Episode 1 Talent It Up with Special Guest Talent Acquisition Specialist Alya Hansa
Watch Level Up with Ziyaad, Nabihah, and Isa Plaatjes on Radio Islam International MW 1548
Episode 1: Talent It Up with Special Guest Alya Hansa - Talent Acquisition Specialist
Sunday 7th September 2025 / 14th Rabi ul Awwal 1447AH 14h00 - 15h00 (CAT)
Listen to Level Up with Ziyaad, Nabihah, and Isa Plaatjes on Radio Islam International MW 1548
Episode 1: Talent It Up with Special Guest Alya Hansa - Talent Acquisition Specialist
Sunday 7th September 2025 / 14th Rabi ul Awwal 1447AH 14h00 - 15h00 (CAT)
Transcript
Ziyaad:
0:21 As Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu dear listeners, it's just past 2:00 p.m. It's actually 14h09 on this 14th day of
0:26 Rabi ul Awwal 1447 which corresponds to Sunday the 7th of September 2025.
0:33 Welcome to the very first episode of Level Up where we listen, learn and grow
0:39 In Shaa Allah with the guidance of ALLAH (S.W.T). I'm Ziyaad Plaatjes and
0:44 with me in studio are my co-hosts Nabihah and Isa Plaatjes. As Salaamu Alaikum.
0:51 Nabihah and Isa, how are you two today?
0:57 Alhamdulillah. I am well. Alhamdulillah. As Salaamu Alaikum
1:02 to our dear listeners.
1:09 I am good. Alhamdulillah. And how are you? I am good. Alhamdulillah. So because it
1:16 is the first show, let's introduce the listeners to what we will be discussing. Nabihah, we have different themes every
1:22 week which the listeners can look forward to. Please share them with us. Sure. Okay. So, we're basically going to
1:30 break down the week's news and talk about what really matters to young Muslims today. And we'll be discussing
1:37 topics like education and student life and work life as well as mental health
1:43 and lifestyle which are very important for our youth. Yes, they are quite important and I
1:49 believe Isa is quite excited for some of the other topics. Yes, because it's closer to my
1:55 expertise. We will discuss technology and pop
2:01 culture In Shaa Allah with topics like tech news, new gadgets and Halal
2:06 entertainment etc. In Shaa Allah. Ameen. Um and we'll also touch on my passion which is social justice
and the global ummah. Inshallah. Inshallah. Amen. Yes. Y is very
passionate about justice at standing up for people's rights. Um I'm very proud
of you for that. Alhamdulillah. Not many people are that courageous to stand up for other people's rights. But anyway,
we'll get into that. Um, just by the way, your name should have been a deal.
That's a good one, Nia. But, um, are you guys ready and excited for today's show?
Inshallah. Inshallah. Inshallah. Amen. So, what's what's coming up on today's show? Who's going to who's going to
start? Wait, before we start, did you know that it's the first Sunday of
September and as we move into spring here in sunny South Africa?
Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. In the northern hemisphere, it is autumn or fall. And
with that comes the new academic year for most countries in that part of the
world. Oh, that that's true. So, but where where are you in your academic year at the moment?
Third. third he's almost towards the end of his third term inshallah isn't
inah and I think most schools um if it's a four term schools because there are three terms schools here in South
Africa anyway so all right our listeners have a bit of an idea of what the
program is all about and I think Issa satly introduced us to our theme of education and student life and work life
this week um speaking of this past Wednesday the 3rd of September we
celebrated global talent acquisition day. Now it's quite sad that um I think
many people aren't even aware that this is a position in HR nor are they aware
of what the position entails. So to help us understand what talent acquisition
is, what an important role it plays in an organization and in anyone's career,
we will be speaking to talent acquisition specialist Alia Hansa later on in the program. Inshallah.
Inshallah. We're looking forward to that. But now let's get into the top stories of the week. Issa, I believe you
have a story for us. I do. Uh so I read about this article
about one school in Joberg and one school in Victoria who are donating ingredients to make
cupcakes to raise funds for kids with cancer. The cupcakes will be sold on National
Cupcake Day which is on the 27th of September 2025. Oh.
