Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.org 1
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia
Nam Career Guide2017
Free of charge
Welwitschia
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide2 3
Dear reader,
we are happy to present the first issue of the Nam Career Guide by Welwitschia — Education
Initiative for Namibia to you. This guide aims at providing learners with tools to help them
find their study course after school, shall support those who found their perfect study
course already but are struggling with financial issues and presents options to students in
order to improve not only their CV but also their skills in general.
This guide will help you find opportunities for your future career and support you on
your route from Grade 12 up to the point he landed his dream job. There are, besides a
study course, many important factors that influence the chances of getting employed
after graduating. These factors are often unknown but appreciated by companies: among
these are internships and other practical experience but also engagement in societal or-
ganisations and community service.
On top of each chapter, you see a picture of Jeffrey in one of his career steps. We followed
him on his way from Grade 12 up to his dream job and would like to do the same with you.
Take this guide and use it as a source of information and inspiration. If you have any ques-
tions, do not hesitate to contact the team of Welwitschia via e-mail ([email protected])
or via our Facebook platform Nam Career Service (www.facebook.com/NamCareerService).
The Welwitschia team wishes you good luck and success!
The publication of Nam Career Guide was substantially supported by Deutsch-Namibische
Gesellschaft / German-Namibian Society (www.dngev.de).
Contents
1 Preconditions for Your dream job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.1 Your Career at a Tertiary Institution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 Internships and Practical Experiences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Scholarships and Bursaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.4 Other Qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2 Kinds of Tertiary Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.1 Institute of Bankers (IoB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.2 Institute of Open Learning (IOL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3 International University of Management (IUM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.4 Lingua International Training College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.5 Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.6 Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.7 University of Namibia (UNAM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.8 Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2.9 Other Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3 Studying Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4 Finding Your Dream Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.1 Where to Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.2 The Route to the First Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.3 Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.4 Your Cover Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.5 The Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4.6 Becoming an Entrepreneur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5 Engagement in Societal Organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5.1 Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide4 5
1 Preconditions for Your dream job
Let’s start with our tour to your first job! We must now get ready to find out what you
want to study. Nam Career Guide will prepare you with all necessary information so that
nothing can stop you. The preparation for your dream job already begins at school. With
good grades there, doors are open for you. As soon as you have found your study course
it is up to you how successful you will be later on. Try to set your goals before going to the
first class. Ask questions like “What do I want to achieve in my first year?”, “Where do I
see myself in three years after graduating?”, “In which job do I see myself afterwards?”.
Asking such questions will help you strive for your goals and do whatever you can to
achieve them, for example via extracurricular events or engagement in an organisation.
In order to do so, you should put your gained theoretical experience into practice already
when you are going to classes, be it via an internship during the holidays or a part-time
job that relates to your study course.
This chapter will help you choose the best study course and institution for your needs and
preferences and show you.
1.1 Your Career at a Tertiary Institution
We begin with the most difficult part in the first chapter: Your career at a tertiary in-
stitution. In order to find the perfect study course for you, you should be aware of your
strengths and weaknesses: Think about what you like, which hobbies you have and for
what you have a passion. No matter what your parents, friends or relatives say, you
should do what you are longing for: If it is Arts, you should go into this direction, if you
like working with numbers, you should check whether you could study Mathematics. The
opinions of the people around you are important but you are the one who has to do the
studies and work in this industry afterwards. Studying a subject that is not your passion
will have a negative effect on your grades, your motivation and your general well-being.
You should do what you are comfortable with and not what other people expect from you.
So-called blue-collar courses, e.g. plumber, artisan or boilermaker, might seem unpopular
to you and you think you cannot earn enough money to sustain your preferred style of
living. This is not true! If you feel like you are a person that likes doing practical things,
then a vocational course is probably the right thing for you and will provide you with
many benefits and advantages. It depends on you whether you will earn enough money
after graduation or not. This is why we recommend to think thoroughly about which inter-
ests you have and to follow them.
Most study courses usually require a certain point average of Grade 10 or, mostly, 12.
If you do not reach this amount of points, you do not meet the requirements. However,
there is no need to lose hope! There are two great possibilities to improve your points.
First, you can attend courses at the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) (see
Chapter 2.5) or enrol at The University Centre for Studies in Namibia (TUCSIN). Both offer
courses to improve your points. The latter also awards scholarships to Namibian students.
