Getting ready for ANY interview!

Maryke Jooste
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Getting ready for ANY interview!
Interviews are pretty daunting.. but unfortunately they’re an unavoidable step in any job application.Wouldn’t it be great to walk into an interview knowing exactly what to expect, what to wear, and knowing the ins and outs of interview etiquette?Well read on!  
Here are our TOP TIPS for interviews:
  1. Dress appropriately. Not every job interview requires a blazer or pencil skirt — keep in mind the kind of work you would be doing. Research the company for any dress policies and keep these in mind when dressing for the interview.
  1. Research the company. Have a look at their website, social media pages or any mentions of them in the news. Having an understanding of the company will not only make you seem well-informed and competent, it will also help in answering questions, as you can link your experience and background to the company and its goals.
  1. Prepare your answers to the standard interview questions. Have a short summary about yourself and an answer to “why did you apply for this position?” ready to go.
  1. Make sure you understand the job description. Read and reread the job description, highlight specific skills or tasks that you feel you are good at, and bring these up during the interview. Even better, have examples from past work experiences to back these skills up.
  1. Always have your own questions prepared. This shows you are taking the interview and the possibility of working with them seriously, and is bound to impress.
  1. Lastly, don’t forget your manners! Arrive on time, greet everyone, say thank you, never interrupt, and ensure that you thank the interviewer for their time.
By applying these TOP TIPS, you are sure to put your best foot forward during any interview!

When was the last time you checked your CV?

Maryke Jooste
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When was the last time you checked your CV?
Your CV is the first step in any interview process, so it needs to set you apart from other applicants and leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. An untidy or disorganised CV probably won’t make it through 10 seconds of review, even if you are a good candidate for the job!Many CV’s severely let people down. Missing information, untidy documents, or unstructured sections immediately convey a lack of effort or enthusiasm, which is not the first impression most of us would like to give to our potential interviewer. Why is something as simple as a CV what trips us up when applying for a job?
Therefore, we need to take the time to check our CVs for that competitive edge and holistic picture of who we are. However, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to be fancy. Here are some of our top tips:
  1. Use a simple and elegant template. There are loads of free templates on Google that allow you to simply copy-paste your information in. No fuss. No spending hours on Word trying to keep your text boxes in line — and yet, the interviewer will be thoroughly impressed by your neatness and professionalism.
  1. Include a photo. This isn’t a must, but it’s always nice to put a face to the name. Please do not use your Whatsapp profile pic or an obviously cropped picture of you with your friends. Most pharmacies and photo shops offer packages of ID photos for a small amount. These look very professional and are perfect for CVs and other application documents. Just be sure to look neat and tidy — and smile!
  1. Include a short summary of yourself at the beginning of your CV, including who you are, what you do, and what your interests are.
  1. Include all experience you have. Yes, ALL. Any volunteering you’ve done, job shadowing, school groups you were a part of, that 5km charity run you did. All these details add up to give the interviewer a broader understanding of who you are.
  1. Use sections to organise your areas of experience. For example, have seperate sections for education, work experience, community service and hobbies/interests.
  1. Lastly, don’t forget to include contact information, languages you are proficient in, and references.
Make sure all of this fits on a maximum of 2 pages, in a clear font, and most importantly: run it through a spellchecker!And may you find yourself having success in every application you send your CV in for!

Points to consider when you vote in the 2021 Mun Election

Dr Dennis Farrell
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Points to consider when you vote in the 2021 Mun Election
Consider the core leadership and related competencies of Candidate Councilors before you vote. Know what the responsibility of Local Government is to keep them accountable

About Mastering It!

Maryke Jooste
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About Mastering It!

“A dynamic initiative…” – Best description of Mastering It.

Mastering It, a business that was started January 2020 to offer people a platform that empowers them to master their own Education, Life and Career prospects. We have a passion to see people get equipped and/or people sharing their knowledge and skills with others!

