COVID-19 left a myriad of disruptions to lives and businesses globally. Still, creating jobs remains a top priority for South Africa. The unemployment rate currently stands at 63,9% for those aged 15-24 and 42,1% for those aged 25-34.
After two years of remote-working and hard-lockdown measures, many recruitment companies are gradually trying to rebuild. And companies like Secondments harness technology to forge a new path in SA.
TransformSA touched base with one of the founders of Secondments, Siphiwe Dondolo, to learn more about his journey in the recruitment space. Dondolo is an experienced business leader with a demonstrated history of working in the staffing and recruitment industry. He is skilled in business strategy analysis and trends, budgeting, HR consulting, and executive management.
Dondolo holds a Bcom degree, majoring in Industrial Psychology & Human Resources Management from the North West University and a postgraduate qualification from Wits Business School.
Upon graduating, the Kimberley-born and Mahikeng bred entrepreneur moved to Jo’burg to seek greener pastures. And his first job was in the call centre. Although he enjoyed his first job, Dondolo felt that something was missing. He wanted to focus on a career path closer to his studies. His initial thoughts were, “What do I do with this degree?” That was one of the questions he often mulled over as he sat at his desk
Unfortunately, Dondolo couldn’t find anything within the HR field. “Did I know what I was getting into and looking for? What do I do with this degree? I’m sitting in a call centre. I’m enjoying it, but I need to start focusing on a career path closer to what I had studied,” he said.
In 2004, he moved into the recruitment space over two years and worked for a company called Set Recruitment. Two years later, Dondolo would join Ernst & Young as their assistant manager. He spent over ten years with EY and rose through the ranks to become a senior manager.
In 2014, Dondolo found himself discussing the possibility of purchasing the EY business unit he was heading.”On the 1st of April, 2015, we founded, Secondments”. I was leading the EY Advisory Secondments sub service line. Two former business partners and I presented our interest to acquire the Secondments sub service line to the EY executive team”, he told TransformSA.
Secondments is a 100% black-owned Level 1 BBBEE organisation focusing on creating synergy with clients by building sound business relationships.
“I think it was a good move, and it started incredibly well,” Dondolo recalled. The business proved successful for Dondolo and his partners within its first four years.
Most business owners were not prepared for a black swan event like Covid. Fortunately, Secondments had Dondolo as a flexible and savvy business leader at the helm.
” Just before COVID 19 happened, I acquired the shares of my two partners. Unbeknownst to me, the COVID 19 and the lockdowns were around the corner.”
Like a true entrepreneur, Dondolo decided to roll with the punches. Today he can look back and say his business slowly broke from the clutches of the pandemic.
“And I see a bright future for the business. It is encouraging. The market, albeit not at the levels that they once were, but you can see that we are moving in the right direction regarding recruitment,” said Dondolo.
There were so many lessons for businesses to learn during Covid. One of them was quickly identifying the weak points of essential processes and preparing a continuity plan.
“I always thought you have to wake up, work hard, and get your rewards, but I’ve seen there’s slightly more than that you need to do. Yes, it’s quite good to wake up and work hard but in leadership your sense of awareness is critical,” he said.
Dondolo said the biggest lesson for him was the necessity to pay attention. “The big lesson is paying attention, not just to what’s happening inside your business, but externally. If you don’t know what’s happening around you, it’ll be challenging for you to move forward. You can work as hard as you want, but if you don’t adapt to the changing world and environment whether it be driven by technology, politics, economics, societal etc you will find yourself being left behind by your competitors. You need to always be ahead of the curve”,he said.
Dondolo’s company offers executive search, recruitment, and temporary employment services. His company has taken graduates on development programs to create a research unit. This is one of many Dondolo’s attempts to ensure young graduates get their foot in the door.
“Some young people have got their first work experience through Secondments. And from now on, that’s something that a company will consistently be doing,” he said.
Dondolo said they plan to see more growth, especially in Africa. “We are very passionate about the youth, you know, bringing them on board, upscale and avail them to the market. This way, we will continue contributing to our communities, ” Dondolo concluded.
