A project coordinator oversees projects from the beginning to the end. They supposed project managers to ensure that projects and other assignments are delivered on time and as budgeted.

For this to be achieved, he or she must be willing to take responsibility for a few tasks like scheduling and distributing materials for meetings, controlling communication among team members, compiling data and following project success, monitoring budgets and other financial reports, and other managerial duties.

A project coordinator requires a professional CV to show that he or she has experience working in the industry, working with people or groups of people, and being a team leader.

Developing an impactful project coordinator application is important for your job search.
Your CV should document your core abilities, particularly those that align with the job description.

In this article, I will show you how to apply for this role and make a good first impression.

Here are a few national project coordinator writing tips

Be brief.

If you have many experiences and projects in your work history, try it as much as you can to be brief but comprehensive. Keep your CV in a page or two if necessary by only including the most relevant information for the road.

Quantify your successes.

Recruiters want to know the impact you have made throughout your career. Quantifying your achievements gives them an insight, and shows proof and record of your achievements. So instead of saying “coordinated projects from inception through completion”, you might want to say something like “coordinated more than 20 projects from start to finish, successfully getting more than 92% of projects completed on time”.

Make use of keywords.

The skills and keywords you use in your CV should be compatible with the terminology used in the National project coordinator job description.

Proofread.

Pay attention to details, and make sure there are no errors. Read over your work and if possible, send it to a friend or a mentor to review it. Sending in an error-free CV shows you pay attention to details and you take your job seriously.

Your Resume Format

National project coordinator CVS should be success-driven, brief, and comprehensive. There are three resume formats to choose from:
The chronological format lists your work experiences from the most recent to the oldest.

The functional CV format highlights only the relevant parts of your skills instead of paying attention to your work history.

The combined format blends both functional and chronological resume formats.

The chronological or combined CV format is often recommended for project coordinators to use since it directs the recruiters’ attention to the most relevant work experience.

When applying online, your resume must be parsed through an Application Tracking System (ATS). This is the software that uses parse code to rank applicants based on qualifications and keywords used in their application and how compatible it is with the job description. Recruiters consider only the applications that are ranked highest.

Avoid using icons, graphs, charts, or images in your resume as it can cause the software to parse the information wrongly or not be passed at all. Therefore, it is advisable to use a clean, simple format and save it as a PDF, .docx or .docs to avoid getting your CV rejected.

Sections To Include In Your Cv

Contact Information

Your contact information should be clearly and visibly aligned on the top left or Center of your CV. It makes it easier for recruiters to contact you in case they are interested in hiring you.

Contact information should include your name, phone number, email address, location. Your full address should not be included in your location, only the city, states, and zip code.

Objective and summary

A CV summary is a two or three-line statement that gives recruiters a rapid insight into your suitable work experiences and qualifications.

You want to capture an employer’s attention with a concise overview, showing your most valuable experiences and skills.

You should include three things in your CV summary; years of experience in the field, relevant qualifications, and skills that are emphasized in the job description.

Craft a career objective if you are changing careers or a fresh graduate with no experience.

Skills and qualifications.

Project coordinators utilize both soft and hard skills.

Soft skills are behaviour and personality traits. They are skills that are related to how you work and interact with other individuals. Recruiters often considered his skills because they are difficult to teach and are relevant for the success of the company in the long run.
Soft skills include adaptability, organization, motivation, leadership, critical thinking, time management, communication, interpersonal skills, etc.

Hard skills are skills developed by utilizing and gaining experience in carrying out digital and physical tasks. Hard skills include Rick’s management, data entry, project scheduling, Microsoft Office, budgeting, road mapping, forecasting, project planning, data analyzing, etc.

Your hard skills and qualifications should be prioritized before the soft skills.

Also include qualifications that way earned to advance experience in the field. This may help you pass the employer’s review and be shortlisted for an interview.

Experience

National project coordinators perform a variety of tasks. When writing your resume, it is important to include only the most relevant experiences to the job description because an employer has only a few seconds to scan the CV.

Also, include result-oriented work, achievements, and skills you have used. Use numbers to show your impacts where possible.

You can also use bullets and keep them on no more than two lines, use up to seven bullet points to describe your current experiences, and use only about three or four bullet points when describing your past work experiences.

Consider using unique action verbs to highlight your impact. This increases your chances of getting the recruiter’s attention and ensures that your CV will go through the scanning process.

