[{"id":2423,"link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/2025\/12\/03\/elchemie-annual-year-end-update\/","name":"elchemie-annual-year-end-update","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/End-of-Year-Newsletter-2025-12-03.jpg","alt":"End of Year Newsletter 2025 12"},"title":"Elchemie Annual Year-End Update","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Susan Van der Merwe","link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/author\/susanhuman\/"},"date":"Dec 3, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-12-03 07:13:38","modifiedDate":"2025-12-03 09:16:15","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-03 07:16:15","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":0},"status":"publish","content":""},{"id":2335,"link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/2025\/09\/11\/online-webinar-save-the-date\/","name":"online-webinar-save-the-date","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Webinar-Save-the-date-.png-2025-09-10.jpeg","alt":"Elchemie Webinar - Save the date"},"title":"Online Webinar- Save the date","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Susan Van der Merwe","link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/author\/susanhuman\/"},"date":"Sep 11, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-09-11 06:36:21","modifiedDate":"2025-09-11 13:36:48","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-09-11 11:36:48","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":0},"status":"publish","content":""},{"id":1663,"link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/2025\/05\/15\/tuks-career-fair-2025\/","name":"tuks-career-fair-2025","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Tuks-Career-Fair-2025.jpg","alt":""},"title":"TUKS Career Fair 2025","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Susan Van der Merwe","link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/author\/susanhuman\/"},"date":"May 15, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-05-15 10:11:38","modifiedDate":"2025-05-15 12:24:35","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-05-15 10:24:35","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/tag\/career-fair\/' rel='post_tag'>Career Fair<\/a><a href='https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/tag\/engineering\/' rel='post_tag'>Engineering<\/a><a href='https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/tag\/graduates\/' rel='post_tag'>Graduates<\/a><a href='https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/tag\/information-sciences\/' rel='post_tag'>Information Sciences<\/a><a href='https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/tag\/students\/' rel='post_tag'>students<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":15},"status":"publish","content":"Our team attended the EBIT Student Career Fair at the University of Pretoria on 14 May 2025. It was a highly successful day\u2014we had the pleasure of meeting many impressive"},{"id":1540,"link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/2024\/07\/11\/navigating-the-job-market-3-nuggets-of-wisdom\/","name":"navigating-the-job-market-3-nuggets-of-wisdom","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Navigating the Job Market: 3 nuggets of wisdom","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Susan Van der Merwe","link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/author\/susanhuman\/"},"date":"Jul 11, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-07-11 11:38:58","modifiedDate":"2024-12-25 15:51:39","modifiedDateGMT":"2024-12-25 13:51:39","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":32},"status":"publish","content":"Job hunting can feel like an uphill battle, and we know it can get tough, especially if you have been on the market for a while without success. It's easy"},{"id":1507,"link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/2024\/04\/22\/reigniting-your-passion-overcoming-workplace-monotony\/","name":"reigniting-your-passion-overcoming-workplace-monotony","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Reigniting Your Passion: Overcoming Workplace Monotony","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Susan Van der Merwe","link":"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/author\/susanhuman\/"},"date":"Apr 22, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-04-22 12:49:23","modifiedDate":"2025-04-25 10:32:42","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-04-25 08:32:42","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/elchemie.co.za\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":39},"status":"publish","content":"In the fast-paced world of work, where routines rule and time ticks on endlessly, falling into the trap of monotony is not uncommon. 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While this marks an exciting chapter, stepping into a fresh work environment can feel daunting. 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Recruitment Insights
Expert Tips for Candidates & Employers
Should You Accept a Counteroffer?
Resigning can trigger an unexpected response from your employer — a counteroffer. Higher pay, extra benefits, or even a new title may be on the table. While it may feel validating, the decision isn’t as simple as it seems.
What to consider:
- Trust and commitment may shift – After resignation, relationships change, and employers may begin preparing for your exit.
- Your reasons for leaving remain – Culture, growth, or leadership concerns rarely vanish overnight.
- Reputation risks – Counteroffers can damage credibility with both current and future employers.
- Short-term vs. long-term – Many employees who accept still move on within 6–12 months.
- Career disadvantages later – You could be seen as a “flight risk,” overlooked for promotions, or first in line during downsizing.
Bottom line: A counteroffer may feel rewarding in the moment, but it’s rarely a long-term solution. Weigh your options carefully — your next step could define your career path.
Most Common Resume Blunders
Spelling, punctuation and grammatical mistakes tell employers that you don’t pay attention to details. Simply running a spell checker over your resume isn’t enough. In an international survey, 76% of executives said one or two typos are enough to nix an applicant’s chances.
Using buzzwords like “results-oriented” or “team player” can kill your chances. These adjectives have lost their impact. Focus on quantifying your contributions instead.
Mistaking responsibilities for accomplishments greatly reduces your resume’s impact. Don’t just tell employers what you did; show them the value you brought to the company.
Packed paragraphs are a pain to read. Use 3 to 5 clear bullet points per job to make your resume easy to scan.
Mistakes Companies Make on Job Specs
Typing and formatting errors give a poor first impression. Sloppy formatting suggests a lack of professionalism.
Vague and long job descriptions attract the wrong candidates. Be specific. State your non-negotiable requirements clearly first, then the “nice-to-haves.” If you need a Masters in Chemistry, ask for it directly.
Incorrect or misleading job descriptions lead to high turnover. Describe the job fully, including the less glamorous duties. It’s much cheaper than training a new employee every few months because the role wasn’t what they expected.
Common Mistakes in Jobseeker CVs
Your CV is your primary sales tool. Make sure it’s perfect.
- Typing & Formatting Errors: These are preventable. Proofread, ask someone else to read it, and always send your CV in PDF format to preserve formatting.
- CV Length: Summarise your experience. In South Africa, a 3-4 page CV is acceptable, but use powerful, concise bullet points.
- Confidential Information: Never divulge confidential financial data or sensitive project details about your current or previous employers.
- Reasons for Leaving: Always include this, but frame it professionally. Instead of “atrocious working conditions,” try “seeking a more collaborative team environment.”
- Incorrect Information: Do not lie about dates, duties, or qualifications. Employers value honesty above all, and they will verify the information.
5 Bad Email Habits to Avoid
- Sending emails at all hours: This sets an expectation that you (and your team) are available 24/7, leading to burnout. Set clear email hours.
- Using email for complex topics: Complicated issues lead to confusing email chains. Use the phone or in-person meetings for sensitive or complex subjects.
- Keeping email alerts on: Constant notifications kill productivity. Turn them off and check your email at set times during the day.
- Using vague subject lines: “Question” or “Meeting” are useless. Be specific (e.g., “Question Regarding Payroll Administrator Application”).
- Writing overly long emails: Long emails get ignored, especially on mobile. Keep it to five sentences or less and use attachments for more detail.
How to Answer Important Interview Questions
Performance-based interview questions are now standard. Be prepared.
- Strengths: Don’t just list them. Demonstrate each strength with a specific, real-world example from your career.
- Weaknesses: Never say you don’t have any. Acknowledge a real weakness and explain the concrete steps you are taking to improve upon it.
- Be Honest: Do not fake or exaggerate your achievements. Integrity is paramount.
- Ask Questions: Ask about the critical challenges of the role. This shows you are thinking like a problem-solver, not just a candidate.
