Career of the day

Fireman


Paramedics are responsible for pre-hospital emergency care, treatment and specialised transport of patients with medical emergencies. They usually work as part of a rapid response team dealing with a range of situations, from minor wounds to serious injuries caused by major accidents. They give comfort to people who are hurt and scared and transport them to hospital. Paramedics use advanced life support techniques, carry out surgical procedures, provide drug and fluid therapy and put on dressings for wounds or to support broken bones. They perform daily vehicle and equipment checks and ensure that medical supplies are accounted for. Paramedics can obtain a Bachelor of Technology: Emergency Medicine or Emergency Medical Care or can do Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Life Support courses to qualify for the career. Intermediate Life Support Advanced Life Support (ALS) course. They must also register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Phlebotomist


Not many people know what this strange word means but if you have donated blood or had it drawn for medical tests, you have met a phlebotomist. Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. They keep detailed records. They confirm a patient or donor’s identity, label drawn blood for testing or processing and enter patient information into a database. They assemble and maintain medical instruments such as needles, test tubes, and blood vials. To avoid causing infection or other complications, phlebotomists keep their work area and instruments clean and dispose of contaminated material in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies. Patients appreciate a successful first attempt when having their blood drawn, so phlebotomists work skilfully to maintain patients’ comfort and confidence. Phlebotomists work mainly in hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centres, and doctor’s consulting rooms. Most phlebotomists take a two year technical training programme that consists of a structured learning component or theory as well as workplace experience and practical exams to become certified.

Chemical engineer


Chemical Engineers use chemistry and engineering to create better ways to produce and use chemicals. They perform tests in laboratories and, if possible, run tests in manufacturing plants. After their research is conducted and analysed, Chemical Engineers write reports about their findings. Manufacturers of products use this information to improve the production process. Some Chemical Engineers specialise in research and development only. They spend their time designing and running tests. For example, they study how temperature and pressure affect chemicals during the production process. Other Chemical Engineers take care of the everyday running of manufacturing plants and some work in waste management. They find new ways to reduce the pollution created by manufacturing. Chemical Engineers advise lawmakers about the dangers chemicals cause to the environment and help create legislation to protect the public from unsafe chemicals.

Robotics technician


Robotics or electro-mechanical technicians as they are also known work with some of the most advanced equipment available in the manufacturing industry. They build, install, test, or maintain robotic equipment or related automated production systems by combining their knowledge of mechanical technology with an understanding of electronics. They maintain and repair unmanned, automated, robotic, or electromechanical equipment in many industries, including automotive manufacturing and assembly, energy, plastics, information technology and aerospace. They read blueprints and diagrams and do repairs to robots such as replacement of defective circuit boards, sensors, controllers, encoders, or servomotors. They also install, programme, or repair programmable controllers, robot controllers and end-of-arm tools. Experienced robotic technicians may also be involved in the development of unmanned aircraft, unmanned submarines and related equipment used in deep sea exploration and oil drilling, bomb disposal and hazardous waste removal. Robotic technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree or a national diploma in engineering.

E-commerce entrepreneur


Want to start a business without breaking the bank to rent a store? E-commerce or online businesses have the best of both worlds, establishing a place for themselves in the market and saving money by working from home or a relatively well priced storage and dispatch facility. E-business entrepreneurs sell, package, and ship products to customers or distributors. They use well-designed websites as online stores to advertise their products and facilitate orders and payments. They also do online marketing to promote their products. E-commerce entrepreneurs ensure that their websites are functional, easy to navigate and user friendly to enable users to comfortably buy their products. They typically set the prices for products and email customers to confirm transactions and communicate throughout the shipment process. E-commerce entrepreneurs need a good business sense, a bachelor’s degree or national diploma in commerce and a thorough knowledge of computers and online business applications.

Fashion designer


Fashion designers create designs for garments and accessories using pencil and paper or computer-aided design. They examine sample garments on and off models and modify designs to achieve the desired effects. They sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as colour schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements. They often consult with executives and sales teams to choose a theme for their seasonal line-up. These professionals travel to trade shows, manufacturers and fashion shows to stay on top of new trends and materials. From an initial sketch to the first version of the garment, the designer can expect long hours, hectic deadlines, and clients who are perfectionists. Fashion designers are mostly self-employed as they work for different large brands and labels. Most aspiring designers obtain a university of technology or fashion school qualification in fashion design.

Maudie de Wit

+27 82 770 6161

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Tok Grobler

+27 82 375 0200

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