As the owner and founder, Maryke Jooste, would say:

“We are all on the journey of lifelong learning, whether we want to be or not and whether we are engaging in it or not. Growing up and going to school, many of us didn’t learn necessary skills for our education, life and/or career. How to do our taxes, how to build up a good credit score, how to buy property… Instead we tried to imitate what we had observed others doing or how we thought things should work. It’s a case of trial and error and figuring things out as we go along.

But wouldn’t it be better to be connected to people that can advise and help? People that have gone through the journey, made mistakes and have lessons we can learn from?

It’s a biblical value and blessing to rather do life together than on our own!

I wouldn’t want to do life in any other way.”

There are many aspects of an individual that never stop growing and developing – our intellect, knowledge base and skill set. We all can improve and give back in these aspects!

Therefore, at Mastering It, we partner with a variety of people that are experts in their field and want to assist others.

Our services ranges from:

– Extra classes & Study Skills classes

– Life Coaching & Life skills workshops

– Career Aptitude Tests & Career Coaching

Services are available for different age groups, can be done face to face or online and are flexible to adapt to different people’s schedules!

Because of COVID-19 we also started with outdoor Zumba and Primary sport sessions. This is great fun and a great way to get to meet other people with similar interests to yourself!

We are passionate about people and will continue to invest in them!

Find more about us here – www.masteringit.co.za.

Or on our Facebook & Instagram pages.

Feel free to browse around on our blog, a newly started initiative (June 2021), where we share tips, insights and encouragement for your Education, Life and Career ventures! We are looking forward to sharing the journey with each one of you!

Lockdown Level 1 from 1 October 21

Herman Pienaar
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Lockdown Level 1 from 1 October 21
Original News24 Article  News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday evening the country will move to adjusted Level 1 lockdown, starting at midnight.He also said the government would also be implementing a vaccine certificate.
This means the following regulations will be in place:
  • The curfew will be from 00:00 to 04:00.
  • Non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres will need to close by 23:00 to allow their employees and patrons to travel home before the start of the curfew.
  • The maximum number of people permitted to gather indoors will increase from 250 to 750, and the maximum number of people permitted to gather outdoors will increase from 500 to 2 000. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50% of the venue’s capacity may be used. This includes religious services, political events and social gatherings as well as restaurants, bars, taverns and similar places.
  • The maximum number of people permitted at a funeral will increase from 50 to 100. As before, night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and after tears gatherings are not allowed.
  • The sale of alcohol – for both off-site and on-site consumption – will be permitted, according to normal licence provisions. However, no alcohol may be sold after 23:00.
  • The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory, and failure to wear a mask when required remains a criminal offence.
  • Ramaphosa said as part of the effort to return the most-affected parts of the economy to operation, the government was looking at the further relaxation of restrictions, particularly with respect to sporting and cultural events.

New mobile incident command unit can meet a crisis where it’s at

Herman Pienaar
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New mobile incident command unit can meet a crisis where it’s at
George Fire and Rescue has taken delivery of a state-of-the-art mobile incident command unit that will be used to manage administration and support on the scene of a crisis, disaster or rescue situation.“The custom-built minibus is effectively a mini crisis command centre that can collect and distribute real-time data that will empower decision makers and roleplayers that are not on the scene to respond appropriately to a given situation,” said Chief Fire Officer Neels Barnard.“The diverse circumstances of the George municipal area often result in extraordinary emergency situations that range from mountain, cliffside and sea rescues and recoveries to runaway fires, floods, wind damage and more. Most of these happen far from crisis centre hubs, which require constant scene-to-management feedback and updates which in turn draws essential emergency workers off site and away from the important work of saving lives and property.“The Type-3 mobile command unit is equipped with technology that bridges the gap so that emergency personnel can stay on site and get on with their work, while providing online, real-time information and footage to decisionmakers that support and finance the work on the ground.“The communications capacity also means the ability to synchronise multi-agency situations that require communication to Joint Operations Centres, government roleplayers and other stakeholders almost anywhere in the world.”The unit can be set up almost anywhere in a short timeframe. It is the first of its kind in the country with a super-high roof to allow for standing room and additional above-counter space. The technology onboard includes two computerised workstations, radio frequency transceivers and internet access, an electric generator and solar panels, and a fixed camera with live footage capability to allow remote monitoring.It can operate in an environment with little or no basic facilities, including no electrical service and phone lines, and has own power generation capacity to operate independently for at least three days.The back section of the vehicle incorporates a Type-3 hazardous materials response unit with a mobile decontamination unit, hazardous materials suits and equipment for detecting chemicals, harmful gasses and radiation.The vehicle was financed with Western Cape grant funding and kitted out using municipal funds. “We are grateful that provincial government and Council recognise the diverse challenges of firefighting in the George Municipality and surrounds. We continue to see the significant difference it makes in the field where lives and properties are saved every day,” said Mr Barnard.

