An important message for our wonderful friends & fans, PLEASE be very watchful & careful when applying for jobs. There  was a tragic incident in Cape Town last week when a lady applied for a position posted on a website (not ours), supposedly at a well-known retailer and when she arrived at her destination (it is unknown if it was for an interview or to work) she was ganged-raped and then murdered!

Some tips to ensure your safety:

You will never get a call to say that you must start work immediately if you have not been for a prior interview

Do not meet someone in a remote spot or after hours

If the interview is genuine, you should meet at a business address or if they are a small company, then perhaps meet in a public place (like a coffee shop)

If you are unsure of the address, perhaps take a trip beforehand with a companion to get a better idea of where you are meeting

When you are contacted for an interview, try to gather as much information as you can about the company and the interviewer – a landline no., a physical address, a company website, the interviewers position in the company. This way you will be able to contact the company and verify the information

Do not give your personal details before you are certain that it is a genuine vacancy.

At Just the Job we strive to ensure that only genuine adverts are posted on our website and we will continue to be watchful on your behalf.  Please feel free to contact us if you are uncertain or need any assistance.

We are inundated on a daily basis from students who need financial assistance to complete their studies.  There a few basic steps to follow and also various options open -

Firstly, applying for a bursary is similar to applying for a student loan or bank loan at a financial institution. You need to have proof of registration, residence, income, bank statement, identity and a surety.

Secondly, be sure to consider your options before deciding how to pay for your studies and apply for any award or bursary for which you’re eligible.

University Financial Aid
If you have already enrolled at a university, or are considering doing so, their financial aid office should be your first stop.

Most universities offer bursaries or grants to students that have excelled in their previous studies or on the sports field.

Check with your university’s financial aid office whether you are eligible for any of these bursaries or awards, and make sure that you apply before the closing date.

National financial aid
If you are a South African citizen you may be eligible for a National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) loan for study at one of the country’s public higher education institutions. The NSFAS, a statutory body funded by the Department of Education, provides study loans to academically able but financially needy students.

Much of an NSFAS loan can be converted into a bursary, which does not then need to be repaid, depending on one’s academic progress. A 100% pass rate would result in a 40% bursary rebate on an NSFAS loan.

The size of the initial NSFAS loan ranges from R2 000 to R30 000. You should apply at your university’s financial aid office.

External bursaries
Many South African companies offer bursaries to promising students.

The terms of these bursaries vary tremendously. Contract bursaries require you to “pay back” the bursary by working at the company once you’ve completed your degree – giving you a job and work experience immediately after your graduation. Many mining and engineering companies, in particular, provide contract bursaries.

The Bursary Register, available at most high schools and at your university’s financial aid office, will provide you with a full list of bursaries available in your particular field.

Student loans
All of South Africa’s major banks offer student loans, both to South Africans and to non-South Africans with valid study permits. Bank loans, unlike NSFAS loans, will also cover studies at a private institution.

When applying for a bank loan, you will have to show proof of registration at an educational institution. You’ll also need somebody, such as a parent or guardian, to sign surety for you.

Although you will only need to start repaying your bank loan once you’ve completed your studies, you will need to keep up the interest payments throughout the term of the loan.

Paying your own way
You can also choose to pay your own way. By taking a year off to work before studying, or by working part-time while pursuing your studies, you can gain valuable work experience while earning to finance your degree.

You’ll have to be disciplined, however, to make sure that you set aside enough time for both your studies and your work, and to make sure that you don’t fall behind in either.

If you have made the decision to leave your job for a better option, there is no need to make any enemies in the process. Leave with grace and the knowledge that you still have good friends and contacts if need be.

 Here’s how to let your current company down easy and leave with your reputation and dignity intact:

 How to resign in a gracious way:
- Ensure you have made the right decision and considered all your options before embarking on your resignation exit strategy.
- Ensure you have your offer letter from your future employer in your hand or that the plans you have made are concrete and in place.
- Call a meeting with your boss/direct manager – it’s best practice to tell them first and your co-workers second.
- Draft your resignation letter, stipulating the correct notice period and your termination date, as well as your thanks for the employment opportunity – don’t be negative. There is, however, neither need for lengthy explanations nor a need to discuss your plans.
- Be prepared for them being surprised, angry or even hurt – no one likes losing a productive staff member.
- Don’t be unsure of yourself and don’t let them confuse you with guilt trips and counter-offers (tactics often used to retain leaving staff). Stay centered, focused on your future and positive throughout. Let them know you cannot be swayed or bought.

