Vac Work – why you should work during your university holidays and companies offering vacation work
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to get vacation work (vac work) during university holidays, why it’s valuable, and which companies in South Africa offer it:
What is Vacation Work?
Vacation work is short-term employment or structured internships offered during university holidays (typically June–July and December–January). It’s popular in fields like accounting, engineering, law, IT, and consulting.
Why You Should Do Vacation Work
1. Gain Practical Experience
- Apply your studies in a real-world setting
- Understand how theory translates into practice
- Prepare for the workplace after graduation
2. Boost Your CV
- Employers look for experience—even small internships show initiative
- Helps you stand out in graduate job interviews
3. Build Professional Networks
- Make connections with industry professionals
- Good performance may lead to full-time job offers later
4. Earn Money (or Stipends)
- Some vac work is paid; others may offer a stipend or cover meals/transport
5. Explore Career Paths
- Discover what you do—or don’t—like before you graduate
Companies That Offer Vacation Work in South Africa
Accounting & Finance
- Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG – Offer formal vac work for accounting, finance, and audit students (usually 3–4 weeks in June/July or December/January)
Engineering & Science
- Sasol, Eskom, Transnet, ArcelorMittal, Minopex – Vacation work for chemical, mechanical, civil, electrical engineers
- CSIR, NECSA – Research-based vac work for science and engineering students
Law
- Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH), Webber Wentzel, ENSafrica – Law vacation programmes, mostly in winter (June/July)
- Great for final-year or penultimate LLB students
IT & Tech
- Amazon, IBM Extreme Blue, BCX, Dimension Data – Short tech internships for Computer Science/IT students
- Coding, UX, data analysis, and more
Consulting & Business
- McKinsey & Company, Bain, Boston Consulting Group, Accenture
- Often structured as short internship challenges
Retail & FMCG
- Unilever, Nestlé, Shoprite, Tiger Brands – Marketing, supply chain, and operations-related vac work
How to Get Vacation Work
1. Start Early
- Applications open months before the actual vac period (often March–May for winter, August–October for summer)
- Check deadlines on company websites or Graduates24
2. Use Your University Career Office
- They post regular opportunities and may even help you apply
- Attend career fairs, employer talks, and workshops
3. Prepare a Professional CV & Cover Letter
- Highlight:
- Academic performance
- Relevant coursework
- Leadership roles, societies, volunteer work
- Tailor each application to the company/field
4. Apply Online or via Email
- Some companies require an online application portal
- Others want direct email with your CV, academic transcript, and cover letter
5. Ace the Interview (if required)
- Prepare for common questions like:
- “Why do you want to work here?”
- “What have you studied that’s relevant?”
- “Tell us about a challenge you overcame.”
Where to Find Vac Work Listings
| Platform | What It Offers |
|---|---|
| Graduates24.com | Centralised list of SA vacation jobs |
| SAYouth.mobi | Short-term student opportunities |
| LinkedIn Jobs | Filter for “internships” or “vac work” |
| University career portals | Most varsities like UCT, Wits, UP, UKZN post internal vac work |
| Company websites | Check “Careers” or “Students & Graduates” section |
Extra Tips
- Don’t wait until final year – start vac work from your 1st or 2nd year
- If no formal program is available, ask local businesses or professionals if you can shadow or assist them
- Even unpaid work builds your CV and experience
- Some fields (like engineering) require proof of vacation work to graduate
Example Timeline (Winter Vac Work)
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| February–March | Research and list companies of interest |
| March–April | Submit applications (CV, transcripts, cover letters) |
| May | Attend interviews (if required) |
| June–July | Start vacation program |
Would you like help finding current vac work listings in your field, or need help writing your CV or cover letter? I can assist with that too.