Okay. So that's that's quite interesting because it's two schools like Issa said it's Brianston High School and Lair
School Doran Kloff Primary. So one in Johannesburg did you say L school was la school?
L school. Oh sorry la school. L school Doran Kloff Primary. Um and
they collecting baking ingredients you said to make the cupcakes for volunteer bakers to raise funds for children
fighting cancer on national cupcake day. So just to give you an idea um they
working with cupcakes of hope and the volunteer bakers are known as cupcake
angels and obviously we know that um the price of all the ingredients are going
up. So so by donating the ingredients is actually helping them to obviously make
more money to raise the funds that they needed for. And um last year I think
there was they said in the article which was the same article I read Issa um they
said 27 malls across Johannesburg Chwane and the V participated and this year
they've got 24 malls uh just in Johannesburg and another 18 in in Chwane in Ptoria.
Okay. So there aren't any more in any in Val who are participating. I'm not sure they didn't say. Did they
say anything about the Val? No they didn't. Not they didn't say okay okay but um with the the funds that they
acquired in 2024 they managed to fulfill 2,568
financial support requests. So they they obviously used the money to pay for some
of the treatment for 2,4 256 patients and they delivered 3,022
activity bags to over 21 pediatric oncology awards and celebrated 111
patient birthdays. Sure. Alhamdulillah. So that's all thanks to the funds that was raised from the
cupcake sale. So, if you want to get involved um in this what they call the bake box campaign, you can obviously
contact cupcakes of hope. Um you can either donate ingredients. I'm sure you
can help volunteer to bake or even sell the cupcakes. Inshallah. Amen. So, National Cupcake
Day, 27th September. So, instead of just eating a cupcake for yourself, make and
share, donate, or even donate the the ingredients. That sounds good. That sounds like a plan. Inshallah.
Inshallah. So, one of the other top stories is um history was made when the
Santiago Consensus um was formed this week. So, just to give you an idea of
what it is, uh there was a world summit on teachers in Chile. Um Chile.
Yeah. Chile. In South America. You know where that is? No. I just said South America.
Okay. So basically ministers, teachers, um teacher unions, education leaders all
got together at this uh teacher summit, world teacher summit and they put
together what's called the Santiago consensus. So they said it's a comprehensive framework that commits
governments to address the global shortage of 50 million teachers through concrete policy action.
Sure. So there there is a shortage of 50 million teachers there in South America.
No. 50 million teachers worldwide. Worldwide. Yeah. I don't think there's a population of 50 million.
Okay. So, only in um Chile, did he say Chile? Chile.
Um they are coming together. They had a summit. They had a summit. Okay. All right.
So, um so basically around the globe there's a shortage of 50 million teachers and and I I can honestly speak
for that. It's not only a shortage of teachers, there's a shortage of schools, there's a shortage of classrooms,
educators as well. Yeah. All those things because I know I used to go and do um presentations at
schools. And when I went there were two or three kids sitting at one desk.
Sure. And um you know the classroom is full. There's like 50 60 people in one
classroom. So obviously there's either a shortage of classrooms or there's a
shortage of teachers or both. Mhm. And they're trying to bridge this gap. So they've they've got um the six
pillars for transformation. Okay. Okay. I'm going to go through it um depending on time.
Okay. Uh but one of them is the comprehensive teacher policies. Right. So that addresses the entire professional life
cycle from recruitment to career progression. We're going to be talking about recruitment later. Okay.
Okay. um with a particular attention to rural and underserved areas where shortages
are most acute. So um I think it's obviously appropriate because maybe in South America there are quite a lot of
rural areas where there is these problems. We have it here in Africa as well in Africa. Yeah, in South Africa
particularly there are uh rural areas where we have this problem and and
they're trying to bridge that gap. Inshallah amen. Inshallah. Amen. Then there's lifelong professional development that transforms
teacher education into collaborative endeavor ensuring clear connections between initial training induction
mentoring and continuous learning opportunities. So they're not just looking at what's happening today,
right? What what are the issues now? But they're looking at it as something sustainable. Okay? Right? So social dialogue and
participation that establishes permanent transparent mechanisms for teacher involvement in policym the consensus
explicitly recognizes teacher unions as legitimate partners in education governance.
