ENCOURAGING FEEDBACK FROM SATISFIED CLIENTS AND DISABILITY CANDIDATES

One of Mustek’s corporate visions is to encourage equity in the workplace through focused empowerment initiatives. By accommodating people with disabilities in the Mustek environment is just one of these empowerment initiatives.

Abacus Recruitment placed Meredith Mogapi and Noxolo Nozewu at Mustek as the the first step to empowering people with disabilities. The two ladies were appointed as switchboard operators at Mustek Ltd. Mustek Ltd is always striving to exceed expectations and meet requirements by relocating Switchboard to a more accessible area with the necessary facilities and even assisting with flexi time.

As part of Mustek’s good will initiative, wheel chairs were maintained by the company instead of the employee. Further more, Aluminum wheel chairs were donated by Mustek Ltd to assist the employees.

My name is Meredith Kebogile Mogapi, I was born in Schweizer-Reneke Northwest Province on 15 November, 1976. I grew up with my grandmother who taught me that there is nothing more important in life to trust GOD. I attended church and learned how to pray. I attended school at Ipelegeng High School. Later on I went to Obang High School where I completed my Senior Certificate. I was the president of the school’s representatives committee.

After completing grade 12, my parents passed away. This incident forced me to seek for employment. I moved to Johannesburg and got a job as a cashier. I worked there until I was shot right in the spinal cord. I was admitted at different hospitals whereby I was told that I will no longer be able to use my legs and that I will be permanently using a wheelchair. It was not an easy stage in my life, but I had no choice other to accept it. I was trained to assist myself in normal daily activities.

I worked for several companies temporarily until I heard about Abacus Recruitment on the internet that specialises in IT and disability recruitment. I applied for a position advertised and received response within three days time. I went for an interview at Abacus Recruitment. They are running an excellent job placement service for disabled candidates. I experienced a warm and friendly environment during my interview. They prepared and trained me for all my job interviews and at last it became much easier to be confident when invited to other interviews. They arranged an interview for me at Mustek Ltd, one of their clients. I was well prepared and confident for that interview and can honestly say that it went well and I enjoyed it. Abacus Recruitment contacted me and confirmed that I did well in my interview and that Mustek Ltd made me an offer. All went well and I was placed.

I am currently working as a switchboard operator at Mustek Ltd. It is a pleasant working environment and I am enjoying my responsibilities. I was the first employee at Mustek Ltd using a wheelchair. I am learning new challenges everyday. Mustek Ltd has really accommodated me by making the office environment accessible in every way. I can move around freely and they have even bought me two wheelchairs, one to use daily and one for spare. They are also servicing the wheelchairs on a regular basis.

I want to thank Abacus Recruitment for their valuable time and friendliness.

Hallo almal ...

Ek skryf sommer so in die bondel in vandag omdat ek vir almal dieselfde wil vertel.

In Desember maand het ek my werk bedank. Terloops, vandag, 1 April sou dit presies vier jaar wees wat ek daar gewerk het. Ek was by 'n "Recruiting" Agentskap om my te help werk soek. Ek het my vasgeloop in die wonderlikste mense wat daar werk. Die konsultant het met my 'n onderhoud gedoen en aan die einde van die onderhoud het sy my gesê ek moet glimlag en oog kontak hou. Ek het dit sommer in die algemeen toegepas en julle sal nie glo nie ... mense glimlag terug en ek is dan nie meer vir hulle so vreemd nie.

In elk geval, ek het lekker tuis gebly en so pas DSTV gekry. Ek dog nog ek kyk lekker TV toe bel die consultant my en vra of ek sou terug kom. Ek het toe 'n tweede kans gekry om reg te maak ... Toe op 'n dag bel sy my weer en sê ek moet vir 'n onderhoud gaan.

Sjoe, niemand behalwe ek sal weet watter nagmerrie die onderhoud was nie. In my hart het 'n storm gewoed, want ek moes oogkontak hou en ek moes glimlag en ek moes gefokus bly. En toe vra hulle boonop vrae wat ek nie die antwoorde van geken het nie. Ek het soos 'n pampoen gevoel. Ek het regtig gedink die saak is verlore. Ek moes gaan vir 'n volledige mediese check-up, ore, oë, gewig, longe, hart ens ens. En julle sal nie glo nie, gedurende die hele ondersoek was ek so siek. My neus het geloop, my ore was toe, my longe het gehyg. Dit was omtrent 'n petalje en ek het regtig gedink hulle sou my afkeur.

En toe wonder bo wonder kry ek die werk ... Julle sal nie glo nie, my klerekas was nie reg nie en ek moes letterlik duisende rande se klere gaan koop. Gister het ek daar begin en ek is so opgewonde. Dis presies die werk waarvan ek hou. Die mense is so goed vir my, hulle kyk mooi na my. Hulle het vir my my eie badkamer gegee, 'n gatjiepons wat half outomaties is, 'n stapler wat deur baie papiere kan staple en mens druk hom net liggies. Hulle gee vir my baie byvoordele. Dis presies wat ek nodig gehad het omdat daar niemand is wat vir my kan sorg nie.

Maar glo my ek het net so groot geskrik. Ek het regtig gedog ek het hard gewerk by my vorige werk. Maar hier is dit net nog 100 keer meer uitdagend. Mens kan nie eers jou selfoon antwoord nie, want alles gebeur so vinnig. Daar lê pakke en pakke papiere op almal se lessenaars.

Die rede hoekom ek julle dit alles vertel is om te getuig van die goedheid van die Here ... Ons het gebid en Hy het gehoor. Hy het vir my meer gegee as wat ek gevra het.

“May I seize this opportunity and voice my word of appreciation to Abacus for an opportunity granted. In this, my acknowledgement is to the time laps, ten years out of the market for a new job.

I am of the opinion that I would have had to struggle coping with the manner in which interviews are handled currently had I not attended the pre-interview's with you.

After my interview with you, I had to go tangible with myself and among others, identify hard skills I possess, something I always took for granted.” - Candidate: C.S

“Thank you for helping me find this job. I am so happy with the move, it's the best I've made for my career and it is all Thanks to you and you team. I have had a really bad time the last few months and coming here has opened a whole new view for me.

I am finally content and realize that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will be keeping in contact with you in the future. You are a wonderful and caring person. Thank you again for every thing. You are the main person who got me where I am today. Have a wonderful day and week “ - Candidate: B.B