make it better with some tips:
You can order the information in various ways.
For example, a candidate who graduated from UNESWA may feel like her degree is separate from the job for which she’s applying. That can happen when you’re a social science major.
In that case, she may want to lead with the fact that she attended UNISWA, as having a degree is an added value, regardless if it fits the job or not:
University of Eswatini, Matsapha, BA
BA Social Sciences
Graduated in 2022 with a distinction
If you didn’t graduate high school, you should still mention the years you were there:
St. John Bosco High School, Malkenrs
Attended school from 2019 – 2021
Visit Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability for more information and support in job searching. Please find us on social media at Likusasa Letfu, or call 79585564/ 78033230 info@likusasaletfu.com.
Our CV includes details, profile sentences, work experience, education history, references and skills. While education and experience are essential, the skills we have and can offer to the job can sometimes make all the difference. The CV is a flexible document that we can change according to our position and history. When it is essential to prove our education – we start with that. When it is the experience we can impress with to get the job, we start with it. If we don’t have enough of either, we can put our skills at the start of the document and use them to impress the reader.
Skills refer to the ability to do something well. It can be the ability to use knowledge effectively and readily in execution and performance. They are divided into two, hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are the abilities you learnt and can easily prove, for example, computer skills and driving.
Soft skills are attributes you have within you (by nature, or you developed and practised) which are not unique to any job, such as communication and management skills.
Everyone should have both skills to be employed. In your CV, list a combination of both.
When using the buzzwords of soft skills, it’s best to know what they stand for and ensure you can perform them if asked to do so. Refrain from stating you have Excellent communication skills when you cannot speak loudly and clearly at the job interview. Here are some of the more common soft skills we should be able to have:
Communication and interpersonal skill is the ability to express your ideas and opinions clearly and to explain what you want to achieve without ambiguity. This includes listening, understanding and acting upon what others are saying or instructing.
Problem-solving skills is the skill that allows someone to think logically and find a solution.
Self-motivation is the ability to develop new ideas and solutions
and display enterprising capabilities to do things independently without being instructed.
Working under pressure, the ability to deliver the best performance within deadlines without buckling under stress.
Identify your hard skills by listing what you learnt or did at your previous work. If you have work experience, list all the things you do at work and map them to the list of employability skills. If you have yet to gain experience, record the activity you know best from your course or life experience. Try to show unique employability skills.
Visit Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability for more information and support in job searching. Please find us on social media at Likusasa Letfu, or call 79585564/ 78033230 info@likusasaletfu.com.
Excel is Microsoft’s spreadsheet program and a component of its office product group for business applications. It enables users to format, organise and calculate data in an easy-to-read and well-strutted format known as a spreadsheet. Excel uses an extensive collection of cells formatted to organise and manipulate data and solve mathematical functions.
Knowing Excel well increases your chances of getting employed or the way you manage your enterprise.
Excel skills include producing graphs and tables, using spreadsheets efficiently and performing calculations and automation to process extensive data.
Microsoft Excel application is one of the most demanded skills for employment across many industries. A certification in Excel will open many doors of opportunities for you. People use Excel in various business settings, from project management to human resources, operations
management and performance reporting. The market is looking for people with Excel skills for sales, marketing and finance. Knowing Excel well is one of the best investments in furthering your career. Good Excel skills add value to your CV, make you better at your job, increase your salary, and help you get stuff done in time. Some schools and institutions teach Excel; each provides the learner with a different qualification. Like the government’s Grade Test standard, most employers appreciate a standard certification like the one the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) offers.
How to develop Excel skills?
Visit Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability at shop 14, Matsapha Business Centre, call 79585564, email info@likusasa.org
In today’s job market, having a strong set of technical skills is essential for success, and Excel proficiency is one of the most sought-after skills. However, many job seekers in Eswatini lack the necessary Excel skills that employers demand. The Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability (LLYCE) has taken up an exciting project to help young job seekers enhance their Excel skills and increase their employability.
The LLYCE is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to supporting young adults in Eswatini to achieve their career aspirations. The organization has been working tirelessly to provide a range of services and resources to help young people gain the skills, experience, and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s competitive job market.
Kholiwe Matesbula, the project officer of Likusasa Letfu, explains the motivation behind the Excel Skills Development Project. “While helping job seekers to find work, we realized that many employers are looking for people with good knowledge of Excel. Although mainly in the accounting profession, Excel is a powerful tool that employees use in other professions as well.”
The LLYCE recognizes that there are many Excel courses available in Eswatini, but employers need to know the level of Excel proficiency that a qualification presents. Therefore, employers look for known standards, like the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) holders have. To address this need, the LLYCE partnered with the Embassy of Israel in Pretoria to become a certified ICDL center and sponsored 40 participants to achieve the ICDL standard.
The course is in collaboration with P31 Uncovering Excellence, a local ITC training center that specializes in delivering high-quality training in computer skills, business skills, and entrepreneurship. The LLYCE expresses its gratitude to the Embassy of Israel and P31 Uncovering Excellence for their support in making this project possible.
