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Dear Miemie

Thank you for your question regarding find a job in youth development and child care. Job hunting is a process which requires a multi-pronged approach and it needs determination and endurance on your part. Here are some ideas which may help you in your quest for a job:

• Create a good CV and plan, then implement your job hunting strategy. There are a number of books on the subject in your local public library. Use the following web page to find the closest library to you in Cape Town. http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/your_gov/12107/facilities/130. A few books to look out for:
  • The 2008 what color is your parachute? By R N Bolles;
  • Job hunting : Everything you need to know by A. H. Gort,.;
  • Online job hunting : great answers to tough questions by Martin Yate;
  • Hot tips on job hunting by C Goldschagg;
  • Job hunting for the retrenched and others by T Marr;
  • Job hunting made easy: a step by step guide by J. Bramham
  • Successful job hunting by I. Ural,

• Register as a work-seeker with your nearest Labour Centre of the Department of Labour. See the “How to Register as a Work-seeker” document on the Department of Labour website located at http://www.labour.gov.za/legislation/acts/how-tos/skill-development/how-to-register-as-a-work-seeker.

• Browse through the “career” or “situations vacant” section of local and national newspapers on a daily basis. Your local library should have copies of the local papers. Apply for all jobs which your experience and qualifications match.

• Register with employment or recruitment agencies. Use your local newspapers and Yellow Pages to help you develop a list of possible agencies in your area. Your local library should have a copy of the Yellow Pages.

• Also contact the Department of Social Development (http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/your_gov/4190/services) to see if they can give you a list of child care and youth development facilities and projects you can contact to see if they have any vacancies.

• Use Cape Gateway as an easy way of accessing government information and services: http://www.capegateway.gov.za/ for example look at the following list of crèche’s on the web page:  http://www.capegateway.gov.za/search/index.php?q=Creche

• Explore working as an au pair. For example, explore the following web pages: http://www.aupairsa.co.za/Index.aspx  or http://www.handyhelpers.co.za/

Good luck with your job search.

Kind regards

Lynn and the Career Planet Team