Okay. So they they they're talking to the um
the stakeholders. Okay. They're talking to the unions. They're talking to the educators. They're talking to you know the people at the
ground level as well. It's not just um you know um countries getting together
and just saying oh well this is what what we need to do this is this is the problem and this is what we need to do and they don't
implement it. So they're actually doing they speaking to stakeholders they're trying to get some input
maybe even maybe even the learners as well. Mhm. Okay. Then sustainable financing that
goes beyond rhetoric to practical commitments including domestic resource mobilization and innovative financing
mechanism that protect education as a public good. So something that like we
said sustainable financing and talking about that's one of the other stories that um are making the headlines at the
moment is here in South Africa we're talking about financing in terms of one of the big private schools have just
been bought over and or they getting bought over
and they want wanting to make it a NGO. All right. Okay. So, we're going to talk
about that just now that uh two two more pillars. Uh do I still have time?
So, future ready ready teaching that strengthens digital and AI competencies whilst pre preserving the relational
dimension of learning. Significantly, the consensus calls for adopting UNESCO's AI competency frameworks for
teachers. So, there again, making the classrooms future ready, making the the the educators future ready.
That's good. Okay. inclusion and equity that diversifies the teaching workforce to
reflect community diversity and tackle structural barriers preventing marginalized groups from entering the
profession. So um alhamdulillah we don't have that here but in other countries there are
whether it's like a car system or whether they feel that you come from you know like some poorer background or a
rural area and they they don't allow you into the profession which I think is actually needed sometimes because you
could speak the language of the people of maybe that village or something you know um so it's something to look at but
that's it in a nutshell the Santiago consensus you can google it can read about it more.
Um, yeah. And then the other top story that I just wanted to touch on was billionaire Yanni Motton's Foundation is
in a 7.2 billion rand Curo buyout. So you must have heard of Curo. Yes. Yes.
Yes. The private school. Um, so they're looking at buying over Curo. It's been in the news for a bit
last week or so. Um, but it's obviously the more people talk about it, the more it's in the news and people are talking
about it because they're saying that um, why are they doing this? Because they're actually helping the government to not
do what they're supposed to do. But that would in that would actually
help your children. It will help their children. It will help the the um economy. It will help don't you think
that that will spread education? we need to make education accessible. Yeah, we we do need to because the thing
is um they what what they are trying to do is they're trying to buy over the
skuro to give good quality education to the masses. Yeah. Alhamdulillah. So, so if if the
government is not stepping up, then someone else has to. Yes. I mean, we we can't just not give good quality
education. If this if this man has the means to then why not? Alhamdulillah.
Alhamdulillah. No. Yeah. So, um obviously they would be I'm I'm sure they wouldn't not charge
any fees, but they would obviously be inclined to giving more burseries, more scholarships, you know, that type of
thing. Um because it's a a nonprofit organization, they they're not making profit, but I mean there is going to be
running costs for the school. So, you can't you can't actually give like free fees basically. Yeah. So they will obviously be charging
something, but but it would be it would be subsidized. And I think I think it's it's really needed because at the moment
we've seen um also I read an article the other day and there's been a drop in um
private schools re-registrations. Okay. So it's it's mainly because of um
finances. Yes. And people are looking at either taking their their kids out of private
schools and moving into public schools or maybe even homeschooling. Issa, you do homeschooling. How's that going for
you? Alhamdulillah. We'll go more into that. Yeah. And Issa's been doing it for for 5
years. So, it's it's it's an option as well. Yeah. Um but I think that it's it's moving to this where um you know it's
not only private schools anymore and it's not only that you feel that sending
your child to a private school is going to get you the best education. Um you don't even you it does help a lot
um because I know when when I was uh at school I wasn't even at a at a private school I was at a so-called model C
school. Do they still have that nowadays? I don't think they do. But um there was a sportsman, you
probably know him as Muslim and he became quite famous and you know like Yeah, I'm not going to mention who he
is. You didn't name what sports that would give it away. Yeah. But uh he was at a public school
and he came to our school and because he had the training and the coaches and whatever he went on to captain South
Africa. Subhan Allah. You know because of that that opportunity that that he had.