Learn more about TUCSIN at www.tucsin.org/index.php/en. The closing date is 31 August
of each year.
As soon as you know in which direction you would like to go, you should check which insti-
tution has to offer a course in your field. If you have decided on a course that is available
at more than one institution, you should take the chance and apply for all of them in order
to increase the probability of being admitted.
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide6 7
If you consider studying abroad, you should be aware that it is a long and sometimes diffi-
cult process until you get there (see Chapter 3). However, it might happen that there is no
institution in Namibia that offers your course. In this case, you should do some research
on institutions in other countries.
Upon your acceptance to an institution, it is important to put your daily focus on your
studies. During the semester you should invest the majority of your time on studying and
less on parties and clubs, not discounting the importance of a social life of course and use
the semester holidays to gain some practical experience. Only good grades and a stable
technical background will make sure to find a job after graduating.
1.2 Internships and Practical Experiences
Putting theory into practice while you still attend classes is very important. It does not
only help you understand the theoretical content better but also to deepen your knowl-
edge. Further, you have first contacts in the industry and if you do well during your in-
ternship, the manager of the company will surely be happy if you apply for a job after
graduating. In case you did not like the company or your tasks in the department you did
the internship at, then you at least learnt what you do not want to do after graduating
and you can apply to our other fields in the future.
However, doing an internship usually goes in line with costs. Many internships are unpaid,
some only cover your transport costs. Nonetheless, we highly recommend doing intern-
ships as they have future returns. It might be an investment today but you will learn not
only practically but also improve your personality and soft skills. Having an internship on
your CV will definitely make a good impression in future applications as it shows that you
are no greenhorn but know already what how it is like to work in a professional environ-
ment. After completing the internship, you should also ask the HR manager to give you a
certificate indicating your tasks and how you performed. If you attach this certificate to
future applications, the company can easily see and understand your way of working and
does not only need to solely on your own statements in your cover letter.
Finding an internship is, unfortunately, rather difficult in Namibia. Even though you might
have to do an internship in order to finish your studies, many companies are not aware
of that. The team of Nam Career Service contacts as many companies as possible in
order to find internships for students. You find all of them in the “Notes” section of our
Facebook page. However, we do not recommend relying only on this service but also taking
self-initiative. Just send an e-mail to a company that is in your field and ask whether they
offer internships. If they do, submit your application documents to them.
1.3 Scholarships and Bursaries
If you have problems with funding your studies, do not feel discouraged: There are plenty
of opportunities out there! However, it is difficult to find them. If you do not buy the
newspaper daily or cannot do research on the internet, you will find it hard to find any
offers. The team of Nam Career Service is constantly doing research and publishes the
offers on the Facebook page. There exist three types of financial assistance from third
parties:
a) Loans: The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) offers an opportunity
to access a loan, part of which can be converted into a bursary depending on your end-
of-year results.
b) Scholarships: A wide range of companies, organisations and institutions from Namibia
and overseas offer scholarships which are awarded on the basis of your academic, athletic
and other achievements. Not all scholarships cover all your costs, some only cover your
tuition fees or your books. The amount of a scholarship does not need to be paid back.
c) Bursaries are awarded to needy learners and students. An offered bursary goes in line
with certain requirements, such as a specific study course, that you must meet in order to
be eligible to apply. Bursaries, like scholarships, sometimes do not cover all your costs but
they do not need to be paid back as well.
We at Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia offer our own scholarship scheme
as well. Make sure to check our website and Facebook page towards the end of the year.
If you see an opportunity whose requirements you meet, make sure to apply early and do
not wait until the day of the deadline. You should double-check all application forms for
any mistakes and revise your application documents with our Application Guide on our
website.
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide8 9
If you would like to study abroad, you should check your favourite institution’s financial
department. Most universities all around the world have their own scholarship or bursary
schemes (see Chapter 3).
1.4 Other Qualifications
It is not only the skills that you learn at school that are important but also what you
learn outside of class. It is important to make yourself different to your fellow students
in order to increase the chance to find your dream job. It is not enough to only do what
your professor or teacher says but you have to do extra work in order to improve yourself.
These additional activities range from soft skills, foreign languages up to extracurricular
activities. There are many different kinds of ways in which you can boost your CV and
improve your personal skills.
