The compass internship programme gives young people work experience as well as the necessary skills, to empower them in their career paths. Onke Sotshongaye’s story is one of the Compass programme’s celebrated success stories.

Q.  Where and how did you come across the compass internship?

A.    I was browsing my LinkedIn profile looking for employment opportunities that are related to my real estate studies when I came across Communicare’s advert. The organisation was looking for someone who had studied Property Studies/Real Estate and other fields of studies.

Q.    Tell us more about your qualifications and work experience you had before joining the Compass programme. How has Communicare contributed to your career development so far?

A.    Back in 2017 when I was doing my third year in Real Estate at CPUT. I did my in-service training at the City of Cape Town under the Property Valuation department for three months. In 2018, I decided to further my studies and enrolled a Btech in Project Management as a full-time at my alma mater.

The following year, 2019, I then worked at NSFAS as an administrator in the disability unit, but that job was not property-related, so I had no intentions of staying there for a long time. My goal has always been to work for a property management or valuation company and Communicare was exactly what I was looking for.  It has been a wonderful close to two years of being with the organisation. I have learned so much both career-wise and personally. I believe there was no other better organisation to kick of my career at than at Communicare!

Q.    What were some of the challenges you faced during your internship and how has that prepared you for your new current position? 

A.    During our internship period, in 2020, the organisation was unpleasantly hit by the effects of COVID-19, to a point where the organisation had to let some of its short-term employees go to keep the lights on. Unfortunately, I was one of those staff members, but I decided to continue working, voluntarily for about five months. That was the best decision I ever made for my career so far! When the time came for my voluntary work to cease, I managed to secure a one-year contract as a Rental Administrator for the organisation’s new development.

Q.   What do you believe the next step is in your career path, how can Communicare help you achieve that?

A.    The next step is to become a lease administrator, at Communicare I am working with experienced and dedicated lease administrators, I want to learn from them and assist where I can so that I can gain experience in turn.

Q.   What would you tell the youth out there about the Communicare compass programme?

A.    I would tell them that the Communicare compass programme is a great start to your career, you learn and gain experience that you will need in your career path. When you get an opportunity like this don’t focus too much on other things just focus on your work and learn as much as you can!

Find out more about the Compass Programme and apply here. Applications close end of day on Friday, 15 October 2021