A young South African in search of their first opportunity in the workplace can apply for a 12-month Youth Employment Service (YES) programme with Ver-Tex Solutions based in Pretoria East, with the advertised monthly payment of R5,500.
The opportunity focuses on call-centre debt collections and is targeted at unemployed young people who fit the employer’s requirements.
Rather than focussing on years of experience, the programme is about providing people with the chance to gain exposure to a professional working environment, and build their communication, computer and workplace skills.
What sets this opportunity apart from a standard job ad?
The Ver-Tex YES programme revolves around workplace experience.
Applicants will spend 12 months in a business environment and will gain exposure to the everyday challenges of working in a call-centre and debt-collection environment.
The employer will provide training, guidance and support, and participants will work with experienced teams and leaders.
For a young person who has completed matric but struggled to get their first job due to a lack of work-experience, this kind of programme can offer something many employers are looking for: a period of documented exposure to a professional workplace.
This work experience targets a call-centre and debt collections
Applicants should first understand what this opportunity actually involves before sending off their CV.
This is not a generic office internship – the advertised work area is Call Centre – Debt Collections.
The job would therefore suit a young person who enjoys communicating with customers, meeting targets and working to deadlines.
Ver-Tex lists the following qualities as minimum requirements:
Good communication skills
Basic computer skills
Ability to work towards targets and deadlines
Willingness to learn
Reliability and commitment
Ability to work with other people
This shows people what to expect in terms of the working environment far better than simply being told it’s a YES opportunity.
Who is Ver-Tex looking for?
The recruitment notice specifies that applicants must be:
Between 18 and 28 years old
Currently unemployed
Grade 12/Matric holders
Eligible for the YES programme
People who have not previously completed a YES programme
Willing to commit to the full 12-month programme
Motivated, reliable and willing to learn
The employer also stipulates that applicants must meet eligibility requirements for the applicable YES programme.
Anyone who has already completed a YES programme should therefore understand that they are unlikely to be accepted simply because they fit the age and education requirements.
How much does the programme pay?
The advertised figure is R5,500 per month.
The poster mentions commission and incentives, plus funeral cover and Health4Me.
Applicants should check directly with Ver-Tex to confirm exactly what terms and conditions apply to these benefits during the recruitment process.
The advertisement also does not mention a closing date.
Pretoria East is the location
The programme is based in Pretoria East.
The working hours are Monday to Friday, with alternative Saturdays.
This is an important consideration for any potential applicants.
Anyone living outside Pretoria should calculate how much it would cost them to travel to and from the workplace each day and compare it to the monthly payment.
The poster simply describes the Pretoria location as being accessible by public transport.
What can young people get out of this programme?
The primary benefit of the opportunity is the work experience an applicant will gain in the 12 months.
According to the recruitment notice, participants will have the opportunity to:
Develop workplace skills
Gain work experience in a professional business environment
Receive training and guidance
Work with experienced teams and leaders
Improve communication skills
Develop confidence
Gain experience in debt collection and financial services
In addition, someone considering applying for a permanent job after this opportunity can use the experience gained to give examples of what they did in response to questions during interviews.
YES experience should not be confused with a qualification
One thing for applicants to understand is that a YES placement is workplace experience, not necessarily a learnership or qualification.
YES themselves describe their programme as a 12-month workplace experience initiative and differentiate it from learnerships, internships and apprenticeships.
That means applicants need to have realistic expectations.
The opportunity can provide workplace experience, but it cannot be stated on a CV that a person has obtained an NQF qualification by completing the programme unless a separate accredited qualification is provided.
Why communication skills are vital in this opportunity
The focus on a call-centre means that communication is central to the opportunity.
A young person who has good verbal communication skills, some computer skills and can be professional when dealing with customers is likely to find this environment more suitable than someone seeking a purely administrative role.
The employer also mentions that the ability to work towards targets and deadlines is required.
Applicants should therefore understand that they are entering a working environment with expectations and performance requirements, rather than being enrolled for training.
How to apply for the opportunity
The poster asks applicants to send their application to:
An updated CV should be prepared before applying.
Applicants should make sure there is clear indication of their matric qualification, contact details and relevant experience or skills.
The opportunity does not require previous formal employment, so people with little work history can use the opportunity to describe relevant experience such as voluntary work, temporary jobs, community activities or responsibilities at school where appropriate.
What to confirm before accepting an offer
Before accepting the offer, applicants should confirm the practical details with the employer.
These include:
The exact address
The working hours
Saturday schedule
Payment arrangements
Commission and incentive conditions
Benefits included
Documentation required
Start date
Other YES eligibility requirements
This is an especially important step because the supplied advertisement does not state a closing date or employment terms.
Ver-Tex YES opportunity at a glance
Detail Information
Employer Ver-Tex Solutions
Programme Youth Employment Service (YES)
Position area Call Centre – Debt Collections
Location Pretoria East
Duration 12 months
Advertised payment R5,500 per month
Additional benefits advertised Commission, incentives, Funeral Cover and Health4Me
Age stated in advert 18-28
Education Grade 12/Matric
Employment status Unemployed
Previous YES programme Must not have previously completed one
Schedule Monday-Friday and alternative Saturdays
Application Email application to [email protected]
Closing date Not stated
First step into the workplace
For an unemployed matriculant, the challenge of getting their first job can be compounded by the fact that a lack of experience is often required to get experience.
The Ver-Tex opportunity provides a structured 12-month programme around gaining work experience.
However, applicants should take into account more than the monthly payment when deciding whether this opportunity suits them.
In practice, the work involves debt collections and communicating with customers, plus targets and a regular workplace schedule in Pretoria East.
For someone who fits the requirements and can be comfortable with this environment, the opportunity offers a way to build work experience in a professional environment while also building skills they can use in searching for future jobs.
Applicants should also recognise that simply completing a YES opportunity does not guarantee employment during or after the 12-month programme.
Source and verification
The vacancy information used in this article was taken from the Ver-Tex Solutions recruitment poster supplied for publication.
Details including the location, monthly amount, programme duration, eligibility requirements, duties and application email have been retained from that notice.
The supplied advertisement does not include a closing date, so none has been added.
Information about the nature of the YES programme has been checked against YES’s published programme information.
Editorial policy
Our employment coverage aims to provide practical information to South African readers regarding opportunities while avoiding presenting advertisements as guaranteed employment.
We distinguish between information provided by employers and general guidance while not inventing missing details such as closing dates, salaries or employment conditions.
Corrections policy
If an error is found, we will compare the information with the original recruitment notice or relevant official source.
Factual errors will be corrected, particularly where they might affect an applicant’s decision or application.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes and is not an official publication of Ver-Tex Solutions or YES.
Applicants should verify the current availability of the programme, eligibility requirements, employment conditions and application instructions directly with the recruiting organisation before submitting personal information.
Meeting the advertised requirements does not guarantee selection.