George Trails route network biggest of its kind in SA.

Herman Pienaar
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George Trails route network biggest of its kind in SA.
George has always been known as a beautiful place and superb golfing destination but has one more feather in its cap to be very proud of.Through the George Trails tourism project George can now boast with SA’s (and probably Africa’s) largest and most diverse mountain biking, trail running and hiking route network totalling more than 2300km across 100 different routes.Apart from its size it is also the most diverse. Nowhere else in the country will you find beaches, mountains, plantations, indigenous forest, rivers, dams, farmlands, and Karoo within 20km of a city/town centre.
Warren Moult (creator of the No Shortcuts mountain biking group) and Werner Rall (founder of George Trails) enjoying a mountain bike ride around the beautiful Garden Route Dam area.
Expansion ProjectGeorge Trails was founded in 2015 and is a project by the Green Sport Foundation non-profit organisation, which was also started in George. Last year the organization sourced funding from the Western Cape Government and George Municipality to market George as a trail-tourism destination, expand the route offering and contribute to trail maintenance. This enabled the organization to financially support the local trail maintenance efforts of the Hillbillies Mtb Club and Garden Route Trail Running (GTR) over the past five months. The website was upgraded, and marketing efforts are ongoing. All routes are downloadable for free from the website www.georgetrails.org.za for navigation on GPS devices or smartphones. The website is also an incredible resource for information about the great outdoors around George. A variety of local role players were involved in the expansion project and around 20 jobs were created.My Trail TownGeorge Trails forms part of Green Sport’s My Trail Town concept and is the alpha project. My Trail Town aims to launch in early 2022 and offer towns and cities across SA and the World the opportunity to use their local trails as a sustainable tourist attraction. When packaged and marketed correctly outdoor infrastructure such as trails can be a major attraction in lifestyle choices for people looking to relocate and holds many economic benefits. All whist leading to a healthier community.Responsible UseAs more people use George’s natural playground it is very important to respect landowner and conservation rules. George Trails advocates a variety of guidelines on the website for the safe and responsible use by the public of the trails, although this is not prescriptive in any way. The public is urged not to litter and to conserve fauna and flora.What it means for our townJoan Shaw, George’s Tourism Manager had the following to say: “George Municipality through its Tourism Section partnered with George Trails to facilitate this trail maintenance and marketing, as we see trails – for hiking, trail running and biking – in this diverse natural environment, as one of the unique features that George has to offer.  This is demonstrated in the vast quantity and the high quality of our trails that extend from the mountains to the ocean, encompassing all terrains in between. We are proud that we have SA’s biggest and most diverse network of this kind, on our doorstep.To strengthen our proposition, we also partnered with the George Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) and South Africa’s best trail runner, Ryan Sandes, to promote these routes. During this event local teams were mobilised, and maintenance improved to keep users on the trails and not vary from the tracks to affect the surrounding natural areas, in so doing, promoting the attractions in an organised and responsible manner that cares for our environment and conserves our natural resources.  We encourage the community and visitors to ‘take nothing and leave only footprints’ (or bike tracks) and enjoy the amazing trails at every opportunity.Leon van Wyk, Executive Mayor of George had the following to say: “We are fully supportive of the efforts to encourage the safe use of our George mountain trails by the public and look forward to having tourists experience the unique lifestyle that George offers.”Green Sport would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to the George Trails expansion project: Johann Swanepoel, Joan Shaw, Marthinus Esmeyer, Jacques Mouton, Zane Schmahl, Richard Muller, Deidre Cloete, Hillbillies Mtb Club, Garden Route Trail Running (GTR) and Doughgetters Accounting.

