Richard Chetty, director of Services for Samsung Electronics SA, says: “Not only does the Boys to Men and Women Technical Programme arm students with the necessary engineering skills, graduates are given the opportunity to work within the Samsung Service Centres, which launches them into sustainable employment.”
Students are taken through an intensive technical training course followed by a month of in-service training, according to Samsung Electronics. They are trained in a wide range of mobile electronics skills, ranging from replacement of main cellphone boards, to diagnostics checks, trouble shooting, empathy training and customer service training, among others.
Once this is completed, the young graduates are taught about client service and then they are deployed to Samsung Service Centres.
These ICT skills, adds Chetty, fall in the scarce skills category. They are in high demand, yet not enough people in SA have them. The lack of such skills directly impacts on the economy and the advancement of the country.
The programme, which was established in August 2015, is designed to alleviate unemployment through technically training matriculants and preparing them to work within the electronics industry.
In addition to the Women Technical Programme and Boys to Men, there are six academies that matriculants between the ages of 18 to 25 can apply to. These are: Samsung Academy in Midrand; Refrigeration and Aircon Academy at EEC KwaThema College; Tshwane North College in Hammanskraal; Orbit College in Mogwase; Gerit Sibande College in Standerton; and KwaMashu Coastal College in KwaMashu.
Samsung says it is also seeking applicants who have completed an Engineering diploma or degree – these candidates will be taken through the same technical engineering course, but will have a different career trajectory laid out for them within Samsung Electronics.
“We’re on a drive to give the youth of SA hope for the future with viable careers in a highly desirable field. Our graduates have all entered the workplace with essential electronic engineering skills, allowing them to support themselves and make a positive impact on their families and communities,” notes Chetty.
For both the Women Technical Programme and Boys to Men, applicants need to have a Matric certificate and a valid driver’s licence. Interested candidates must send applications by 30th April 2018 to: [email protected].
