When Sonja Hendrikz packed up her life in Johannesburg and moved to Cape Town, she expected a few challenges – new home, new city, new school run. But she didn’t expect to spend a whole year searching for the right job vacancy.
Fourteen years in the same company had given her solid experience and steady growth, but starting over in a new, highly competitive job market? That’s a different story.
Today, she’s thriving as Office Administrator at CP&B in Stellenbosch – and her journey there is a testament to grit, timing, and maybe one lucky Sunday scroll.
The Job Market Wake-Up Call
“After so long in one job, I had no idea how much had changed,” Sonja says. “You apply, and apply, and apply… and hear nothing back.”
Cape Town’s job market didn’t make things easier. “There’s one vacancy, and 500 people want it. It’s exhausting trying to stand out.”
Like many job seekers in South Africa, she hit the dreaded wall – burnout, frustration, and the creeping thought that maybe it just wasn’t going to happen.
One Last Scroll, One Right Click
On a Sunday evening, fed up and ready to quit the job hunt entirely, Sonja spotted a job vacancy for an Office Administrator role. “I thought, ag, what are the chances – but I sent my CV anyway.”
By Monday, the process had started. Interviews were lined up, the client was keen, and everything kicked into high gear. Within days, Sonja had the job – and by Friday, she was at her new desk.
“I remember driving home thinking, ‘Did that really happen?’ It all moved so fast.”
Personal Touches Make All the Difference
Throughout the process, Sonja was in touch with Job Crystal’s own Janine Moran – who made sure nothing slipped through the cracks.
“Janine was amazing,” Sonja says. “She kept in contact the whole way through. Every step was explained. Every update was shared. I never had to wonder what was going on.”
Even nearly a year later, Janine still checks in from time to time – just to see how things are going. That kind of follow-through isn’t just good service – it’s the kind of human connection that makes the whole experience less stressful and a lot more reassuring.
New Industry, New Energy
Moving from the steel industry to bathroom fittings and fixtures wasn’t exactly a natural progression – but Sonja was up for the challenge.
“It was baby steps in the beginning,” she says. “Learning everything from scratch, asking loads of questions.”
But her new team quickly saw what she brought to the table. “By month three or four, I already had extra responsibilities. That showed they trusted me – and that meant a lot.”
Advice for Job Seekers: Don’t Quit Before the Magic Happens
If you’re job hunting and feeling like nothing’s landing, Sonja’s advice is simple: keep going.
“Don’t. Stop. Trying,” she says. “Even when you’re tired. Even when you feel like it’s not working. Something will come.”
She adds that having someone in your corner makes a world of difference. “The way everything was handled – quickly, clearly, and with care – was incredible. I didn’t feel like just another number. It felt personal.”
Your Turn?
If you’re stuck in the CV-sending spiral and wondering if you’ll ever get a call back, take a page from Sonja’s story. Sometimes all it takes is the right job vacancy, the right recruiter, and the right moment.
We help job seekers across South Africa connect with real, exciting job vacancies – and we’re ready when you are.
Sign up with us to get matched with your dream job. Or check out our listings and let’s find the one that gets you back in the game.
About Job Crystal
At Job Crystal, we’re revolutionising recruitment with AI that’s swift and precise. Our mission? To supercharge hiring without compromising the human touch. By fusing cutting-edge tech with transparency and collaboration, we deliver AI-driven solutions that take care of the hard stuff, giving you more time for the parts of hiring a machine just can’t do.
About The Author
Catherine Goldie, Design & Marketing
With a background in writing, design, and marketing, Catherine has spent years crafting compelling content to help job seekers stand out. As part of Job Crystal, she combines creativity and industry knowledge to provide expert job search advice, from CV revamps to insightful blog and social media posts.
