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Joining the job hunt can seem like a mighty task – but it doesn’t have to be. Find out how this global German institute wants to help you with your search with their upcoming career expo.
Whether you’ve just graduated from school or if you’ve been in the working world for some time, here are some things you can do to help soothe rattled nerves and give you a calm and focused experience when exploring the career market:
Taking stock of your skills
The best way to figure out what career path might be right for you begins with knowing your strengths and weaknesses. This can be as simple as writing down your hard and soft skills – like your technical and practical knowledge, things you enjoy and are good at, as well as how you interact and collaborate with others.
Researching the career paths you’re interested in
Once you know what your strengths and skillset are – research the career paths you’re interested in. Find out what skills are needed for it to see if it aligns with your current skills or opens opportunities for you to upskill further. This will also help you to sift through careers that may be best suited for you and that ties together your interest and strengths.
Talking to professionals in those fields
If desktop research feels futile – talking to a person in your field is always an option to give you a real-time overview of what you can expect from the role you’re researching. To help you get in contact with relevant professionals – ask those you know if they know anyone in the fields you’re considering, or keep an eye out for career expos and open-day opportunities – this will allow you to build a trusted network from early on.
Exploring ways to shadow and volunteer in the job roles you’re most interested in
With networks forming and research underway, another way to really ensure a specific career decision is right for you is to consider shadowing the role for a short while. Reach out to companies or professionals in those fields to find out about potential job shadowing or volunteer work opportunities. This will allow you to get personal practical experience and insight into the role – and the ability to decide if the role really is the right fit for you.
Start your journey with Goethe-Institut
Thankfully, the journey to start your career is just around the corner. The Goethe-Institut of South Africa, a cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany and teaching people the German language in 98 countries worldwide wants to help you get a leg up in your job search.
They are inviting grade 10-12 students, graduates, qualified professionals, as well as German and non-German speakers to attend their career expo.
Set to take place on Saturday, 4 November between 10:00 and 15:00 at the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg, you’ll be able to connect and network with more than 35 German, Swiss, and Austrian organisations in SA.
Some of the businesses you can explore and get to know more about include household names like BMW, BOSCH, DHL, Red Cross, Mercedes Benz and more! And the benefits don’t end there – if you’re looking to work abroad, attendees also stand the chance to win a 2-week trip to Germany for a German course with Goethe-Institut – with flight tickets and accommodation covered.
What else can you expect at the expo?
Some other reasons to save the date and register to attend include:
- An informative panel discussion addressing the relevance of German for career opportunities in South Africa and possible synergies and collaborations between German and local organisations and the government,
- The panel will be moderated by Dr Samia and three expert guests from 12:30 to 13:45,
- Tasty food vendors,
- A photographer on site to help you take free professional profile photos for your CV or LinkedIn profile,
- More prizes are up for grabs on the day.
Don’t forget to save the date and find out more about how to register for the event HERE.
Or register on this form HERE.
This post was sponsored by Goethe-Institut and produced by Adspace Studio.
