Dreams, dedication and success

Mariselle Stofberg

Having the opportunity to gain industry knowledge and in-house training is crucial to securing a steadfast future. This has been made possible by the Old Mutual’s internship programme.

On 29 August, Old Mutual held a graduation ceremony for the latest class of interns.

The group of interns started their six-month internship in March and graduated from the programme with newfound excitement, knowledge, energy and determination.

Since 2017, Old Mutual has invested over N$2.4 million in the annual internship programme and 32 graduates have been a part of this opportunity.

Old Mutual has appointed five of the 32 permanently, after their graduation, while the others still form part of the company in one way or another.

The programme was established in 2015 and serves as a platform to identify and groom talent in fields like accounting, finance, marketing, economics, social responsibility, communication, business administration, human resources and IT.

“This opportunity has allowed us to gain experience and grow our career prospects, especially in view of the scarcity of opportunities,” said Ndatala Angula, one of the graduates who worked in the social responsibility department.

“This provides a platform to celebrate and recognise the interns’ achievements, hard work and commitment to their duties,” said Hilma Vilho, the human capital administrator at Old Mutual.

Not only does the programme allow one to further your skills, but provides interns with the possibility of permanent employment. Maria Haitula, a collections administrator, graduated from the internship programme last year and was then permanently employed by Old Mutual.

“I started my own internship thinking I will be seen as an outsider; someone who will just be here for a while and leave again. But it was quite the opposite. Everyone made me feel like I was a part of the family and offered me a helping hand,” Haitula said.

She said the process helped her to acquire new skills, become a proactive team player and helped create a sense of accountability and responsibility for her actions.

Carlo Boois, a wealth operations’ support specialist and graduate, who received permanent employment at Old Mutual after completing the programme in 2018, believes the internship programme provides interns with endless opportunities and possibilities within their various fields.

“This programme has been incredible. It helps to give you industry knowledge and allows you to be exposed to the entire process and experience the thrill of actually doing the work,” Boois said.

Mauriza Fredericks, the communications and social responsibility manager at Old Mutual, said the programme enables individuals to really become a part of the company, by giving them responsibilities and opportunities.

“You need to show up, represent and use the opportunities given to you. These interns represent the youthfulness of the country and what made them stand out is the way they carry their own personalities and their uniqueness.”

A word from the graduates

Marcel Beukes

The atmosphere is so stimulating and you become motivated and inspired, because you are able to learn from so many people. The ongoing assistance from supervisors allowed one to learn more, see more and experience the corporate environment.

Ndatala Angula

This has been my first step into the corporate world and I have to say I am thrilled with this amazing experience, and I commend Old Mutual for this great initiative. I had the opportunity to become immersed in the field and the events we had, and was given a lot of autonomy to take on projects and make them my own, with great assistance from my mentors and colleagues.

Hevelina Erasmus

It has been a privilege to be an intern at Old Mutual. I gained newfound knowledge and was able to sharpen my skills. It has allowed me to meet new people in a professional setting, expand my network and make friends who I will most probably have for life.

Martha Mashina

How does one start to put six months of experience in just a few words? I gained so much hands-on experience, had the opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills and got to know areas outside my field of study. I learned professional communication skills, had to work with deadlines and learned how to manage my time effectively.

Selma Shuutheni

A journey of a 100 miles begins with a single step, and what a journey I have had with this internship. I am confident to say that I had the opportunity to have experience in a field that is different from what I studied, which gave me an entirely new skillset. One thing I learned is that customers are the reason we are here and the way we treat them is crucial to our operations.

Uutondisa Vaapi Kaukuata

I learned how to become proactive and move out of my comfort zone. As an introvert, I learned the values of building relationships and getting to know other people. The programme aims to help individuals to gain insight into possible career paths and I have gained so much valuable knowledge through this.

Brett Delie

I learned so much from the process. I gained so much knowledge from office etiquette, to answering the phone, the administration process and a bit of everything. It gave me a confidence boost, improved my skillset and gave me a broader perspective on the corporate industry.

Elisa Matheus

I learned quite a lot during the process and learned integrity and accountability. I had the opportunity to better my communication skills and was given responsibilities and tasks that allowed me to grow as an employee and as a person.