Page 44 - Graduate Recruitment Handbook 2024

Coca–Cola Beverages South Africa

To start, please tell us about yourself, your succession for the future across the entire business
organization, and the areas or fields you recruit
in all areas that we operate in and beyond. Most
for. importantly, the plan includes a robust succession
I am based in Gqeberha and my role as Talent and plan, i.e. growing our own timber for leadership
People Experience Specialist covers the beautiful positions. The South African business is seen as a
Coastal region. This area spans across KwaZulu- talent hub with opportunities for exceptional talent
Natal, Eastern Cape, and parts of the Western across the entire business and beyond.
Cape provinces. I am part of a national team that
is tasked with anticipating resource needs for the
organisation. In Coastal, like all our regions , I am
tasked with helping to create a culture that enables What common mistakes do recent graduates
make on their CVs or during interviews?
a highly productive organisation. We are responsible Mistakes in an interview: Common, but basic pitfalls
for designing strategies to attract, integrate, retain, are things like candidates making no eye contact,
and develop motivated and high performing are shy, nervous, and/or they cannot articulate what
employees. However, the South African business involvement they had in projects they were part of
covers the entire geography of South Africa and in university and the worst, a slugging posture. The
includes Lesotho and Eswathini as well. Within my majority of interviews are conducted online and
role as the Talent and People Experience Lead, I am so first impressions last even longer here. It is so
responsible to ensure that I anticipate important to prepare well and ensure that they have
human capital requirements the basics of online etiquette in place. Checking
across the entire value system for internet connectivity ahead of an interview and
and work collaboratively with dialling into the session ahead of time is critical.
my colleagues to facilitate One can never be too prepared and it can help calm
the creation of the desired nerves and pre-interview jitters.
culture in area of oversight; Mistakes on CV: No executive summary highlighting
implement strategies to their competencies, no detail in what project/s they
develop, retain, integrate, and
deploy motivated employees managed at university if any or leadership skills
throughout the organisation who obtained during their university years.
deliver high performance
How can graduates make their CV’s and cover
and are
letters stand out to you?
Highest quantifiable achievements should be
highlighted on a CV only.
An executive Summary highlighting competencies
are also always appealing. It is what sets candidates
apart.
What are the top three skills you believe are
essential for recent graduates to succeed in
today’s job market?
• Analytical skills
• Project Management
• Communication/ Relationship Management

44 2024/2025 Graduate Recruitment Handbook