For young South Africans seeking to enter the workforce, the challenge is often finding employers willing to hire without experience. Yet, many companies across retail, banking, technology, and professional services actively invest in graduate programmes, internships, learnerships, and apprenticeships designed specifically for first-time job seekers. This guide highlights 50 companies offering entry-level jobs in South Africa, with direct links to their career portals and details on the roles they provide.
Below is a comprehensive guide to 50 companies regularly recruiting entry-level talent, with direct links to their career portals and details on the roles they offer. Career pages change periodically, if a link no longer works, visit the company’s main website and navigate to their “Careers” section.
How to Make Use of This Guide
Each entry includes a short company description, the types of roles available, and a direct link to their career page. Many of these companies offer learnerships, structured programmes combining training with practical workplace experience and a monthly stipend. The most accessible entry points are often found here.
Retail, FMCG & E-commerce
The biggest source of entry-level jobs in South Africa is the retail sector. These companies hire thousands of cashiers, packers, stock controllers, and sales assistants annually.
1. Shoprite Holdings
What They Offer: Retail, logistics, administration, and cashier positions. Shoprite is one of the country’s largest employers with a constant need for entry-level staff. They run one of the largest YES programme placements.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: On-the-job training with opportunities for advancement within the retail sector. Shoprite offers clear career progression pathways from cashier to store management.
Career Page: https://shopriteholdings.co.za
2. Pick’n Pay
What They Offer: Store Assistant, Cashier, Distribution Centre Picker, and various retail support roles. Pick’n Pay is a major grocery retailer with stores nationwide.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Strong focus on retail and distribution roles with comprehensive training programmes for new staff.
Career Page: https://www.picknpay.co.za/careers
3. Pepkor (PEP Stores)
What They Offer: Sales Assistant, Stock Controller, Visual Merchandiser. PEP is South Africa’s largest single-brand retailer, part of the Pepkor Group.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Frequently hires in small towns and townships where competition is lower. Offers accessible entry points for first-time job seekers.
Career Page: https://pepkor.careers
4. Woolworths South Africa
What They Offer: Store Assistant, Food Hall Staff, and a structured graduate programme. Woolworths is a premium retailer known for high-quality food and fashion.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: A respected brand with a commitment to employee development and clear career progression.
Career Page: https://www.woolworths.co.za/careers
5. The Foschini Group (TFG)
What They Offer: Sales Consultant, Store Manager Trainee, YES Youth Placement. TFG is a major fashion and lifestyle retail group with multiple brands.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Actively participates in YES youth placement programmes. Offers flexible retail roles with opportunities to grow into management.
Career Page: https://tfg.co.za/careers
6. Mr Price Group
What They Offer: Retail Assistant, Distribution Centre Operator, YES Placement. Mr Price is a leading fashion retailer with significant warehouse and distribution operations.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Runs one of South Africa’s largest YES programmes for youth aged 18-35 with matric.
Career Page: https://mrpjobs.com
7. Clicks Group
What They Offer: Customer Service, Beauty Advisor, Pharmacy Support Learner. Clicks operates as a health and beauty retail chain.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Offers Pharmacist’s Assistant learnership programmes, providing a good pathway into pharmacy careers.
Career Page: https://clicks.co.za/careers
8. Dis-Chem Pharmacies
What They Offer: Cashier, Packer, Cosmetics Advisor, Receiving Clerk. Dis-Chem is a major pharmacy and health retailer.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Offers entry-level store roles and opportunities to pursue Pharmacist’s Assistant learnerships.
Career Page: https://dischem.co.za/careers
9. Takealot
What They Offer: Warehouse Associate, Delivery Driver, YES Digital Leadership Placement. Takealot is South Africa’s largest e-commerce platform.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Exposure to the fast-paced world of online retail and technology. Operates major warehouses in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Career Page: https://takealot.com/careers
10. WeBuyCars
What They Offer: Vehicle Buyer Assistant, Sales Support, and Administration Clerk. WeBuyCars is a rapidly growing used vehicle sales company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Trains employees from scratch, enthusiasm and reliability matter more than prior experience.
Career Page: https://webuycars.co.za/careers
Banking, Finance & Professional Services
This sector offers some of the most structured career development pathways. Many banks run learnerships with just matric, alongside prestigious graduate programmes.
11. Capitec Bank
What They Offer: Branch Consultant, Service Consultant. Capitec is one of South Africa’s largest retail banks.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Known for hiring energetic young individuals for their branch network. Strong on-the-job training and a reputation for promoting from within.
Career Page: https://capitecbank.co.za/careers
12. Standard Bank Group
What They Offer: Graduate Programme, Entry-level Corporate Opportunities. As Africa’s largest bank, Standard Bank offers extensive reach and resources.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Structured graduate programmes with mentorship and clear career paths across multiple business units.
