Each opportunity has different requirements, so it is important to carefully read them carefully before applying. Here are some online sources of Learnerships and Internships.

www.puffandpass.co.za

https://salearnership.co.za www.top-learnerships.co.za

https://availablelearnerships.com

www.careerhelp.org.za/workexperience-opportunities

www.youthvillage.co.za/category/opportunities/internships

www.graduates24.com/internshipprogrammes

If you do not have the marks or only have Maths Lit, perhaps you need to ask yourself ‘What kind of work do I want to do when I have this degree? And then choose the degree that is more in line with your interest.

Here are some jobs which people with a Bachelor of Administration would be doing:

Accountant
Accountants are good with numbers, detail-oriented, and enjoy helping others. They work with both people and companies to make sense of their money and taxes. Accountants also prepare financial documents and ensure that tax operations go smoothly.

Financial Advisor
Much like accountants, financial advisors ensure the financial health of people and companies. However, financial advisors do not work with taxes. Inserted, they manage, allocate, and use money to make people and businesses successful. Financial advisors also help people and companies to make smart financial decisions by helping them to assess risk.

Marketer
Marketers plan, direct, and coordinate marketing efforts for businesses. They determine the demand for goods and services as well as developing a strategy to maximize profits on those goods and services. Marketers also oversee the development of products and monitor trends within the business’ target markets.

Those who go into marketing can also work in advertising or other creative and media fields, which relate to the function of marketing.

Commodities Trader
Whether on behalf of a firm or an individual, commodities traders buy and sell commodity contracts. Commodities can be anything from oranges to shoelaces and they are bought and sold as futures, options, and other financial derivatives. Commodities traders are organized, detail-oriented people with a solid understanding of economics and business.

Human Resources
People who work in human resources ensure the safety and happiness of a company’s employees. Human resource managers work to hire new employees, as well as maintaining employee records and policies, counseling and disciplining employees, and handling scheduling.

Loan Officer
Loan officers work in banks and lending companies to evaluate, authorize, and recommend approval or denial f loans to people and businesses. They generally have a solid finance background and are also good with numbers and money.

Real Estate Agent
Real estate brokers or agents are people who help others to buy, sell, and rent properties. Brokers are licensed to work on their own, while agents must work for a licensed broker. There are two types of real estate brokers or agents, commercial and residential. Although real estate agents must go through licensing exams, also having a BBA is a good first step to becoming an agent.

Manager
At every level of business, there are managers who keep things running smoothly. They are in charge of everything from running the day-to-day operations of a retail store to sourcing materials for large production facilities. No matter what type of business you would like to work in, if you’re hoping to enter info management, a BBA can also give you the necessary tools to succeed.

Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs are individuals who organize and operate businesses. They generally create new businesses and are both creative and organized. In the past couple of decades, with the rise of the internet, entrepreneurs have also become more and more common. Entrepreneurs are behind start-ups everywhere.

From: https://www.collegeraptor.com/getting-in/articles/online-colleges/jobs-you-can-get-with-a-bachelors-of-business-administration-bba-degree/

There are more jobs here under Business Administration:
https://careerplanet.co.za/careers/business-admin-finance

You may also want to look at this list: of 200 qualifications you can do with Maths Literacy.

What qualifications can I get with Maths Literacy?

A: Please click on the following link:

https://careerplanet.co.za/sector-education-and-training-authorities-setas/

A: There is an option called ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’.

You will have to find the qualification(s) which your skill set fits and do tests to demonstrate that you have them, but it can be done.

For more information, click here:

https://careerplanet.co.za/understanding-rpl/

For a list of SETAs and contact numbers:

http://www.dhet.gov.za/SitePages/SETAlinks.aspx

A: Make a start with a short skills course. There are different kinds:

Most TVET Colleges (public and private) and Universities offer many short (1 year to 30 hours) skills courses. Go online and search for all the institutions in your area here:

https://careerplanet.co.za/training/institutions-training-providers/

SHORT COURSES AS PART OF A BIGGER QUALIFICATION

Quite often the course is part of of a larger certificate or diploma. These parts are called Unit Standards.

Welding, for example, is registered as National Certificate: Welding Application and Practice Number 57881 by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) but it is part of an Engineering qualification. If you pass this short course, it will be recognized if you want to do a Diploma in Engineering.