1.4.1 Soft Skills
Social and communicative skills are nowadays key qualifications as they are preconditions
for the achievement of your career goals. These are examples for soft skills:
— Team work
— Personality and leadership potential
— Analytical skills
— Presentation skills
— Rhetoric abilities
Internships (Chapter 1.2) and extracurricular activities (Chapter 1.4.4) will help you
develop these skills and to improve them. You find soft skill courses at various educational
institutions in Namibia as well. It is worth to do thorough research on your institution’s
website!
1.4.2 Foreign Languages
Learning foreign languages is specifically important in multinational companies which
operate not only in Namibia but in other countries as well. Being able to speak another
language that is not one of the spoken ones in Namibia will impress the HR manager for
sure. It will be a great advantage for you and your goals to speak in Portuguese with an
Angolan business partner or in Silozi with a partner from Zambia. It further shows your
intercultural understanding and at least on a small scale, that you are interested in other
cultures as well as that you are open to new people.
There are several opportunities to learn foreign languages in Namibia. Here is a small
selection of them:
Goethe-Institut Namibia1–5 Fidel Castro St, Windhoek Fon (061) 225700 [email protected]> http://bit.ly/1PKPmJV
German
Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre118 Robert Mugabe Avenue, Windhoek Fon (061) 387330 > http://bit.ly/1FBQEir
French
Lingua International Training College8058 Schweitzer Street, Windhoek Fon (061) 301032/4/5 [email protected]> http://bit.ly/1IYEaVT
Afrikaans / Damara/Nama / French /German / Oshiwambo / Otjiherero Portuguese / Spanish
NUST> http://bit.ly/1SADTeG
French / German / Portuguese / Spanish
UNAM> http://bit.ly/1esykzt
Afrikaans / Arabic / Chinese / French / German / Italian / Khoekhoegowab / Kishwahili / Oshikwanyama / Oshindonga / Otjiherero / Portuguese / Russian / Spanish / Silozi
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide10 11
1.4.3 Computer Skills
In most of the jobs nowadays, one needs certain computer skills at least in the Microsoft
Office softwares Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Being able to work with them effectively
and efficiently and proving it with a certificate will be a great plus to your application.
It is one thing to write a text on Word, but another thing to really format a document.
For presentations it is always useful to really know how to work with PowerPoint. Even
doing effective research on the internet is something that must be learned so that one
really finds what one is looking for. We therefore highly recommend attending computer
courses as IT skills are too crucial today to neglect them.
1.4.4 Extracurricular Activities
Engagement in student organisations, community service, sport or political societies gives
an impression of your social competence of a future employee. Each student should hence
consider getting involved in such organisations and even take over a leading role there
(see more about societal organisations in Chapter 5). Outstanding achievements and per-
sonal success outside the classroom give proof of a person’s assertiveness. 2 Kinds of Tertiary Institutions
Jeffrey has found several flyers and booklets from tertiary institutions but he is unsure
which one is the right one for him. There are various tertiary institutions in Namibia.
Depending on your skills and interests, you should choose the one that makes the best
impression to you and meets your expectations to the highest degree. No matter what
your friends, parents or relatives say, you should do what you like most. If you want to
become a plumber, go for it! If you want to work in a bank, follow this path! You are the
one who needs to work after having finished your studies, so you should like what you do.
Here is now a list of various tertiary institutions and a brief summary of what they have
to offer. They are all accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) and hence
allow access to the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF). As there are 34
institutions accredited by NQA, we can only cover a few of them in details. We list the
other institutions at the end of this chapter.
