Nkosinathi Mahlangu | Specialist | Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship | Momentum Group Foundation | mail me |
Employment and entrepreneurship can seem worlds apart. However, the same skill set can help young people succeed in either.
For young people eager to enter the world of work after years of schooling and studying, the choices can seem exciting yet overwhelming. Should you join a company in an entry-level role and work your way up? Or should you take a leap and start your own business?
Whether you have a boss or are the boss, either path can mark the start of something big. Although these options may seem opposite, the skills that help you thrive in one can serve you just as well in the other.
Whether you are polishing your CV to apply for jobs or considering turning a bright idea into a business, what you learn now can prepare you for either path. Qualifications and technical skills can help you get a foot in the door. However, the human or “soft” skills below can help you stay in the room and succeed.
These career readiness skills can also help you navigate challenges, build professional relationships, and adapt to changing opportunities.
Communication
Communicating well helps you get your point across and build trust. In a job, this means explaining your ideas so others can understand them. It also means securing buy-in, knowing when to listen and asking the right questions.
For entrepreneurs, communication means explaining what you offer clearly. It also involves reading between the lines to understand what your customers really need. For example, you might need to explain to your manager why a deadline must change. Alternatively, you might need to ask the right questions when a customer expresses dissatisfaction, rather than immediately defending your product.
-
How to build it
Practise explaining your ideas simply, whether in conversation or in writing. Pay attention to how people respond. Then, check that everyone understands what you need.
Reliability
People need to know they can count on you, whether they employ you or buy from you. As an employee, reliability means taking responsibility for your role and completing your work on time. As an entrepreneur, it means delivering what you promise. This helps customers trust you, depend on your service and find reasons to return.
-
How to build it
Be realistic about what you can deliver and meet the deadlines you agree to. If something changes, let people know as soon as possible.
Problem-solving
Something will always go wrong. Therefore, knowing how to think on your feet and find solutions can get things back on track with minimal stress. Turning “here’s a problem” into “here’s what we can do about it” is a valuable skill. This applies whether you work for someone else or run your own business.
For example, a supplier might let you down. Do you simply tell the customer their order will be late? Or can you find another supplier, adjust the order, or offer an alternative? At work, the same mindset might help you spot a mistake in a process and suggest a way to prevent it from happening again.
-
How to build it
When you encounter a problem, take a moment to identify its cause and determine your next steps. Make it a habit to suggest a possible solution whenever you raise an issue.
Adaptability
Things change, and your original plan will not always work. You might need to learn a new way of doing something as your role develops. Alternatively, you might have to rethink an idea when customers want something different.
Perhaps customers want a smaller, cheaper version of the product you originally planned to sell. Meanwhile, a new system at work might require you to learn a completely different way of performing a familiar task. Adapting without becoming flustered or clinging to the original plan helps you respond more quickly. This applies whether you are an entrepreneur or an employee.
-
How to build it
When circumstances change, or someone requests something different, focus on what you can adjust to achieve the required result. Be open to feedback and use it to refine and improve your work continuously.
Initiative
Recognising what needs to be done and stepping up can set you apart from your peers. For example, an employee might notice that customers repeatedly ask the same question. They could create a simple FAQ before anyone asks them to do so.
Similarly, an entrepreneur might notice that customers want delivery as well as collection. They could test whether offering delivery generates more sales. Initiative shows that you do not need to wait for someone else to make the first move.
-
How to build it
Look for small opportunities to step up, from volunteering for a new task to suggesting a better way of doing something. When you have an idea, consider how you could put it into action.
Resilience
You will face rejection and setbacks in your professional life. You might apply for ten jobs before securing an interview, lose a customer you expected to retain, or launch a product that simply does not sell. These experiences can be tough. However, resilience means learning from them and deciding what to do next, rather than letting one disappointment derail you.
-
How to build it
When something does not work out, ask yourself what you can learn from the experience and what you would change next time. Use your answers to decide your next move instead of dwelling on what went wrong.
Networking
The people you know and the relationships you build with them can open doors. For an employee, a former colleague or someone you meet at an industry event might share a job opportunity. They could also recommend you for a role or introduce you to someone who can help you grow.
For an entrepreneur, the same network could lead to a new customer, supplier, or business partner. It could also connect you with someone willing to share useful advice. Networking is not about collecting contacts. Instead, it involves building genuine relationships that create opportunities and deliver mutual value over time.
-
How to build it
Start with the people already around you, including classmates, colleagues, lecturers, customers and people working in your industry. Stay in touch, take an interest in what they do, and remain willing to help others. A strong network develops long before you need to ask someone for assistance.
Building skills for the future
Whether you pursue employment or entrepreneurship, developing career readiness skills can help you prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Communication, reliability, problem-solving, adaptability, initiative, resilience and networking all contribute to professional growth.
By practising these skills early, young people can strengthen their ability to navigate the workplace, build businesses and respond to changing circumstances. Ultimately, career readiness skills can support both career development and entrepreneurial success, regardless of which path they choose.
