Career Vs Education: 5 Important Things Every Employee Needs To Know
When it comes to finding a job and growing a career in South Africa, it’s safe to say that most employees find it challenging to say the least. Apart from the regular public service strikes which involve the majority of the country, the high inflation rates which seem to increase far more frequent than what’s considered “normal”, and the number of times Universities or colleges have had to close their doors due to the threat of being burnt down, South African employees tend to struggle a tad bit more when it comes to climbing the corporate ladder compared to our neighbours.
As an employee residing in South Africa, there are a few valid, yet important things to keep in mind throughout your career lifetime.
1. You don’t have to spend a fortune on education
Luckily for us, online education has become more popular due to its affordability factor, which means you’re still able to attend a reputable online college and receive a certificate or diploma based on your chosen study path without having to break the bank. This poses many advantages for working class folks since disposable funds are quite low for the average household and study fees at a traditional institution can be quite unaffordable for most.
Not only does this open the doors for many employees who would like to further their education on a budget, it also gives you the opportunity to make a choice about whether you’d want to do so in the first place.
Need an affordable study option? Choose from various online short courses.
2. You do, however, need to regularly improve your skills
That being said, you can’t afford to keep your job and expect to be promoted without showing your employer that you’re willing to put in the effort to improve your skills in the first place. Sadly, with an unemployment rate just shy of 28%, there are plenty of individuals who’d want your job if you don’t want it badly enough. Thus, in order to stay on top of your game and be in the position where you’re able to ask for a raise, you need to be willing to improve your skills on a regular basis.
How can you do that? By choosing an affordable and convenient online course to complete after hours or on the weekends.
3. You always need to have a backup plan
Regardless of where you are in the world, your job is never guaranteed. Anything can happen in the blink of an eye. You may be unable to do your current job well enough for them to be in a position to keep you employed. Perhaps the company faces bankruptcy – leaving you without a job the next day, which is why it’s extremely important to have a backup plan for “in case”.
Whether you choose to take out insurance or learn a different type of skill which involves a different part of your body, it’s absolutely crucial to have a skill where you’re able to do manual labour and another job title which involves using your mind.
How would you go about acquiring various skills? By enrolling in part-time online courses to complete in your spare time.
4. You have to start at the bottom to earn respect
Unfortunately, many individuals want to skip the ladder completely and end up at the top by using the elevator, expecting everyone else to respect their journey. Sadly, that won’t earn you the type of respect you probably deserve for the hard work you put in order to be in that position in the first place. Remember, you’re not going to appreciate having to answer to someone who doesn’t have your type of experience, so it shouldn’t be something you expect from anyone else.
5. You can’t expect to be treated well if you don’t initiate it
Although you should, it’s never guaranteed. Unfortunately, in today’s world, people have less time to spend on relationships and a far greater need to make more money in shorter amounts of time. This leads to the neglect of human relationships. In a business setting, you have to be able to stand up for yourself and teach people how you’d want to be treated, approaching the situation with respect for those you’re trying to “teach”.
Remember, most people treat you the way you allow them to – particularly in a setting where jobs are few and far in between and jobless individuals are in abundance.
Improve your skills and add value to your CV by enrolling in any of our online courses from WebCollege. Whether you’re in search of an affordable study option or looking for a more convenient way to improve your skills, we’re here to ensure that you’re able to study from anywhere on any mobile device. Contact us.