Career Page: https://standardbank.com/careers
13. First National Bank (FNB) / FirstRand
What They Offer: Analyst, Technology, Banking Roles, Graduate Programme. FNB is a major financial services group.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: The “Grad” programme is one of the most competitive and well-regarded in the country. The company places a strong emphasis on hiring young talent.
Career Page: https://fnb.co.za/careers
14. Nedbank
What They Offer: Analyst, Graduate Development Programmes. Nedbank is a leading financial institution.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Structured training, mentorship, and exposure to banking operations. You will find programmes aimed at shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
Career Page: https://nedbank.co.za/careers
15. Absa Group
What They Offer: Banking, Technology Pathways, Graduate Programmes. Absa is a major African banking group.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Offers graduate programmes and learnerships across the organisation. Opportunities to grow within a leading African bank.
Career Page: https://absa.careers
16. Investec
What They Offer: Banking, Finance, Technology Graduate Programmes. Investec is a specialist banking and wealth management firm.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Competitive graduate programmes with exposure to high-end banking and private client services.
Career Page: https://investec.com/careers
17. Allan Gray South Africa
What They Offer: Investment Service Consultant. As a leading investment management company, Allan Gray offers strong career opportunities in finance.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Entry into the investment management industry with comprehensive training.
Career Page: https://allangray.co.za/careers
18. PSG Financial Services
What They Offer: Financial Services, Graduate Opportunities. If you are exploring financial services, PSG is a well-known wealth management group.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to the wealth management and financial planning sector.
Career Page: https://psg.co.za/careers
19. Sanlam
What They Offer: Administrative, Advisory Roles. Sanlam is a major financial services group.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to the financial services sector with development opportunities.
Career Page: https://sanlam.co.za/careers
20. Old Mutual South Africa
What They Offer: Graduate Programme, Entry-level Business Programmes. Old Mutual is widely recognised as a premier financial services organisation.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: A leader in financial services with a strong focus on youth development. Structured programmes across various disciplines.
Career Page: https://oldmutual.co.za/careers
Professional Services (Audit, Consulting & Legal)
These firms offer prestigious graduate programmes, highly competitive but excellent career foundations.
21. PwC South Africa
What They Offer: Auditing, Consulting, and Graduate Programmes. The Big Four includes PwC, one of the world’s leading professional services firms.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: World-class training and the opportunity to pursue professional qualifications. Annual graduate intake for trainee accountants and consultants.
Career Page: https://pwc.co.za/careers
22. Deloitte South Africa
What They Offer: Consulting, Accounting, Risk Streams. Deloitte is a Big Four firm.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Exposure to blue-chip clients and structured learning and development. The ideal way to launch a professional services career is through this graduate programme.
Career Page: https://deloitte.co.za/careers
23. EY South Africa
What They Offer: Audit, Advisory, Tax Opportunities. EY is a Big Four firm.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Professional qualifications and global network access. This graduate programme is widely considered to be one of the most coveted in the nation.
Career Page: https://ey.com/careers
24. KPMG South Africa
What They Offer: Auditing, Technology Risk Programmes. KPMG is a Big Four firm.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Professional development and exposure to top-tier clients. Structured graduate programmes across various streams.
Career Page: https://kpmg.co.za/careers
25. Webber Wentzel
What They Offer: Candidate Attorney, Legal Support Programmes. Webber Wentzel is one of South Africa’s top law firms.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: One of South Africa’s top law firms with a strong graduate intake.
Career Page: https://webberwentzel.com/careers
26. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH)
What They Offer: Candidate Attorney, Legal Graduate Pathways. CDH is a leading law firm.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: A leading law firm with a commitment to developing young lawyers.
Career Page: https://cdhlegal.com/careers
Technology, IT & BPO
The technology and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors are major employers of entry-level staff, often providing training.
27. Amazon Development Centre South Africa
What They Offer: Customer Support, Operations Roles. Amazon is a global e-commerce and cloud giant.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Comprehensive training and clear career progression pathways for motivated individuals.
Career Page: https://amazon.jobs
28. Vodacom Group
What They Offer: Youth Development, Technology Opportunities, Learnerships. Vodacom is a leading telecom company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to technology training and work experience in a leading telecom company.
Career Page: https://vodacom.co.za/careers
29. MTN Group
What They Offer: Retail, Customer Service Recruitment. MTN is a major telecommunications company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to the telecommunications sector with potential for growth.
Career Page: https://mtn.co.za/careers
30. Telkom South Africa
What They Offer: Apprenticeships, Youth Development Programmes. Telkom is a state-owned telecom company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to the telecommunications and technology sectors.
Career Page: https://telkom.co.za/careers
31. Entelect
What They Offer: Junior Software Developer. Entelect is a leading software consultancy.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: A supportive environment for new developers to learn and grow with a strong graduate intake.
Career Page: https://entelect.co.za/careers
32. BET Software
What They Offer: Junior Developer, Technical Support. BET Software is a growing software company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: A supportive environment for new developers with opportunities to grow.