Education

If you just graduated without any prior experience, your education section should be at the top of your CV or under the summary section. This enables recruiters to see that you are just fresh out of the University.
Also, add important honours, coursework, GPA, or anything relevant to the role.

But if you have work experience, your education section should be at the bottom of your CV. This is because recruiters only focus on your experiences. This section should only include you’ll disagree, and University name except if you recently graduated then you can include the year.

Your Cover Letter.

When applying for a position as important as a national project coordinator, your cover letter should be attractive and captivating.
A perfect cover letter combined with a perfect CV is sure to seal the deal.

Here are a few tips for writing a national project coordinator cover letter.

Be sure to use valid formatting.
National Project coordinators are expected to be organized and detail-oriented. Choose a tried-and-true cover letter font size. It should be 11 or 12, with a line spacing of 1.15 or 1.5. Your margins should be set to one inch on both sides.

Utilize a professional header.

Include your name, position you’re applying for, phone number, and email address. Your city and dates should also be included.
When addressing the human resource manager, be personal and use his name. In case you do not know his or her name, run through the company’s website or call the reception. This will show that you are the type of person to get things done.

Your introductory paragraph should get the employer’s attention.

Your introduction should be captivating because the success of the rest of the cover letter depends on it.

Also Read: How to Register With The Department Of Labour

It is significant that you indicate which position you are applying for, and mention in a few introductory lines your relevant accomplishments and why you think they make you a perfect candidate for the job.

Cite why you want to work in that company.

You can include a line or two expressing your admiration for some elements of their company. This will show that you did your research. Furthermore, show reasons why the company and the position you are applying for is the best step for the development of your career.
Be sure to be brief and avoid making the cover letter too wordy and lengthy.

In the last section of your cover letter, recap briefly what the recruiter will gain by hiring you and suggest an in-person or phone call interview.

In the last section of your cover letter, use a professional enclosure like “kind regards”.
Sign your full name and add abbreviated contact details below it.

Do Not Make The Common Mistake Most Applicants Make

The national project coordinator position is a serious role to handle. Avoid making your resume decorative and colourful as it will deter employers’ attention from the relevant stuff.

Endeavour to use specific and clear terms when listing your accomplishments. Recruiters become suspicious when broad languages are used.

National Project Coordinators must pay great attention to detail. This commences with submitting your cv. Be sure to avoid the popular error of submitting a cv with improper grammar, spelling errors, or typing errors. Also, be sure to check the phone numbers of any references to ensure they are also valid.

South Africa currently has a lack of people willing to fight the bad guys while looking good doing it. This fact is not gone unnoticed by Bheki Cele, Minister of the South African Police Service (SAPS). During an SABC News interview, he revealed his plan to increase the ratio of SAPS members to citizens in South Africa. SAPS would need to fill over 60,000 vacancies over the next five years to increase the ratio (1:383 to 1:220), in line with global standards.

But being a hero isn’t just putting on a great uniform. There’s maintaining law and order, preventing crime, and investigating offences against the law. There’s also the entire infrastructure that maintains it, from administration and secretarial duties to cleaning services. No matter what your role, a SAPS career helps you make the world a little better.

This post will offer a step-by-step guide to beginning your own hero story. We will look at the huge variety of SAPS careers available and how to apply for a SAPS career. This includes info about the SAPS application form and tips on the new requirements. As a bonus, here are some hints on the South African Police Service psychometric test.

Let’s get started!

SAPS career Streams and Vacancies You Could Fill.

According to Lieut. Gen. Bonang Mgwenya, SAPS, is actively seeking more women. She also describes the ideal recruit as “upright, disciplined and accountable”, whether male or female. SAPS recruitment material states that “the South African police service is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer”.

If you fit this bill and are willing to give service to the community, consider the following SAPS careers:

SAPS career Stream 1: Police Official.

Pay: R 4 500 per month stipend plus service benefits, starting salary.

Your career as a SAPS police official will be focused on preventing and combating crime. The Police Officials are the frontline, the most visible members of SAPS.

After Basic Training

• Uniformed Police Official
  • This is the basic level all recruits start at.

Further SAPS Career Opportunities

• DPCI Investigator
• Bomb Technician
• Equestrian Unit
• Dog Handling
• Detective
• Air Wing
• Hostage Negotiator
• Forensic Scientists

SAPS career Stream 2: Civilian Employees.

Pay: Varies with the level of responsibility and qualification/training.