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide12 13
2.3 International University of Management (IUM)
The IUM, since 2002 accredited as an university, offers various kinds of courses in the
manage ment sector. The lecturers bring in experience from the industry and the university
cooperates with the Association of Business Executives in the UK, the Asia e University in
Malaysia and the Shareworld Open University of Malawi. > www.ium.edu.na
IUM offers courses in the following fields on both undergraduate and postgraduate level:
— Faculty of Humanities, HIV, AIDS & Sustainable Development
— Faculty of IT & Systems Management
— Faculty of Small Business & Entrepreneurship Development
— Faculty of Strategic Management & Business Administration
— Faculty of Tourism, Travel, Hospitality & Events Management
2.4 Lingua International Training College
Established in 2001, Lingua International Training College offers language training, other
educational training and consultancy services. Besides undergraduate courses, short
courses can be attended. > www.collegelingua.com
The following departments offer courses on Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma level:
— Business & Management
— Information Technology
— Travel & Tourism
— Languages (see Chapter 1.4.2)
2.5 Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL)
NAMCOL, established in 1994, provides learning opportunities for adults and out-of-
school youth. It especially helps you improve your points if you do not have enough to go
to a tertiary institution or if you failed Grade 10 or 12. > www.namcol.edu.na
2.1 Institute of Bankers (IoB)
The IoB was established in 1988 as an institution covering the banking and financial
service industry in Namibia. If you are interested in financial topics, then this institution is
the right one for you. After completing the first year, you will be awarded with a certificate
and after the second year with a diploma. You will receive an Advanced Diploma in Bank-
ing, Finance and Credit after having completed the third year. IoB does not have various
faculties but offers a range of modules in each semester. > www.iobnam.com
2.2 Institute of Open Learning (IOL)
IOL is a distance education institute, which offers you an opportunity to study in various
academic fields and offers courses on their Business School as well as in IT on distance
mode. IOL has offices in Windhoek, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop, Ongwediva, Rundu and
Walvis Bay. > www.iol.na
This is the list of courses offered by IOL:
Academic — Grade 12— Diploma in Pre-Primary Education— Advanced Certificate in Secondary
Education— Advanced Certificate in Senior-
Primary Education
Business School — In cooperation with IUM (see Chapter 2.3)
— In cooperation with Institute for Certified Bookkeepers
Information Technology — International Computer Driving License
— Microsoft E-Training Package— Online Courses
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide14 15
These are NAMCOL’s programmes for Secondary Education:
Secondary Education Intended for learners who have been unable to gain admission to the formal education system for Grade 10 (JSC) or Grade 12 (NSSC). It is open to both out-of-school youth and adults.
Grade 10 (JSC) Courses in various subjects are offered in order to improve your points
Grade 12 (JSC) Courses in various subjects are offered in order to improve your points
NAMCOL further offers professional and vocational programmes in, amongst others, Edu-
cation for Development, Local Government Studies, Youth Development Work or the Inter-
national Computer Driving License.
Besides its courses, you can find audio and video lessons for different subjects on their
website which will help you understand the taught content better.
2.6 Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)
NUST, formerly Polytechnic of Namibia, offers technology-oriented career and profes-
sional education and training, applied research and service. Established in 1994, with
more than 12,000 students and seven schools, it is the second biggest tertiary institution
in Namibia. NUST’s Department of Student Services provides students with a range of
cultural and extracurricular activities. NUST is an institution where practical modules are
included in the curriculum, i.e. you put the theory learnt in the classroom into practice in
specific courses. > www.nust.na
You can study at the following schools on both undergraduate and postgraduate level:
— Business — Human Sciences
— Computing & Informatics — Management Sciences
— Engineering — Natural Resources & Spatial Sciences
— Health & Applied Science
Besides its schools, several centres are available to support students with capacity
building, internships or business support:
— Centre for Cooperative Education — Materials Testing Institute
— Centre for Enterprise Development — Namibia Business Innovation Centre
— Centre for Open and Lifelong Learning — Namibia Energy Institute
— Centre for Teaching & Learning — Namibian-German Centre for Logistics
2.7 University of Namibia (UNAM)
UNAM is the most popular tertiary institution in Namibia. Established in 1992, it is with
more than 19,000 students, twelve campuses nationwide and nine regional centres the
biggest institution in the country. You should study at UNAM if you want to have a good
academic foundation for your future studies and career. UNAM puts its focus on a theoreti-
cal basis which can be deepened in postgraduate studies up to a Ph.D. > www.unam.edu.na
You can study at the following faculties on both undergraduate and postgraduate level:
— Agriculture & Natural Resources — Humanities & Social Science
— Economics & Management Science — Law
