Detailed Breakdown of The Mukuru Bursary for 2023

05:09 Monrovia 0 Comments

About Mukuru

Mukuru, which means "elder" in Shona, is a name that reflects the desire to be a trusted advisor and wise and supportive member of the Southern African community. Mukuru is committed to investing in your education today, to ensure equal opportunities tomorrow. Mukuru will award bursaries to 14 learners to help them study at the university or technical university of choice in South Africa in 2023. Mukuru, a South African Next Gen Financial Services Platform, provides cutting-edge payment solutions and digital innovation to the emerging consumer. They are passionate about creating critical services that improve the lives of communities as a fintech company. They offer the following value-added services:

·    Transfers of cash

·    Mukuru Funeral Cover

·    The Mukuru Card

·    The Mukuru Wallet

·    Mukuru Groceries

Bursary Entry Requirements:

You must apply during the Campaign Period to be eligible to participate in this Campaign

·    Have passed grade 12

·    Register to Study at a South African University or University of Technology

 You can study full-time in one of these fields:

·    Software Development

·    Software Development Management

·    Software Architecture

·    Analyze of Business

·    Information Technology Engineers

·    Software Quality Assurance

Core requirements

·    You have a minimum overall average score of 70%, a Bachelor's Pass (Matric), or a minimum overall score of 65% at the tertiary level.

·    Demonstrate financial need (a combined household income of less than R600 000 a year)

·    You must be at least 18 years old

Restrictions:

·    This bursary is not available to employees of Mukuru.

·    Applying for a job under 18 is not permitted.

·    The household income cannot exceed R600 000

You will need to fill out the Mukuru.com application form and upload the following documents.

·    Your passport and identity document

·    You must provide proof that you are eligible to travel to South Africa.

·    Your matric certificate

·    your latest study results;

·    Your CV

·    A motivational letter that answers the question "Why should Mukuru invest in you" - Explain why you deserve the bursary, and how it will benefit you both professionally as well as financially.

·    Refer to a coach, educator, or another adult who has coached you or taught you.

Mukuru will process your data to verify your entry, and if you win, to make the Bursary accessible to you. All personal information processed by Mukuru is done by Mukuru's Privacy Notice available at: link. You consent to Mukuru processing your data by entering the Campaign. Please do not apply for the bursary if you don't consent.

What is the application process?

Before Mukuru can honor the Study Bursary, a Qualifying Participant must sign a Bursary Agreement. Mukuru will compile a shortlist of Qualifying Participants between the 19th and 3rd of January 2022. A Mukuru panel will interview all Qualifying Participants (in-person and remotely) between the 9th of January 2023 & the 14th of January 2023. Mukuru will announce 14 Qualifying Participants it wants to award a bursary on the 25th of January 2023. Within 48 hours of the winner being chosen, the Study Bursaries will be sent to the Qualifying Participants. The announcement will also take place via social media on February 25, 2023. The Study Bursary will be forfeited if Mukuru fails to reach the winner within three (three) attempts.
Each of the fourteen (14) Study Bursaries consists of Mukuru paying R80,000 (eighty thousand rands) towards the Qualifying Participant's university tuition fees and university textbooks for one (1) year. Statements from the relevant university and textbook supplier will determine the actual amount payable, up to the maximum mentioned above.

Where to apply?

You can reach Mukuru on the following platforms:

                                                           

·    Email: csi@mukuru.com 

·    Call: +27(0)86 001 8555

·    WhatsApp: +27(0)86 001 8555

·    Free USSD: *130*567#

·    You can also use the chat box on their website ( which is available from 07:00 to 19:00 - Monday to Sunday)

Applications close once again on the 19th of December. All applications received after that date will not be accepted. To all qualifying candidates- best of luck.

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Interview with Specialist Systems Analyst Nosi September

03:35 Monrovia 0 Comments

Tell us a little about yourself and your career choice

My name is Nosi September, I am a Specialist Systems Analyst with one of the big banks in South Africa. I am the founder of Career Advancement which is a career coaching company that helps the youth identify & follow their dream careers & also helps graduates & unemployed youth secure employment by offering services such as CV revamping, Interview Preparation, Career Coaching & one-on-one mentoring session to help them structure their career journey & providing support every step of the way. I hold BCom Honours Information Systems & Business Management degree from Nelson Mandela University. I am also currently perusing my Masters in Infomercial Systems & Technology at the University of KwaZulu Natal.