Your career as a SAPS civilian employee will be providing functional support to police officials. This includes tasks such as administration, clerical work, supply management and custodial duties.

SAPS Civilian Employee Career Opportunities

• Personnel Administration
• Procurement
• Clerical Duties
• Financial Administration
• Typing
• Secretarial Duties
• Messenger Service
• Cleaning Services

For more information on these careers and more, you should head to saps.gov.za.

Just scroll to the bottom of the Careers section and select the booklets to download the brochure.

Requirements for SAPS career Stream 1 and 2.

SAPS career basic requirements:

• Be a South African citizen.
• You must have matric (National Senior Certificate or NSC);
• You need a National Certificate (Vocational) if you don’t have a matric. Able to use two Official Languages; one must be English.
• Between the ages of 18 and 30.
• Have no criminal record; submit to fingerprinting and background check.
• No visible tattoos, piercings, or things on your body that your mom wouldn’t like.
• Swear an Oath of Office.
  • An Oath of Office is (like any oath) a legal promise. You must promise to act responsibly with your authority on the pain of legal action.
• Submit to Medical Examination.
• Pass a South African Police Service Psychometric Test and interview.

You must also realise that if your SAPS application is successful, you must be willing to undergo extra training.

You must also be willing to be sent where you are needed, meaning relocating to anywhere in South Africa.

SAPS career Stream 1 Special Requirement:

• Pass a basic Fitness Assessment and Medical Test. 
  • Male candidates must:
    • Run 2.4 kilometres in 13 minutes or less.
    • Complete 30 push-ups in 1 minute or less.
    • Perform 45 sit-ups in 1 minute or less.
    • Complete 10 shuttle runs in 1 minute or less.
  • Female candidates must:
    • Run 2.4 kilometres in 15 minutes and 30 seconds.
    • Complete 21 push-ups in 1 minute or less.
    • Perform 31 sit-ups in 1 minute or less.
    • Complete 10 shuttle runs in 70 seconds or less.

How to Apply for a SAPS career.

The SAPS application form can be downloaded from their website.

1. Look through local newspapers in the careers section.
   • SAPS careers are advertised in local newspapers, such as the Sowetan, the Times, the Citizen etc. It’s government policy.
   • Careers are also advertised on their website here.
2. SAPS vacancies in the papers/online have a “POST NUMBER / REF NUMBER”.
   • Write this down; it’s vital for your application form.
3. Download the above SAPS application form.
   • Print the form and fill it in.
   • The form is extensive. I recommend you read it through several times before filling it in. Take your time and do it properly.
   • Most applicants fail because their SAPS application form is not filled in incorrectly.
   • When in doubt, ask a SAPS member for help.
4. Make a copy of the following:

• Your 13-Digit Smart ID Card,
• Your Driver’s License,

Your matric Certificate (NSC)/

•  NV(C) – Vocational Certificate,
• Any additional qualifications, and
• Proof of residence.

1. Sign your filled-in SAPS application in front of a Commissioner of Oaths.
   • TIP: Take all the documents you need to your local South African Police Service station and sign them before a SAPS officer.
2. You will hear from SAPS about your application in three months at most.
3. No communication after three months means your application was unsuccessful.

Steps After a Successful SAPS application. 

If you pass the SAPS application stage, you will be assessed in person. The SAPS assessment centre will put you through several skills tests. As part of the process, there will also be an interview.

There are four tests during the assessment:

• Numerical reasoning: How well you work with numbers.
• Verbal reasoning: Understanding words and communication.
• Comprehension: Speed-reading to find important info. You will be timed.
• South African Police Service Psychometric Test.

In the interview, they will ask questions about your knowledge of SAPS, why you think you’ll be a good member and your plans for the future.

The South African Police Service Psychometric Test

This is the final stage of your SAPS application. This is a series of psychometric tests that measure spatial and nonverbal reasoning. If this sounds difficult, it is.

In practice, you will have to look at shapes and their differences, identify patterns and complete sequences. Your test will be timed.

I recommend you look up more information online about psychometric tests and prepare yourself well.

TIP: JobTestPrep offers a test preparation course for the SAPS application process. Practice tasks for the South African Police Service psychometric test are included. Find out more on their site.

APS Career Stream 1, Second Phase: Basic Police Learning Program (BLDP).

