The JumpStart Professional Retail Programme equips you to perform at your best, says Ismail Rajah. © Pierre Tostee / Mr Price Foundation
- Last month, we shone our spotlight on JumpStart graduate Suhail Rajah. Now, his brother Ismail steps forward.
- A Merchandise Planner at Mr Price, Ismail says JumpStart is a great stepping stone to the career that lies ahead.
- Designed by retailers, the PRP is a nine-month internship for post-graduates.
Resilient, hardworking and passionate, Ismail Rajah completed the JumpStart Professional Retail Programme (PRP) in 2018 at the age of 21. He was following in his brother Suhail’s footsteps, who graduated from the PRP the year before and is now Strategy Manager at Bata South Africa.
Designed by retailers, the PRP is a successful skills development programme that equips post-graduate students for specialised entry-level roles in the retail world. The nine-month internship is delivered through a combination of classroom, self-study and group project work, along with hands-on work experience.
“JumpStart taught me the inner workings of retail. It granted me the opportunity to enter the world of retail and understand what this field entails. It also equipped me with the necessary skills to perform my current functions well and to add value to the brand I represent,” says Ismail, who was born and raised in Durban.
Immediately after graduating from the PRP, Ismail earned a full-time placement as a Trainee Location Planner at Mr Price in November 2018. Always ready to maximise the opportunities that came his way, he has progressed to planning Mr Price’s Scarlet Hill ladies’ cosmetics brand.
Having matriculated in 2014 from Orient High School and completing a B.Com in Supply Chain Management, Ismail’s goal is to constantly grow and learn.
“JumpStart is a great stepping stone to what lies ahead. It equips you with the relevant skills to perform at your best in the workplace. Now, it is up to me to keep learning and growing, to mentor people, and to make a difference in what I do, both for the organisation and personally.”
Ismail encourages other young people to be proactive in the workplace. “Take advantage of all the opportunities provided to you,” he encourages.
Mr Price Foundation is honoured to help shape the careers of South Africa’s retailers and merchandisers of the future – and unlock tomorrow’s potential!
APPLICATIONS FOR THE PRP ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.
READ MORE ABOUT THE PRP
