Graduates register on jobs database

[caption id="attachment_240139" align="alignright" width="404"] Mayor Athol Trollip speaks at a Nelson Mandela Bay metro meeting at the Gelvandale Community Hall, approaching unemployed graduates about their struggles.
Picture: Werner Hills[/caption]

Close to 2 000 young graduates have already registered on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s new database in an effort to access job opportunities. Mayor Athol Trollip has spoken in four packed community halls since February 13 to promote it.

PROFILE: JOB SEEKERS

As part of her studies, she completed an internship at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality speaker’s office.

“The contract ended in January, because they extended it past the [usual] 18 months,” Mfazwe said.

As for earning money while she continues her job search, Mfazwe says she relies on her musical talent.

“I’m a vocalist for a group called Trumpets of Glory, and we are hoping to record our first album this year.”

“There are no jobs in Port Elizabeth,” the KwaMagxaki resident said.

“The government should provide more jobs, especially in the tourism industry.”

Cwili said she had worked a number of parttime jobs to make ends meet while she was studying.

“I’ve worked part-time as a chef, then I worked in a local guesthouse,” she said.

“Now I’m doing stocktaking at [stores belonging to] the Edcon group.”

[caption id="attachment_240130" align="alignright" width="249"] Chad Engel[/caption]

Despite being a qualified professional in information technology, Chad Engel is still dependent on part-time jobs more than three years after finishing his studies.

Engel, 24, has been looking for work since finishing his higher certificate in business IT at CTI.

Like many other hopefuls, Engel attended the mayor’s public meeting in Gelvandale earlier this week to throw his hat in the ring for future opportunities.

“I didn’t think it would be so hard to find work in IT,” Engel, who lives in Summerstrand, said.

“I finished studying in 2014 and want to go back to finish my degree next year.”

In the meantime, he has been earning his keep through a series of part-time jobs.

“I work at a DVD rental store and in my spare time I repair computers, do some coding for websites and tutor students from Nelson Mandela University,” he said.

“It’s been hard to find work though. I’ve been dropping off CVs and applying for jobs online, but I don’t hear back.” – Odette Parfitt

[caption id="attachment_240131" align="alignright" width="249"] Marcelle Davies[/caption]

If his luck does not change soon, West End resident Marcelle Davies may not be able to graduate from university this year.

After searching for months, Davies, 23, attended the public meeting in Gelvandale earlier this week in hope of finding a training contract with a local civil engineering company.

Davies, who is in his final year of his civil engineering diploma studies at Nelson Mandela University, fears the worst if he does not find work soon.

“In our third year, we have to gain practical workplace experience, with a logbook to tick off certain tasks we’ve completed,” he said.

Without this training, he cannot complete his course.

“I’m worried and I don’t know what to do. At least 10 of my classmates are in the same boat, and others who have graduated already can’t find work either.

“I’ve been applying everywhere since last June, and I was only invited for one interview in January, though I haven’t had any feedback since.”