Yes. And I mean, yeah. So that's I think it's it's it's definitely needed. Yeah. Inshallah. Amen.
In a mean. Okay. So I think let's go for an ad break and when we come back um we're
going to have sister Alia on the line, a talent acquisition specialist who will
speak to us about starting your career. [Music]
and welcome back to level up.
Okay, so um did you know you you were telling me something about a 100y old
man? 100y old man. Is that what you said, Isa? Yes. Did you know uh that a 100-year-old
man was awarded the world record for most loyal employee
after working 84 years at the same company? Sure. Alhamdulillah. I don't think I I
would want to work 84 years at the same to work 84 years is one thing and then
at the same company that's another thing. But I heard that um sadly he passed away I think two
years ago. But he worked right up until the day he passed away. He he started as a shipping assistant and then he went on
to be like a sales manager and he went to work every day. We sometimes like try to cut work or
Don't say that out loud. No, I mean like we human but this guy just came
he went every single day. Like when you go to school and you have that perfect attendance record. Oh wow.
For 84 years. Wow. Subhan Allah. Okay.
So now we're going to have sister Alia Hansa, a talent acquisition specialist
enlightening us, enlightening us all about what a talent acquisition
specialist does. Sister Alia and welcome to Level Up. How
are you this Sunday afternoon?
I'm well. Alhamdulillah, Sister Navia. um Shukran for inviting you on your very first show. I'm both honored and very
excited to join you this afternoon. Alhamdulillah. Awan. Now Alia and our
listeners, did you know that some scholars say that finding someone a job
can be seen as an act of charity or and is great reward in it and as um you are
assisting them and usually their family too with their provision or risk. Alhamdulillah.
Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. That's good. Um, so it's
so talent acquisition there's tell us more about what this position entails,
what it's about, um, which division uh, which position uh, sorry, which career
move it is. Okay. Um, yes. Alhamdulillah. Um I have
heard recently about the scholars that saying finding someone a job can be seen as an active charity. Um and I think
that's something that keeps us motivated. Um on the days that get hectic um especially in if you are in
corporate um but knowing that you are changing lives one job offer at a time is what
keeps us going. Sure. In terms of what? Alhamdulillah. So just in terms of what talent
acquisition is um it is a department within the HR or human resources
function. Okay. And the process of talent acquisition is basically firstly attracting then
identifying and acquiring skilled workers to meet an organization's needs.
Okay. So the talent acquisition team or recruitment team are responsible for firstly attracting the right candidates,
identifying them by a few methods which I'll go into later. Okay. Um acquiring them, assessing them and
finally hiring candidates to fill open positions within a company. Sure.
So that would be from your um your entry level, your graduates all the way up to
your your CEOs of the company. the the the process would be the same.
Okay. So, talent acquisition is basically hiring and filling the positions within the company from entry
level right up until CEO. We spoke um amongst ourselves earlier and um we
asked Issa if he knows what a talent acquisition does and he said um talent
um what did you say talent? Someone who has talents. Talent acquisition someone who has
talents. Isn't that something like that? Something like that. Okay. So now Alia,
there sister Alia there are people out there who think it's as easy as you know when you get a job when you want to have
a job with sorry when you want to apply for a job they think it's easy it's as easy as I send my CV to a company and
then I should get a call for an interview and both Zad and I know that by years and years of experience that
this is obviously not true. So please can you take us through the process of
talent acquisition? Okay, sure. Um so like I mentioned earlier it is there are a few steps in
the process. Um so firstly you as an applicant as someone who is in the job market would see a role that interests
you. That would be um on a job board like something like careers 24. You might go on to a specific company's
career site and you see something that interests you and that you have the qualifications and you meet the
requirements, the basic requirements. From there, the recruiter or talent acquisition specialist such as myself
would review your CV. So, I'm checking if you meet the minimum requirements. Um
and if you do, you'll be contacted for a recruiter or screening interview. Okay.