What major challenges did you face during your university days and how did you overcome them?

When I was perusing my undergraduate, I did not have funding for my studies such as a bursary or loan. I struggled financially and my parent had to pay the tuition. How I overcame the challenge by working hard and getting a bursary for my honors.

What advice would you  give to matriculants who want to perform well in university?

I do not think it's about performing well; it's about finding the right qualifications that will open doors to the career that one wants to follow. I often coach a lot of graduates who have performed well in university they sit with qualifications and are unemployed. They do not know what jobs to apply for with these qualifications they "performed well go get". I always advise matriculants to have a dream, identify their dream career, dream jobs & where they would want to see themselves in the future. Then drill it down to finding and perusing a qualification that will enable them & will equip them with the knowledge to fulfill that desired dream.

What made you choose systems analysis as a career?

I chose systems Analyst because when I was younger, I saw myself developing systems and applications that make people's lives easier by using technology. I've always been curious about when you use a computer or an ATM, what is the behind system or program that it uses? Who designs those programs? How do they do it? I've always wanted to be part of the brainy people who does that. I remember while I was choosing my career, my mother used to ask: "so where are you going to work?" And I'd tell her "Mama you see when you go to a bank when you press an ATM, there are people who program those systems to work & that's what I will be doing". Funny enough that 7-10 years down the line that is exactly what I do, I design & improve systems and I love what I do.

After graduation what happens? How did you manage to find a job that suits your interests and what challenges did you come across?

Once one follows the method that I teach in my career coaching session, to start from the end goal (dream job) and drill it down to (qualification) and drill it down to the subjects one chooses in high school then it becomes easier. I've always known I wanted to work for banks, I knew which systems I wanted to develop, it was banking systems. This is a dream I held while growing up so it was easy for me to aim for jobs in the banking industry.

My first job was with African bank, I've also worked for other banks such as First National Bank and ABSA bank. Finding a job after you get the qualification is not easy, especially when you do not have a person who can be your career coach and walk the journey with you. I was unemployed for 2 months after I graduated, I relocated to Johannesburg to look for a job. The 2 months were the toughest because I felt all alone & that is why I opened my career coaching company. Where I make sure I walk the journey with young people and give them the advice they need.

Furthermore, I started a community for people who are unemployed and looking for jobs, it is a WhatsApp group called "Job sharing community "where we all come together and share jobs on the group. Many have managed to secure employment via the WhatsApp group & it gives me so much fulfillment to see the lives of many changes when they get their desired job through the community & the help my company offers.

Why and how did you then start a company? What is the vision of your company?

I started my company because I was unemployed for two months, during the 2 months I did not have anyone to talk to or help me find a job. I felt lonely & lost, had no one to help me structure my cv well & help me best present myself in interviews. I would get no response, surely, they threw that CV in the bin & I would fail some interviews because no one was there to guide me.

My company is Career Advancement Friend, where you get a friend or buddy who can help you walk the career journey with you, you can talk and share your frustrations & you have this person who understands you & gives you the advice you need, the career guidance, career tips & tools such as how to structure your CV & present yourself in interviews to secure employment.

The company has helped hundreds of people in different phases of their careers to reach the goals they are aiming for in their careers. My vision for the company is to help more and more people who are confused about their careers. Open a recruiting agency where I can place my clients in jobs, and work with universities, and high schools to coach more young people about their careers so they don't have to feel alone like I did. Additionally, work with the government to bridge the unemployment and career coaching GAP in South Africa. Expand in other African countries that need the help that my company offers and further have a global footprint on our education system to incorporate & take career coaching much more seriously.

How is it been running a business whilst working a 9-5?

One has to find a balance between doing well at work & serving clients in the most efficient way.

