5 Things You Can Do Now To Enhance Your CV

Taking great care in putting together your CV can have its benefits. We’re not only referring to the actual task of filling in your personal details and presenting your qualifications in a logical order… we are also referring to the things that you can do to enhance your CV, no matter where you are in your career! Here are 5 things that you can do to improve your CV… and that will set your CV apart from the rest.

Tip #1 – Community Service

Whether you are at school, college or university and even if you are already working, putting in the time for community service or to work as a volunteer is not only rewarding, but it also shows future employers that you like to take time out to do something for someone else.

Tip #2 – Work Experience

By gaining work experience you are showing initiative by engaging with the industry that you want to work in. Your future employer will see this as an advantage, because they will accept that you have experienced the working environment and that you do not have unrealistic expectations of the job.

Tip #3 – Get a hobby

Hobbies like photography, writing or even participating in a choir amongst others indicate that you enjoy a variety of skills and that you understand the importance of achieving balance in your life.

Tip #4 – Participate in sport

Much like having a hobby, sport indicates that you understand the importance of a healthy balanced lifestyle. It also assists with skills like hand-eye co-ordination and teamwork.

Tip #5 – Short courses

Short courses are an easy way to develop your skills in your current field of work or to develop a new set of skills that you will be able to apply immediately, once your course is completed. You get to complete these while you are still working, so you do not have to interrupt your work schedule in order to give yourself a head start! Short courses also show future employers that you are eager to continue learning.

Did you know…

Eduloan offer loans to suit your educational needs. We also have loan options that cater for specialist equipment for your course like textbooks, laptops and even tablets! If you are looking to further your career with a study loan, you can contact Eduloan and one of our consultants will be able to give you all the information you require to get the financial assistance. For more information or to speak to one of our Eduloan consultants, visit our website www.eduloan.co.za.

Inspirational Woman: We Talk To Totsie Memela-Khambule

This August we have been focusing on Women’s Month, and this week we speak to Totsie Memela-Khambule, the CEO of Eduloan. Totsie is involved with several other projects including being the chairperson of Memela Pratt and Associates, director of Cadiz, the leading merger and acquisitions firm in South Africa and director to International Partnerships for Microbiocides (IPM) – a research non-governmental organisation that specialises in HIV/AIDS prevention for women.

In her private capacity, Totsie mentors young leaders through the International Women’s Forum’s fellowship program and participates in forums that give disadvantaged communities opportunities.

Here is a snapshot of the five minutes we spent with Totsie:

Q: How did your education shape your future?

A: I grew up in a working class family, my mother was a domestic worker and my father was a gardener. My parents taught me that an education can change one’s life, that it will get me out of poverty and make me independent.

Q: Who is your inspiration?

A: My mother has always been a great inspiration to me. Although she never had a formal education, she always had an inquisitive mind, asking a lot of questions to find out how things work and what they are. My other inspiration is Osceola Macarthy, who saved a few pennies to give underprivileged people the opportunity to achieve more by establishing a scholarship fund for students of colour.

Q: What are some of the difficulties that you had to overcome to get to where you are?

A: Some of the difficulties includes thinking you are not good enough, doubting yourself and allowing yourself to think that your past defines your future. I had to learn that only you can define your future and not to overlook the present.

Q: You are involved with several projects – how do you find the inspiration to continue contributing to and influencing such a diverse range of projects and people?

A: Understanding the role of a leader is important, you have to realise that you have a bigger responsibility. Serving others is important, whether it is intellectual, physical or financial amongst others. You have to treat everyone in the same manner.

Q: What advice would you give South African youth?

A: Realise that you are not entitled to anything and that you have to think differently and independently. Have an inquiring mind. Give meaning to your life by having gratitude and giving of yourself and serving others.

“Maya Angelou said that although people might forget what you said, they will never forget how it made you feel.” Totsie Memela-Khambule, CEO of Eduloan.

Our Write Your Own Story winner - Inonge Malumo

We recently picked a winner in the Write Your Own Story competition. Inonge Malumo was selected as the winner, and this amazing mother-of-one simply blew us away with her entry!

