What will I need to qualify for a loan from Eduloan? (Infographic)

Let’s Take a Look at FET Colleges as an Option to Further Your Studies

As the Matric results are released, many students will be waiting for their letter of acceptance to their preferred university, college or technicon. For many students, late acceptance and last-minute applications are a reality. The Minister of Higher Education and Training recently presented a white paper announcing plans for more opportunities for South African youth.

The facts…

South Africa currently has 25 universities, 50 FET colleges and 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) that offer approximately 396 449 opportunities. The Higher Education and Training department is hoping to open a further 12 FET colleges to provide even more opportunities to students who want to choose a practical and work-ready solution. This is all part of the department’s plan to increase the number of enrollments to FET colleges from 500 000 to 2.5 million.

In the past two years, more and more students have been choosing FET colleges. FET courses are career oriented and offer students an academic as well as a practical study experience.

Right, more people are enrolling at an FET college, but why should I?

FET colleges offer a variety of industry-related courses that can help you get a job (so you can study to become something specific – like a builder, hairdresser or a mechanic). If you enjoy practical learning, FET colleges are great, as they have an offer great hands-on practical training to support your academic learning.

You can read our blog that answered six questions about FET colleges, you can contact Eduloan as soon as you have decided which FETcollege you would like to study at and one of our consultants will be able to give you all the information you require to get the financial assistance to realize your dream. For more information or to speak to one of our Eduloan consultants, visit our website www.eduloan.co.za.

Year of The Artisan &Skills-Based Education: How To Become A Builder

Whether you want to assist in building a community or whether you enjoy working with your hands, this month we take a look at what it takes to become a builder. A builder is responsible for several different jobs surrounding buildings and construction and often assumes the position of contractor during a project. Being a builder has several benefits, although it often demands hard physical work. As a builder, you can be self-employed or you can work for a construction or development company.

As a builder, you are responsible for a variety of things which include:

·         Working with the architect to build according to specifications

·         Planning and buying the relevant building equipment and material

·         Managing several contactors (like tilers or electricians)

·         Understanding the relevant building laws and regulations

·         Managing a team of builders to ensure that the project is completed on time and according to plan

·         Understanding how to accurately and safely operate a variety of equipment associated with the building process.

If you…

·         enjoy working outdoors

·         are skilled and enjoy working with your hands

·         enjoy being accurate

·         have a fine eye for detail

·         have a steady hand

·         enjoy working with others

… then you could be a perfect candidate to become a builder!

Training is a very important part of building, mainly because there are important safety regulations to adhere to during the building process to ensure that buildings are safe for occupation and that they will not be affected by the elements (like wind and rain). If you want to be a builder, it is suggested that you get formal training. It is always an advantage to be able to supply a future employer with certificates and paperwork to prove that you are skilled for the job.

There are several colleges that teach building subjects – you can confirm with the Construction Engineering Training Authority (CETA) whether your college or course is certified. If a course is CETA accredited it means that they comply with the minimum industry standards. This is a good course to choose and you know that your training will be of good quality and your certificate valid.

You can contact Eduloan as soon as you have decided which school or training college you would like to study at and one of our consultants will be able to give you all the information you require to get the financial assistance you need to realise your dream of becoming a builder. Keep in mind that we also offer loans for all your study equipment – so you do not have to worry about having to buy a level, hardhat or drafting table. For more information or to speak to one of our Eduloan consultants, visit our website www.eduloan.co.za.

Post-Study Financial Freedom – Why Is It So Important?

Whether you are thinking about applying for a study loan, in the process of your loan application or whether you have already committed to a study loan, the monthly repayments would most definitely play a role in your budgeting and planning. At Eduloan we ensure that your study loan is paid off by the time you complete your studies, but why is this so important?

Lowering Your Debt To Income Ratio (making sure your debt is as small as possible in relation to your income and does not have a large effect on your budget)

When you start working, it is important to plan your budget according to your income (how much you earn). When your study loan is paid off, you have one less debt to worry about when you allocate money to your living costs.

Having some extra money available at the end of the month

It is always a good idea to save for emergencies. If your study loan is paid off by the time you complete your studies, you can start saving money for those emergencies, a new car, a house and other expenses.