Um if that is successful and besides you know meeting the the basic minimum
criteria for the job a certain part of your personality needs to come through as well and we'd see if you are a good
fit for the role as well as for the company. Um so following that the the TA
specialist will then short your short list the suitable candidate for the hiring team to interview. So that's most
likely a panel interview with between three to six people on a panel ranging
from the hiring manager to HR to specialists within the role um within
the hiring team. The next possible step could be some psychometric assessments
which are they look at your uh abilities, they look at your personality
and that also gives us a better view of you as a candidate whether you'd be suitable for this role or not followed
by possible list checks as we call them which consist of a reference and
qualification checks. And then if you tick all those boxes, an offer would be
extended and we'd have some smiles across the phone. Alhamdulillah. Sure. That is quite a
long process. Um so it's not as easy as many people think it would be. And um I
heard that you said something about your personality should come through and then this was even before you mentioned the
interview. So when you you send your CV your personality should come through and then you mentioned something about a
panel interview with three to six people. us that sounds for people who are say a little bit introverted that
sounds um quite daunting you know so I know our listeners are maybe waiting
with baited breath to hear if you have any tips on what they should do to either improve their CV you know to make
sure that their personality comes out or prepare for an interview that has like
this panel of so many people just looking at them and asking them these questions.
Yes. um that can be can be daunting, which is why we do have the recruiter screening interview where it's just a
one-on-one with myself or one of the other talent acquisition specialists that you would encounter. And that's
basically an icebreaker. We get to know you a little bit on a more I mean as personal, you know, at a
professional level as possible. Um but yeah, that that's um how we try and gauge the type of person you are.
And yes, I mean for an introvert, it can be quite daunting. Um but just in terms
of um your a CV um I can I can share a few
tips. Okay. Um the most important ones um that I would think of is firstly list your work
experience in chronological order. So I go through and talent acquisition specialists recruiters go through dozens
of CVs a day. And when we're trying to decipher between what you're currently
working, where you're currently working now, and where you've worked as your first job, for example, um yeah, and
when you've gone through as many CVs in the day, you'll Yeah, it it does help if it's in chronological order so we can
just read through that seamlessly. Okay. Um secondly, be honest um in your CV.
Don't exaggerate or embellish your experience. If you started off as a
casual in a retail store, have that. It shows your um your drive and your
willingness to succeed. Um so yeah, don't just be honest and don't
exaggerate or embellish. Um and lastly and possibly most importantly um my
advice that I would give anyone that's at a junior level or someone you know senior is only only apply for roles
where you have the required experience. So it's it's one thing being interested in something or having that goal to or
aspiration to um be in that particular role but applying for the role that you
don't meet the requirements for doesn't it yeah it doesn't stand you in
goodstead um especially if you are applying for a few roles um the recruiters tend to not take you as
seriously if you are sending you know CVS for many roles that you don't meet the requirements for
oh okay um so we we review and screen dozens of applications daily that do not meet the
minimum requirements um I can understand you know it's tough this economy tough
economic times and people need to get employment and I know that you know you casting your net far and wide but I
think be realistic and you know just apply for roles that you you meet the
requirements for um and then when preparing for an interview. A few practical tips um that I can share is
firstly be early. Um I think that's something that we learn as Muslims
anyway. Um but that's something that um I think besides being on time, be give
yourself enough time to get to the interview venue. Um you want to make a good first impression, right?
Um make sure that your attire or your outfit is neat and professional. Um, you
know, especially if you're starting off with your first few interviews, you probably don't have the best clothes,
the newest clothes, that doesn't matter. As long as you are neat, we can see that you've made an effort to put yourself
together and be and look professional, that's, you know, that's a good enough impression. Um, and finally, just be
yourself. We want to get to know the real you. Um, so whether you are a bit nervous, that's fine. We encounter
nervous candidates on a daily basis. Um especially if you haven't gone through the interview process. Yes, it can be
daunting sitting with a panel of three to six um people that are a lot more
senior than you, that have a lot more experience than you, but remember at the end of the day, we are all human and
they want you to be successful as much as you want to be successful. So that
that would be my my few tips on on an interview prep. Oh, alhamdulillah. So be yourself. Okay.
