Critical skills report shows ICT and engineering professionals desperately needed in South Africa

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Critical skills report shows ICT and engineering professionals desperately needed in South Africa

South Africa is in desperate need of ICT and engineering skills, and the education system is not able to produce these skills fast enough.

This is one of the findings in the recently released Xpatweb 2019/2020 Critical Skills Survey report.

The survey was launched to provide input on the new draft list of critical skills which was expected to be released by Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in April 2020.

 

[borro]

Forgot to add diverse, bigots.

 

[randomcat]

We have ICT skilled people but some of them don't have degrees and people won't give them a chance because of it.

 

[Moosedrool]

We have ICT skilled people but some of them are white men and people won't give them a chance because of it.

FTFY

 

[randomcat]

FTFY

I'm not white and I'm still struggling to find a junior post/internship. However, I do think BEE is horseshit.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I'm not white and I'm still struggling to find a junior post/internship. However, I do think BEE is horseshit.

I feel your pain. It's been a while but I know how hard those early years are. What helped me was producing a short but to the point single page CV with a brief description of myself, my skills and qualifications and a 'how to contact me' - and send it to as many agents as you can and to as many HR departments of firms you'd like to work for.

 

[Hamster]

South Africa is in desperate need of ICT ... skills

Career Junction disagrees

 

[system32]

BEE, crime, corruption, economy chasing our best to Oz

 

[randomcat]

I feel your pain. It's been a while but I know how hard those early years are. What helped me was producing a short but to the point single page CV with a brief description of myself, my skills and qualifications and a 'how to contact me' - and send it to as many agents as you can and to as many HR departments of firms you'd like to work for.

Thanks man, will try and send it to HR departments also. It's a bit disheartening but I'm trying to stay optimistic.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Thanks man, will try and send it to HR departments also. It's a bit disheartening but I'm trying to stay optimistic.

Definitely stay optimistic. I worked for a knob. It was my first full time job so I didn't mind. I got a bonus in December with my salary and a dear john letter a month later. I was so deflated. I ended up paying for an hour's time to chat to a management consultant and get his take. Was the best $$ ever spent. He helped me get a brief and to-the-point CV together on a single page with a more comprehensive one available to anyone interested. That landed me my next job and within month one of that job, my preferred offer came through. It did take a few months but can-do attitude sells you more than anything.

 

[TelkomUseless]

Yea.. I see myself as a decent dev. 20 years experience. And holy ****... went for some interview(s) last year. WTF are people thinking with some of these test. You can't use a pc , but have to be a human compiler lol.

Yea.. there is not actually a shortage. Crazy idea of what they want.. and then not even talk pay.

 

[justplain]

Make me an offer then.

 

[hyperian]

We have ICT skilled people but some of them don't have degrees and people won't give them a chance because of it.

Definitely not. Some of the best people I have hired are self-taught with no degree. If you can demonstrate your ability and you're a nice person then a degree doesn't matter as much, if at all. To contextualise that opinion, I have a Masters degree in Computer Science. I always look at the top of someone's resume to see what their recent experience is and how well they can explain how they contributed. That's what catches my eye, and a formal qualification is always a bonus but certainly not a requirement to me.

Of course the challenge is in trying to find an entry point into the industry with no experience and no qualification, but that's not uncommon for most out there.

 

[konfab]

Of course the challenge is in trying to find an entry point into the industry with no experience and no qualification, but that's not uncommon for most out there.

You can thank South African labour laws for that. The law has made it prohibitively risky to hire people.

 

[hyperian]

You can thank South African labour laws for that. The law has made it prohibitively risky to hire people.

I wish it was easier to take advantage of the SETA incentives for internships. Some companies have really good structures in place to leverage these but for smaller groups the admin and back-and-forth to try recoup that cash is a major distraction.

 

[jackshiels]

Definitely stay optimistic. I worked for a knob. It was my first full time job so I didn't mind. I got a bonus in December with my salary and a dear john letter a month later. I was so deflated. I ended up paying for an hour's time to chat to a management consultant and get his take. Was the best $$ ever spent. He helped me get a brief and to-the-point CV together on a single page with a more comprehensive one available to anyone interested. That landed me my next job and within month one of that job, my preferred offer came through. It did take a few months but can-do attitude sells you more than anything.

There is definitely a lot of opportunity in SA ICT sector if you approach it correctly. Soft skills are underrated.

 

[cguy]

While this is bad news for South African companies, it is excellent news for local engineers and ICT professionals.

The strong demand for their skills means they have good job prospects and can demand higher salaries than their colleagues.

Good news! While the traffic on all roads out of New Orleans are crawling due to the approaching Hurricane Katrina, the roads into the city are free and clear!