— Education — Namibia Business School
— Engineering & IT — Science
— Health Science and Medicine
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide16 17
2.8 Vocational Training Centres (VTCs)
VTCs are spread all around the country and aim at developing craftsmanship, practical
experience and problem-solving and to develop young Namibians into productive, compe-
tent and skilled workers. > www.nta.com.na
EenhanaDimo Hamaambo Street, Eenhana Fon (065) 263600 Fax (065) 263871
Bricklaying & Plastering / Joinery & Cabinetmaking / Plumbing & Pipefitting / Welding & Fabrication / Office Administration / Office Administration & IT and Commu ni cation Technology / Hospitality & Tourism
NakayaleRuacana Main Road, Outapi Fon (065) 250067 Fax (065) 250066
Office Administration / Hospitality & Tourism
OkakararaJohn Tjikuaa Street, OkakararaFon (067) 317069Fax (067) 317469
Electrical General / Carpentry & Joinery / Plumbing & Pipefitting / Hairdressing / Clothing Production / Bricklaying & Plastering / Office Administration / Auto Mechanics / Welding & Metal Fabrication
RunduMaria Mwengere Street, Rundu Fon (066) 255211 Fax (066) 255364
Auto Mechanics / Auto Electrics / Bricklaying & Plastering / Electrical General / Joinery & Cabinetmaking / Office Administration / Plumbing & Pipefitting
ValombolaNandjebo Mengela Street, Ongwediva Fon (065) 234100 Fax (065) 230167
Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration / Auto-Mechanics / Bricklaying & Plastering / Business Skills / Carpentry & Joinery / Clothing & Production / Electrical General / Hospitality & Tourism / Office Administration / Welding & Metal Fabrication
WindhoekRooivalk Street, Khomasdal Fon (061) 211742 Fax (061) 211379> www.wvtc.edu.na
Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration / Auto-Mechanics / Boilermaking / Bricklaying & Plastering / Electrical General / Fitting & Turning / Joinery & Cabinetmaking / Junior Computer Technician / Office Administration / Plumbing & Pipefitting / Radio & Television / Starting Business – Core / International Computer Driver’s License (ICDL) / Welding & Metal Fabrication
ZambeziWenela Road, Katima MuliloFon (066) 253264 Fax (066) 212379
Bricklaying & Plastering / Clothing Production / Joinery & Cabinetmaking / Hospitality & Tourism / Plumbing & Pipefitting / Office Administration / Welding & Metal Fabrication
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide18 19
2.9 Other Institutions
This is a list of the other institutions that are accredited by the Namibia Qualifications
Authority:
— Africa Institutions Management
Services
— Africa Leadership Institute
— Business School of Excellence
— College of the Arts
— DAPP Vocational Training School
— Frameworks Africa Consultancy CC
— Headstart Mercy Montessori Teachers
Training College
— Institute of Information Technology
— Katutura Community College
— Labour Research and Research
Institute
— Military School – Osona Base
— Monitronic Success College
— Namibia Academy for Tourism &
Hospitality
— Namibia Construction Skills Academy
— Namibia Evangelical Theological
Seminary
— Namibian Institute of Mining and
Technology
— Namibian Maritime and Fisheries
Institute
— National Youth Service
— Philippi Trust Namibia
— Shadonai Beauty School
— St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary
— Triumphant College
— Tulipohamba Training and Assessment
Centre
— United Lutheran Theological Seminary
– Paulinum
— Wolwedans Foundation Trust
3 Studying Abroad
As many other young people, Jeffrey and you might dream of studying abroad for sev-
eral reasons: You might think that the educational standard abroad is higher, you would
like to get to know another country and culture and/or you see increased chances of
employment after your return to Namibia. All these reasons are justified and we want
to support you with your dream. Studying abroad is indeed possible but it is not as easy
as you might think. It is not only done with applying at an institution. It already begins
with the kind of institution and which country you should choose. For this, some research
needs to be done. First of all, you must be aware of what you want to study and which
country is the most interesting and promising. To do undergraduate studies as a Namib-
ian it is easiest to choose a country where English is the official language. Other countries,
for example Germany, do have study courses taught in English but not as many as, for
example, England. For postgraduate studies, it is a bit easier to go to other countries as
well because many Master’s degrees are offered in English. Having found the right institu-
tion that offers the perfect study course for you, you should check whether any financial
assistance is being offered. Studying in countries like England or the United States goes
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide20 21
in line with high tuition fees and living costs. Most universities all around the world have
their own scholarship section on their website. You should check this and learn whether
Namibians are eligible to apply for their scholarships and bursaries. If this is the case, the
door is open. You now must submit your application according to their requirements and
apply for financial assistance, too. As soon as you are accepted, it is up to you to visit the
country’s embassy and see how you get a study visa, then you are ready to go! We want
to emphasise again: The way to an institution abroad is a really difficult one and it takes
a lot of effort and patience! You should consider whether it is worth investing the effort
and, maybe, being disappointed or whether you would take the easier way and try to
study at a Namibian institution.
