🧾 Overview:
TimberCity Northriding, a business unit within The Building Company, is offering a 12-month learnership program designed to develop the next generation of retail professionals. This exciting opportunity is ideal for unemployed South African youth under the age of 35 who hold a matric certificate and are eager to gain real-world experience in a dynamic retail setting. The program is structured to provide on-the-job training while instilling core retail skills, industry insights, and essential workplace competencies.
Participants will be immersed in TimberCity’s fast-paced retail environment, where they will learn how to engage with customers, manage stock, process transactions, and support store operations. The company strongly promotes a culture grounded in honesty, accountability, respect, energy, and resourcefulness. Learners will benefit from structured mentorship, regular assessments, and opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-time scenarios, setting them up for potential long-term employment within The Building Company.
The learnership program also emphasizes customer centricity and teamwork, empowering learners to build soft skills such as communication, adaptability, and time management. This initiative is part of The Building Company’s broader commitment to youth employment and industry transformation. Learners receive a monthly stipend during the 12-month period and will exit the program with valuable retail experience that enhances their employability.
This opportunity is perfect for individuals who have not participated in a W&R SETA learnership before, have limited or no work experience, and are passionate about starting their careers in retail. It is more than just training—it is a launchpad into South Africa’s thriving retail sector.
📜 Minimum Requirements:
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Must be a South African Citizen
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Must be under the age of 35
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Must possess a valid matric certificate
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Limited or no prior work experience
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Must not have participated in a W&R SETA learnership before
🛠️ Key Competencies and Skills:
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Basic Computer Literacy (MS Office advantageous)
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Strong communication and interpersonal skills
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Planning and organizational ability
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Keen attention to detail
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Resilience under pressure and ability to meet deadlines
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Willingness to learn and grow within a retail environment
🧭 Responsibilities:
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Commit to the full 12-month learnership
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Participate actively in on-the-job training and formal assessments
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Adhere to company values and daily operational protocols
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Demonstrate initiative in customer service and teamwork
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Assist with stocktaking, product displays, and store upkeep
🗒️ Important Notes:
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This is a temporary learnership contract, not a permanent position
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Successful learners may be considered for future employment upon program completion
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The learnership is SETAs funded, and learners will receive a stipend
Complete CV Writing Guide for Learnership Applicants
Make Your CV Stand Out – The ATS-Friendly Way
Before your CV reaches a recruiter, it often has to pass through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), a type of software that scans CVs to find the most relevant candidates. If your CV isn’t formatted correctly or lacks the right keywords, it could be rejected—even if you’re highly qualified. This guide walks you through how to create a powerful, professional, and ATS-compliant CV to help you secure learnerships and entry-level roles.
1. File Format Matters
Always save your CV as a Word Document (.doc or .docx). Many ATS systems do not correctly parse PDFs, especially if they contain design elements or embedded images. Unless the job description specifically asks for a PDF, stick to Word.
2. Structure: Clear and Logical Layout
A clean layout helps both humans and machines read your CV easily. Use standard section headings like:
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Contact Information
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Professional Summary
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Skills
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Education
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Work Experience (if applicable)
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Certifications
Do not use tables, columns, or text in headers or footers. These elements may be invisible to ATS bots and your important information could be missed.
3. Typography and Design
Keep your font simple and easy to read. Use fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Font size should be 11 or 12 for the body and slightly larger (14–16) for section headers. Use bold text sparingly for emphasis. Avoid italics, underlining, and fancy colors. Stick with black text on a white background to ensure maximum readability.
4. Content: Keep It Relevant and Results-Driven
Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and city. Do not include ID numbers, a photo, marital status, or religion unless explicitly asked.
Professional Summary: A two-paragraph overview that explains who you are, your key skills, what you’re looking for, and why you’re suited for the learnership. This section should include relevant keywords from the job ad.
Skills: List 5–10 skills relevant to the job. For a learnership, focus on soft skills like communication, teamwork, time management, and basic technical abilities like Microsoft Office.
Education: List your most recent qualification first. For example, "National Senior Certificate, completed in 2022 at XYZ High School".
Experience (if any): Include job title, employer name, dates, and a bulleted list of duties or achievements. Focus on what you contributed, not just what your responsibilities were.
Certifications or Courses: Mention any short courses, computer literacy programs, or online learning you've completed that relate to the role.
5. Keyword Optimization
Use words and phrases from the job ad (like “retail,” “customer service,” “basic computer skills,” or “attention to detail”) to help your CV match the employer’s search terms. However, avoid keyword stuffing—use them naturally within your content.
6. Don’t Include Photos
Photos are not needed and may get your CV rejected by the ATS. Also, they can introduce bias. Stick to a clean text-based document for better results.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Using decorative CV templates from Canva or design software (these often break ATS scanning)
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Submitting as a PDF unless asked
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Inconsistent formatting and spelling errors
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Including long paragraphs without bullets
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Listing personal hobbies that have no relevance to the role
8. Final Checklist for an ATS-Friendly CV
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Saved as a .docx file
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1–2 pages long
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Clear, common section headers
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Standard fonts and black text
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No graphics, tables, or columns
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Custom keywords tailored to the role
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Professional, honest, and concise content
🧑💼 Professional Summary for CV (Use on Application):
As an enthusiastic and dedicated young professional, I am seeking to participate in a structured learnership program that provides both formal training and practical workplace experience. I hold a National Senior Certificate (Matric) and am eager to contribute to a customer-focused retail environment. My passion for learning, coupled with my commitment to integrity and hard work, makes me an ideal candidate for TimberCity Northriding’s 12-month learnership program. I aim to leverage this opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of retail operations, customer service, merchandising, and stock control. I am driven by the opportunity to grow within a reputable organization and contribute meaningfully to its success while learning the skills needed to build a long-term career.
Throughout my academic journey, I have developed strong organizational and interpersonal skills, which I believe will allow me to integrate well into a team-oriented retail environment. I am committed to personal development, open to feedback, and motivated to meet deadlines and performance expectations. I approach every task with energy and a willingness to learn, and I am confident that my adaptability, attention to detail, and customer-first attitude will make a positive impact. I am particularly drawn to TimberCity’s values of respect, accountability, and resourcefulness, and I am excited to become part of a team that promotes excellence and professionalism. My long-term goal is to secure a permanent role in retail and eventually pursue further development opportunities in sales, operations, or customer service management.
📨 How to Apply:
Interested applicants must submit:
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A detailed CV
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A certified copy of their South African ID
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A certified copy of their matric certificate
Applications must be submitted online via The Building Company careers portal.
