Dear LinkedIn family and South African professionals,
It is with a frustrated heart that I write this request for a job referral in South Africa, particularly in consulting, banking or general financial services. Never in my career would I have thought I would be part of the static group of 50% unemployed youth. Not that I am immune to it but because I know myself: I am one of the hardest working people I know and have a track record of being a self-starter, risk taker and innovator. Since the age of 18 I’ve always worked 30+ hours in addition to being a student athlete, supporting my family back in South Africa, and starting an edtech startup in the process.
In the Fall of 2023 I bet on myself and lost, terribly. I was shortlisted for the Rhodes Scholarship in the Sourthern Africa region. Given the trust does not subsidise international flights, I put down some of my savings towards a last minute flight from Arizona to Durban. I made it through to the final 12 selected for nationals. I didn’t get the scholarship but the experience was absolutely incredible. It set a fire under me. By then I had already decided to stay in South Africa until another opportunity for graduate school surfaced. A lot of variables were considered in this decision from seeing the mental state of my mom, wanting to establish myself as a young professional in South Africa. I fell in love with home again. In the five years studying abroad, I’d visited home once in 2022.
After some intensive research into corporate South Africa I concluded the best place for someone of my calibre and diverse interests is consulting services. Again, I bet on myself and lost, painfully. It was in the final stretch, the third round of the MBB race - the final case interview with the partners. The feedback I received was, “We feel you’re a great culture fit but don’t quite match the framework structing and math speed we’re looking for.” If you know anything about case interviews you know the exercise itself is no easy task to prepare for or deliver on the day. I was comforted to know one partner did like me and felt I “was one of the best candidates to crack his case.” But that didn’t help my case because I was not extended an offer.
I’ve spent hours in the last 5 months on online sites and career pages applying for jobs. I call the HR departments only to be told to wait to be contacted by their recruiting team and they never do. Some reply months later, when the position is filled. It really is about who you know. Sounds cliche but it’s true even for the entry level positions. So, here I am taking advantage of my connections- who I know or who may know me.
Typically the job titles of interest would be graduate advisory, business analyst, associate consultant, risk, credit or investment analyst. I am open to others.
My resume is available in my DMs and email sesimphiwe.mbatha358@gmail.com
Thank you for your help and support.
#jobsearch #unemployed #corporate #southafrica #career
