In a time where it’s been reported that there are too many graduates and too little jobs, Suncoast Casino, Hotels & Entertainment has yielded to the call to provide the much needed opportunities for graduates.
Photo: L-R: Sizwe Gule, Tiffany Govindsamy, Tsepo Mchunu and Emmanuel Mhlungu
Suncoast recently welcomed the graduates who qualified to participate in the Suncoast 2014 Graduate Program. The Graduate Program has been successfully running for eight years since its inception.
After an intensive screening process, the six graduates from different backgrounds and universities have been welcomed into their designated departments where they begin a 12 month journey of “on the job training” provided by Suncoast.
The successful graduates inducted this year are: Emmanuel Mhlungu (26) – BCom Honours IT (UKZN); Tiffany Govindsamy (25) – BTech HR (DUT); Sizwe Gule (26) – BCom Honours IT (UKZN); Tsepo Mchunu (22) – Dip Marketing (Rosebank College); Bridgette Jeza (24) – NDip Electrical Engineer (S4) (MUT); and Melody Ngcamu (24) – NDip HR (MUT).
Under the guidance of Recruitment Manager, Tracy Borland and mentors, these students will spend time in the respective departments to gain valuable work experience within their field of study. Borland said, “Looking for on the job training has become one of the challenges that graduates face in South Africa and we are so privileged to be able to afford these students such opportunities”.
With a different story to tell, all the students were chosen on merit and were elated to be afforded the opportunity to learn from the hospitality industry. Tsepo Mchunu (22), a Marketing Diploma graduate from Chesterville, is a Suncoast success story in itself.
Mchunu’s journey with Suncoast began as one of the first students to be funded with a study bursary in 2009 through the Suncoast CSI initiative, Vukukhanye which operates in Chesterville. Suncoast has supported Mchunu throughout his high school and tertiary studies. He has now joined Suncoast’s Marketing Department where he will be exposed to eventing and promotions, CRM, PR and advertising.
“When I finished my qualification I didn’t know what to do,” explained Mchunu. “Coming from a disadvantaged background hasn’t made it easy for me but striving for excellence in everything I do has resulted in this opportunity to gain work experience.”
Deshnee Naidu, Human Resources Manager at Suncoast, encouraged other graduates to apply for graduate programs. She further commented on the role companies need to play. “In order to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and work experience, we have to equip graduates with leadership and social skills to enable them to have the capacity to perform in any role in the workplace,” she said.
For more information about Suncoast Graduates, visit www.suncoastcasino.co.za.