The Excel Skills Development Project is part of the LLYCE’s Skill Centre for Employability, which is helping young adults in their first career steps. The Centre offers a range of services, including creating job search kits, providing job placement services, and holding skills development workshops. Additionally, the Centre has allocated a section for a youth produce outlet, which is an excellent opportunity for young entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and generate income.
The LLYCE’s Excel Skills Development Project is designed to help young job seekers develop their Excel skills and achieve the ICDL standard, which is recognized globally. Participants in the course learn advanced Excel techniques, such as using formulas and functions, analyzing data, and creating charts and graphs.
The course is delivered by experienced trainers who provide hands-on training, practice exercises, and assessments to ensure that participants have a thorough understanding of Excel. The Excel Skills Development Project is an excellent opportunity for young job seekers to gain a competitive advantage in the job market and increase their chances of finding employment.
The LLYCE is committed to providing young adults in Eswatini with affordable and accessible services and support to help them achieve their career aspirations. The Excel Skills Development Project is just one of the many initiatives that the LLYCE is undertaking to support young adults in their career journeys.
In conclusion, the Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability’s Excel Skills Development Project is an exciting initiative that will provide young job seekers with the necessary Excel skills to increase their employability. The project is a testament to the LLYCE’s commitment to supporting young adults in Eswatini to achieve their career aspirations. The LLYCE encourages young adults to take advantage of this opportunity and join the Excel Skills Development Project.
The Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability is a unique new hub in Matsapha that provide comprehensive support for youth in their first career steps.
The Centre is open to all young job seekers and new entrepreneurs. LLYCE is a social enterprise that offers some services at a minimal cost, and some are free. The Centre’s activities aim to help job seekers find potential jobs and ace job interviews. We motivate internships and the employment of inexperienced workers among potential employers. We also host workshops to develop employability skills, confidence and vision. At LLYCE, young entrepreneurs can sell their products, get support in submitting the best proposals, and kick off their businesses. Qualified youth who want to continue studying can use our resource centre to find information on universities and scholarships.
Just step in; we welcome you.
The LLYCE is open to all young people (under 35) who need help finding work or developing their enterprise. There is no need to join NLL. Follow the Centre on social media to stay updated on its activities and opportunities. Like Likusasa Letfu on Facebook, follow likusasaletfu on Instagram or ask to join our WhatsApp group on 7958 5564.
These days, LLYCE develops the youth produce outlet section in the centre. The idea is to offer free shop space for young people making non-perishable products. Many of them can sell their product locally, near their home and need help to reach a larger market. LLYCE is located in the middle of Matsapha at the Matsapha Business Centre, right next to FNB, where many people pass by, and not far for clients looking for the product. The main objective is to increase the sales potential of youth producers and help them generate more income. Being a social enterprise, LLYCE is charging 5% only from the sale price. The Centre reinvest the proceedings in other activities to enhance employability and income-generating skills among job seekers and young entrepreneurs.
LLYCE will market the products on its social media channels and encourage the public to support youth producers as well as the Centre’s activities that help develop needed skills in today’s market.
The Centre accept handmade products from youth under 35 years old. The products should be non-perishable that do not need fridge storage. LLYCE likes to stock items like jewellery, polish, compost, woodcraft, knitting, home-grown grains (not repacked) and clothes (not resale second hand). The producer will sign an MOU with the Centre to ensure accountability and transparency.
Work experience is when a prospective employee gains practical wisdom with an employer by learning about a particular role, organisation or career path. This could include volunteering work, work placements, work shadowing and internships. The importance of such in enhancing your resume cannot be overemphasised as it demonstrates your work-related competency, motivation, passion and commitment to potential employers. The benefits of work experience to job seekers include giving insight into the work world, increase of occupational knowledge and understanding of the skills and attributes required as well as the improvement of communication skills. Also, it helps candidates garner professional networks that might be essential in future career advancements.
In addition to attaining practical wisdom, it has been proven that work experience helps individuals increase their self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence. These are qualities that could make an applicant stand out amongst his peers. Consequently, it is pivotal to take the time to outline and re-evaluate your experience so it might appeal to companies and hence optimize your chances of employability.
A well-written work experience section is a crucial element on a resume because it shows that you have the necessary qualifications to be an asset to your potential employer. It should
In conclusion, a well-tailored work experience in a resume is the foundation that either qualifies you or disqualifies you for an interview and employability. It should be concise and entail all the relevant information that will make a candidate stand out amongst his peers.
Do you need help with your CV? Visit the Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability, and our interns will help you write your perfect resume. LLYCE is in Shp 14, Matsapha Business Centre, next to FNB, in the middle of Matsapha. Contact us: 79585564, info@likusasa.org
Shop 14, Matsapha Business Centre, Matsapha, M202, Eswatini
P.O. Box 1167, Matsapha, M202, Eswatini
+268 7958 5564
+268 7803 3230
info@likusasa.org
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