MAKE SURE IT IS

• A qualification registered by SAQA.
   http://www.saqa.org.za/show.php?id=7391
  Scroll down to Registered qualifications and unit standards
  (Public colleges and Universities are usually registered, but it is important to check Private Colleges – see REGISTERS below) You can ask the College for its accreditation details and the registration number of the course you are interested in.
• Offered by a training provider accredited with SAQA.
  Once you have found the registered course, scroll down for accredited providers of that course
  (Public Colleges and Universities are accredited, but it is important to check Private Colleges – see REGISTERS below)

AS A STAND-ALONE COURSE

There are many courses offered which give you the skills to add to what you already have.

• End user computing or
• Event management or
• Autocad are good examples.

Look for Short Courses or Skills Courses, or Part-time courses

REGISTERS

To check whether a College is registered and a course is accredited, please check these registers:

http://www.dhet.gov.za/SitePages/DocRegisters.aspx

A: You have another chance at TVET colleges which have a 2^nd Semester in July.

Educational institutions divide their year into two, and some of them start a second academic year in July.

Phone your choice of TVET college to see if they have a 2^nd semester

PUBLIC TVET COLLEGES

https://careerplanet.co.za/training/tvet-colleges/

PRIVATE TVET COLLEGES

https://careerplanet.co.za/training/institutions-training-providers/private-colleges/

Things have moved on significantly from the days when the only credible qualification was a 3-year degree from a public university. Parents, schools and teachers should assist learners in their process of identifying everything offered on the higher educational buffet – including options in the private sector – before making one of the most important decisions they will ever make.

Private higher education is becoming the study route of choice for an increasing number of young South Africans, in line with international trends.

 This is because the public is becoming more educated about their options, with people increasingly understanding that public universities and private institutions are subject to the same oversight and regulation, which means that qualifications are of the same standing, regardless of whether they are achieved at a state-funded university or one of South Africa’s 120 private institutions (popularly referred to as private universities).

Private higher education institutions offer degree level qualifications in such diverse fields as professional accounting, business management, communication and law, education and computer science, as well as several exciting niche qualifications such as branding or game development at degree level. SA’s private institutions produce tens of thousands of top graduates each year, all the way to doctoral level.

The reasons for students opting to pursue their degree dreams at private institutions include the strong work-focus and support beyond academics, which make these graduates particularly popular among the top employers that seek them out because of their ability to make a meaningful contribution in the workplace from Day One.

Additionally, quality institutions offer smaller and more modern campuses, flexible and current curricula, innovative teaching and learning models, substantial student support, the whole student life experience and a strong focus on the individual that is rarely found in public universities.

MORE REASONS TO OPT FOR PRIVATE HET COLLEGE

• Not needing to relocate to a new city is easier on the pocket and a student can tackle varsity with their support system around them.
• With smaller campuses and classes, access to support and staff is vastly improved, as is interaction with fellow students.
• Because a large percentage of lecturers are not only academics but actively working in their industries, students get up close and personal with the real world of work and opportunities while still studying.
• As private higher education institutions receive no state subsidies, they are reliant on student fees, which means that students are treated as valued customers, and generally receive good service. Additionally, if they do not offer value for money and a credible, quality educational offering, they face having to close their doors.
• Many private institutions offer niche qualifications that are not available elsewhere and equip students for emerging careers such as game development.

For more comprehensive information and contact details of South African private higher learning institutions visit The Independent Institute of Education at www.iie.ac.za, or contact its respected brands – Vega, Varsity College, Rosebank College and The Business School at Varsity College – directly.

Source: The Complete South African Careers Guide

How to calculate your APS score:

• The APS system allocates point values to seven NSC subjects.
• Write down your relevant Grade 12 subjects and the levels you have obtained.
• Allocate points according to the table below.
• Add up the number of points you have scored for all seven subjects. If you have eight or more subjects, use Life Orientation plus your six best subjects to calculate your APS. Refer to the one on the website which calculates it for you.
• Compare your APS against the minimum APS required for the qualification for which you wish to apply.
• If your APS is lower than the direct admission requirement set for a specific qualification, refer to the testing band range to determine if your score falls within the range to be referred for an access assessment test.

Table credit: Nelson Mandela University

Example:

• First language (language of teaching and learning)  65%:  5 points
• Additional recognised language  71% = 6 points
• Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy  61% = 5 points
• Accounting  68% = 5 points
• History  81% = 7 points
• Geography  86% = 7 points
• Life Orientation  84% = 7 points

Total APS = 42

The NBT: National Benchmark Test

The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) assess academic readiness of first-year university students as a supplement to secondary school reports on learning achieved in content-specific courses.

