“I enjoy engaging with students and playing a role in guiding and coaching them into becoming the best version of themselves,” says Tando Tyakume of UP Career Services. She tells us how she is making an impact every day.

Tando Tyakume knows a thing or two about making an impact on the lives of students, having worked in the graduate employability space for about 10 years. She tells us more about her role in Career Services at the University of Pretoria (UP).
 

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in the rural Eastern Cape, and am the second-born of four kids and the only girl. I moved to Gauteng in 2006 to pursue a human resources-related qualification at UP. I have been living in Pretoria for the past 17 years. I am a mom to two beautiful daughters. I describe myself as a foodie, and a lover of everything vintage and unique.

How did you choose your career?

I was very good at maths and accounting at high school, and my teachers told me I’d make an excellent chartered accountant. So I intended to become one; however, after matric, I took a gap year and travelled a lot, visiting family and friends and getting to know myself better.

During that year, I came across two family friends that were in human resources management. I was impressed with their line of work and even more intrigued by their position of power to control the most important company resources: hiring and firing people, or so I thought. When it was time to register for BCom Accounting, I changed my mind on the spot and signed up for human resources management.

I discovered that my passion lay in working with people, developing people and understanding people from various socio-economic backgrounds. So it’s safe to say that the career chose me. It allows me to change people’s lives through learning, development, training, coaching and mentoring others to be employable.

What are some of the challenges that you faced at work?

Being a young person who is hands-on and eager to contribute, I was shocked and disappointed when my fresh ideas were not welcomed at first. Immediately, imposter syndrome set in; I felt I was not as good as I thought I was.

So I tried to understand the culture of the organisation. I had to find ways to get my ideas noticed – I had to let my work speak for me. When I did things differently and achieved different results, everyone wanted to know what and how I had managed to do it. In that way, slowly but surely, I became someone that colleagues would run to for ideas and advice. I got my confidence back.

How are you making every day matter?

By showing up to work on time, ready to make an impact in someone’s life. At UP Career Services, we support our students and graduates to succeed in the world of work and it is a great pleasure for me to be in a role that directly contributes towards the livelihoods of young people in our country and to see UP students being employed and progressing to become responsible citizens.

Which UPWAY value do you identify with most: Teach, Learn, Innovate, Impact or Live?

Definitely IMPACT.

How have you applied this chosen value at work?

I’m all about making an impact, in a small or big way. This can be by sharing career-related information, offering employability support to students, ensuring that students are ready for the world beyond university by giving them opportunities to meet employers through on-campus presentations and making sure they have access to workplace skills. I enjoy engaging with students and playing a role in guiding and coaching them into becoming the best version of themselves.

What should be done to support young people in the workplace?

Young people need support with skills training. Typically, they are willing to work but often lack on-the-job experience and soft skills. There needs to be a platform to develop and nurture these skills without making young people feel inadequate.

Secondly, cross-generational mentoring should be encouraged. When different generations share their ideas, skills and experience, organisations benefit from the knowledge of older generations and the fresh ideas, new perspectives and tech-savvy of youth. This results in diverse, cohesive teams and ultimately a more productive environment.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

I see myself continuing to grow in my career and taking on more responsibilities within my department by leveraging the expertise I’ve gained working in the graduate employability space for almost 10 years. I'm also looking at going back to studying further to stay abreast of any new developments that are happening in the world of work.