Many young people apply for learnerships without understanding what SETAs and companies look for during the selection process. Knowing exactly what they want helps you position yourself as a strong candidate.

The first thing they look for is eligibility. This includes age, education level and unemployment status. They need to ensure you meet basic requirements. The second thing they look for is genuine interest. They want candidates who are motivated, committed and willing to complete the full programme. They do not want learners who drop out halfway.

Companies also look for reliability. This means punctuality, professionalism and respect for workplace rules. When they evaluate a CV or motivation letter, they are trying to understand whether you can follow instructions, communicate clearly and behave responsibly in a real work environment.

Another major factor is potential. You do not need to be perfect, but you need to show that you can grow. Things like positive attitude, eagerness to learn, resilience and teamwork count a lot. Employers can teach skills. They cannot teach attitude.

SETAs also check whether your documents are complete and correctly submitted. A missing certificate, an unclear ID copy or an incomplete form can disqualify you immediately.

Finally, selection panels look for alignment. They want learners who match the programme’s purpose. For example, if it is an IT learnership, they want someone who has interest in technology. If it is a business learnership, they want someone eager to learn administration or customer service.

When youth understand what SETAs and companies look for, they can prepare better, apply smarter and stand out. Opportunity Access at YouThryve Development exists to guide youth through this process and make sure they submit strong, professional and competitive applications.