New Police Official (SAPS career Stream 1) hires will:

• Spend one month working at a designated police station.
• After this, you will be relocated to a SAPS Academy for eight months of basic training.
  • You’ll learn basic police skills like firearms training, group tactics, responding to civilians etc.
• If you successfully complete Basic Training, you will become a rookie officer.
• After a successful 12-month probation period working as a rookie, you will become a full member of the SAPS.

It’s worth noting that not only do trainees get paid during the 21-month BLDP, they also receive medical aid benefits.

New Requirements for SAPS recruitment

Minister Bheki Cele is planning to amend the SAPS application requirements.

The amendment involves a new application requirement, namely an integrity test.

The integrity test involves:

• Fingerprinting
• Take a buccal sample (cheek swab) to analyse your DNA profile;
• A lie detector test;
• Truthfully revealing all your income and expenses.

Also Read: How to Get Police Clearance Certificate in South Africa

Conclusion: ‘

Now that we’ve finally settled in Lockdown Level 1, the SAPS 2019/2020 recruitment drive will continue soon. Certainly, at any given time, SAPS has a lot of career opportunities for you to aim for.

With many more vacancies still remaining in SAPS, the questions are: what can you do to make our country a better place? Are you ready to be a hero?

As always, drop a comment if you have any questions or experiences with SAPS applications. I hope this informative step-by-step guide helps you, and share it with any potential heroes you know.

Changing careers can be a groundbreaking move. It is more seismic than moving from one job to another.

Many individuals switch careers at some point in life, with an average person changing careers five to seven times in their working lives. This change is often a result of changes in the job market, more financial benefits in the new industry, or some aspirations and dreams that have long been forgotten.

Whatever the case may be, changing careers means changing and creating a new resume.

One of the biggest challenges you will face is to show how relevant your career history is. All you have to do is downplay a lack of forthright experience and, at the same time, highlight your successes and skills that apply.

If you are wondering how to write a CV that is different and appealing, we have got you covered.

To begin, let us consider the basics of how to write a CV.

Choosing the right structure for your CV

The hybrid CV is often the best, especially when you are sending your CV online. This type of resume structure combines the best parts of a functional and a chronological CV and enables you to focus attention on what you want an employer to know.

Personal statement 

Personal details like your name, phone number, and email address should be at the top of the page. They should be followed by a personal statement; Who you are, your career goals, and most importantly, what you can offer the organization.

Also, list your achievements, skills, and experience to date and make sure they match the job description of the hiring employer.

Skills

This is the section where you at I’m on the phone skills like management, sales, planning, communication, etc.

Also, include a line or two describing how you’ve used these skills before.

Experience

This section will contain the job experiences you’ve had throughout your work life.

You can use the chronological format, listing the most recent jobs first, including job titles, employers’ names, and dates.

Furthermore, focus on achievements in that role and pay attention to the new job description and requirements.

Qualifications

In this section, you will need to indicate if you are a college graduate or in the university. Add the name of your qualification, institution names, and dates of attendance.

If you are a school dropout, put a spotlight on your results.

Additional information 

This section is very significant on a CV if you are changing careers.

Add more transferable skills, including second languages, or any volunteering experience that could be important. You can also add hobbies and interests.

Without further ado, here are a few tips on how to write a CV for a career change.

1. Do some research on your new career. 

Studying your new career should be the first thing on your mind before you write a new CV.

It is essential that you do proper research and make sure you know and have as much information as possible about your career.

For starters, look at some of the best and substantial employers in the industry and figure out the attributes that are best valued in their employees. You can get details on the most in-demand qualification and skills required for the position you are applying for.

One of the best places to start with this is to research important job descriptions and make a list of the most frequently asked requirements. It’ll give you a good insight into what recruiters want and prepare you with the knowledge to succeed in your new career path.

2. write a whole new resume.

A new career requires a new CV.

At this point, you already know what the recruiters are looking for. Don’t try to save time by editing an old CV, because it might reduce your chances of producing a powerful and appealing application.

Besides, your old resume was specifically designed for your previous career.

It is therefore a good idea to start from scratch, choose the format and content that will make your new CV stand out. This is especially valid when you don’t have a large qualification or relevant experience and you want to impress your recruiters with your achievements and skills instead of your employment history.

Furthermore, do some research on the CV structure and format that will be great for your career change.

3. Include a section for skills.

When you must have chosen a resume structure, and format, add a section to highlight your skills or show that you have the hard and soft skills that the employer requires.

If you noticed that some skills and qualifications are missing in your new resume, you could continue to work towards gaining new experiences and qualifications or learn and acquire new skills.