Wilderness now serviced by its own fire station

George Municipality Media
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Wilderness now serviced by its own fire station
Wilderness area is now being served by its own satellite fire station, which was officially opened on Friday, 17 September 2021.Situated near the Caltex The Waves circle on the N2, the new station was built to serve the diverse fire and rescue needs of the area east of the Kaaimans River Bridge, which had until recently been addressed from the main fire station in the George CBD 14km away.George Chief Fire Officer Neels Barnard said a satellite station in Wilderness had been a long-term goal of the department to cover the area’s fire and rescue risks more effectively. “We now have quick and easy access to the N2 for vehicle accidents and hazardous materials spills, the Wilderness beach and lakes for water incidents and rescues as well as significant fire risks such as fuel stations, hotels, dense vegetation and agricultural land.”The Wilderness station is also the first in the Southern Cape to be a double-storey facility with a fireman’s pole.The 440sqm station comprises 348sqm bottom-floor space for vehicles and equipment and 92sqm above for staff quarters. It has three spaces for specialised vehicles including a major fire appliance, 4×4 off-road firefighting vehicle and a jetski, quadbike and rubber duck. The facility is manned around the clock by four firefighters.“There are many advantages of having a fire station in an expanding and diverse community such as Wilderness and surrounds, including the much faster response times to road accidents and fires. Its location next to the Wilderness police station is ideal as there are several overlapping services and administration between the SAPS and municipal emergency services during and after an incident.“The department is grateful to its Municipal Council for recognising the diverse fire and rescue needs that exist in the area and for supporting an ongoing programme to equip the Fire and Rescue department with specialised gear and facilities to continue protecting land and property.“We also thank donors Peter Grindlay and Mikaila Hendricks of Dotsure and Jenny Harding of Delightful Gardens for their contributions towards the interior design and beautifying of the Wilderness Fire Station,” said Mr Barnard.At the official opening George Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk commended Mr Barnard and his department for their pursuit of excellence. “I am very proud of their hard work – their persistence in continuance expansion of capacity will pay off for decades to come,” said Ald van Wyk.Wilderness is the municipality’s third satellite station in addition to Thembalethu and Uniondale.

SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER, SEEK HELP

Herman Pienaar
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SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER, SEEK HELP
Friday 10th of September was World Suicide Prevention Day, and mental health services are available privately or through public health institutions to help reduce suicide risk. Persons with suicidal thoughts and their families do not have to suffer in silence.According to Janine Roos, director of the Mental Health Information Centre at the Tygerberg Campus of Stellenbosch University, it is important to encourage those who suffer in silence to get help if they think they are at risk of suicide.The true incidence of suicide and suicidal behaviour is unknown. Many suicides go unreported. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a million people worldwide commit suicide every year. Males are more likely to complete suicide than females, but females are more likely to attempt suicide. Suicide is an attempt to escape suffering that has become unbearable. Some conditions are associated with a higher risk for suicide, e.g., depression, alcohol and drug abuse and schizophrenia. Factors other than mental illness like sociocultural or economic influences are also implicated in the aetiology of suicide. The emotional impact of suicide on family and friends can last for many years.Interestingly, the first study on suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic found that the number of suicides decreased or remained unchanged despite the profound mental health consequences of the pandemic for many people. The study was done in higher-income countries where governments increased mental health services to support communities and mitigate the effects of lockdowns on mental health and suicide. The lack of reliable current suicide data from low- and middle-income countries makes it impossible to know what is happening in these parts of the world. As restrictions are lifted and we adapt to a new way of living, we should be cautious to support those feeling lonely and experiencing financial hardship.Prevention of suicide remains an important public health priority. It is estimated that for every completed suicide there are approximately 20 non-fatal suicide attempts. Most people who die of suicide exhibit warning signs. The person may say or think things like ‘I cannot think clearly; cannot see a way out; feel hopeless and without any energy’ and talk about death regularly. Studies have found that hopelessness is a strong predictor of suicide. Research also shows that those between the ages of 15 and 29 years are most at risk for suicide.Warning signs in teenagers include drastic changes in eating and sleeping patterns, drug and alcohol abuse, rebellious or reckless behaviour, neglect of personal appearance, expressions of having no reason to live and withdrawal from friends and family. Suicide prevention starts with recognising these signs and taking them seriously.“If someone close to you exhibits signs of suicide, be proactive and do not leave them alone. Remove guns, medication or anything that may be of danger. Reach out to them and offer your help. Be compassionate, non-judgemental, and caring, and try to get the person to professional help (general practitioner, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or school counsellor).Encourage, support, and create opportunities so that the person can talk to you. Listening and talking honestly and openly about suicidal thoughts can help save a life,” Roos concluded.Break the silence; seek help!
  • Call 021 938 9229 or email mhic@sun.ac.za for the public or professionals in the whole of Southern Africa.
  • Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 567
  • Lifeline National Counselling Line: 0861 322 322
  • Mental Health Information Centre of SA: 021 938 9229