I I'm heard your point about not sending your um CV far and wide and I must say I
am guilty of that because like you said the economy has been quite bad and we've
had as I've mentioned quite a lot of experience in in sending out our CV and
our CV um actually not hearing thereafter you know not getting that
response from an email afterwards. So I have yes I have sent out for many
positions but that's also because I feel like I'm I'm I'm able to do many positions.
So I guess that's a no no. That would be my advice. Yes. I think
just keep it keep it more closely linked or closely related to the role that you
do have experience with. And I think your then your your hit rate would be higher.
Okay. Inshallah mean. Amen. And you you wouldn't feel as despondent because you
are uh you are reaching the roles that are more more suited to you.
Inshallah. Amen. Amen. Okay. Um are there any more questions before sister Alia leaves?
Yes, I have one. Auntie Alia, what was your first job?
Okay. My first job, um I can take you through quickly my career journey. Uh I
studied psychology. I completed my honors and plan was always to be a
psychologist. So that would mean completing masters but uh Allah had
other plans. My was not to be a psychologist. Uh, and I remember while I
was still studying, I said to my late mom that I would want to work in in a
place like perhaps a prison to help, you know, re rehabilitate
prison. Um, and funny enough, as soon as I completed my degree, I started off as
a lay counselor at a rehab center for drug and alcohol abuse. That's not
something that a lot of people know about me, but that is where that was my very first job. Um, but my first
permanent role was with a private college um as a learning coordinator and
I was part of a team that was responsible for ensuring that the campuses there were five higher
education campuses around the country. We were responsible for ensuring that they received their assessments and
learning material. Um that role allowed me to travel around the country a little bit. Um yeah, I was still very young but
that was my first permanent role. Um and then from there I moved into HR um in a
generalist role within a project team and from there I have been in talent acquisition for the past almost 15 years
now. So, I've been with two, alhamdulillah, I've worked with two
large retail companies and that is where I have uh had my talent acquisition
experience from. Alhamdulillah. Sure. Wow. That's that's quite a journey from
studying psychology and then going into HR and a division of HR. Alhamdulillah.
Sister Alia for your time and all the information that you have shared with our listeners today. Alhamdulillah, you
are doing amazing work. May Allah reward you for it
for having you on your show and I wish you all the best in your future episodes. Inshallah.
Okay, so there you have it. Some insightful tips from Sister Alia and a good look into the world of talent
acquisition. um talent acquisition. Did I wonder if
anyone knew that that was um that was a part of HR, you know, that uh human
resource resources, sorry, you know, that they they would study um they would
go into a degree of human resource management and would they ever think that that was uh one of the positions
that they could fulfill? Well, now they do know it. Um, so I think let's go for an ad break.
Yeah, we are going for an ad break and after the break we were we are going to
have a bit of fun. Inshallah
and welcome back to level up. If you are just tuning in, we had quite a busy
program with interesting news stories, an overview of what we will be
discussing in the next few weeks on the program, and an informative interview
with Auntie Alia about talent acquisition. So, Issa, you mentioned that we were
going to have some fun. What did you have in mind? So, you know, I asked Auntie A what was her first job, but I
don't know what your guys's first job was. I want to find out how you guys
started your career or even the listeners can call in or message us too.
If they want to join in the conversation and tell us what was their first job.
Oh, wow. Alhamdulillah. Okay. So you want to know what was our first job or
how we started our career and then listeners if you feel like going down memory lane and sending in on a what how
can they contact us to let us know? Can they contact us on the WhatsApp line? What's the WhatsApp line? Um, what's the
number there? Isa [Laughter] 072
786548 07 Oh, what? What was that again?