Some online courses will help you gain significant qualifications or you can sign up to do some volunteer work that is related to your chosen career path.

Include skills that will increase your chances of impressing your employer.

4. Make an outstanding first impression.

The first quarter of your CV is crucial because this is the part that grabs an employer’s attention.

During the process of acquiring new skills and gaining your qualifications make sure to update your resume regularly. Add any new impressive experience or achievements to your profile.

Also, add the relevant transferable skills you have.

Write an engaging cover letter. This is your first chance to impress the employer. Indicate reasons why the experience and skills you possess make you the perfect candidate for the job.

This will help your employer to identify rapidly the difference between your resume and other candidates.

Also, endeavor to update your important social media profiles with the new achievements and skills you have acquired. This is because most employers nowadays use social media to screen applicants.

5. Cut out the unnecessary information.

Don’t include every bit of information from your past careers like every single task that you completed or every position held.

This can be detrimental and ruin your chances of being employed.

Make your resume shorter but more persuasive and relevant rather than long and full of junk.

In that case, leave out any information that is not related to the career path you have chosen.

Highlight only the information that will make your resume relevant and attractive to your new recruiters.

Be careful not to include irrelevant past experiences in your resume as it will draw recruiters’ attention away from the relevant stuff and reduce your chances of standing out and being invited for an interview.

6. Find out what resume format is good for you.

There are three CV formats to choose from.

The functional CV format enables you to highlight more important parts of your work. It appears to be the best choice for an individual who wants to change careers. This CV format pays close attention to experience and skills rather than where you worked in the past and the dates.

The chronological CV format, on the other hand, outlines your work experience from the most recent to the oldest. It is the most utilized CV format.

Finally, we have the mixed format which combines the chronological and the functional format.

It is advisable to choose the hybrid format that combines the functional and the chronological  CV formats.

7. Relevant non-work-related experiences should be included in your CV. 

Your best professional experience may appear to be irrelevant and may not relate to your new career.

Make sure to include relevant extracurricular activities on your resume to add more weight.

If you have taken any internships, training, indication, important volunteering, make sure to highlight that too. This will demonstrate transferable skills and also show you are dedicated, passionate, and enthusiastic about the new career path you have chosen.

8. Use numbers to show your significance 

When naming your successes in past roles, use bullet points that illustrate your contribution to the bottom line.

Numbers are a precise indicator of your assistance and accomplishments, it doesn’t matter the field you have worked in.

Numbers are extremely crucial on career change resumes as they help recruiters to rapidly connect to unfamiliar work history, and foresee what the applicant can do for their company.

9. Don’t be disturbed if your qualification section is scanty.

When changing careers, you’re bound to have gaps in your qualification, especially if your previous professional background is not connected to the new field.

Don’t be frustrated by this. Keep in mind that very few applicants will have every single needed credential.

Most recruiters would choose to employ an individual who meets three-quarters of the criteria but is passionate and driven.

Focus on spotlighting your skills and capacities, and don’t forget the desire to change careers shows your level of motivation, passion, and confidence.

10. If you are applying online, make sure you save your CV as a PDF file, except the job opening doesn’t agree. Also use fonts like Calibri, Garamond, and Arial.

A mixed career change CV offers you the best experience from a little bit of both chronological and functional structures.

It stands out as a traditional layout but helps you to highlight your accomplishments and communicable skills.

Since you have little or no experience in this new career path, it is up to you to show the employee that you are an asset to the company.

Hope these tips helped you. Good luck with your job search.

Choosing a career is the most important decision in life. It is more about deciding what You will do to make a living for the rest of your life. So, you need to find an industry that works for you and work towards getting the skills needed for the job.

Learning about skills that are in demand is essential in deciding what to pursue in college.
The recent dynamic working environment also Demands a proper understanding of skill relevance in modern applications.

Talent and passion are not sufficient enough for a career. You need to learn more skills.

How?

Education.

Getting into college to further your education is the first big step in gaining the skills necessary for a good career. You can do a degree program, short courses, or a diploma—endeavour to research the college and study at an accredited University.

Do internships in companies that relate to your chosen career path. This will help you get training and first-hand experience. Internships give you a feel for what you will do for the rest of your life.
Work with a Mentor.
The easiest and most rapid way to succeed in your career is to get a mentor, someone who is a professional in the field of your interest. Having a mentor is motivating and gives you an inside perspective on the day-to-day processes of your job.