Vlogging

Herman Pienaar
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Vlogging
Getting started with videobloggingVideoblogging is the next generation of posting ideas and products over the internet. Everybody knows about textblogging. Now they use videos for a better way of expression. This form of communication may entail a lot of resources, but it is all worth it. If pictures say a thousand words, videoblogging exceeds that by far.A videoblog requires at a minimum a Facebook account but can also require larger disk spaces on websites, a faster server, and a whole new set of programs to support it. Videoblogs can be fed through RSS. This is technology of syndicating your website to other RSS aggregators.Videoblogging works with people on the internet expressing their selves. Now if you put this on a business prospective, you are up to a lot of benefits. Think of it as a powerful tool in making showing your prospective customers your line of products or your services. It’s just like showing a commercial all for free. And if you videoblog through RSS, then most probably you are getting your target market.People like to see what they are going to buy. Some would like to see proof and be sure that they are getting their money’s worth before shelving their dimes on it. All of us know the influence of a thirty second commercial. The effect of videoblogging is similar to that. You show your product, people watch it. If they like it, they buy it. If you present it good enough, they’ll buy the product even if they don’t need it.Now on the web, things are pretty much static, unlike in television in which all are moving. If you post something that is mobile, it would most likely catch attention. Now imaging your product parading in all it’s royalty through videoblog. You’ll get phone call orders in no time.If your business is just starting up, you can create a videoblog right at your own home. All you need is your web camera, microphone, video software, and lights. For as long as you know how to use your camera, then you can create a videoblog.Invest in a good web camera. The higher its resolution is the better the output. And you like to present your goods in the optimum way so get the best one possible. Make a short story, or just capture your goods in one go. Just make sure you are getting the best profile for each. Get those creativity juices flowing.Lights are important in a production. Make sure you illuminate entirely the area you are going to use to create videoblog. The brighter the area, the crispier the images will be. You can also use lighting effects for added appeal to the presentation.Should you require sounds for your videoblog, you need a microphone. Record you voice as a voice over for promoting the product and its benefit to consumers. Sounds are as important as videos on a videoblog. It is advisable to make your sound effects as enticing as the video.Your video editing software can be any program. You need this to finalize your work. You can add sounds, delete some bad angles, or insert some still pictures in there too. Some programs are user-friendly and can be used even with zero knowledge on video editing. Even simple video editing programs should do the trick. Select your background carefully too. The light affects the presentation so make sure that the background and the light complements each other.Videoblogging is a great tool but it also has it downside. It may slow down the computer so other may steer clear of it. Download time may also be time consuming especially if customer is still on a dial- up connection.But don’t let those stop you. Let videoblogging be an alternative for you, though it is best to still keep the text and pictures present in your presentation to accommodate all possible viewers of your site.Nowadays, the more creative you are in presenting your product to the market, they more you are likely to succeed. Videoblogging offers an interactive way of selling. You involve the customers. You instill in them the advantage of your goods. And at times, those are enough to make a sale. 
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