Ondjupa takes on unemployment in Otjozondjupa
Marianne Pretorius has created a safe space for individuals to drop their CVs and link them to existing and fitting platforms and opportunities and is currently working with Rosalia van der Westhuizen.
Ester Kamati
On 6 April, Ondjupa Recruitment and Training Services was established by Marianne Pretorius. This a space which provides individuals with the right platform to drop their curriculum vitae with a chance of obtaining positive feedback.
The idea first came about when the economy of the country suffered at the hands of Covid-19 and many people lost their jobs. Looking into that, Pretorius tapped into her profiling talent, which includes doing a number of tests to determine a person’s personality type and their strengths.
She was inspired by a quote she read, that being creative is not always painting or singing, playing music. It is about seeing an opportunity where other people don’t and thinking outside the box.
With this though replaying in the back of her mind, Pretorius kept thinking of an idea which she can execute which is not dependant on tourism and especially so in an unstable economy. That was when she realised that this is a time when everybody is looking for a job.
“So, then I started playing around with the idea of opening a recruitment agency and that kind of developed and eventually I though putting training with that would be a very good idea,” she said, adding that not many training opportunities exist in Otjiwarongo as compared to the city and other towns.
Pretorius then created a Facebook page and started advertising for a receptionist. This is how she met Rosalia van der Westhuizen, who eagerly took up the challenge of starting a new company in an unstable economy. The two have since then been making remarkable progress and fulfilling an evident need in the community.
In just three weeks of operation, over 1 000 CVs have been received just from Otjiwarongo and three placements done and the company had 11 vacancies so far that they are trying to fill for clients.
Pretorius stated that so far, they have received very good CVs when they advertise a position.
“It’s people with a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge and good work ethic but because of the economy, they have lost their jobs, and it’s people who have been working at the same place for 17 years.
“We want to be that place that can bring the employer and the employee together.”
The company hopes to start with the training component soon and have already started engaging companies to partner with. The training would require community members to pay a minimal fee and be equipped with knowledge on how to better execute and thrive in various careers. The training will include trades such as petrol attendants, cleaners and receptionists first and will hopefully expand and add more trades over time.
“It’s going faster than we expected,” shared Pretorius about the progress of the company.
They further do corporate brain profiling for clients, which allows the company staff to understand the next person and how to better communicate and complement each other in the work environment.
The company also helps individuals improve their CVs and stand out from the crowd.
“People are doing the best they can but every CV ends up looking the same.”
She added that securing a position that one is applying for is not just dependent on the employer and applicants should do their part and put their best foot forward by providing a CV which sells the person, their skills and keeping it straight to the point.
Individuals can drop their CVs at the premises at no cost and be put in a better position to bag a job whenever a position becomes vacant.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Marianne Pretorius and Rosalia van der Westhuizen are the faces behind Ondjupa Recruitment and Training. PHOTO ESTER KAMATI
On 6 April, Ondjupa Recruitment and Training Services was established by Marianne Pretorius. This a space which provides individuals with the right platform to drop their curriculum vitae with a chance of obtaining positive feedback.
The idea first came about when the economy of the country suffered at the hands of Covid-19 and many people lost their jobs. Looking into that, Pretorius tapped into her profiling talent, which includes doing a number of tests to determine a person’s personality type and their strengths.
She was inspired by a quote she read, that being creative is not always painting or singing, playing music. It is about seeing an opportunity where other people don’t and thinking outside the box.
With this though replaying in the back of her mind, Pretorius kept thinking of an idea which she can execute which is not dependant on tourism and especially so in an unstable economy. That was when she realised that this is a time when everybody is looking for a job.
“So, then I started playing around with the idea of opening a recruitment agency and that kind of developed and eventually I though putting training with that would be a very good idea,” she said, adding that not many training opportunities exist in Otjiwarongo as compared to the city and other towns.
Pretorius then created a Facebook page and started advertising for a receptionist. This is how she met Rosalia van der Westhuizen, who eagerly took up the challenge of starting a new company in an unstable economy. The two have since then been making remarkable progress and fulfilling an evident need in the community.
In just three weeks of operation, over 1 000 CVs have been received just from Otjiwarongo and three placements done and the company had 11 vacancies so far that they are trying to fill for clients.
Pretorius stated that so far, they have received very good CVs when they advertise a position.
“It’s people with a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge and good work ethic but because of the economy, they have lost their jobs, and it’s people who have been working at the same place for 17 years.
“We want to be that place that can bring the employer and the employee together.”
The company hopes to start with the training component soon and have already started engaging companies to partner with. The training would require community members to pay a minimal fee and be equipped with knowledge on how to better execute and thrive in various careers. The training will include trades such as petrol attendants, cleaners and receptionists first and will hopefully expand and add more trades over time.
“It’s going faster than we expected,” shared Pretorius about the progress of the company.
They further do corporate brain profiling for clients, which allows the company staff to understand the next person and how to better communicate and complement each other in the work environment.
The company also helps individuals improve their CVs and stand out from the crowd.
“People are doing the best they can but every CV ends up looking the same.”
She added that securing a position that one is applying for is not just dependent on the employer and applicants should do their part and put their best foot forward by providing a CV which sells the person, their skills and keeping it straight to the point.
Individuals can drop their CVs at the premises at no cost and be put in a better position to bag a job whenever a position becomes vacant.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Marianne Pretorius and Rosalia van der Westhuizen are the faces behind Ondjupa Recruitment and Training. PHOTO ESTER KAMATI
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