The unemployment rate in South Africa is high, and there are no sufficient candidates with qualified skills for available career opportunities.

That said, here is the list of the most in-demand careers in South Africa in the various sectors.

Information And Communication Technology

According to Carrier Junction, this is one of the most in-demand jobs in South Africa.

Various fields in the ICT industry include:

Data scientist.

This field of study combines domain expertise, programming skills and knowledge of maths and statistics to extract managerial insights from data.

Robotics and process automation.

This is a more sophisticated form of business process automation that can record tasks performed by an individual on the computer and perform the same task without any human intervention.

Cloud computing is the delivery of various services across the Internet, such as information storage, databases, networking, Save Us, and software.

Cybersecurity.

It is the practice of protecting systems programs and networks from cyber-attacks.

Other fields in this sector include web design and development experts, ICT directors, and Software Developers.

According to Michael Page (a Specialist recruitment firm), this sector faces the challenge of scarcity in the supply of talent with STEM skills in South Africa.

However, a diverse educational terrain that speaks more to the STEM techniques needed in the 21st century is now needed.

Human Resource.

Human resources is a department or person that deals with everything employment-related in the company.

Human resources deal with employment and training new staff, ensure everyone adheres to labor laws, educate employees on Company benefits like pensions, sick leave, maternity leave, Etc., manage payroll, and manage staff contracts.

The key jobs in this sector include:

The human resource manager deals with the most important functions in the human resource department: hiring and firing employees, improving company and individual laws, and recruiting and training new workers.

The Human Resource Consultants advise the company on the current state of the human resource department and offer solutions on how to improve and adhere to company labor laws.

Human resource administrator who combines both human resource and other administrative duties. He handles the organization’s documentation and assists in other duties like Employment.

There are a variety of skills needed for this job. Basic hard skills include good communication skills, the ability to draw budgets, and organization skills, while soft skills include multitasking, decision-making, problem-solving, and other interpersonal skills.

Human resource experts have been in high demand in most Industries lately, probably because of the lack of flexibility.
This scarcity of flexibility illustrated by some organizations has been a barrier for applicants, several of whom have contemplated other employment options.

Michael Page suggested that organizations should employ individuals who have had experience in numerous positions during their careers.

With enough training and experience, you can become successful in this career path.

Finance And Accounting.

This sector deals with recording, measuring, and analyzing financial records for companies.

The top positions in this sector are financial managers, accountants, heads of finance, and commercial finance managers.

A few areas of Specialties in accounts used include;
Bookkeeping involves crunching numbers and keeping records of finances in a business. A bookkeeper is practically a junior accountant.

Financial managers are all about predicting the future of the business and strategizing to help the business grow.

Chartered accountants. This position has numerous jobs to choose from like auditing, forensic accounting, financial accounting, and Taxation.

Managerial accounting is more focused on preparing budgets for the preceding years, while financial accounting looks at budgets for the past years.

This sector faces numerous challenges, one of which is the downsizing of particular teams. Most businesses also argue that teams are not skilled enough to survive the changes brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

To tackle this issue, Michael Page suggested that many roles can be integrated into one to consolidate large teams, depending on the company’s size.

Also Read: How to Register With The Department Of Labour

Engineering And Manufacturing

The market in this sector has become very competitive, and individuals with the required skills are scarce.

The positions in demand include;

Project managers are responsible for planning, leading, and overseeing projects from injection to completion. This is a senior role in an organization that involves interactions with both internal and external stakeholders.
Project managers are also responsible for ensuring that project deadlines are met; they coordinate staff and internal resources, coordinate project reviews and design reports, conduct risk mitigation plans Etc.

Operations managers are responsible for managing activities that create goods and services.
Other responsibilities include planning, control, design, and strategizing.

Other positions in demand are Maintenance managers and manufacturing managers.

Some positions in this sector require illegal appointments, such as the G C C mines, GCC factories, and mine managers’ certificates, which detail specific certifications, skills, or qualifications needed to fulfil the job’s responsibilities.

Professionals who pursue these qualifications can benefit from open-door opportunities and future promotions. They can also assist other members within the company through training and monitoring. According to Michael Page, recruiters should invest in these initiatives and allow workers to explore these options.

The careers and positions listed above are the most in-demand careers in South Africa.

Trending careers indicate positions that have become more popular in the job market and have experienced a dramatic increase in demand.

