Sunday Times E-Edition

Ensure that learnerships work

Margaret Harris

Learnerships help give young people access to the job market, and adding mentoring and coaching into the mix will ensure they are more than simple boxticking exercises.

“We’ve seen how these mechanisms develop our learners, helping them gain self-confidence which allows them to seize opportunities,” says Rajan Naidoo, director of EduPower Skills Academy.

He advises:

Mentorship and coaching are not the same as teaching and training. Training happens in the classroom, but mentoring and coaching take place when learners get to grips with their new skills under the guidance of an experienced instructor;

Dynamic coaching and mentoring can ensure that learners are equipped with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the workplace;

Along with technical skills, learners need to acquire the soft skills to help them cope at work, including time management, conflict resolution and communication; and

Most companies will battle to give each learner a mentor, but colleagues can become involved through peer-to-peer coaching. —

Careers

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2022-06-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

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