Eskom YES Programme 2026 Opens 50 Opportunities for Young South Africans

Who can apply

• Applicants should not have been permanently employed by one employer continuously for more than one year.
• This is an important YES eligibility condition.
• If you have previously completed temporary, part-time or short-term work, provide accurate details rather than trying to hide your experience.
• Your application should reflect your real employment history.
• Honesty is more important than trying to make your profile look artificially eligible.

How to apply

Applications are submitted directly to Eskom - we do not collect applications. Read the eligibility criteria, prepare your supporting documents, then complete your application on the official page.

Full details

Eskom is recruiting 50 young South Africans through its 2026 Youth Employment Service Programme, giving applicants aged 18 to 34 an opportunity to gain valuable workplace exposure. The intake is open to qualifying Matriculants, graduates and candidates with no experience, with applications closing on 22 September 2026.

For young people who keep encountering the frustrating requirement of needing experience before they can get experience, this programme could provide an important first step into a professional workplace.

There are 50 positions available, making this one of the larger youth workplace intakes currently open at Eskom.

What is the Eskom YES Programme 2026?

The Youth Employment Service, commonly known as YES, is designed to help young people gain meaningful workplace experience.

Eskom’s current intake offers 50 opportunities.

Successful applicants may gain exposure to professional working environments across Eskom operations and divisions.

The programme is particularly relevant to young people who are trying to strengthen their curriculum vitae with practical experience.

Who can submit an application?

Applicants need to meet several important requirements.

Candidates should:

• Be South African citizens
• Be between 18 and 34 years old
• Have Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification
• Meet the additional education requirements stated in the listing
• Not be studying full-time during the year of employment
• Not have previously participated in or registered for the YES initiative
• Meet the programme’s employment-history conditions

Candidates with disabilities are also encouraged to submit applications.

Do not assume that being between 18 and 34 automatically makes you eligible.

Check every requirement before applying.

What education do applicants need?

The programme lists Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification, together with reference to post-Matric certificates or programmes.

Applicants who have completed further training should therefore make sure it appears clearly on their curriculum vitae.

This could include:

• College certificates
• Skills programmes
• Short courses
• Technical training
• Higher education certificates
• Other post-Matric studies already completed

Include only qualifications and programmes you genuinely completed.

Do you need previous work experience?

The opportunity is listed for Matriculants, graduates and candidates with no experience.

This makes the programme particularly relevant to young people who are still trying to enter the formal workplace.

Having no employment history does not mean your curriculum vitae should be almost empty.

You can still include:

• Education
• School achievements
• Volunteer activities
• Leadership responsibilities
• Computer skills
• Community involvement
• Short courses
• Academic projects
• Temporary work
• Practical skills

The goal is to show that you can learn, follow instructions and take responsibility.

What previous employment could affect your eligibility?

Applicants should not have been permanently employed by one employer continuously for more than one year.

This is an important YES eligibility condition.

If you have previously completed temporary, part-time or short-term work, provide accurate details rather than trying to hide your experience.

Your application should reflect your real employment history.

Honesty is more important than trying to make your profile look artificially eligible.

Can you participate if you are studying?

Applicants should not be studying full-time during the year of employment.

The opportunity is therefore aimed at candidates who are available to participate in workplace experience.

If you are currently registered as a full-time student, this requirement could affect your eligibility.

Candidates with other study arrangements should carefully review the application questions before submitting.

Can previous YES participants submit another application?

No.

Applicants should not have previously participated in or registered for the Youth Employment Service initiative.

This requirement applies specifically to YES participation.

It does not automatically mean that someone who completed an unrelated short course or another type of training programme cannot be considered.

If you previously participated in a YES placement with another employer, check this requirement carefully.

What could successful participants gain?

One of the biggest challenges facing first-time applicants is obtaining meaningful workplace experience.

The Eskom YES Programme can help participants develop practical professional skills such as:

• Workplace communication
• Time management
• Teamwork
• Professional behaviour
• Computer literacy
• Following instructions
• Problem-solving
• Accountability
• Customer awareness
• Working within organisational procedures

The exact experience will depend on where a participant is placed.

Even basic workplace exposure can make a future curriculum vitae stronger when you have previously had no formal experience.

Where could participants be placed?

The programme may place successful candidates according to Eskom’s operational requirements.

The listing references working environments including Eskom operations and divisions.

Applicants should therefore think about practical considerations before accepting a placement.

These may include:

• Daily transport
• Travel costs
• Working hours
• Distance from home
• Reliability of transport arrangements

Getting selected is important, but being able to attend consistently is just as important.

What qualities is Eskom looking for?

Eskom highlights several behavioural qualities.

These include:

• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Customer focus

These qualities matter in almost every working environment.

Integrity means being honest and responsible.

Professionalism includes punctuality, appropriate communication, respecting colleagues and following workplace procedures.

Customer focus means understanding that your work may affect customers, colleagues or other people who rely on the organisation.

If you have never worked before, use examples from school, volunteering, sport or community activities to show reliability and teamwork. You do not need to invent professional experience to create a useful curriculum vitae.

