Client laison - Thebe Rapoo
According to Reference, a client liaison acts as an intermediary between the company or agency and the client to meet the client’s need for information, support, assistance, reports, and training. In this article, we have a sneak peek into the life of a client liaison, Thebe Rapoo. Thebe tells us about his path to becoming a client liaison in the SETA industry.
The primary function of the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) is to raise the skills of employees and job seekers through the establishment of learning programs, such as learnerships, skills programs, internships, and apprenticeships. To achieve this, employers and training providers can access SETA funding in the form of grants.
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1. What qualifications do you hold?
I hold a National Diploma in Management Services. I plan to further my studies in the near future with the hopes of obtaining an advanced diploma in business management and a post-graduate diploma in business management. The main reason is to be eligible to qualify for higher roles.
2. What does your job entail (day-to-day activities)?
My role is to register learners for SETA programs, evaluate them, and process their applications for certain qualifications. I also process ARPL applications for applicants interested in acquiring trade certificates.
Responsibilities depend on the type of business or service but may include monitoring and responding to emails or phone calls, reporting information from the client to the company, training clients in procedures, and preparing training material.
The client liaison must maintain high-level professional communication skills and demonstrate a working knowledge of all systems used by the client base. The client liaison coordinates technical troubleshooting and resolves problems, traveling if necessary to train customers or give assistance. A client liaison must have excellent social and interpersonal skills.
3. What is the most challenging thing about your job?
The most challenging is having to answer queries about other SETA programs that I’m not part of. I have to be well informed about other SETA programs.
4. What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
I’d say getting my paycheck at the end of the month. On a more serious note, I’d say seeing the students I’ve helped with their applications graduate from our programs and have a better chance of getting a job.
5. Why did you choose this career?
I’d say it chose me. It came in the form of an internship, as I’ve worked in the educational sector (DHET) before. It spiked my interest in helping others.
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6. What’s something an outsider wouldn’t know about your industry?
Programs such as learnerships offered by companies are administered by us. We give funding to businesses to equip the unemployed youth with the necessary skills to enter the working environment.
SETA was established in recognition that businesses are key drivers of skills development in the workplace. It is an initiative of the government’s National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) which aims to radically transform education and training in South Africa and to improve industry competitiveness.
South Africa has approximately 23 SETAs in the country with members that include employers, trade unions, government departments and bargaining councils where relevant, from each industrial sector.
Below is a list of the current registered Skills Education Training Authorities (SETA) in South Africa
- Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA)
- Banking Sector Education and Training Authority (BANKSETA)
- Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA)
- Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA)
- Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA)
- Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA)
- Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA)
- Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&M SETA)
- Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Fasset)
- Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industry Sector Education and Training Authority (FoodBev SETA)
- Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA)
- Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (Inseta)
- Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA)
- Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA)
- Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA)
- Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA)
- Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA)
- Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA)
- Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA)
- Transport Education Training Authority (TETA
- Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA)
There are two ways that SETAs disburse funds to employers in South Africa, through mandatory grants and discretionary grants. Both grants are claimed back by the employer from the Skills Development Levy (SDL) which is imposed on businesses to fund the development and improvement of skills of employees in South Africa.
To access SETA funding your business must submit both a Workplace Skills Plans (WSP), which documents your company’s skills needs and the skills development interventions in place to address those needs, and your Annual Training Reports (ATRs).
Mandatory grants – Mandatory Grants are paid by the relevant SETA to companies who are eligible to receive funding. They are calculated at 20% of an employer’s 1% skills levy.
Discretionary Grants – The remaining 80% of the Skills Development Levy is awarded to employers at the discretion of the SETAs. Employers need to apply for this funding through the relevant channels with their respective SETA.
Both grants get paid to the employers in cash which gets transferred to their accounts and is dependent on the amount that they’ve contributed as a skills levy.
7. Are you able to work from home, and if so, do you enjoy it?
No, I’m not able to work from home. My work requires me to be at the office to help walk-in clients.
8. What’s the highlight of your career you’re most proud of?
For now, I’d say being offered a permanent job. I’ve been in the industry for a few years and I've always been offered short-term contracts.
9. How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do now?
He’d be proud of where I am. It’s not my dream job; however, it’s a fulfilling job. I’ve been given the opportunity to better myself and those around me.
10. What career advice would you give to your younger self?
Research!!
Research the industry you’re interested in working in, and study and equip yourself with skills that are in high demand.
11. What’s one work-related thing you want to accomplish this year?
I don’t think it’s really work-related, but I’d like to study more, enroll in short courses, and equip myself with more skills.
12. When you started your current job, what most surprised you?
There’s a lot of work to be done. As unemployment keeps increasing, there will be more applications to be processed.
13. Have you ever had a side hustle or considered having one?
I have never had a side hustle. I’m considering having one. I’m currently struggling with managing my time effectively; once I do that, I’ll be able to start it.
14. If money was no object, what would you do with your life?
Travel the world and spend more time with my child.
15. Have you heard of an emergency fund? Do you have it?
Yes, I'm aware of it. But I don’t have one. I am planning to start one soon.
16. Four financial lessons every kid should know?
1. Learn how to budget
2. Save money
3. Don't spend your money reckless
4. Learn how to make your money work for you.
Course: Multiple streams of income: 7Rs of wealth creation
17. If you could do it over again, would you pursue the same career? Why or why not?
I enjoy what I’m doing; however, I would change my career if offered the opportunity. I’d pursue a career in a high-paying job or industry.
18. Do you think your job will be around in the next ten years or the future?
I believe so. SETA organizations are given a 10-year license to help educate the youth of South Africa. Every decade, it has managed to keep its license. This means the work we are doing is changing people's lives.
Connect with Thebe:
Instagram: thebe_linkies
Linkedin: Thebe Rapoo
Twitter: real_linkies
Bottom Line
Identifying the industry you'd like to work in can make it easier to research a specific job. Choosing a particular career path you are interested in can also help you decide on your education. With many options to choose from, having an understanding of the types of careers can be helpful when deciding what is best for you.
Here are the courses:
1. How to master your money mindset
3. How to build an emergency fund
5. How to create multiple streams of income
6. Investment Guide: What’s your ‘Why’ in investing
7. Investment Guide: Investment basics
8. Investment Guide: Investment options
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