The demand for professionals in key African countries has increased in spite of general trends, said Jack Hammer of Executive Headhunters on Monday.
”If you are willing to relocate from South Africa to other African countries, can speak Portuguese or French and have experience in banking, retail, construction, petrochemicals or telecommunications — you’re a headhunter’s dream,” he said in a statement.
Debbie Goodman-Bhyat, MD of the company, said it had formed an Africa division in the wake of increasing demand from multinational corporate clients in the banking, retail, FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) as well as construction, telecoms and petroleum sectors.
”The countries with the most jobs include Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania and Mauritius.”
South African companies looking to maximise growth had been more courageous in expanding into Africa, she said.
”Because many of these initial expansion initiatives have been very successful, these companies are looking for further growth which has created greater need for more skilled staff.”
Goodman-Bhyat noted that Africa was currently one of the big growth markets for corporations in South Africa and globally.
And while it was often more desirable to appoint locals, the required skills base was sometimes not available, she said.
”As a result, companies have needed to bring in staff to fill certain roles, but because many countries on the continent have historically been considered high risk areas for non-locals to live and work, attracting top skills for senior management jobs has been a challenge.
”This has created skills shortages especially at senior levels.”
She said because some of the more emergent economies in Africa did not have the same corporate infrastructure and high level corporate governance standards, South African skilled professionals with the right qualifications and experience had become the most natural and relatively easy choice for staff.
”This is extremely positive for South Africa’s senior managers as it provides an incredible opportunity for senior staff currently working in South Africa — especially if they originally hail from other African countries — to gain new emerging market experience.”
She added that over the past few years many students from South Africa’s neighbours had studied and graduated at South African universities, many of them choosing to stay and gain work experience locally.
”Now’s an incredible time for them to consider returning ‘home’ with some solid business experience at senior level and benefit from this expansion.
”If you have the skills, know the lay of the land and can speak the language, you will be in high demand,” she said. — Sapa