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.
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