Career Page: https://betsoftware.com/careers
33. Sage South Africa
What They Offer: Customer Success, Sales Internships. Sage is a global software company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to the software and technology sector with structured internships.
Career Page: https://sage.com/careers
34. Capita South Africa
What They Offer: Customer Service, Call Centre Recruitment. Capita is a major BPO company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Paid training and opportunities for rapid advancement.
Career Page: https://capita.co.za/careers
35. Merchants South Africa
What They Offer: Call Centre, Customer Retention Roles. Merchants is widely recognised as a leading player in the BPO industry.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Comprehensive training and performance-based incentives.
Career Page: https://merchants.co.za/careers
36. iContact BPO
What They Offer: Digital Support, Customer Service Positions. iContact is a fast-growing BPO company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Fast-growing company with opportunities for promotion.
Career Page: https://icontactbpo.co.za/careers
Mining, Energy & Manufacturing
These sectors offer technical learnerships and apprenticeships, particularly valuable for those with Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
37. Anglo American South Africa
What They Offer: Mining, Engineering, Training Programmes, Learnerships. Anglo American is a major mining company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: World-class training in the mining sector with opportunities for career progression.
Career Page: https://angloamerican.com/careers
38. Sasol
What They Offer: Learnerships, Technical Apprenticeships. Sasol operates in the energy and chemical sectors.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Highly competitive learnerships often include accommodation and transport allowances. A minimum of 50% in both Mathematics and Physical Sciences at matric level is required.
Career Page: https://sasol.com/careers
39. South African Breweries (SAB)
What They Offer: Graduate Trainee, Apprenticeship Programmes. SAB is a major beverage manufacturer.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to a world-class training environment with a recognised global brand.
Career Page: https://sab.co.za/careers
40. RCL Foods
What They Offer: Manufacturing, Operational Internships, Learnerships. RCL Foods is a food manufacturing company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to the food manufacturing industry. A key benefit is the learnerships offered in partnership with FoodBev SETA.
Career Page: https://rclfoods.com/careers
41. Nestlé South Africa
What They Offer: Graduate Trainee (Manufacturing, Marketing, Supply Chain). Nestlé is a global FMCG leader.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: A global brand with a commitment to youth development. You can apply for graduate programmes in manufacturing or corporate roles.
Career Page: https://nestle.co.za/careers
Healthcare & Laboratories
These employers offer roles with accessible entry requirements for those interested in healthcare.
42. Lancet Laboratories
What They Offer: Data Capturer, Courier, Laboratory Support. The Lancet is a pathology and laboratory services company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Entry into the pathology and laboratory services industry.
Career Page: https://lancet.co.za/careers
43. Ampath Laboratories
What They Offer: Laboratory Administration, Support Roles. Ampath is a laboratory services company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: A stable employer in the healthcare sector with opportunities for growth.
Career Page: https://ampath.co.za/careers
44. Discovery Limited
What They Offer: Customer Service, Administration Positions. Discovery is a major financial services and healthcare company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Competitive benefits and opportunities to grow within the organisation.
Career Page: https://discovery.co.za/careers
Logistics, Transport & Customer Service
45. MultiChoice Group
What They Offer: Customer Care, Administration Roles. If you are interested in media and entertainment careers, MultiChoice is a major player.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Entry into the media and entertainment sector.
Career Page: https://multichoice.com/careers
46. OUTsurance
What They Offer: Claims, Customer Service Opportunities. In the insurance space, OUTsurance is one of South Africa’s most recognisable brands.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Performance-driven culture with opportunities for advancement.
Career Page: https://outsurance.co.za/careers
47. Santam
What They Offer: Claims, Analytics, and Administrative Roles. Santam is a short-term insurance company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Entry into the short-term insurance sector.
Career Page: https://santam.co.za/careers
48. FlySafair
What They Offer: Call Centre, Airport Support, Cabin Crew. In the aviation industry, FlySafair is one of the leading low-cost carriers.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Access to the aviation industry with opportunities to grow.
Career Page: https://flysafair.co.za/careers
49. SGS South Africa
What They Offer: Administration, Laboratory Support. As a testing and certification company, SGS offers opportunities in quality control and compliance.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Entry into the testing, inspection, and certification industry.
Career Page: https://sgs.co.za/careers
50. Smollan
What They Offer: Field Merchandiser, Brand Ambassador, In-store Promoter. Smollan is a field merchandising company.
Why It’s Great for Entry-Level: Hires nationally for candidates who prefer independent work. Entry into the marketing and retail support industry.
Career Page: https://smollan.com
Final Thoughts
These 50 employers offer some of South Africa’s most accessible entry points into the workforce. Whether you have just matric, a short course, or a degree, there are opportunities waiting. The key is consistency: check career pages weekly, set up job alerts, and apply promptly. Learnerships provide a particularly strong foundation as they offer paid training, a formal qualification, and work experience, often leading to permanent employment.
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