Apart from having the right APS, the applicant must have the required subjects for the qualification. Applicants with the highest APS generally get preference but all applicants must still write a Benchmark test.

What is tested:

• Academic Literacy (AL),
• Quantitative Literacy (QL)
• Mathematics (MAT)

AL and QL are combined in the AQL test and written in a three hour morning session; the MAT is written in a three hour afternoon session. Both are administered under standardized testing conditions at sites across South Africa on designated ‘national’ test dates.

The NBTP reports results on a scale of 10-99 and by Benchmarks to better inform learners and universities about the level of academic support that may be required for successful completion of programmes. Results are also used by universities in course development, programme planning and placement decisions.

Understanding an Apprenticeship

• Apprenticeships allow unskilled individuals to train for a job in a specific sector. Apprenticeships are formal employment programs that can run anywhere from one year to six. These programs are usually very industry-specific and offer individuals that have a certain career goal in mind a way of receiving on-the-job training and qualifications.
• Apprenticeships are usually focused on physical training and employers offering these programmes might have strict rules as to performance expectations that have to be met before an apprentice is allowed to qualify.
• Generally, apprenticeships offer guaranteed employment solutions and if you have completed your apprenticeship, you might be required to work for the employer (who offered the course to you) for a set amount of time.

Understanding an Internship

• Although graduates might have a degree in hand, they might not have the skills and industry-specific knowledge they’ll need to make it out there in their line of work and this is why internships help bridge the gap.
• Internships are a way to help them gain experience in their industry of work. These programmes are specifically designed to help get students from a “theory mindset” to a hands-on approach in the workplace. They offer graduates the opportunity to put what they have learned to use outside of the university set-up.
• Some internships do not offer compensation for the experience interns are offered in exchange for their efforts, but there are quite a lot of paid internship programmes as well. Internships usually range from between a few weeks to a year, depending on the organisation’s structure and the industry.

Understanding a Learnership

• Learnership programmes are there to help students gain hands-on experience in their career of choice before graduating. These programmes are always related to specific occupations and fields of work.
• Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) manage Learnership programmes in South Africa, and as such, they’re the guys in charge of creating new Learnership programmes and making them available across the various industries.
• Note: Setas do not run the actual learnerships. These are done through companies and training providers.
• If you enroll in a Learnership programme, you will receive practical and theoretical teaching in your field of work. Once you have completed your Learnership, your qualification will be registered with the National Qualifications Framework and you’ll have a recognized qualification that you can use to help you secure employment after you have graduated.

Pic: Pexels

Choosing a university

Choosing a university involves a balancing act — weighing up where your chosen courses are offered, how good those faculties are, whether you can afford them and qualify for enrolment there, and the logistics involved in attending the chosen university. Factors to consider include:

How employable are its graduates?

Do your homework: ask recruitment agencies and leading enterprises in your chosen field for their views on graduates from the universities offering the course you’ve chosen. If possible, speak to students currently enrolled in the course as well as recent graduates from the course, to ask about the pros and cons of that particular university, faculty and course.

Will you be accepted?

Each university and each course has different acceptance criteria. It is important to determine well ahead of applying whether your grades are likely to get you accepted into the course you’d like to enroll in.  Universities use the Accumulative Point Score (APS) as well as marks in single subjects to decide on your application. APS adds all your marks together.

Attend open days 

This will help you to evaluate the environment. One size does not fit all in education. If you prefer small classes and one-on-one engagement with a lecturer, you will not flourish in an environment where 300 students crowd into each lecture. Assess the research labs, libraries, sports facilities and canteens. If sport, social activities, community service or cultural activities are important to you, determine whether these are available. Look at the accommodation you’d be living in and the transport infrastructure you’d be using. Assess whether student support such as career counselling and job placement is available. Consider whether the overall environment is really conducive to your style of learning.

Can you afford it?

While the priciest universities may be your first choice, harsh financial realities may force you to downgrade your expectations. Remember that in addition to the cost of enrolment and tuition, you will need accommodation, food, study resources, books and transport. It is unrealistic to sacrifice regular meals in a bid to pay study fees, or to attempt all-night bartending work to raise the necessary fees, since a lack of adequate nutrition and sleep will impact your results. Determine whether financial assistance is available and if you qualify. Consider whether lower-cost options such as accredited distance education, short courses or college instead of university will better meet your education needs.

Source: Mail&Guardian