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pASSIONATE ABOUT PEOPLE AND EDUCATION

Saun ,I love my business. The Hill, JHB. 14/8/9. PHOTOGRAPH: ALON SKUY
Saun ,I love my business. The Hill, JHB. 14/8/9. PHOTOGRAPH: ALON SKUY

WHAT does a day in the life of a skills development specialist entail?

WHAT does a day in the life of a skills development specialist entail?

It depends on the work at hand. I n a management role I would the smooth implementation of training projects ranging from maintaining the administration documentation to conducting actual site visits to specific training sites.

The exciting part is interacting with the stakeholders of training projects and ensuring the correct implementation of the training programme, meeting the beneficiaries of training and motivating them to aspire to greater heights in their field of study.

Why did you decide onthis career?

I come from an educator background and have always been involved in education. Working with people in education-training is my passion.

From being a qualified educator I moved into the training environment as a project manager. At present I am a director of my own company, Integra Training, which specialises in ABET training, conducting training audits and outsourced project management.

How did you get intothis career?

From an early age I had a keen interest to be an educator. To see people progress through skills development is something I am passionate about.

What's challenging about the job?

Dealing with people from diverse backgrounds on a daily basis. You have to understand their differences and be sensitive to their varying needs.

There is also a huge lack of funding to reach all needy training projects, which is a huge challenge.

What do you enjoy the most about being a skills development specialist?

I enjoy dealing with people at all levels and making a difference in their lives with the training we supply.

It is hugely satisfying to be part of the upliftment of our society through skills development. Education is the key to a better South Africa.

What type of person will make a success of this position?

To be successful you have to have a passion for people. To be motivated to seek the best results at all times is imperative.

You also have to be a visionary and make sound decisions under pressure. Meticulous administration skills are key in an environment where effective documentation and record keeping is vital.

What subjects do you need to pass in high school to be able to study towards this career?

No specific subjects are required since the training environment is quite diversified. But choose the subjects you enjoy the most.

What does one study at tertiary level to be able to get into this career?

There are various options, depending on the area of skills development you wish to be part of. A tertiary qualification in education would be an advantage.

What growth prospects are there for this career?

The prospects are vast since there is a huge commitment from the government for skills development.

The opportunities are many and diverse and the growth of the sector is quite substantial.

What career opportunities exist for a skills development specialist?

There are numerous career opportunities within skills development. We are well into the skills development revolution in our country and many opportunities exist within companies and the government.

Learnerships, short skills programmes and related training have to be managed and implemented against quality frameworks. Training audits have to be conducted to ensure quality processes are followed.

Quality reporting within the training processes is also integral to the success of training projects. Within all the above numerous career opportunities exist - from administrators, data capturers, project managers to training managers, to name just a few.

What is the starting salary for a skills development specialist?

Dependent on qualifications, experience gained and the specifications of the role, salaries could range from R300000 a year.

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