Career guidance can support South African students to make informed choices about their school subjects, qualifications and future employment. Whether learners are planning to select subjects in Grades 10 or 11, apply to a university, or take up further training, an awareness of the possible career paths can help them to avoid expensive mistakes and explore options that they had not realised were available.
In an environment where many young people are unemployed and families have limited funds for further education, making the right career choices is about more than identifying a dream job. Learners need to know what the entry requirements, costs, bursaries, skills shortages and job prospects are for various occupations.
Career guidance supports learners to connect their interests, skills and subject choices with the world of work.
1. Learners will understand how to choose the right school subjects
One of the first decisions that learners must make is about which subjects to choose for the Further Education and Training phase.
Their subject choices will determine which university courses, TVET courses, artisanships and work opportunities are available to them after school.
For instance, learners who are interested in engineering would need to identify which Mathematics and Science subjects are required to apply to a specific university course or occupational qualification.
The requirements can vary considerably for different professions, so it is important to research what specific courses, colleges or occupations need before finalising their choices.
Career guidance will enable learners to understand the requirements at the time of making their choices, instead of having to realise later that they did not get into their desired course.
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2. Learners will understand more career options
Many learners can name their ideal doctor, lawyer, teacher or engineer; however, South Africa needs more technologists, electricians, plumbers, IT specialists, logistics experts, accountants, farmers, bakers, nurses and caregivers!
Career guidance will provide learners with more options, based on the skills that are needed in the economy.
Learners can also see how these different jobs might relate to their school subjects, qualifications and lifestyle preferences.
3. Learners will be able to compare universities, TVET colleges and learnerships
Sometimes students believe that they have to go to university if they want to have a proper career.
However, there are different education and training pathways, including:
- universities – provide academic and professional qualifications at school-leaving level
- TVET colleges – offer vocationally-oriented courses to prepare learners for specific work environments
- occupational qualifications – prepare learners for the skills and standards required for artisanships and other occupations
- learnerships and apprenticeships – work integrated learning experiences, depending on the programme
Career guidance can help learners to compare these different options and the entry requirements.
The most important factor is not the name of the institution or course, but the relevance of the entry requirements to their subjects and the recognition of the qualification for their chosen profession.
4. Learners can make better choices in a challenging job market
Despite the high number of unemployed young people in South Africa, learners still need to understand what job opportunities they are eligible for after school.
Career guidance is not a crystal ball, and will not predict future skills shortages, but it can empower students to research their ideal job and the most in-demand skills for the industries that interest them.
Learners can also realise whether their current school subjects will make them eligible for further education and training, or if they need to take additional courses or subjects.
5. Learners can understand the financial implications of their choices
The financial burden of further education and training varies considerably, depending on the qualification.
Career guidance can help learners to find out whether they qualify for any bursaries or studentships to fund their studies or apprenticeship.
Based on the learner’s preferences and financial situation, the career guidance counsellor can advise them to:
- apply to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
- look for university or TVET college bursaries
- see whether a government department has bursaries available
- explore SETA-funded opportunities
- apply for apprenticeships or learnerships with employers
- look for privately-funded scholarships
Learners should not assume that any qualification or institution will be funded, and should look at the application requirements and deadlines for each type of financial aid.
6. Learners can access information that they may not have known about before
Not all schools are the same, when it comes to career guidance.
Some schools have strong links to universities and employers, while others do not have the capacity to provide individualised career counselling or to host career expos to showcase the different career options.
In some cases, students will find it challenging to afford the expenses related to attending an occupation expo, a workplace visit or a private career counsellor.
While Life Orientation provides a space for learners to discuss their career interests, some learners need more information about specific occupations to determine whether it is the career for them.
Career guidance can help learners to find the right information about courses, entry requirements, financial aid and work opportunities.
7. Learners will avoid choosing an inappropriate qualification
It is easy for learners to decide to pursue a certain career because their friend is doing the same course, or because an occupation sounds more prestigious than another.
Learners could realise too late that the course requires subjects that they did not do at school, that they will have to pay large fees to pursue the qualification, or that the job is not as interesting as they thought.
Career guidance encourages learners to be informed before they apply to a course of study.
Students can compare courses, speak to people in the profession and learn more about the requirements before they make their choices.
They might need to change their minds, but proper career guidance can prevent expensive mistakes.
8. Learners can build confidence and be prepared for the workplace
As well as helping students to choose the right course of study, career guidance can support them to apply for jobs with confidence.
Learners can learn how to complete a CV, write an email for a job application, fill in application forms and prepare for interviews.
Students can also learn about legitimate job opportunities and how to spot fake job advertisements, to protect their personal information.
Learners can also learn about what to expect from the workplace, how to behave professionally and the importance of being reliable, if they are taking up an internship, learnership or work experience.
Where Can South African Students Find Career Guidance?
Careers guidance is not necessarily a service that learners need to pay for.
Before they apply for further education and training, learners can speak to their Life Orientation teacher and visit the career guidance or admissions department of the institutions that interest them.
Learners can also find information on the Department of Basic Education and Department of Higher Education and Training websites, and on the websites of the universities, TVET colleges, SETAs and NSFAS.
They should always confirm relevant information directly with the institution or administrator, especially when applying for courses or financial aid.
What Should Students Do Before Choosing a Career?
Learners can complete the following steps to help them make their choices:
- decide which school subjects that they enjoy studying and are good at
- research occupations that interest them
- find out what subjects are required to qualify for those occupations at school-leaving level
- compare the options for university, TVET colleges, apprenticeships and learnerships
- discover what the costs are for different courses, and what bursaries or studentships they qualify for
- speak to a career counsellor, teachers and people in the professions that they are interested in
- look at current job advertisements to see what skills and qualifications are needed for those occupations
Learners should be prepared to adapt their choices, as they build their knowledge about the different career options.
Conclusion
Career guidance plays a vital role in supporting South African students to make informed decisions about the different career paths. It can help learners to choose the right school subjects for their preferred professions, to apply for the right courses of further education and training, and to consider the financial implications of their choices.
Career guidance can expose learners to the technical and vocational occupations that they did not realise were available to them, and can prepare them to make the right choices about the job application process.
Career guidance cannot solve all of the challenges that young people face in unemployment, but it can help them to make realistic choices about their futures.
Editorial/fact-checking note
This article is provided for general information purposes only. Students should always confirm the application requirements, financial aid and career guidance information with the relevant institution or administrator.
Corrections policy
Material errors will be corrected when they are discovered, and information will be amended when new requirements are released.