Try GOLD - Free
Helping unemployed graduates to find work
Farmer's Weekly
|June 30, 2023
Armed with a degree and youthful vigour, many a graduate has faced the stark reality of being unable to secure a job despite their qualifications. Lindi Botha spoke to Jenny More, director of RecruitAgri, about why this scenario keeps playing out, and how to solve it.
A woman in her mid-20s sat before Jenny More, director of RecruitAgri, interviewing for a position in the non-profit's graduate programme, where she would obtain valuable experience as a farm intern. She was struggling to answer the most basic questions More put to her, and getting a conversation going was difficult.
"She had exceptional marks for Matric and graduated with an agriculture BSc cum laude. On paper she was the perfect candidate, yet had still not found a job two years after graduating," recalls More.
"We require students to score at least 80% in the entry interview before they are accepted, and the woman didn't make the cut. She stayed in my thoughts long after the interview. It highlighted how the education system arms students with all the knowledge to do the job, but none to get the job."
This was one of several reasons why RecruitAgri was founded in 2018. More and her husband Guy, CEO of GA Chalkley Estates, in White River, Mpumalanga, wanted to find ways to uplift the greater White River community where they farm.
A few years ago, when Guy advertised for a mid-management job on the farm, he received more than a hundred CVs, but couldn't distinguish the one from the other, making the interview process extremely difficult and tiresome.
COMMON TREND
Speaking to other farmers soon revealed this was a common trend. RecruitAgri was started to address these issues.
"Traditionally, farm managers have been white and elderly," says More. "When these managers retire, there are often few options for a replacement on the farm, as few workers have the qualifications needed for a promotion." RecruitAgri takes in graduates who already have a diploma or degree in agriculture or a year of practical experience.
This story is from the June 30, 2023 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Farmer's Weekly
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa's unique coral trees
Every year in late winter, South Africa's eastern coastal belt is set ablaze with the scarlet and orange flowers of certain coral tree species from the genus Erythrina. Mike Burgess investigates the diversity of this special category of highly adaptive deciduous trees that includes the peculiar ploughbreaker.
2 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Jaecoo J5 is ready to make waves
Chinese carmakers have been growing their local market share at the rate of knots over the last few years. The introduction of the Jaecoo J5 will further ensure the upward curve
2 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Farm watches take charge of rural safety
With rural crime on the rise and police resources stretched thin, farm watches across South Africa are stepping up to protect farming communities. These volunteer-led safety networks are preventing millions in losses, deterring criminal activity and helping police solve major crimes, proving that when farmers unite, the benefits ripple far beyond the farm gate.
8 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to start a farm watch in your area
Rural safety initiatives like farm watch systems are guided by the framework laid out in the national Rural Safety Strategy. Dr Jane Buys, safety risk analyst for Free State Agriculture, talks Sabrina Dean through the concept of a farm watch and how to establish one
9 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'Farm attacks are a national crisis'
The rural safety crisis in South Africa remains dire, with farm attacks and murders continuing at alarming rates. This calls for rural crimes to be declared priority crimes as a matter of urgency, according to
3 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Advancing real-time data collection in South African agriculture
Dr Mahlane Godfrey Kgatle, Research Coordination Manager at Grain South Africa, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Information Hub at Innovation Africa, University of Pretoria, is transforming agricultural research through real-time data integration and collaboration across disciplines.
3 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Stellenbosch in November: a seasonal gem and the perfect time to visit
Brian Berkman suggests you clear your diary to spend more time in November in the beautiful Eikestad.
3 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Adapting to the Climate Change Act: how agro-processing SMEs can build resilience
Wynand Deyzel, commercial sales manager at Solenco, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Act is shaping the operational durability of small to medium-sized agricultural enterprises and the role of indoor air management in adapting to climate impacts.
3 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
KWV shines at Veritas Awards with top accolades
KWV made history at the 35th Veritas Awards when it clinched the prestigious Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy – the award for the best wine in the show, excluding Museum Class Wine – for the second year in a row and third time overall.
2 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Co-operation needed to build a resilient food system
From governments and international organisations to farmers, researchers, businesses, and consumers, including the youth, everyone has a role to play in shaping the transformation of agrifood systems of the world
2 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Translate
Change font size