South Africans can’t find jobs, turn to memes on Twitter instead

Introducing the bleakest trending hashtag we’ve seen in South Africa for a good while.

#ToGetAJobInSA began trending across the country’s Twitter timelines on Monday evening, highlighting just how difficult it is to find employment in South Africa, even as graduates. Participants aren’t talking about the unemployment rate though, but rather highlighting the ridiculous demands placed on first-time job seekers.

It’s not clear who exactly used the hashtag initially, nor how it sparked into life on a cold Monday evening, but hidden behind the responses of memes and GIFs lies a real issue in South Africa.

#ToGetAJobInSA you must have a degree and 10 years experience plus be under the age of 23 all at the same damn time🤦🏾‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/ygo5Co36SE

— Ontshiametse🌻 (@_tshiamii) July 16, 2019

#ToGetAJobInSA they first asked for Gr12 then that and a computer course now it's that with a driver's license, what's next proof of income or bond payments 😞 pic.twitter.com/GLPyIiAgSq

— ®️Lifestyle🇿🇦Dj (@DjSouLStaRSA) July 16, 2019

#togetajobinsa you must be under 25 years and have more than ten years experience pic.twitter.com/w5ojkX2CYa

— Ntokozo (@Ntokozo969) July 16, 2019

Nevertheless, others really just contibuted for the memes, tbh.

You must have connections 😭 #ToGetAJobInSA pic.twitter.com/fJQ9EWtuwd

— Khanya Thembane (@noksy_k) July 16, 2019

#ToGetAJobInSA is such a drag. You'll go to the Police Station so many times that the officers will know your name and qualifications. pic.twitter.com/bCqIsYgErF

— The Graduate🎓 (@_ThaboPhetla) July 16, 2019

#ToGetAJobInSa you must change your physical address more than 10 times b4… pic.twitter.com/iNEEcwX5n2

— Naye (@baleni_naye) July 16, 2019

You need these kinda connections #ToGetAJobInSA pic.twitter.com/b5NAYDZ1Zf

— 𝓜𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓲👑 🇿🇦14 July (@MANDISI883) July 16, 2019

Some offered advice.

#ToGetAJobInSA you must go to school (don't be overqualified), go to church, see a sangoma, abstain from sex and alcohol, fast for 40 days and nights, apply to 500 companies a day, kiss people's asses and pay for connections.
What did I miss? pic.twitter.com/vg34dZe2kg

— The Graduate🎓 (@_ThaboPhetla) July 16, 2019

You must apply for any job. #ToGetAJobInSA pic.twitter.com/2lalw8lT6T

— McDoody (@Mc_Doody) July 16, 2019

Advice that I’m sure some in government would love…

If you want to get a job you must have a fourth industrial skill like data science, software development, cyber security etc #ToGetAJobInSA

— Underrated King (@zola_92366) July 16, 2019

Beyond the jest, this is a dire discussion, especially considering South Africa’s youth unemployment rate. Statistics South Africa in May revealed that 55.2% of South African graduates aged between 15 and 24 were unemployed. And this number’s increasing.

Feature image: Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz via Unsplash