How can first-time applicants build a stronger curriculum vitae?

Keep the document simple and relevant.

A beginner-friendly curriculum vitae can include:

Personal details

Include your:

• Full name
• Cellphone number
• Email address
• General residential area

Education

List your Grade 12 qualification and any additional certificates or completed programmes.

Skills

Include genuine abilities such as:

• Computer literacy
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem-solving
• Organisational skills

Experience

Include employment, volunteering, temporary work or practical exposure where applicable.

Achievements

You can add relevant school, sporting, leadership or community achievements.

Do not make your curriculum vitae unnecessarily long.

A clear two-page document can often communicate more effectively than several pages of generic information.

What should you check before uploading your curriculum vitae?

Before submitting, open the final document and review it carefully.

Check that:

• Your cellphone number is correct
• Your email address is active
• Your qualifications are accurate
• Dates are correct
• Every page displays properly
• There are no unnecessary blank pages
• The document is readable
• The file is not password protected

It is also worth giving the file a professional name.

For example:

Thabo-Mokoena-CV.pdf

is much clearer than:

CV-new-final-3.pdf

How do you create an Eskom careers profile?

Candidates who do not already have an account may need to register on Eskom’s recruitment platform.

The registration process may require information such as:

• Email address
• Password
• Mobile number
• Curriculum vitae
• First name
• Surname
• Citizenship information
• South African identity number

Use contact details you actively monitor.

If recruitment progresses quickly, you do not want to miss communication because an old email address or inactive cellphone number was used.

Does the programme offer a salary or stipend?

The opportunity is listed with remuneration described as market related.

However, a specific rand amount is not stated.

Applicants should therefore avoid relying on unofficial stipend figures shared through social media, messaging groups or opportunity websites.

If a specific payment amount applies, rely on the information communicated during Eskom’s recruitment process.

Do not budget around an amount that has not been officially confirmed.

How long does the programme run?

The programme duration is not clearly stated in the current recruitment information.

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that the placement lasts six months, 12 months or another specific period.

Successful candidates should review their programme or employment documentation carefully once further details are provided.

Does the programme guarantee permanent employment?

Permanent employment after completing the programme is not guaranteed.

The opportunity should primarily be viewed as a way to gain practical workplace experience.

That experience can still be valuable.

Participants may leave with:

• Stronger workplace skills
• Professional references
• Practical experience
• Improved communication ability
• Better understanding of organisational environments
• A stronger curriculum vitae

The way you perform during the programme can also influence the value of the experience you gain.

What happens after the closing date?

Applicants who are not contacted within 28 days after the closing date should regard their application as unsuccessful.

During this period, monitor your:

• Cellphone
• SMS messages
• Email inbox
• Spam folder

Make sure you remain reachable.

At the same time, be cautious about people claiming they can secure your place in exchange for payment.

Should you pay someone for an Eskom opportunity?

You should not pay an individual who promises to guarantee selection.

Be cautious if someone requests:

• Recruitment fees
• Placement fees
• Banking passwords
• One-time PINs
• Payments to personal bank accounts
• Money for guaranteed employment

Applications should go through the official recruitment process.

Selection should depend on the recruitment criteria, not on paying someone for access.

How do you submit your application?

Applications must be completed online through Eskom’s recruitment system.

Applications must be submitted through the official Eskom online application portal.

Reference: eskom_007018

Number of positions: 50

Closing date: 22 September 2026

Because the closing date is approaching, applicants should avoid waiting until the final hours to create their account and upload documents.

Complete your profile carefully and make sure the application has actually been submitted.

What mistakes should applicants avoid?

Common mistakes can cause unnecessary problems.

Avoid:

• Entering an incorrect identity number
• Providing the wrong cellphone number
• Using an inactive email address
• Uploading an outdated curriculum vitae
• Giving inaccurate employment information
• Hiding previous YES participation
• Ignoring the full-time study restriction
• Leaving required fields incomplete
• Waiting until the closing date to register
• Paying someone who promises guaranteed selection

Review everything before pressing submit.

Who should consider the Eskom YES Programme?

This opportunity may be worth considering if you:

• Are between 18 and 34
• Are a South African citizen
• Meet the education requirements
• Are not studying full-time
• Have not previously participated in YES
• Want practical workplace experience
• Have limited formal employment history
• Are ready to work in a professional environment

The programme could be particularly valuable for someone who repeatedly finds that lack of experience is holding back their applications.

Final Thoughts

The Eskom YES Programme 2026 offers 50 young South Africans an opportunity to gain practical workplace exposure with one of the country’s largest organisations.

For Matriculants, graduates and candidates with little or no experience, this could provide an important first step towards building a stronger professional profile.

Eligibility involves more than simply meeting the age requirement.

Check your education, full-time study status, employment history and previous YES participation before submitting.

With applications closing on 22 September 2026, eligible candidates should prepare their curriculum vitae, complete their Eskom careers profile accurately and submit before the recruitment window closes.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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