This document discusses choosing a career path in South Africa. It emphasizes the importance of education for improving the economy and quality of life as South Africa has high illiteracy rates. It recommends defining career goals, understanding your skills, interests and values through self-reflection to help choose an appropriate course of study. The document also lists relevant transferable skills and possible career opportunities including management, human resources, financial management and computer-related courses offered at Boland College Paarl Campus.
2. HOW TO CHOOSE A CAREER
• Importance of education in S.A &
• Skills needed
• Defining Your Career Objectives
• Understanding Yourself
• Possible opportunities
• Choosing a course
3. IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN S.A
• Education is important in S.A in order to boost our economy
and improve the quality of our lives. S.A has a high number of
illiteracy in the world, it is ranked 136 out of 205 countries in
terms of the number of people who are 15 and older who are
illiterate. Having said this, research shows that more than 50 %
of South Africans live below the poverty line &10% live in
extreme poverty, on less than R15.85 per day.
• In order to eradicate illiteracy, poverty & the social illnesses of
our country we need to be educated.
4. IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN S.A
• We might not be able to make a change in our S.A but if you as
an individual make that decision to commit to life long learning
and self development by so doing improve the environment or
social space we occupy.
• Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the
acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits.
Therefore having a Grade 12 or a diploma or a degree is not
enough, we need to engage in contitnuous professional
development.
5. RELEVANT SKILLS
• Important transferable skills to note:
• Communication
• Organizational
• Administration
• Strong interpersonal skills including assertiveness and self-
motivation
• Personal integrity & resilience
6. DEFINING YOUR CAREER OBJECTIVES
• It is important to have career goals e.g from now where do you see
yourself in five years time? What do you want to achieve?
• What are your goals in life? Long term & short term goals?
• Set yourself specific, measurable, attainable, realistic & time bound
goals.
• I know this can be difficult, this is where you start…..
7. UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF
• When deciding which course to enroll for its important to
understand who you are by doing self exploration. (online
tests, family & friends
What personality type do you have?
What are your interests?
What are your values?
What are your abilities?
8. POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES
• Do research about institutions that are available for you to
study & the courses provided in those institutions. Look at each
course and determine the personality/character needed for the
particular course.
• Match available course against your own values, interest,
abilities & personality. The course that you choose should
match with the kind of person you are, your career need to
compliment you. We want the right people in the right job for
productivity, good service & job satisfaction.
9. POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES
• At Boland College Paarl Campus we have the following course
available part time and short courses:
Management assistant
Human resources
Financial management
Computer practice & pastel