Planning for the future

It is very important to set yourself financial goals. A study loan is often the first financial commitment that many young people make. After your studies, you might want to buy a car, a house, take out annuities, set money aside for retirement and preparing for your own children’s futures could be some of the goals that you might have to set yourself.

By paying off your study loan by the time you complete your studies, you free yourself from that financial commitment. You can calculate your budget with our budget calculator and then view our quick-reference table to see what your installments will be. Visit www.eduloan.co.za today and contact us to find out how you can benefit from our study loan options.

10 Ways Your Education Equips You For The Working World

They always say that every bit helps, but what does school, college and university actually offer your career? Below we take a look at 10 ways your education can get you ready for the working world:

One

Writing skills is something you get to work on every day at school, university or college. Whether you learn basic writing etiquette, how to write different types of documents or how to adjust your tone of voice, this skill will be one you will use well beyond the deadline for you 5 000 word essay.

Two

Speaking skills are important in addressing clients or suppliers and colleagues one-on-one or even speaking to a group of people. It is very important to keep in mind what you discuss, how you discuss it and how you interact with others, depending on the situation. Being able to converse in a variety of situations will help you in any industry!

Three

Group work and other projects where you have to work in teams are important for the “real world”, mainly because you will have to deal with a range of different personalities and types of people in your day-to-day life.

Four

Problem solving is an integrated part of your curriculum from preschool. In the beginning you are asked to place a shape in its allocated space or to build things with building blocks. When you get a bit older, you have a complex mathematics equation in algebra as well as other challenges such as completing something according to a ‘brief’. The ability to problem solve is applied to your day-to-day life, but is even more valuable in the workplace.

Five

Every time you participate in class or if you choose a topic for a project, you learn to take initiative. Employers love candidates who show initiative, come up with new ideas and who can track their activities throughout a project.

Six

Throughout your studies, you will be faced with deadlines. Some of them will be for larger projects that will allow you more time to meet the deadline and some tasks will have to occur in a much shorter time frame  You might have more than one subject and that means multiple deadlines. Add your extramural activities like sport, hanging out with family and friends and other commitments and you have tons of deadlines to juggle. Time management is a very important element of the working world… so start focusing on this as soon as possible, because missing a deadline in the work environment might have larger penalties than a deduction of 5% off your assignment.

Seven

Every time you choose not to copy your friend’s work or just taking information off the Internet, you choose integrity. Honesty and integrity are highly regarded values when employees look for suitable candidates.

Eight

Often your teacher will choose not to keep an eye on you, allowing you to take responsibility for your actions and for the projects that you have to do. This is to teach you responsibility. As you grow, you might not have someone available to take the responsibility on your behalf, to make decisions or to own up to problems when they occur.

Nine

By engaging in a variety of activities, you learn to develop different skills. Even if you are not sporty, partaking in sport will assist you in developing skills like hand-eye co-ordination or teamwork where as art might inspire you to get creative. By engaging in a variety of activities, you can remain stimulated and it will allow you to keep on growing your skills set.

Ten

The knowledge you learn at school, college and university will assist you directly in approaching your industry. If you are studying towards becoming an artisan, the skills that you learn are directly transferrable in the working world. Don’t discard your studies, as they can empower you to achieve even more!

Eduloan has a solution for full-time and part-time students and even offer you the opportunity to deduct your fixed monthly repayments from your salary. For more information and to speak to one of our Eduloan consultants, visit our website (www.eduloan.co.za), like our page on Facebook         (www.facebook.com/EduloanSA) and follow us on Twitter (@EduloanSA).

Here are four tips for making study or career decisions

·       Identify career opportunities that suit your interests

·       Evaluate your skills and strengths

·       Research the prerequisites of your chosen career (do you need science or biology or do you need a certain qualification to make sure that you have the knowledge to practice in your field?)

