Internship Requirements Beyond Reach?
Nobesuthu Mahlangu
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Happy Sunday LinkedIn family, trust you well. It was a very tough week on my end but I am glad to have made it! Nothing excites me like church lately, anyone who attends church at Grace Bible Church (just curious)? Otherwise, let's get to today's gist.
This article was inspired by Sindy Mnguni . We have many people in South Africa who are the first members of their families to go to universities. It's disheartening to see 'owning a car' as a requirement for SOME internships. There are various factors at play that hinder people from accessing opportunities, including race, social class, language, gender, and citizenship. People are already facing challenges on multiple fronts, so let's remove the unnecessary barriers. I couldn't help but wonder if this requirement was simply adopted from more developed countries. Considering the high unemployment rates in South Africa, expecting a recent graduate to own a car is unrealistic.
Recruiters, I urge you to stand up for us in decision-making settings. You have a deep understanding of our struggles. Often, people are unaware of the hardships experienced on the ground. It is through your voices, as recruiters, that you can advocate for us and negotiate on our behalf. Financial constraints, coupled with petrol prices, make car ownership IMPOSSIBLE for unemployed graduates. Recently, a friend of mine contemplated applying for a position that required access to a car. When I asked her about this prerequisite, she mentioned the option of borrowing her parents' vehicle temporarily until she could afford her own. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have access to such privileges.
We face limitations on multiple fronts, especially as individuals from marginalized communities. Make things easier for this generation and the upcoming one.
Labour Relations Magnet
Nobesuthu Mahlangu
Child & Youth Development Specialist | Executive Function Coach | Empowering Learners Worldwide to Achieve Their Full Potential | MPhil Candidate in Communications & Media Studies
8 个月Some of these companies have requirements that are or feel out of reach for fresh graduates. Even for a simple internship, requirements are similar to senior employees. How do you except an intern to have cars or even 2 to 3 years of experiences when you kept on turning them down??
an aspiring human resource professional with a strong foundation in customer service, seeking an opportunity in the human resources field to gain the relevant experience and to contribute my communication skills
8 个月How can i have a car when Im fresh from university. I've always wonder why does a car have a significance when applying for a job, i mean it's not like am going to drive my job, as long as I can get to work on time, perform my task well and produce results. Why do I need a car???... These job requirements are just getting harder and harder to meet
CV Expert & LinkedIn Architect | HR Recruiter | Talent Acquisition Maestro | Elevating Careers, Enhancing Visibility, Matching Top Talent with Premier Opportunities
8 个月Hey Nobesuthu Mahlangu! ?? Thanks for sharing this, sis. I really appreciated reading your thoughts on this important issue. When I first brought up the car ownership question, I was curious to get others' perspectives on how realistic that requirement is for many interns and graduates. You absolutely hit the nail on the head by pointing out how it can unfairly limit opportunities.? To fellow recruiters, we need to be mindful of these kinds of barriers that are outside candidates' control. Not everyone has the same advantages, so it's on us to level the playing field as much as possible. I'm glad discussions like this are bringing more awareness to these types of systemic challenges.? As always, you're a star, Nobesuthu Mahlangu. Looking forward to more of these real talks.
Recent BA Integrated Organizational Communication graduate, seeking opportunities in Public Relations, Comms and Marketing. Left brain strategic thinker?? Right brain creative whizz ?? Whole brain communicator ???
8 个月Absolutely, it is concerning to see barriers like car ownership hindering access to opportunities, especially for us as we are already facing multiple challenges. This requirement seems out of touch with the realities of many South African graduates, particularly those from marginalized communities. Recruiters play a crucial role in advocating for inclusive practices and should actively work to remove such unnecessary barriers from job requirements. Even requiring experience from fresh graduates ??????♂?
Internships are different than learnerships. Being a intern may require a person to do some administrative tasks. I just wish that internships had a long timespan rather than a limited time only. It can either unskil the person or boost some confidence in the type of work being offered by a company