GAP Profiles

Degree: B.Com (Hons)
Current Role: Web Marketing Specialist – Old Mutual Investment Group (SA)

I started at Old Mutual with GAP in February 2006. After 2 months of Q-hunts in many different business units, I spent time at Old Mutual Bank working on intermediary marketing and communications, followed by time in central marketing. Here I was involved for 6 months in increasing Old Mutual’s brand presence in South Africa, looking at the possibility of branding sports clubs, followed by a 3 month stint in segment marketing. Here I was in charge of the direct marketing campaigns (email and traditional) for a trimester, as well as helping out on projects for the youth market.

After my time in the “main building”, I moved across to the newly renamed OMIGSA. I spent 3 months in branding and advertising, followed by 3 months in web marketing. At this point, I was ready to become a permanent part of a team, and applied for the web marketing specialist role at OMIGSA which had recently become vacant, which I eventually landed after strenuous psychometric testing.

I have spent the past 6 months in this role, enjoying it immensely, and learning a lot as I go along.

I want to become proficient at this job (i.e. a couple of years experience), and then look at going back into advertising and branding – hopefully with OMIGSA, as the atmosphere here is very different to the rest of Old Mutual, since we are a smaller team, thus we get things done a lot quicker.

Without the GAP programme, I would have been given the chance to gain so much exposure to so many different areas within the broader scope of marketing, which has enabled me to plot a clear career path for myself.

Degree: B.Comm (Finance)
Current Role: Auditor

I studied B.com Finance at UWC for 3 years and I joined Old Mutual in February this year via the Graduate Development Programme (GAP). I work as an Auditor in the Group Internal Audit department.

Part of my job is providing assurance on the risk and controls within the company. You need to have a good understanding of the business and industry to do this type of work. It also helps to be a good listener and consistently ask questions. There’s lots of confidential information involved, so you needs to be aware of the sensitivity of the information. I’m continually learning as I’m rotating within the department. I get to work in different business areas with Old Mutual, with different clients.

The most exciting part of my job is having the opportunity to travel around the country and beyond. Working for such a big company will always be challenging but because of the support structures with Old Mutual I managed to fit in easily.

Degree: BA (Human Resources Management)
Current Role: Human Resources Consultant – Broker Distribution: Human Resources

I have a BA (HRM) degree from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University(former UPE). I am a 2008 Graduate Trainee, currently working in Broker Distribution as a Human Resource Consultant.

I am learning so much everyday about the functions of HR within Broker Distribution, how it fits into the strategic business model and how HR adds value to the business as a whole. I am also still learning a lot about the bigger Old Mutual.

There is so much to learn and I have been exposed to a lot within my business unit and I have also attended a lot of training and development courses to better equip me with all the tools necessary to build my career within Old Mutual.

Degree: Bachelor of Business Science, Marketing
Current Role: Strategy Support – Old Mutual Activate

GAP is certainly a challenging programme - it requires you to step into various different projects and situations, to acquire information quickly and produce results within a limited time frame. Financial services in general, and Old Mutual as one of the largest Financial Services Company in SA in particular, is by no means a simple business. There is so much to learn during your time here, but luckily the culture is such that people are willing to mentor and share their knowledge with you. While initially you are here to learn from others, you will need to be committed to ongoing learning and to your own development throughout the course of the programme – so that when you are able to, you will use that knowledge to add value in new and different ways for Old Mutual.

I’ve had some great opportunities to tackle some challenging and creative projects (across a broad spectrum of business functions – including Old Mutual Bank, CRM, Marketing, Business Development, call centre operations and much more) during my relatively short time in the company – and I am currently able to add value by assimilating this information from various areas to formulate the “big picture view” – which serves me well irrespective of the project/task at hand.

I’ve had a great experience at Old Mutual to date and I would strongly recommend GAP to any graduate who is passionate about wanting to work for a company that is firmly committed to promoting financial freedom and ultimately to improving the quality of life of the people living in our great country – and across our borders.

Degree: BComm Hons (Marketing & Management)
Current Role: Marketing Consultant – Old Mutual Investment Group: Property Investments

My experience on GAP can be summed up as follows: GAP has exposed me to the Old Mutual Group of investment and savings, which includes Old Mutual SA, Nedbank, Mutual & Federal and BoE Private Clients. This has opened networking opportunities and in the process I’ve grown personally and grown my career.