 Preparing your successor:
- Start by establishing a time frame with your boss.
- Find out who will be your replacement or be handling your workload until a new appointment is made.
- Draft a list of important info, projects, contacts and reports that are currently being worked on and need to be handed over.
- Ensure you let your clients, customers, suppliers and associates know of your departure and thank them for their support (these contacts are vital for future networks).
- Be positive and friendly and give them a comprehensive handover – their success is ultimately your success. Also, encourage them to ask questions, take notes and absorb as much as they can.
- Don’t bad mouth your co-workers, company or boss to your replacement – leave on a high, positive and confident in your contribution. Most importantly, be cooperative.
- Cover yourself on all angles and don’t leave any messes for others to fix on your behalf.

 It is important to leave your current job with a good impression and even a few friends.

Thanks to Destiny Connect

ATM users must be vigilant in the face of an increase in card skimming, the SA Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) said on Tuesday.

“The banks are increasingly receiving reports of clients who have lost monies from their accounts under circumstances that indicate that their card information could have been compromised through skimming,” chief executive officer Kalyani Pillay said.

Card skimming involves the theft of a person’s card information stored on the magnetic strip of the card.

Criminals then use this information to make counterfeit cards which, once the person’s PIN is obtained, can be used for transactions.

A person’s card information is obtained mostly by criminals using handheld skimming devices at ATMs.

“It usually happens when a bank customer’s card is swapped by criminals, skimmed and returned without the customer realising it. In such instances, unsuspecting bank customers’ cards are skimmed by criminals who offer them assistance with their ATM transactions,” Pillay said.

One way of obtaining a person’s PIN is through ATM mounted devices such as miniature cameras which they attach to ATMs to record a PIN as a person keys it in.

Pillay urged ATM users to shield the key-pad when entering their PIN.

“Customers should never permit any form of distraction and not seek, nor accept, assistance from anyone with their ATM transactions so as to lower the risk of their cards being skimmed.”

He said anyone who suspected they had fallen prey to card skimming should notify their banks immediately so they could stop transactions.

Thanks to SAPA

What is Mandela Day?

Mandela Day on July 18 is an annual international day adopted by the United Nations. It is more than a celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy; it is a global movement to take his life’s work into a new century and change our world for the better. Mandela Day asks us all to embrace Madiba’s values and honour his legacy through an act of kindness. Who knows, it might leave you inspired enough to make every day a Mandela Day!

Three good reasons to celebrate

• Madiba turns 92 on July 18!
• You’ve been handed the torch to take his life’s work forward.
• This is an historic opportunity to literally make the world a better place.

Help us change the world

Each of us can make a small difference. If we all make a difference together, our collective effort can truly change the world. Mandela Day is not a holiday. It is a day for all of us to opt into humanity – to roll up our sleeves and play an active role in building our communities. This is an opportunity for each of us to share Nelson Mandela’s vision of a better future for all.

67 WAYS TO CHANGE OUR WORLD

1. Make a new friend. Get to know someone from a different cultural background. Only through mutual understanding can we rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia.
2. Read to someone who can’t. Visit a local home for the blind and open up a new world for someone else.
3. Fix the potholes in your street or neighbourhood.
4. Help out at the local animal shelter. Dogs without homes still need a walk and a bit of love.
5. Find out from your local library if it has a story hour and offer to read during it.
6. Offer to take an elderly neighbour who can’t drive to do their shopping/chores.
7. Organise a litter cleanup day in your area.
8. Get a group of people to each knit a square and make a blanket for someone in need.
9. Volunteer at your police station or local faith-based organisation.
10. Donate your skills!
11. If you’re a builder, help build or improve someone’s home.
12. Help someone to get his/her business off the ground.
13. Build a website for someone who needs one, or for a cause you think needs the support.
14. Help someone get a job. Put together and print a CV for them, or help them with their interview skills.
15. If you’re a lawyer, do some pro bono work for a worthwhile cause or person.
16. Write to your area councillor about a problem in the area that requires attention, which you, in your personal capacity, are unable to attend to.
17. Sponsor a group of learners to go to the theatre/zoo.