When choosing your career, consider the list of jobs and skills in high demand in South Africa to ensure that your career prospects in the labour market will be increased.

Every year, when matric results are released, the disparity between the IEB and NSC results is astonishing for many parents and students. Because of this, parents and students are often confused regarding the IEB and NSC. Furthermore, many want to know which is better and if there is truly any difference.

They also want to know why there are two different matric examinations and not one. However, since matric prepares students for further education – helping them establish fruitful careers – discovering the difference is paramount. To help you better understand the difference between NSC and IEB, you can carefully examine this guide.

IEB vs NSC: What is The Difference?

The primary difference between the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and the Independent Examination Board (IEB) is that one is a qualification and the other is a private assessment body. As the name suggests, the Independent Examination Board (IEB) is a private assessment body. It is responsible for setting the examination and curriculum for clients and independent schools that choose to use the IEB.

Both the IEB and NSC are accredited by Umalusi. Umalusi sets the standard for basic and further education according to the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008.

What is the NSC?

The NSC is the qualification matric learners who have completed the CAPS curriculum receive after achieving an overall passing score after sitting the examination.

How Does the NSC Conduct Examination?

The NSCs exams are based on the CAPS curriculum, which means learners will have to have seven subjects, two being language subjects, one being some form of mathematics, and one being Life Orientation.

When the exams are conducted, matric students are required to enter an examination centre and sit the test under the supervision of private invigilators and private monitors. When the exams are complete, they are graded by Umalusi.

Does the NSC Prepare Students For University?

Most South African university graduates have received a Department of Basic Education NSC. However, all of these matric pupils would have had to achieve a bachelor admission on their matric results. A Bachelor Admission is the highest pass in the NSC and symbolises that the learner can enter any South African university for a degree course.

Other passing grades – like a diploma or higher certificate – will mean this is impossible unless the learner redoes matric or attends a bridging course.

So, it matters what your overall pass is, rather than if you received an NSC from the Department of Basic Education or the IEB.

Is The NSC Comparable to International School Leaving Qualifications?

According to SAQA, the NSC is comparable to other international school-leaving exams. However, the NSC is not internationally recognised. This means that while many South African matriculants can use their qualification to enter universities in Britain and Australia, most international universities will still need South African students to pass an assessment – as is the case with any foreign student. Furthermore, the qualifying criteria to enter a university abroad will be determined by the faculty the student applies to and if their grades exceed the faculty’s minimum requirements.

What is the IEB?

The IEB is an independent assessment body that launched to combat the apartheid regime’s discrimination. Instead, providing all learners with the opportunity to achieve a quality education.

When learners matriculate through an IEB school, they will receive an IEB NSC.

How Does the IEB Conduct Examination?

The formal setting of the IEB exam – exam centre and invigilation – is the same as the NSC. Additionally, the exams are also graded by Umalusi. However, the IEBs exams emphasise critical thinking and problem-solving, requiring learners to think deeply about the question instead of “parrot” what they’ve learned.

Does the IEB Prepare Students For University?

Because the IEBs examination focuses primarily on problem-solving and critical thinking, many believe that the IEB better prepares students for university. The exam questions differ from the state’s NSC exams. However, the IEBs exams are also based on the CAPS curriculum set by the Department of Basic Education.

Is The IEB Comparable to International School Leaving Qualifications?

According to the IEB, the IEB NSC is benchmarked by the UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC). This means that many universities – especially those in Britain and Australia – will accept students with an IEB NSC. However, seldomly is there any differentiation between those with an IEB NSC and the state’s NSC.

Students who pass the IEB NSC – like students with an NSC – will need to prove proficiency in the university’s assessment besides achieving the minimum entry requirements.

NSC And IEB: Which is Better?

When compared directly to each other, the IEB often comes out as the better qualification. It is more likely that a student will pass matric through the IEB than if they take the NSC. However, the reason for this is not as simple as the IEB being the better examination. It requires a more extensive review.

Most of the IEBs client schools are independent schools, and students who take the exam are exposed to better learning conditions throughout their school career, especially in matric. The smaller classrooms and the improved socio-economic conditions place these students at an advantage over the socio-economic struggles many NSC learners experience.

Then, when you consider that the IEB also benchmarks its curriculum on the CAPS curriculum used by the Department of Basic Education to set the NSC tests, there are not many fundamental differences.

Of course, parents and students want an advantage given the fast-moving globalisation. The best way to achieve that advantage would be to pass each subject with grades that are internationally recognised and appreciated, rather than focusing on whether the IEB or the NSC is better.

