Graduate Learnerships, Internships and Apprenticeships in South Africa

Everything You Need to Know About Graduate Learnerships, Internships and Apprenticeships in South Africa

The final stages of University are an exciting time – and they’re also fraught with uncertainty. With all the papers and exams you have to write, it’s easy to forget about what happens afterwards. Have you made plans for your next step? Have you applied to any graduate programmes like learnerships, internships and apprenticeships in South Africa?

If not, it’s high time you did! Here’s everything you need to know about graduate learnerships, internships and apprenticeships in South Africa, including why they might be right for you – no matter what career path you want to pursue.

What is a learnership?

A learnership is a form of training provided by an employer as part of an apprenticeship. A learnership allows you to do both paid work and study at once—you’re learning on the job while also completing your studies. That’s why it’s so important that you find an industry that matches your career goals.

For example, if you want to become a doctor, don’t choose an engineering learnership. But if you want to start your own business one day, engineering might be just what you need.

What’s the difference between an internship and an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship program is meant to be a long-term strategic employment plan. When you are hiring an apprentice you are hiring on a full-time employee that you intend on keeping for the long haul. Initially, the apprentice may only be working part-time hours while they are attending school, but once they have completed their apprenticeship program, they will be a full-time employee for you.

On the flip side, an internship is typically shorter term and may only last a few months. There are scenarios where interns are later hired on as full-time employees, but that is not the intent at the start of the internship program. Typically interns come in to complete a certain length of time or project for an employer and then each party goes their separate ways.

When are you eligible for a learnership?

If you’re a recent graduate from a recognised institution, you may be eligible for a learnership. These short-term work placements offer hands-on experience in an industry or company. It is common for learnership programmes to run for one year – although many are shorter – with students moving onto internships once they complete their learner period.

Although it varies by employer, most learnerships require that you are available full-time during your placement. That said, there are some companies that allow part-time work during your programme.

How do I choose which programme is best for me?

The first step when choosing a graduate programme is figuring out what your career goals are. Start with a blank page: jot down all of your professional goals—most importantly, what you want to be doing next year, five years from now and 10 years from now. From there you can start narrowing things down.

Does it matter which industry I choose?

If you have a clear understanding of your skills, interests, personality and motivation (SOIPM), it will be easier to determine which industry would best suit your interests. That said, don’t choose an industry just because it looks popular or lucrative—the grass isn’t always greener.

Think about what really drives you: passion trumps money every time. If you find yourself filled with dread at the mere thought of going into work each morning, then it might not be worth staying in that industry.

Once I’m selected as part of a graduate programme, what can I expect from my employer?

The main responsibility of your employer during a graduate programme is to give you training so that you’re equipped with all of the skills you need by their side once you’ve finished your studies. It is important that they do exactly that. If a graduate programme isn’t completely hands-on from start to finish, it could be a red flag.

Where can I find employers offering great job opportunities with excellent benefits packages?

There are hundreds of companies offering graduate programmes from the link below– you can filter your search by industry, location and whether you’re looking for a learnership/internship or apprenticeship.

Interested applicants should:

Click here for the latest Learnerships / Internships / Apprenticeships

or click on the filtered graduate programmes below for more info

1. Learnerships / Traineeships

2. Internships

3. Apprenticeships