Help out for good health

18. Get in touch with your local HIV organisations and find out how you can help.
19. Help out at your local hospice, as staff members often need as much support as the patients.
20. Many terminally ill people have no one to speak to. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunshine into their lives.
21. Talk to your friends and family about HIV.
22. Get tested for HIV and encourage your partner to do so too.
23. Take a bag full of toys to a local hospital that has a children’s ward.
24. Take younger members of your family for a walk in the park. 
25. Donate some medical supplies to a local community clinic.
26. Take someone you know, who can’t afford it, to get their eyes tested or their teeth checked.
27. Bake something for a support group of your choice.
28. Start a community garden to encourage healthy eating in your community.
29. Donate a wheelchair or guide dog, to someone in need.
30. Create a food parcel and give it to someone in need.

Become an educator

31. Offer to help out at your local school. 
32. Mentor a school leaver or student in your field of expertise.
33. Coach one of the extramural activities the school offers. You can also volunteer to coach an extramural activity the school doesn’t offer.
34. Offer to provide tutoring in a school subject you are good at.
35. Donate your old computer.
36. Help maintain the sports fields.
37. Fix up a classroom by replacing broken windows, doors and light bulbs.
38. Donate a bag of art supplies.
39. Teach an adult literacy class.
40. Paint classrooms and school buildings.
41. Donate your old textbooks, or any other good books, to a school library.

Help those living in poverty

42. Buy a few blankets, or grab the ones you no longer need from home and give them to someone in need.
43. Clean out your cupboard and donate the clothes you no longer wear to someone who needs them.
44. Put together food parcels for a needy family.
45. Organise a bake sale, car wash or garage sale for charity and donate the proceeds.
46. To the poorest of the poor, shoes can be a luxury. Don’t hoard them if you don’t wear them. Pass them on! 
47. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen.

Care for the youth

48. Help at a local children’s home or orphanage.
49. Help the kids with their studies.
50. Organise a friendly game of soccer, or sponsor the kids to watch a game at the local stadium.
51. Coach a sports team and make new friends.
52. Donate sporting equipment to a children’s shelter.
53. Donate educational toys and books to a children’s home.
54. Paint, or repair, infrastructure at an orphanage or youth centre. 
55. Mentor someone. Make time to listen to what the kids have to say and give them good advice.

Treasure the elderly

56. If you play an instrument, visit your local old-age home and spend an hour playing for the residents and staff.
57. Learn the story of someone older than you. Too often people forget that the elderly have a wealth of experience and wisdom and, more often than not, an interesting story to tell. 
58. Take an elderly person grocery shopping; they will appreciate your company and assistance. 
59. Take someone’s dog for a walk if they are too frail to do so themselves.
60. Mow someone’s lawn and help them to fix things around their house.

Look after your environment

61. If there are no recycling centres in your area, petition your area councillor to provide one.
62. Donate indigenous trees to beautify neighbourhoods in poorer areas.
63. Collect old newspapers from a school/community centre/hospital and take them to a recycling centre.
64. Identify open manhole covers or drains in your area and report them to the local authorities.
65. Organise the company/school/organisation that you work with to switch off all unnecessary lights and power supplies at night and on weekends.
66. Engage with people who litter and see if you can convince them of the value of clean surroundings.
67. Organise to clean up your local park, river, beach, street, town square or sports grounds with a few friends. Our children deserve to grow up in a clean and healthy environment.

Whether as an individual, community, business, non-governmental organisation (NGO) or a government department, all you have to do on July 18 is donate 67 minutes of your day to doing something good in any way you can. Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life to the struggle for social justice. Can you spare 67 minutes of yours to support a charity or serve your local community?

 Thank you to the Nelson Mandela Foundation

When we make a decision to change a material thing in our lives we usually feel a great deal of determination or inspiration. We gear ourselves up to believe that success is assured and our goal is all but achieved.

However, we have all learned through painful experience that most of our goals remain firmly stuck in our heads or fraying under the fridge magnet.

Here are five ways people sabotage their finances even before they are out of the starting block:

1.     Debt: -  It is almost impossible to succeed with a financial plan if you are drowning in debt. Debt repayment will always eat up much of your disposable income. So your first step is to try and eliminate as much debt as possible. Unfortunately there is no quick fix for debt. Over-indebtedness is not a sudden event (unless you suffer a job loss or a massive unplanned expense); it is usually a result of uncontrolled spending. It takes hard work and time to resolve, and even more work and time to address the attitudes that knocked you off track in the first place.

Debt rescheduling is often seen as an easy way out of a financial bind but, in the long term, it could mean you pay much more in interest. So, when you decide to get your finances on track, rather see where you can cut spending and put it towards paying off debt. As you see the debt reduce you will feel encouraged to stick to your plan. And, while you are on this journey, examine the behaviour that got you into the situation so you can avoid repeating the mistakes.