Here are some useful websites that will help you on your way to study abroad:
Germany > http://bit.ly/1FBRdJ6This website helping you from finding your institution up to the application for accommodation in Germany
United Kingdom > http://bit.ly/1J38fSQThis website that provides you with a list of study courses including scholarships.
United States > http://1.usa.gov/1HJnkHoThis website provides you with all kinds of information with regard to your stay in the US
Canada > http://bit.ly/1SAE9KJThis website contains all information you need on where and how to study in Canada including information on its education system.
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4 Finding Your Dream Job
Congratulations! You finished your studies and are prepared for your first job. Jeffrey
already found his dream job. We want to help you to find yours as well. Now the question
is: Where do I want to work? At which companies could I work? The Namibian job market
is a volatile and flexible one. This means that employees usually do not work for the same
company throughout their lives. Hence, you do not need to worry if your first job is not
what you dreamt of! As long as you have good qualifications, good grades but also gained
other skills from outside university, you will find another job that will suit you better!
4.1 Where to Search
There are plenty of Namibian websites that can will help you find a job (www.pinupjobs.com /
www.elitemployment.com.na / www.information.na / www.jobsunlimited.com.na). You
also find several groups on Facebook where companies upload their vacancies. It is further
recommended to buy at least Friday’s newspapers as many companies advertise vacant
positions there.
4.2 The Route to the First Interview
This is your last step now! You found a vacancy and must apply. For a successful applica-
tion many things are to be considered. Before submitting your documents, you should
revise them once again. Here is a small guide that will help you to do so. You find an
extensive application guide on our website: www.nam.welwitschia.org/application-guide
4.3 Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A Curriculum Vitae is the summary of a person’s educational and professional history,
usually prepared for job or internship applications. It conveys your personal details in the
way that presents you in the best possible light. A CV is a marketing document in which
you are marketing something: yourself! You need to “sell” your skills, abilities, qualifica-
tions and experience to employers.
There is not just “one best way” to construct a CV – it is your document and can be struc-
tured as you wish within the basic framework below.
4.3.1 Personal Information
— full name
— preferred name (e.g. when your first or surname are difficult to pronounce)
— birth date
— nationality
— contact number
— P.O. Box
— e-mail address (choose a professional one!)
— ID number, marital and health status and criminal record not needed if not
specifically required
— languages not mentioned here but in Skills and Achievements section
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4.3.2 Educational History
— primary school
— begin with the most current institution
— months/years included (month/year of enrolment and of graduation)
— no need to mention subjects in the CV (attach them as an extra document)
— highest qualification mentioned
4.3.3 Employment History
— begin with most current
— only most relevant ones mentioned for the job applying
— position included
— maximum three responsibilities per job mentioned briefly
— months/years included (month/year you started and ended the job)
— references included
4.3.4 Skills and Achievements
— languages divided in “Speaking”, “Writing” and “Reading” and evaluated
as “Excellent”, “Good”, “Fair” and “Basic”
— skills and achievements added that represent you best
— three interests (preferably they refer to the job applying) added, e.g. “Travelling”
when applying at a travel agency
4.3.5 References
— only references from “Educational History” to be added
— other references are included in the “Employment History”
4.3.6 Other
— there are no gaps in your CV, i.e. it covers all years from Primary School up to today
— periods of unemployment mentioned as well (can be labelled as “employment
seeking”)
— layout consistent (same font and font size, no tab mistakes etc.)
— length is maximum two A4 pages plus a cover page (which is not compulsory)
4.4 Your Cover Letter
The cover letter is the possibility for you to sell your skills. Due to limited space in this
guide, we cannot provide you with a full sample. Hence, we explain you shortly the im-
portant points in a convincing cover letter. You find an extensive sample on our online
Application Guide: www.nam.welwitschia.org/application-guide.
In a cover letter it is very important to not have one standard cover letter that you use
for all your applications. We highly recommend writing an individual cover letter for each
application. It takes some time but the companies will reward it as they can see that you
have put effort into writing your application and not only copied and pasted the cover
letter of your friend.
You begin the cover letter with a short introduction of yourself, where you are studying or
working and where you find the vacancy or offer.
The second paragraph is the main part. Here you directly refer to the requirements stated
in the vacancy and say how you meet them. Tell the company which skills you have but
also how you achieved them. It is not sufficient to say only that you are a good team
worker, you must also justify it, for example by stating that you organized a certain pro-
ject together with a group of fellow students.