To get in touch with Nosi for advice or to make use of her services:

LinkedIn: Nosivuno September (Link)

Email: septembernosivuno@gmail.com

Read our previous article about how to become a systems analyst (link)

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Becoming a Specialist Systems Analyst in South Africa

03:20 Monrovia 0 Comments

What is a systems analyst?

System analysts are responsible for the maintenance and improvement of computer systems within an organization. As organizations move more operations, processes, and communication online, this IT role is becoming increasingly popular and in demand. Systems Analysts often work beyond normal hours to ensure that there are no interruptions to business. The System Analyst job description must emphasize the need to be able to communicate complex ideas and logic to others. Systems analysts work in the IT industry to find solutions to problems by connecting different systems or computers. They also need to determine which platform, protocols, and software can be used and what communications mediums are available.

Business analysis vs System analysis

Systems analysts are typically limited to a given system or assigned area. They often work alongside business analysts. Although they may overlap in some ways, these roles are not identical. The business analyst will assess the business needs and design the solution. However, they won't go into too much detail about the technical aspects of the solution. Instead, they will rely on a systems analyst. Systems analysts will often review code and modify scripts.

It is possible to become a system analyst by applying for admission to the BCom in Information Systems and/or computer science foundation BCom. This degree can be obtained after successful matriculation and satisfying the minimum requirements of the new NSC. These include a minimum entry level of +50% or +70% in Mathematics Literacy and a minimum entry level in the English Language. Candidates with higher accomplishments, such as a higher pass score in Mathematics (or Mathematics Literacy), and English Language, will be preferred in the selection process. Please note that university entry requirements can vary from one university to the next.

You could be employed as an IT Project Manager or Computer Systems Analyst, Computer or Information System Technician, or Chief Technology Officer.

Qualifications of Systems Analyst

·    Bachelor's degree or equivalent in information technology or computer science.

·    4 to 6 years of experience in information technology and system analysis

·    Strong analytical, computer, and hardware skills

·    Demonstrated ability to identify business needs and translate them into solutions

·    Solid understanding and knowledge of database administration and maintenance principles

·    Experience installing, configuring, and documenting new systems and applications.

·    A wide range of programming languages is required to be proficient in the job.

Career advancement opportunities may include:

·    Promotion to a senior analyst or lead analyst and leading a team

·    Indirect moves within an organization, such as the development of technical expertise (in a role as a systems/technical administrator)

·    Project management or sales and accounts management roles

·    Moving in a more strategic direction within the company or through a consulting firm.

·    Your career path will be affected by the size and structure of the company you work for.

The projected growth in employment of computer system analysts from 2021-2031 is 9 percent, which is faster than the average rate for all occupations.

On average, there will be 44,500 computer system analyst openings each year. This is a 10-year average. Many of these openings will be caused by the need to replace workers who leave the workforce or transfer to other occupations.

Let's talk about money

A Systems Analyst who has less than one year of experience can expect to be paid an average total salary (including tips, bonus, and overtime) of R250 000. An early career Systems Analyst can expect to earn an average total compensation of R350 000 for 1-4 years. A mid-career Systems Analyst earns around R490 000 in total compensation. An experienced Systems Analyst with 10-20 years of experience will earn an average total salary of R600 000, based upon their previous work. Employees earn an average total salary of R690 000 in their final years of employment (20 and above). These figures are approximate and are based on comparison. It has been noted that the salaries depend on a wide range of factors namely being: company (firm) of employment, region of employment and experience. 

These are the top universities in South Africa to study information systems and computer science.

·    The University of Pretoria

·    The University of Johannesburg

·    The University of KwaZulu Natal

Why would you want to pursue a career as a systems analyst?

You will use your technical and research skills to improve and lead business functions. This is a broad range of industries. It's great to be in high demand, make a decent salary, and do what you love: tinkering with computer systems and solving problems.

As a systems analyst you need to have/be:

·    an ability to learn quickly and be proficient with the software and systems used by the company

·    outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail.

·    vast knowledge of programming and computer systems.

·    have Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

·    great interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work with others.

·    good problem-solving and analytical skills.

·    vast knowledge of programming and computer systems.

Look out for an interview from a systems analyst and potential bursaries!

Hear what Specialist Systems Analyst Nosi September has to say about her career! Interview