In general many of the expats moving to live and work in the country do already have a job offer. But if you are a professional who has skills and qualifications that citizens in the country do not have along with five years of work experience, you can be eligible to come to South Africa for one year just to find work.
Currently there is shortage of employment opportunities but if you are skilled or highly skilled you may be able to find beneficial jobs relating to your profession. Most of the jobs that are available are in sectors such as: IT, tourism, engineering, science and research along with management. Majority of the employers in the country favour a citizen rather than a foreign national, and the companies which do employ people from abroad must prove they were unable to find a South African citizen who doesn’t have skills required for the job.
Many job opportunities for people who have qualifications and are experienced can be found at the Rainbow Nations professional world, and those who have degrees and higher education won’t find it difficult to integrate into the economy of South Africa. In addition to this, many expats do come to the country to open up their own business and generally have a big success in doing so.
Finding Work
Whether you are looking for work in your home country or when you have reached South Africa, there are many ways that work can be found. All the jobs are usually advertised all over the country and then will only be shown worldwide if no suitable South African citizen has been found for the particular position.
Other ways in finding work include, online, networking, word of mouth, newspapers,recruitment agencies and by sending application to companies. You can register on job portals online or you can sign up with recruitment agencies who will advise you on what job positions are available.
The government also wants to employ highly skilled foreign nationals with skills in the shortage occupations there are in the country and some of these jobs are in agriculture, business, economics, health and medicine, life sciences and many more. If you are an expat looking for work in any of these sectors you will find a list of the jobs and qualifications on the DHA Government Gazette website.
If you are looking for work in rural areas and have experience in teaching science, maths or technology you may be able to find work in teaching.
Here are some of the top job websites that expats use to find work
- Best Jobs : https://www.bestjobs.co.za/
- Careers24: http://www.careers24.com/
- Find a Job in Africa: http://www.findajobinafrica.com/findajobinafrica/
- EmploySA: https://www.employsa.co.za/
- Zigo: http://www.zigo.co.za/
- Job Mail: http://www.jobmail.co.za/
- Career Web (Jobs in IT): http://www.careerweb.co.za/Common/Home.asp
- Efinancial Careers ( Jobs in Finance): http://www.efinancialcareers.co.za/
- Public Service Jobs: http://www.dpsa.gov.za/dpsa2g/vacancies.asp
- Job Navigator: A website where expats can match qualifications with jobs that are advertised.
When applying for a job you should send a covering letter along with a CV which details all your skills, education, employment history and qualifications. You may also be required to fill out an application form for the company or organisation you are applying at.
If you are struggling to look for work, some towns in the country have government sponsored labour centres which can assist you in finding a job as well as provide some training.
Facts about working in South Africa
- Business hours: Working hours are 8.30-9am – 5pm Monday to Fridays
- Business language: The main language spoken is English but some people do speak Afrikaans or Zulu
- Dress Code: The dress code is smart but not formal. Suits are generally worn in professional environments and meetings.
- Greeting: A handshake is the usual greeting in business
Opening your own business
If you are considering opening up your own business in South Africa you need to be aware of the processes and procedures that are in place.
It is recommended that before you commit time and money into a business, you should have an assessment or circumstances and requirements carried out by enlisting professional help. You will also need to have a business visa.
When you are submitting a visa application you must attached supporting evidence of a business plan, this is to show that the business will be successful and to highlight the requirements. You must also employ 50-60% of South African citizens on a permanent basis.
There are five procedures you must go through and this generally takes less than four weeks and you must decide the legal structure in terms of if your business will be a sole trader, partnership or if it will be a private company.
Expats will then need to register their company with the CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) by giving a notice of incorporation. Once this has been done a separate bank account will need to be opened solely for the business.
Social Security System
When you are working in South Africa as a resident or a non-resident you will be liable to make social security contributions. These are usually taken from your monthly pay by your employer.
The services from social security are only provided to permanent residents and citizens of the country, if you are on a temporary resident permit you will not receive any social security benefits. The rate is calculated depending on how much you earn and what sector you are working.
Some of the benefits include: Healthcare, unemployment and pensions.
You will need to apply for a social security card and this can be done at the local security office, you must show documents which prove your immigration status and identity.