In the competition, entrants receive a short paragraph which forms part of a story, and we asked our fans to complete the story and submit it to stand a chance of winning R7 500 towards their studies, or a Samsung Galaxy Tab valued at the same amount.

We caught up with Inonge to find out more about her skilful story-writing and which prize she would choose.

The story you wrote in our competition is simply amazing! It’s clear that you have a gift and passion for writing – where did your love for writing begin?

I think I have always had a love for words! I come from a different generation – I’m almost 40 – and I didn’t grow up with the distraction of cellphones and satellite TV. My parents passed on the love of reading and words to me, I loved primary school and at the age of eight I started writing stories and poems. All my writing has an element of truth to it and it all stems from a deep love of books from early on.

Do you write often?

I am working as a corporate writer, working in corporate communications - all my working life I have been writing! My desire has always been to be a children’s author, because I love kids & books.

What did you study?

I studied journalism at Rhodes, which led to my current career. I decided to go into broadcasting & communications, but finally settled into the corporate communications space.

How would you like to write your own story for your own future?

Writing makes me happy, but I would be happier and complete if given the opportunity to write for children – I believe it’s my calling & passion and I don’t want to waste much more time doing anything else.

I want my story to have some sort of value, because not everything we read today has value in it. I’d like people to be moved by my words and have something to take away with them from what I have written.

There are a lot of people who think they’ll accomplish their dreams at “some point” and then they leave this earth and that “some point” never comes. Talent is given to you for a reason - it might take a lifetime to achieve your dream, but you should make a start today and never stop trying!

You had a choice between a bursary and a Galaxy Tab – which one did you choose and why?

I initially chose the bursary because I wanted to enrol for a creative writing course. Unfortunately my Blackberry was stolen, so I decided to take the Samsung Galaxy tablet, to help me do research and work from home if I need to. It will definitely help bring stability into my life again. I also want to take my time to research which course is the best instead of rushing into a decision.

The tablet will also assist in enhancing my 9 year old daughters education and learning. She will be able to use it to assist in her school projects and homework, while I cook and clean and ultimately easing the pressure as I am a single parent.

See below for Inonge’s winning entry in the Write Your Own Story competition.

Themba could never understand why his colleagues complained so often. Break after break, he would sit listening to them, trying to avoid the conversation. If only they knew what it was to be without work! Like he was, until someone saw the potential in him and sponsored his artisanship, ensuring a better future for himself and his family. He still remembers the day it all began when…

He sat outside his nephew's school, waiting as usual for the little boy to come running out so they could walk home together. As he sat there, a lonesome piece of paper fluttered past, creating a sense of litter in the tidy environment. Themba picked it up and noticing it was relatively clean, pulled out the pencil from his back pocket and began to sketch a picture of five year-old Thulani, hoping to finish it before the school bell rang. As he sat sketching, the noise of his surroundings made him look up at the people around him there was Mama Sindi who sat frying legwinya, singing her church songs in a low, melodic voice. To the right was Sizwe who washed cars outside the school, perpetually joking with anyone who passed by and never without a smile on his sun-baked face.

Sizwe not only washed cars, he also fixed them and invariably some broken-down vehicle or other would be in the near vicinity, awaiting his attention.  To the left was the stray dog which roamed the area and seemed to like being around the school - perhaps hoping to catch a crumb or two from a child’s lunchbox or be thrown a scrap by Mama Sindi at the end of the day. Everyone called the dog Zozo, although no one knew why.  Themba sketched it all, becoming more and more fascinated as he recreated his surroundings on the paper, adding random characters who happened to walk by.

 A voice behind him suddenly broke his concentration, making him look up hurriedly.  A man stood there entranced, murmuring softly and reaching out for the piece of paper. Themba hesitantly handed it over, unsure what to say or think. A minute passed, or perhaps five minutes, and then the stranger handed the paper back and looked searchingly at Themba, who was now a little unsure what to make of the unexpected company.

 “Young man”, began the stranger, “do you realise how enormously talented you are? I have never seen such beautiful and compelling work. Who do you draw for, or are you a student artist?” Themba shuffled his feet nervously, unable to stop a smile from forming on his young face. He greeted the stranger politely before clearing his throat.