For example, an IEB and NSC student with a 50% passing grade on many subjects will be rejected from entry to international universities since they will not have met the basic requirements.

In Comparison, a student with seven distinctions from the IEB is likely to be accepted to an international university, whereas a student with seven distinctions from the NSC may not.

Read Also: How to register to the South African Council for Educators (SACE online)

Why? The primary reason would be in the other qualifying criteria necessary to study abroad. Students often have to prove that they have the means to pay for studies and sustain themselves without the assistance of the university or government. Since many IEB students do not face the same socio-economic challenges as many NSC students, they are more likely to meet the additional qualifying criteria that aren’t based solely on their results or the formability of the testing and assessment.

General Education Certificate gives students the liberty to leave from Grade 9 and choose to enrol into institutions that provide vocational, technical, and occupational skills. South African students will have the opportunity to choose between attending a regular high school and attending a vocational college. The General Education Certificate will allow students to apply for positions in these vocational training schools instead of universities.

Students enrolled in such schools will be the equivalent of Grade 10 students. However, they will be skilled in areas such as welding, construction, agriculture, sport, aviation, etc. Here, students will focus on one of these aspects and become experts by the end of their training. While some professionals see the General Education Certificate as a way out, others are worried that it may not be as rosy as it sounds.

In this article, we will discuss the importance, advantages, and disadvantages of the General Education Certificate.

What do you require to have a General Certificate of Education? 

• Only Grade 9 students are eligible to have a General Education Certificate. They will receive it at the end of their Grade 9 school year.

Will General Education Certificate cause a change?  

Yes, it will. As with any other new idea, it will come with cons and pros affecting different sections of society and the educational system.

Is the General Education Certificate important? 

Again, yes, it is. Here are some reasons why it is important.

• It offers students a host of opportunities to follow their passion while gaining modern-day skills.
• General Education Certificate will cause TVET colleges to become more significant. The rise in the number of TVET colleges may push older colleges to better equip their faculties to keep up with the competition. This is advantageous for the students.
• Additionally, there may be fewer strikes from students in TVET colleges leading to a reduction in the number of absent hours.

What are the advantages of a General Education Certificate? 

• Students will get a certificate to apply to colleges at the end of Grade 9 instead of waiting for Grade 12.
• It will enable students to follow their true passion at an early age and give them room to perfect it.
• Technical and vocational schools in South Africa will increase in number when this gets implemented. More of them will pop up to cater to the needs of the students who wish to enroll in their institutions.
• Students in Grade 9 will have new subjects that are more practical than theoretical in their curriculum.
• Companies can integrate graduates from these schools because they are sure they have both theoretical and standard practical knowledge.
• Students may have more openings for internship and apprenticeship opportunities once the program is implemented.
• The General Education Certificate can reduce the number of students who drop out of school. The reason being they can look forward to having careers sooner than their peers in regular school.
• Some professionals are excited about this because it will take out unnecessary subjects and replace them with profitable skills.
• The General Education Certificate will assist in evaluating the skill level of students leaving Grade 9.

Also Read: How to register to the South African Council for Educators (SACE online)

What are the disadvantages of a General Education Certificate? 

While the General Education Certificate has multiple pros, it also has multiple cons in store. Here is a list of those disadvantages.

• The General Education Certificate only allows students to apply to colleges. Therefore, students who want to go to the university must complete Grade 12 and get a National Senior Certificate.
• Some TVET colleges have an inefficient administration that seldom meets the students’ needs.
• Students who graduate with a National Senior Certificate have proven to be more emotionally mature and capable of critical thinking. While those who enter the professional sector after Grade 9 still have a lot of growing up to do.
• Some authorities fear that students who get the General Certificate of Education may be unwilling to further their studies. It is a grave problem because they will not improve on their craft and will stick with outdated techniques.
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions are notorious for having inadequate equipment and facilities that are not up to standard.

Summarily, introducing the General Education Certificate is part of the government’s plan to improve the number of skilled individuals in society. Students often go to school for many years to get an elaborate degree. However, they graduate without having a skill that is profitable in today’s changing world.

They end up facing difficulties in the real world when they realize that robots have taken their jobs. Even worse, some find it hard to pick up new skills later in life. The General Education Certificate provides light at the end of the tunnel. Although it has its shortcomings, it is a good option for society to embrace.