2.     Not making fundamental changes in lifestyle: -  Perhaps the only way to stick to your financial plan is to change the way you think about money. People who have financial troubles often believe there’s no need for change. It’s the same belief that topples a diet plan; without substantially changing your eating habits you will not lose weight. Understanding and accepting that things must change is a big step towards getting your finances in order.

If you can’t do it on your own, get some help. A financial adviser can be a great coach, will help you to see the big picture and focus you on how much you need to save.

3.     Not being prepared for setbacks: -  Not everything will run smoothly. Perhaps there will be an unexpected and expensive school trip for a child, a car maintenance issue or even a job loss. If you realise that not everything will fall into place it will be easier to accept the glitches and stay committed to long-term goals. If a single setback causes you to give up on your financial plan the chances are you were never committed to it in the first place

4.     Cutting the wrong expenses: -  When resolving to commit to a long-term financial goal that means cutting expenses we often refuse to give up on the luxuries and instead cut back on the most important elements of our budget. Many people choose to reduce, or even cut, things like life, car, home and medical insurance. This is the worst thing we can do, because just one financial emergency can then set us back for a very long time.

There are many areas we can look to in order to save money. Entertainment, clothing, cell phone bills, fuel and luxury purchases are the places to look for bill reduction, not vital risk products.

5.     Poor role models: -  When we are around people who spend like there is no tomorrow, and who don’t care about saving, it is easy to get sucked along. Put your foot down and verbalise your intentions. Tell your friends and family that you are going on a savings spree and you intend to start building wealth. You will find that many of them will join you. They will feel relieved that they can step off the “keeping up with the Joneses” treadmill.

Get all of the above elements in place and you will find it easier to stick to your plan. Always get the help of a financial adviser, especially when choosing the right risk products for your needs. Having a professional partner to assist will make the journey easier.

Record your short, medium and long-term goals – Write down your short, medium and long-term goals and the steps you will need to take to implement them. The more detail you include the better. Cross your achievements off the list as you go along. It will keep you motivated. Simply deciding to get your finances on track is not going to make you rich; action will!

Watch your self-speak – Watch your self–speak. Often, we have a conversation in our heads when we want to make a purchase that we know we shouldn’t. We will find all kinds of reasons to justify it. Every time you feel tempted to spend money on an unnecessary item, ask yourself if it will help you achieve your long-term financial goals; walk away if the answer is no.

Another great way to avoid temptation is to avoid buying the item for 48 hours; the desire for it usually subsides.

Thanks to Liberty

Are you thinking of studying and don’t really know which direction to take? Perhaps we can assist. Experts have predicted where the job market is heading and Government economists estimate which occupations will have the most job openings between 2008 and 2018.

Top 10 lists of occupations, sorted by the level of education typically required -

A) Graduate Degree:

1. Postsecondary teachers

2. Doctors and surgeons

3. Lawyers

4. Clergy

5. Pharmacists

6. Educational, vocational, and school counselors

7. Physical therapists

8. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

9. Mental health and substance abuse social workers

10. Instructional coordinators

B) Bachelor’s Degree:

1. Elementary school teachers, except special education

2. Accountants and auditors

3. Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education

4. Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education

5. Computer systems analysts

6. Computer software engineers, applications

7. Network systems and data communications analysts

8. Computer software engineers, systems software

9. Construction managers

10. Market research analysts

C) Associate’s Degree or Postsecondary:

1. Registered nurses

2. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants

3. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

4. Computer support specialists

5. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

6. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

7. Preschool teachers, except special education

8. Insurance sales agents

9. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technicians

10. Real estate sales agents

Here’s how to ensure a solid financial future by building a high credit score.

When you apply for credit from banks, credit card companies or for car finance, financial institutions will examine your credit rating to assess whether you are a reliable candidate to receive credit. It will also affect the interest rate you will pay on debt. Your credit rating is determined by your credit history.

Each person has an individual brand and your credit rating forms part of that brand.  So it’s important for all individuals to ensure that all their financial commitments, be it short-term, utility bills or debt payments, are up to date, as they all affect your standing on the Credit Bureau.

