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MENTORSHIP OF BURSARY CANDIDATES

– A FRESH CANVAS

Jacquie Bhana, Coach, experienced as well as with a diverse group of candidates,
Mentor and Counsellor institutional knowledge. employers have the luxury
of selecting those who best
Currently I work with a
round the number of bursary students fit the organisation’s goals and
beginning values. Those who do not join
A of each as mentees and have had some the organisation have had the
year, students start great insights into this process. benefit of work experience
I have worked to enable my
their university mentees to have clear direction, and are more employable.
careers, which focus and achieve quantifiable 2. Certain life skills and
provides success in the businesses they are business skills can be
a great working. I have assisted them developed during the
opportunity to take ownership of their roles,
for students’ university studies,
organisations and encouraged them to learn so that transition into the
and develop into the people they
to reflect on their young talent would like to be. Within the business world is much
pools. easier, and candidates will be
organisations they are employed, more productive and effective
I have focused on nurturing on appointment. Skills such
Many organisations focus them to become effective,
mainly on the recruitment efficient, happy and productive as business skills, presentation
of graduates OVER bursary contributors to business success. skills, building confidence,
students. However, there is work ethic, business
enormous benefit in recruiting Underprivileged schools are a writing and communication
students who are entering great place to recruit potential are all examples of skills
university, straight from school, bursars. Businesses that include that are essential in the world
and sponsoring their bursaries. these schools in their strategy of business. I have had inclined to engage with investment is huge, and this
This approach must be viewed as will find that there are a number interesting conversations business colleagues and strategy helps to build a solid
a business imperative, as a way of of excellent students with much with mentees on topics socialise with them. They are business model of introducing
re-imagining their future teams, potential. I currently work with a ranging from relationships, far less encumbered by the new employees to a long term,
and not as a corporate social number of such students and they to mental health and dressing past and are more robust at successful and structured
investment intervention. have proven to be hard working, appropriately. interpersonal communication capability building process that
striving to make it against all 3. Students have a fresh
There are two ways of looking at the odds. These students are than the older workforce. adds value to the business.
the benefits of such a programme: hungry for knowledge. They perspective and are more 6. They usually have great The end result of this innovative
confident about sharing
■ Firstly, funding bursaries goes a possess certain life skills that ideas around innovation, as technology skills, which will approach to bursary students is
long way to assist in addressing students from more privileged they have not yet been go a long way towards a vibrant, robust and exciting
the countrywide problems of backgrounds do not always socialised and have not building overall technology programme with a great talent
student funding; and possess, such as problem solving developed early fears of use and innovation in pool from which to select the best
■ Secondly, companies can and critical thinking. strictly conforming and organisations. candidates. 
recruit the best students, In addition, these students fitting into the business. One part of this strategy that For more information
each of whom can be seen as a and their communities have a 4. They are still in a competitive worked extremely well in one of C: +27 83 386 8343
‘fresh canvas’, ready to be strong loyalty to the brand of the environment at tertiary the businesses that I partner with, E: info@JacquieBhana.co.za
taught workplace processes organisation that sponsors them. institutions and it is a great was the complete involvement W: www.jacquiebhana.co.za
and ways of working, early in This loyalty helps with the future time to build on ideas at by the leadership team in
their careers. recruitment of bursary students, the recruitment, induction,
and as such, organisations will this early stage in their availability and visibility of the
Companies can grow naturally attract great students. careers. They want their ideas leadership team, including the
their human resources with Other advantages of this strategy to be taken seriously, and CEO. The process affirmed the
excellent, first-class talent by are as follows: there is a willingness to learn. seriousness of the programme
building current teams with 5. It helps to build a diversified to participants, and helped the
new thinking, and cleverly 1. If the bursary student pool and inclusive workforce. leadership remain in touch
combining the new with the overall is oversubscribed with Students are far more with the students. After all, the

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO

CHILDREN WITH CANCER

he aQuellé Tour Durban The Herd will be at the following At Tour Durban the Cow
always welcomes the help fundraisers: Sweeps will once again be there
Tof the incredible The Cows ■ 6th May – 7am – Cyclothon in full force to ensure you have
– KZN Herd from CHOC, who ■ Shell Blair Atholl Motors – a helping hand along the route!
do such great work, both at the Westville Dust off your bikes and join us!
event and throughout the rest
of the year raising money so as ■ 7th May – 6am – Stella Royal Enter here: www.roag.org/
to make a difference to children 2023 events/entries-and-info
with cancer and their families. ■ Stella Athletic Club – Berea
■ 12th May – 3.30 pm – Cycling And all of the above wouldn’t
The KZN Herd has quite a few Fun Day be possible without the super-
events lined up over the next duper Daisy Car! Loaded with all
couple of weeks, where they will ■ Organised by: Siegetown our merchandise yet with plenty
be ready and waiting to sell you Wheelers of space left, we get to every
some super– duper merchandise, ■ Ladysmith Country Club event safe and sound!
or go and find out how to join the – Ladysmith
herd and support our incredible ■ 14th May – Tour Durban Cycle CMH Nissan Ballito thank you
little fighters at CHOC! Race for making a difference! 

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