072 072786 1548 1548. So, if you want to let us know
what was your first job or how did you start your career, you are most welcome
to. So now Issa um it sounds interesting. You want to know how when
we started our career or how we started and what our first job but how are you going to make it fun?
Okay. I'm going to guess what was your first job? Oh, okay. Okay. So, um you're going to guess
now before before we get into it, I want to know is it like our first part-time job? Uh, is it like starting our career
in our field of study? Is it our first full-time job? Was it when we were a kid or adult? Because I've got some um I've
got quite a range here. Okay. Um,
the first job you got paid for when you were a kid? First job I got paid for. Okay. Because
I I must say that um Zad, what must you say?
I I I did do um certain jobs like um you know go around the neighborhood and sell
muffins that my mother made, but I know I know for a fact I didn't get paid for that.
Okay. So, it's it's a job that was um independent of our parents paying us for
for doing chores around the house. No, you got paid for doing chores around the house. I didn't get paid for doing
chores around the house. I'm just saying it's okay. Okay. And then so it can be like
what I did to get an income for myself uh even if I was a child because I I can
also say I did study in my my field of study
didn't allow me to get a job immediately you know in that same field. I didn't
get paid immediately. I had to do that as a volunte volunteer work and then um
get a part-time job just so that I could have an income. But anyway, okay, Issa. So, you were going to um guess.
Yes. What did I do and what did Oh, you going to guess the age of what?
Must we tell you how old we were? Yeah, you can tell how old.
Yeah. And then I'll guess. And then you'll guess. Okay. So, my first job Let me see. Let me see. Okay.
I was I think 14 or 15.
The first job, the first job that I ever did for myself to get an income for myself, I was 14 or 15. I think I was
15. Um, yes, go for it. Give me your guesses. Okay. Um,
so my first guess was a lemonade stand.
Oh, that's so cute. I always wanted to do that actually but no that wasn't I I
remember you know those books I used to be an avid reader so they used to always have you know these in this books they
they would say they made money through lemonade stands even those shows back then.
Yes. Yeah. Lemonade stands. So no I wanted to do that but no that wasn't my first job.
Okay. Maybe you did a yard sale. A yard sale.
Okay. No. I always wanted to do that. Also, I actually wanted to do um you know, back then in Durban, there was
this car boot sale at the Durban Drive-In. Yes. The listeners from Durban will remember
that. Yeah. I always wanted to go there and sell stuff, but nope. None of those.
None of those were my first job. Okay. I'm out of guesses. Please tell
us. Okay. I'm so glad. No, but it was cute because those were things that I wanted
to do. And I can even tell you one more thing that I wanted to do, but I never did because I used to be at the library
a lot. You know, I used to, you know, they used to have like get I think four books for two weeks.
You could uh what was it called? Rent out. No, high out. Check out
anyway. Basically, and then I used to be done in like a week and I used to always
be by the library. So, I actually even wanted a job as a librarian. I And I can remember I even asked while I was still
young. Hey, and I even asked them um you know for a weekend position and they
said they don't get paid much or they don't get paid at all. I know. But
anyway, it's a perfect time to be Yeah, but anyway, the my field of study I had to keep on doing and even now I
have to keep on doing volunteer work. Anyway, let's not get into that. So my first job when I was 15 where I made an
income for myself and I used to buy things for myself. Um I used to sell Avon products.
Yes. So basically what I used to do was um there used to be this lady who um
you were the Avon lady. I was actually the Avon kid. I don't know how um it works nowadays but back
then there was this lady who um because I think maybe we were children, we were still in school. So there used to be
someone who was much older obviously and um she would uh we would go to her place
to she would get all the deliveries right and she would have the cataloges and give us the cataloges. So then I
would my most of my customers were my school you know people in school. So I used to sell to people in school. I used
to get the orders then I used to place the order and I used to let her know and then my father used to take me to her
place and because the the products used to get delivered to her place and then I used to get it from her place and then I
obviously used to distribute it from there. So yes that was my first
So you subcontracted? Yes. You were an employee of Yes. of this lady but I really don't
remember her name. I don't know how it works nowadays, but yes, that's how it was back then. Wow. I've never guessed.
