Let’s be real: looking for a job right now feels overwhelmingly difficult. It’s like trying to win the lottery — blindfolded, in the dark, during a thunderstorm.
And if you’re feeling like it’s just you, trust me, it’s not. Right now in South Africa, nearly 1 in 3 people are unemployed. And it’s been like that for a while.
Recently, I spent some time in KZN chatting to young people who applied for ORT SA Big Data Training programme.
And let me tell you — these weren’t just any applicants. Degrees, diplomas, side hustles — these guys had it all. Smart, hungry for opportunity, and ready to do whatever it takes to level up.
We had about 100 applicants… but only 25 spots.
Which made me wonder — what about the 75 others?
The ones who clearly have the potential but keep getting stuck in the “no work, no experience” cycle?
The scary part is, when you’re desperate, you start grabbing anything that kinda-sorta looks like experience. It could be another learnership here, an internship there, or a YES placement for basic wage…
But the problem?
You end up stretching yourself so thin across different fields that your CV looks random, not focused.
And when companies ask for real work experience, you don’t have much to show. This is true even though you’ve been busy.
I met one young woman who’s deep into coding. She is doing her Computer Science advanced diploma at night. She is willing to show up every day just to add another skill to her name.
Her passion is real.
But piling on more qualifications without real-world experience can backfire if you’re not strategic.
So here’s the move:
Stop chasing only certificates. Start chasing experience.
You don’t have to wait for a fancy job title. Go out and create your own work experience:
Help small businesses in your area with any skills you have. These can include tech, admin, social media, or design. You name it.
Here’s some options:
Volunteer your skills at a local business.
Help out at a startup or NGO.
Offer to build websites, help with admin, run social media — whatever matches your passion.
Document EVERYTHING you do. Set up a LinkedIn profile or a GitHub portfolio and show it off.
Network with people. Comment on posts. Share your ideas. Get noticed.
Because here’s the truth:
Experience is your secret weapon.
And in a world where everyone’s hustling for a piece of paper, real experience will make you stand out.
Final word?
You’re not stuck. You’re building.
You will not see the results right away. Every skill you sharpen, every connection you make, and every project you finish is stacking up behind the scenes.
Your future self will thank you.
Stay sharp. Stay real. Stay hungry.
