We are proud to welcome Luyanda Khoza to the QASA team as the new office administrator at our head office in KwaZulu-Natal. He joins us after successfully completing the QASA Work Readiness Programme.
“The experience was great,” Luyanda reflects of his time in the programme. “Our facilitator taught us that workplace readiness skills are personal qualities, people skills, and professional traits that are necessary to maintain employment. These skills are important because they are the most desirable skills employers are searching for in potential employees.”
The programme has several modules covering a range of skills from interviewing to team building and operating the Microsoft Office software. Many of the skills translate well to Luyanda’s new role. He shares: “The Work Readiness Programme contains a lot of content that is applicable for an administrative assistant.”
He encourages others to also participate in the programme: “The programme is important for people with disabilities as it teaches one how and what to do in a workplace. It makes one confident that they can come into the role, learn everything quickly and start contributing to the team goals in a very fast timeframe.”
Luyanda had to go through the normal, rigorous interview and selection process to ensure he was a good fit (and visa versa). Fortunately, this gave him valuable experience successfully seeking employment. He shares some of what he learned through the process.
“Make sure that your CV is good as it is the first contact you have with a prospective employer. It is your chance to make a good first impression. You use it to show your prospective employer why they should hire you; and what the benefits of having you on their team will be. Also, make sure that you read over the job application description and use a professional name and email address. Lastly, follow the instructions,” he notes.
With his new gained skills and experience, Luyanda had the opportunity to seek employment with any company. So, why QASA?
“I have heard good things about QASA,” Luyanda says. The mission and vision of the organisation particularly grabbed his attention. “Because we spend so much time at work, I want that time to be put to good use in a team where everyone has the same objective; where everyone is productive; and where great things are constantly achieved.”
We are grateful and excited to have Luyanda join our team. We wish him success in his new position.