You would never have guessed that. Do you even know what Avon products are? Um, they have like a perfume and stuff.
Oh, okay. Okay. So, he knows. Okay. And it's not just for ladies. Back then it was actually only for um mostly
women. Hey, nowadays they have like um men product, male products, kids products. And it's not just perfumes.
And it's not just cosmetics. It's even like um jewelry and handbags, accessories, and all of that. Anyway,
okay. So, Issa, I'm excited. I I also want to be part of this. Okay, it's your turn.
Okay. Well, I Well, it's your turn to guess. No, you need to tell him. How old were you? Oh, okay. Um, so I was 13 years old
when you had your first job. Yeah. Okay. Um, so I guess that you were a waiter.
A waiter? I was actually a waiter, but no, that wasn't my first job. I was a waiter years later um for a lot of
functions and stuff, but yeah, it was something that I did, but that wasn't my first job, but it's a good guess.
Okay. You like cars, so maybe you did a car
wash. That's also quite a good guess. Um, I did, um, I did help my dad, like you
would help me wash the car. I didn't get paid for it, though. Um, but, uh, now
that I think about it, it's actually quite a a good business idea. So, I think maybe I'll capitalize on that now.
Okay. So, um, both of them are wrong, but very good guesses. Okay.
Now, you have to tell us. Uh don't keep the listeners in suspense.
Okay. Okay. So, uh like I said, I was 13 years old. Um I had started a greeting card
business. So, I used to make I don't even know. Do people send greeting cards anymore? I don't I have to be honest, I don't I
don't I know a lot of people do those um good morning and good evening. They send stickers now on WhatsApp and
stuff. So they don't they don't make greeting cards, but I had a greeting card business and I um ran that business
for many many years. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. And it obviously it it
became um a graphic design business and you know like it branched off basically
it evolved. Yes. Um but yeah I used to sell greeting cards. I used to have um a lot of
sayings of the prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam hadith um pearls of wisdom um you know different
types of sayings and stuff. So it wasn't your traditional greeting cards where it just says happy birthday and it has like
a really lame message. It was something that was meaningful. I
thought it was meaningful. Um and yeah that was that was something that I did when I was 13 years old. Sugar.
Alhamdulillah. So you were 13, I was 15. Isa you are 11 now. Um what was your
first job? Yeah. Um I do review of cars with you that I
don't get paid for. Oh shame. This is my first job.
Oh, so you're getting paid for this? That wasn't that wasn't part of the discussion. Oh, really?
Because he knows already. He does the reviews for free. So, I assumed that he was doing this with me as well.
No shame. You're going to have to give a portion of it to both of us. Well, now he put me on the spot because
we live on air and he's he's asking to get paid. Okay. So, this he wants this to be his
first job. So, what about the is that volunteer work? The stuff that we have to do. He gets uh paid in hugs. I can pay you
in hugs for this for this one as well. But you get to be nice car. So, alhamdulillah.
Alhamdulillah. Okay. But that was fun, Issa. That was fun. Like you said, um it took us down
memory lane and maybe the listeners want to um also send us some messages during
the week or something. They can also send it to us directly. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Where can they send it to?
Um so they can tag us on social media. We at i o v e z a c o m. Um, and then they can
just tell us what was their um, first job, how old they were. Um, yeah, cuz
it's always nice to go down memory lane to to, you know, like remember where you came from, where you've been. I mean,
there's and to see also if you're still in that field that you started in. Most likely not, but
no, there's some people that like this guy that was 84 years. There are some people that start off with data captures
and they work themselves up and they become the same company and that's quite a nice journey
um to you know like to hear about and we don't mind if people want to phone in
next week as well and share their stories as well. We welcome them inshallah. Amen.
Inshallah a mean. Alhamdulillah for joining us on this first program of
level up. May you have a wonderful Sunday afternoon and a wonderful week
ahead inshallah. Amen. From myself Nabiha Zad and Issalaykum.