“No sir, I am just waiting to collect my sister’s son from school, I sometimes come too early and today have passed my time sketching what I see around me. I have completed my secondary schooling but I don’t work, although I would love to.”

The stranger looked at the paper again, whistled softly in wonderment, then reached into his back pocket and took out a card. “My name is Phil Matiya, and I’ve come to this school to speak to the headmaster about opening an art centre for these kids, I came to this school as a child and want to give back. I am now an art dealer and want to uplift my community by giving back to the people who raised me. And I want to give back to you, young man.”

Unsure what to say, Themba stood there and nodded shyly at the gentleman, who continued speaking. “Themba, you have a gift you should share with the world. If you can draw the day as you see it, with such talent and passion, then you can draw your way through life and make a name for yourself. You say you are looking for a job? You have one now young man. I want you to come to my arts and crafts centre, where I offer artisanship in various disciplines, including fine arts. Because that is what you are doing here young man; this is fine art!”

In the distance, the school bell rang and the shrieks of children could be heard. 

“I want to groom you - not into a township artist, but into a world-class, world-renowned artist. There are galleries in the world which need your talent on their walls. Are you ready to take this trip with me, are you ready to take your gift to the world?”

Phil slipped his card into Themba’s trembling hands. “Remember, a gift is never for one person alone. Come and see me at the address on that card - I will fully sponsor your artisanship and we will take your gift to the world.”

His eyes alive with excitement, Phil smiled broadly at Themba before walking off into the school in the direction of Principal Hlatshwayo’s office. Themba took out the card and gazed at it. Somehow, right there, he knew his life had changed forever.

In the spotlight: A part of our dedicated customer service team – Takalani

This week on our blog we interview one of Eduloan’s customer service agents, Takalani Tshamano. He’s the person who phones you within a few minutes of your leaving a query on our Facebook wall or tweeting us on Twitter. Efficient, friendly and professional, we wanted to put Takalani in the spotlight to show you who you’re dealing with and to talk about customer service as a worthwhile and rewarding career.

How long have you been working at Eduloan and what exactly is it that you do?

I started working for Eduloan on a temporary basis in October last year, I then joined the team full-time in March this year. My role is to assist clients who are looking for a study finance solutions. The kind of query differs from client to client.

Did you study further after Matric?

Yes, I studied further and received my degree in Economics. In addition to that I also studied towards a diploma and have a qualification in Business Management.

How important a role do you think customer service plays in the overall functioning of a company that deals with the public on a daily basis?

Customer services play a very important role, if not the most important role in a company that’s specifically customer-oriented. We’re there to inform and assist people who are in the dark about how exactly to apply for a loan. We have to walk them through the contracts they enter into and make sure everything crystal clear.

Do you think that being in a customer service role is rewarding as a career and why?

Yes I definitely think it’s rewarding. I think it’s rewarding because you aid the development of students.

How many people work in your team and how many people/queries do you deal with on an average day?

We’ve got 8 members in our team. The roles are divided; each person handles a specific type of query. I generally deal with about a hundred queries a day.

How important is it to work as a team in the customer service department?

It’s very important to work as a team as it’s not easy to deal with all queries - that’s why each team member focuses on a specific part of the loan application. The team handles outstanding documents requests, SMS queries, refunds, loan quotes and repayment calculations.

What advice would you have for anyone considering customer service as a career?

Well, my advice for anyone wanting to enter into customer services is that patience is a key factor. Other than that you have to be very diplomatic. You have to be able to sympathise with the client as a lot of them are in a tough spot.

What qualities would they have to possess in order to be successful at this type of job?

You would have to have a lot of patience and you should be willing to work with people. You should be concise and articulated. You need to be analytical and responsible when you answer queries because it’s very important to supply the correct info.

Finally, what is it like working at Eduloan? Do you believe that Eduloan makes a difference to the lives of ordinary South Africans?

I find it fulfilling to be a part of Eduloan. I’m proud to be working here as I believe we are contributing to an important aspect of South African people’s lives. Education is extremely important in society and Eduloan accepts its role of assisting in the upliftment of not only people but also of communities.