You conclude the letter with a final sentence you describe how and when you will follow
up. There is no need to name your cell phone number on the cover letter as it is included
in your CV already.
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— Refrain from saying anything negative about former colleagues or employers.
— Avoid controversial topics, personal issues or family problems.
— Avoid saying you do not have any questions; Make sure to prepare some questions
which you could ask. This shows your interest in the company.
— Close the interview by asking about the next steps in the process.
Before going to an interview, it is further important to think about questions the inter-
viewer might ask. Doing this will make it less likely that you will be surprised by a ques-
tion and if you are well-prepared you should have a good answer on almost everything
the interviewer could ask you. In our online Application Guide, we prepared some ques-
tions for you that could be asked: www.nam.welwitschia.org/application-guide.
4.6 Becoming an Entrepreneur
If you have a great idea that you would like to realize instead of being employed, it is pos-
sible to become an entrepreneur. This is definitely the more difficult and also more risky
way but also a more thrilling one. Having a good idea, however, is not a guarantee to be
able to open your own business. Writing a business plan is the first step, finding an inves-
tor or a loan the next one. There are some organisations and initiatives in Namibia that
support you with becoming your own boss. Before starting your business, we recommend
consulting them first in order to minimize your risk of failing.
Namibia Business Innovation InstituteThe Innovation Village 1–3 Glück Street, Windhoek West Fon (061) 2072885 > http://bit.ly/1J33Ejk
Motivates, trains and gives advice to people to become entrepreneurs
SMEs CompeteEntrepreneur House 123 Sam Nujoma Drive, Windhoek West Fon (061) 247129 branches in: Ongwediva & Walvis Bay> http://bit.ly/SMEsCompete
Seeks to improve entrepreneurial, management, marketing and information technology skills of SMEs
4.5 The Interview
You finally made it: You were invited for an interview! This is the last step to find your
dream job and it is a very difficult one. A good preparation is priceless. Here are some
important points that will help you prepare well for the interview.
4.5.1 Before the Interview
— Thoroughly research the company/organization.
— Ask a friend to do practice the interview beforehand.
— Plan ahead: know all interview logistics, such as parking, office location, paperwork
etc. (maybe even take a practice run to the location of the interview).
— Appropriate interview attire: ensure that your outfit is clean and neatly pressed; check
for spots, rips or tears. (Prepare a plan B outfit in case you come across any disasters).
— Plan to arrive 10 minutes early; if you are running late, you should inform the
company via phone call.
— Print your application documents once again in case the HR manager did not do it.
— Turn off your cellphone.
4.5.2 During the Interview
— Make a good first impression: greet the interviewer with courtesy, smile and avoid a
limp or clammy handshake.
— Be aware of your body language and posture at all times: sit upright, make good eye
contact and look interested.
— Project confidence: speak clearly and with a strong voice; avoid slang.
— Avoid answering questions with a simple “yes” or “no”. Describe those things about
yourself that showcase your talents, skills, and determination; stress achievements.
— Show what you can do for the company rather than demand what the company can
do for you.
— Postpone inquiring about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, or other benefits until
after you have received an offer. However, be prepared for a question about salary
requirements by conducting some research beforehand and thinking about your
expectations.
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5 Engagement in Societal Organisations
Jeffrey did not only attend to classes but also joined Welwitschia — Education Initiative
for Namibia in order to acquire more skills and to meet new people. As we are a societal
organization, we want to emphasise the importance of societal work. Being engaged in
an organisation has several benefits. You not only meet new people from different back-
grounds, you also have the possibility to put your theoretical skills into practice, e.g. by
organising an event or being responsible for the finances of the organisation, and deepen
your knowledge. However, you not only learn to improve the skills in your field but also
beyond that. You will learn how to speak in front of a group or how to chair a meeting.
You further will make good contacts that might help you in the future and, of course,
help other people that need your support. You indeed need to invest some time and most
of the work in societal organisations is done on a voluntary basis but if you are looking
to the future, the work pays back. You can ask the chairman or chairwoman of your or-
ganisation to award you with a certificate which you can attach to your applications and
you should definitely state your engagement in your CV. The HR manager of each com-
pany will appreciate such engagement as it shows that you are looking beyond your field
and broadening your horizon. We at Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia are
always glad to welcome new volunteers, there is a lot to do and achieve! You can help us
find new offers for Nam Career Service, search for new fundraising opportunities, support
our Educational Advisor in our office or host workshops with us all around the country.