·       Constantly develop skills and experience

5 Reasons Work Experience Can Give You A Head Start

Whether you are in school or still busy with your full-time studies, work experience is a term that might cross your path at some stage. Many schools, colleges and universities encourage students to commit to work experience… but what is all the fuss about? It might be cutting into your holidays or keeping you from going on a trip with friends, but the truth is that work experience can be exactly what you need to give yourself a head start. This week, we look at 5 reasons why you should sign up for work experience:

Reason #1 - Getting direction

Not too sure what industry you would like to work in? Work experience can give you the opportunity to sample different occupations and different industries. By committing to different kinds of work experience opportunities, you can sample the different working environments, assessing which one you enjoy most and which environments unlocks most of your potential!

Reason #2 – Get in touch with the real world

So you’ve already decided which industry you want to work in and perhaps even what job you would like to have… but are you ready for the daily demands? Every job has its challenges, and work experience allows you to get a feel for the environment you will be working in. Whether you have to stand all day, work in an open plan office or whether you have to do all or most of that dreaded administration, there are a host of hidden daily activities that might not be include in your college or university curriculum. Take time to do a couple of days’ work to experience and get a feel for the day-to-day activities to make sure you know exactly what you are in for!

Reason #3 –Identify your key strengths

By working at a company, in your chosen field, you will quickly learn where you core strengths are. Perhaps you are really good with people, or your creative eye can help you add a little more value to your temporary job-description. By identifying you key strengths, you can focus on these to ensure that you position yourself so that you can perform to the best of your abilities!

Reason #4 – Getting a foot in the door

More often than not, who you know is almost as important and what you know. If you can prove to a company that you have the potential, they might keep you in mind when they look to hire juniors at the company. Get to know and understand your industry – it is as important as studying for that degree or diploma!

Reason #5 –You’ve got the power!

When an employer takes a look at your CV, they often look beyond your education and qualifications. Extramural activities, community service and work experience are small things you can list on your CV that will have a great effect. Work experience proves that you took initiative, that you are willing to put in the hours and that you have a better understanding of the working-environment. Make sure that the work experience is related to the industry that you are applying to!

These are just a couple of reasons we think you should pick up the phone or send that email to make contact with a company in your chosen industry. Tell us about your work experience? Comment below and let us hear your story.Whether you are in school or still busy with your full-time studies, work experience is a term that might cross your path at some stage. Many schools, colleges and universities encourage students to commit to work experience… but what is all the fuss about? It might be cutting into your holidays or keeping you from going on a trip with friends, but the truth is that work experience can be exactly what you need to give yourself a head start. This week, we look at 5 reasons why you should sign up for work experience:

Reason #1 - Getting direction

Not too sure what industry you would like to work in? Work experience can give you the opportunity to sample different occupations and different industries. By committing to different kinds of work experience opportunities, you can sample the different working environments, assessing which one you enjoy most and which environments unlocks most of your potential!

Reason #2 – Get in touch with the real world

So you’ve already decided which industry you want to work in and perhaps even what job you would like to have… but are you ready for the daily demands? Every job has its challenges, and work experience allows you to get a feel for the environment you will be working in. Whether you have to stand all day, work in an open plan office or whether you have to do all or most of that dreaded administration, there are a host of hidden daily activities that might not be include in your college or university curriculum. Take time to do a couple of days’ work to experience and get a feel for the day-to-day activities to make sure you know exactly what you are in for!

Reason #3 –Identify your key strengths

By working at a company, in your chosen field, you will quickly learn where you core strengths are. Perhaps you are really good with people, or your creative eye can help you add a little more value to your temporary job-description. By identifying you key strengths, you can focus on these to ensure that you position yourself so that you can perform to the best of your abilities!

Reason #4 – Getting a foot in the door

More often than not, who you know is almost as important and what you know. If you can prove to a company that you have the potential, they might keep you in mind when they look to hire juniors at the company. Get to know and understand your industry – it is as important as studying for that degree or diploma!

Reason #5 –You’ve got the power!

When an employer takes a look at your CV, they often look beyond your education and qualifications. Extramural activities, community service and work experience are small things you can list on your CV that will have a great effect. Work experience proves that you took initiative, that you are willing to put in the hours and that you have a better understanding of the working-environment. Make sure that the work experience is related to the industry that you are applying to!

These are just a couple of reasons we think you should pick up the phone or send that email to make contact with a company in your chosen industry. Tell us about your work experience? Comment below and let us hear your story.