How to get a good credit rating:
- Ensure you have a clean financial record by keeping up to date with all payments and conducting your account in an exemplary way. 
- Honour your commitments and don’t overcommit. 
- Ensure that you have at least two months’ salary saved for rainy days, which will ensure that you are able to handle your financial responsibilities should something happen. 
- If it becomes unavoidable to go into arrears, arrange to liaise with your credit provider. Opperman says blacklisting is not in the best interest of anyone, so most creditors will come to a solution before blacklisting.
- If you have been blacklisted, engage with the organisation to come to an agreement so the blacklisting will be removed

Compiled by Nazley Omar

It is very important to always remain alert when drawing money from an ATM, Internet Banking or handling cash. Criminals always seem to be one step ahead of us and these are the type of scams to look out for:

Deposit refund scam
Criminals deposit fraudulent cheques into your account before contacting you and stating that money was mistakenly deposited into your account, or an incorrect amount was transferred. They then send you a proof of payment and ask you to refund them. Customers are lured into depositing money that was not, in fact, transferred to them to begin with.

Phishing
The perpetrator sends unsuspecting victims an email claiming to be a staff member of a specific bank. The customer is told that the bank suspects they are a victim of identity theft and requests that the customer visit a website that prompts them to reveal their banking details, passwords and/or credit card details. The website has been set up by the fraudsters to obtain banking information to access their bank accounts.

419 scam
This scam originated in Nigeria, where fraudsters send unsolicited emails, faxes or emails from a business or government entity in Nigeria. The criminals claim they need you to help them, for a number of creative reasons, to get them out of the country. The victim is asked to pay a fee or extend credit to assist. If you agree, the money will be moved to an offshore account.

Keyloggers
Often done by skilled IT individuals, keyloggers find a way to retrieve all the keystrokes entered on a specific computer through means of hardware or software. The keystrokes are used to access the computer where the criminal sends unsolicited files and documents in your name.

Internet cafes
As users do not have complete control over the computers used at internet cafes, fraudsters may load spyware on the computers to obtain your details and use them for criminal acts.

What precautions to take
- Where cheques are deposited, ensure they are legitimate. Request a special clearance on cheque deposits.
- Never accept a notification of this nature as proof of deposit – rather obtain written verification from your bank before taking any action. 
- Ensure that you have effective access control to your computer.
- Exercise caution when using public computers to access financial services. Don’t do your internet banking at an internet cafe! 
- Be alert to changes in your computer hardware. A keyboard cable with a cylindrical unit attached to it should raise your suspicions.
- Never reveal your banking details to anyone.

We show you how to draw the line between home and work time.

 1. Don’t take work home with you
It’s important to keep work at the office and leave it there. When you get home, it is essential to spend your time connecting with loved ones and even yourself. This enables you to build your relationships with people outside your workspace and replenish your energy for when you go back to work the next day.

- Leave your laptop, paperwork and reading at the office – even if you decide to do this two or three nights a week, it’s an important step in the right direction.
- Switch off the email capability on your phone after 6pm. This is important because often when you see an email coming through, you are tempted to open it and deal with the matter immediately.
- Clear your mind as you make your way home by listening to music that relaxes you and not continuing your workday by taking calls and checking emails. Consciously focus on making the mental shift from being in the office to being at home.
- Keep a journal in your car so that when you arrive at home after your work day, you can sit in the car for five minutes and write down all your outstanding action items that are on your mind from work. This will help you to set these actions aside and know that you can deal with them the next day.

2. Find the balance
On one hand, it is important to maintain a level of professionalism at work and to leave the personal ‘stuff’ outside of the work environment. On the other hand, it is important to build relationships at work with colleagues, managers and staff members through allowing others to see the personal side of you and share some of your authentic self with them. Being at either extreme will not serve you well. Striking the balance between letting people into your personal world just enough so that they have a sense of who you are and what is truly important to you and maintaining professionalism and effectiveness in your work is ideal.

3. Set boundaries
If we fail to set boundaries, work issues encroach on our personal life. We take up the position of a rescuer and end up taking on more than 50% of the responsibility. We do things for others before even being asked, we don’t really believe that the other person can do things and so this position keeps them in a victim position, not believing in themselves and their potential. Our doing more than our share and taking work home stops the other person from developing. Our fanaticism around work may be an outdated way of trying to feel worthy.

4. Give yourself a break
Many of us have the ‘superhuman syndrome’. We have to be everything to everyone, and we come last. If you feel that you’ve changed as a person, then you’re trying to do too much and you aren’t separating home and business life.

5. Learn to say “no”
It’s much easier to say ‘no’ than to make excuses why you didn’t do what you promised. You don’t need a reason either. If you get into reasons, you will have to defend it in some way. People will always be able to help you get the reason out of the way if they want you to do something for them. Just repeat the word ‘no’ until they get it. They will get used to your assertiveness and respect you for it.

 by:   Sonja Raath