And these are only a few examples of possible engagement! If you are interested, just
send us an e-mail to [email protected] and we will arrange a meeting
with you!
5.1 Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia
At the very end of this booklet, we would like to introduce our organisation and to give
your more information on our goals and missions.
Welwitschia is operating in both Namibia and Germany on a non-profit basis. While the
organisation was founded in Germany in 2012, the Namibian branch exists since March
2014. It is the aim of the organisation to link individuals with prospective companies
to co-operate with the public and corporate sector to help enhance the chances of bet-
ter education and career choice. Welwitschia further offers with Nam Career Service a
platform for the youth to acquire better career opportunities and to improve individual’s
knowledge through the use of resources and various methods such as workshops and
seminars. The organisation also strives to change the mindset of the youth in order for
them to think on a broader scale and not limit themselves with regards to education
and employment. The organisation provides workshops and other forms of outreach to
individuals in terms to their education and prospective career opportunities, provides and
outsources financial assistance and technical support for students. Students and other
interested parties will be informed about different career opportunities in their fields of
education.
We hope that Nam Career Guide could help you in whatever situation you currently are. If
you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us via our Facebook pages (see
links below) or via e-mail: [email protected]. We are further always glad to receive
any kind of feedback on our services and would highly appreciate it, if you invited your
friends to our Facebook-pages and spread the word! Help us reach more people in order to
increase their chances to find the career of their choice as well!
Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia | www.nam.welwitschia.orgNam Career Guide30 31
ImprintWelwitschia — Education Initiative for NamibiaAuthor: Philipp Walter ([email protected])Published: - First edition, September 2015- Second edition, January 2017
www.nam.welwitschia.org www.facebook.com/welwitschia.orgwww.facebook.com/NamCareerServicewww.twitter.com/WelwitschiaOrgwww.instagram.com/Welwitschia_org
Acknowledgement
I cannot express enough thanks to both Welwitschia — Education Initiative for Namibia namely Eva Shitaatala, Kevin Wessels, Magdalena David, Hella Shikongo, Justina Murungweni and Samuel Neshuku in Namibia as well as Carsten Rietmann, Johannes Vogelsang, Julia Legge and Kolja Lichtenthäler in Germany for their ongoing support.Special thanks goes to Carsten and Samuel who critically revised this guide several times and gave great input in order to make it what it is now. Without the great and spontane-ous support of Sebastian Legge and his graphic design expertise, Nam Career Guide would not look like as it looks now. He made it possible that this guide could be printed.The completion of this project could not have been accomplished without the support of Eerike Kahambundu and his brother Jeffrey; Eerike for his efforts as Director of Pho-tography and Jeffrey for his modeling skills as well as the students from Polytechnic of Namibia who were willing to spontaneously act as our models and background models for the cover picture. This Nam Career Guide is dedicated to Eerike who passed away only few days after publication of first edition. We miss him.
COURSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDRENGERMAN Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
OSHIWAMBO AND AFRIKAANS Levels: Beginner/Conversational
DAYS AND TIMES FOR ALL COURSES Days: Mon and Wed OR Tue and Thurs Adults: 9:00 – 10:30; 17:30 – 19:00 Children: 14:30 – 16:00; 16:00 – 17:30
COURSE FEES Course fee: Full payment N$1,700
GERMANAFRIKAANSOSHIWAMBO
TERM 2 | 2017 15 May – 10 AugREGISTRATION 24 Apr - 12 May
LANGUAGE COURSES
Contact us for more information1-5 Fidel Castro Street, WindhoekTel: 061 22 57 00 | [email protected]
Now open!REGISTRATIONJOIN OUR TEAM! Meet new people, learn new things, have fun.
Other terms:Term 1/2017: 30 Jan – 27 Apr
Term 3/2017: 28 Aug – 23 Nov, Registration: 7 Aug – 25 AugSupporting Namibia and its people for a better future is our task since 40 years. Engaged on various fields, one of our topics is education and assistance for young people to find jobs and to contribute to the development and economy of the country. That’s it why we support this Nam Career Guide by Welwitschia – Education Initiative. And we wish all readers good luck and all the best to achieve their aims!
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