Civil Engineering September 2021 | Vol 29 No 8

Civil Engineering September 2021 57 S AICE Connect is a platform where recruiters can engage with poten- tial employees seeking new job opportunities. In the same platform, pro- fessionals can register to either become mentors or seek mentorship from highly experienced members. The SAICE Connect platform leverages digital technologies to address some of the complex challenges currently confronting society, the most significant of these being unemployment. As unemployment increases, we must implement innovative ways of addressing this challenge. The platform was created in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in job losses, downscaling, as well as disconnection among workers because of remote working conditions. Members who lost their jobs because of the pandemic can register their details on the platform which recruiters can use to identify potential candidates. The platform is designed to assist engineers, technicians, and technologists to advance their careers. WHAT COMPRISES THE SAICE CONNECT PLATFORM? Members seeking employment Recruiters looking for candidates can identify and select candidates from the SAICE Connect database. Small business subsidiaries or independent entrepreneurs can register in order to partner with stra- tegic entities for big projects and tenders. Independent contractors can also register with SAICE Connect. Unemployed gradu- ates and professionals can register their details on the platform and indicate if they are seeking part-time or fulltime work so that they can be contacted by employers for career opportunities. When individuals seeking employ- ment opportunities have registered their profiles, they will be available for use by recruiters upon the candidates’ approval. Employees are also able to indicate which kind of space they would prefer to work in according to their qualifications. As more professionals register on the platform, opportunities with a wider pool of indi- viduals and entities will become possible. Members looking for mentorship opportunities SAICE Connect mentorship support is organised to help mentees navigate work environments through the creation of enabling conditions to connect with men- tors. Mentors are able to share resources, experience, and skills with mentees and expand the mentees’ networks as they con- nect and collaborate. Mentees can also be assisted with their career and professional development. Through the mentorship process, members can learn how to deal with conflict resolution in their working environments as well as how to excel and advance their professional development. The mentees are students and graduates, usually with less than 10 years’ working experience, and mentors are engineering professionals with seasoned work experience. One of the important outcomes of the mentorship offered by SAICE is for mentees to pay it forward by becoming mentors to young professionals later in their careers. This is a vital way of making the platform sustainable. Registered mentors should have an interest in uplifting young professionals, have good listening skills, and be willing to dedicate time to their mentee/s. Flexibility as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has allowed for meetings between the two parties to be held physically or virtually, one-on-one or as a group, depending on their prefer- ences. Mentorship connection creates an opportunity for both parties to build a working and supportive community that advances the civil engineering profession. The mentor ploughs into the community by giving time to mentees and, in addition, mentors who have been in the industry for some time can connect their mentees with related employment opportunities or other developmental avenues. Through mentorship interactions from SAICE Connect, members can gain invaluable skills including communica- tion, collaboration, and critical thinking which are honed by their involvement in interactions with the mentor. FREE TO USE SAICE Connect is available at no cost to all SAICE members. The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that members have access to available employment opportu- nities and to give professionals an avenue to utilise the added value and benefit of being an active member. SAICE Connect: supporting the creation of employment and mentorship opportunities An association that prioritises members’ professional development requires new, progressive strategies to support career progression and expansion. This is the purpose of SAICE Connect, a platform that connects SAICE members who are looking for new ways of growing their network, or actively seeking employment and mentorship opportunities. For more information or to sign up visit saice.org.za/saice-connect Connect