Telecommunications giant MTN South Africa has launched a new portal to assist unemployed South Africans on their job-seeking journeys.

The new Made4U career portal, Skillsbox, is a comprehensive suite of resources on a user-friendly website and mobile platform designed to empower job seekers.

“From crafting professional CVs and cover letters to mastering interview skills and building personal brands, the portal provides invaluable insights curated by experienced recruiters and trusted institutions,” explained MTN South Africa chief human resources officer Tebogo Maenetja.

With 7.9-million people, equating to about 32.6% of the South African population, unemployed, MTN South Africa is taking proactive steps to uplift job seekers.

The initiative mirrors MTN’s Made4U product offerings, which are tailored to individual data use habits, and kicked off on Worker’s Day 2023 with MTN’s Made4U Squad Experiences, which empowered job seekers through a series of personalised mentorship and coaching sessions, which were then made available for viewing by job seekers across social media.

The Made4U Squad experiences demonstrated the power of personalised support in boosting job seekers’ confidence and skills, as well as showcased the transformative impact of personalised coaching, Maenetja said.

MTN South Africa’s Skillsbox, which will offer invaluable expertise and guidance, enriching any job seeker's search for career opportunities, draws from the success of the MTN Made4U Squad Experiences, which featured mentors such as Timothy Maurice, Amanda Dambuza, Mpoomy Ledwaba, Mapalo Makhu and Lesego Kgosimalao.

“Now, we are scaling up our efforts to drive real change by working to reach as many job seekers as possible to assist them with their career aspirations. Through the career portal, we will continue to provide this type of knowledge and know-how to equip those battling to find a job with the skills needed to succeed.”

“By empowering job seekers with the skills and resources they need to succeed, we aim to make a meaningful impact and catalyse positive change in our society. We implore other corporates to join us in our efforts to combat unemployment and create opportunities for all.”