UJ stampede victim leaves a legacy of education and dedication

Last year in January, Gloria Sekwena was trying to register her son Kabelo for his first year in university. A nurse who lived in London, she had made the journey home to ensure that her son’s education would be taken care of. But in a tragic turn of events, a stampede that occurred outside the Bunting Road campus of the University of Johannesburg tragically took her life and left Kabelo without a mother.

In a swift response to the tragedy, the University of Johannesburg gave Kabelo a bursary for his tuition, and Eduloan assisted with his accommodation, textbook and food costs.

Eduloan caught up with Kabelo recently to see how he is getting along, and also to commemorate the positive contribution his mother made to his life.

As part of our Women’s Month blog posts, we couldn’t think of a more fitting woman to place in the spotlight than this selfless mother.

Eduloan: It’s been less than a year since you lost your mum – so the most important thing we want to ask you is how you are coping with her loss?

Kabelo: It hasn’t been easy, but I’m trying my best to cope. My father came back from overseas and is staying nearby so I see him every day, and my brother is in Pretoria, so I do have my family here to support me.

Eduloan: The fact that your mother travelled all the way back home just to make sure that you were enrolled in university shows what a high importance she placed on your education – as a role model, what other important values did she teach you?

Kabelo: Honesty was a big part of her life and what she tried to teach us. Her faith, determination and a good work ethic were also the values that she taught me. She did believe very much in education; she said education was important to open doors and find opportunities in life. She was a strong believer that studying would broaden our horizons.

Eduloan: We believe that you are studying Biomedical Technology – why did you choose this field of study and what are your plans for your career after you have finished studying?

Kabelo: Yes, I’ve always been interested in the medical sciences. My studies form part of a broad spectrum of medical sciences, such as genetics and haematology, which are the aspects of the course that I most enjoy partaking of. Ultimately, my dream is to work for an organisation like the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) in Atlanta, USA.

Eduloan: How are the studies going? How did you find your first year at UJ?

Kabelo: It’s been difficult, but I hope I’m doing ok! My finals are coming up soon and I think that I will get good results.

Eduloan: What do you believe could be done better in future to prevent problems arising from the large numbers of people trying to register for university?

Kabelo: I heard that next year they are planning to have a centralised application process, which I think will be better.

Eduloan: Do you have any words of wisdom for how the youth could appreciate their elders, and especially their mothers, more?

Kabelo: I’ve learnt that when you lose someone, you don’t notice how much of an impact they have on your life and how important they are until they are gone, and it becomes too late. So I would say respect your elders and appreciate them while you have the chance.

Fortunate Tshabalala – well on her way with Eduloan

Fortunate Tshabalala received a bursary from Eduloan in 2011 and 2012. A second-year student studying a BA in Geography at the University of Johannesburg, we wanted to catch up with Fortunate and find out how she’s doing with her studies.

We hear that you got excellent Matric results in 2010 – how would you compare school life to university? How are the studies going?

Yes, I got good results in Matric. I’m in second year now and the workload is quite a lot more than it was in High School. The work is challenging, it’s hard but not impossible to do. It’s definitely a lot more challenging! The standard of work that you have to deliver is also of a higher quality. I enjoy my studies and I also enjoy the challenge.

Why did you decide to study Geography & what do you hope to do with it in your career?

I’ve always had a love for Geography; since I was small I loved it. When I was in High School I decided that I wouldn’t be studying anything other than Geography. When I’m done with my degree I actually want to pursue a PHD. I aim to become a GI Specialist (Geographic Information Systems/Science).

How did you end up getting a bursary from Eduloan?

I got the bursary from Eduloan because I was the top performer in Matric. The headmaster of my high school contacted Eduloan and they came to meet me. The rest is history… Eduloan takes care of everything I need, from books, accommodation and all the fees involved with studying. It’s great not having to worry about it.

What advice would you give to the learners who are matriculating this year and hoping to study further next year?

Well my advice to all students is to work hard and stop procrastinating. That’s a really important point, stop procrastinating! If you start preparing for your exams now, then you won’t be at a loss for time. Time will be on your side and you can adequately prepare yourself for the challenges that lie ahead. Choosing a career path should be based on doing something that you love.