Eskom is South Africa’s national power utility and one of the biggest employers in the country. It hires engineers, artisans, plant operators, general workers and admin staff, and every year it opens learnerships, apprenticeships, internships and bursaries for young South Africans. All applications go through one official online portal, they are completely free, and no walk-ins or emailed CVs are accepted. This guide covers the opportunities available, the requirements, and the exact steps to apply.
Opportunities Eskom offers
Permanent and contract jobs
- Engineers (electrical, mechanical, civil, C&I)
- Artisans: electricians, fitters, boilermakers, welders, riggers
- Plant operators and power station staff
- Technicians and technologists
- General workers and utility workers
- Drivers and plant equipment operators
- Admin, finance, HR, IT and security roles
Learnerships and training programmes
- Engineering learnerships – Matric with Maths and Physical Science (typically 50% or higher), aged 18 to 35
- Artisan learnerships / apprenticeships – N2 to N6 with relevant trade subjects, or Matric with technical subjects
- Learner Plant Operator – Matric with Maths and Physical Science, medically fit (good vision and colour vision), aged 18 to 35
- Graduate internships (Engineer-in-Training and others) – completed degree or diploma, unemployed, SA citizen, usually under 35
- YES (Youth Employment Service) programme – SA citizens aged 18 to 34 with Matric
- Bursaries – for school leavers and students in engineering and technical fields
Learnerships pay a monthly stipend and many learners are absorbed into permanent Eskom posts or snapped up by other energy and engineering companies afterwards.
Minimum requirements
Requirements differ per advert, but the general basics are:
- South African citizenship and a valid ID
- Grade 12 / Matric (Maths and Physical Science for technical programmes)
- Age 18 to 35 for most learnerships and youth programmes
- Relevant N-certificates, trade tests, diplomas or degrees for skilled posts
- Medical fitness for operational roles
- Driver’s licence where the advert requires it
- No previous completion of a learnership in the same field (for learnership intakes)
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection — Eskom shortlists on merit, employment equity and its skills needs.
Documents to prepare
Have these ready before you start, scanned as PDF (each file under 10 MB):
- Updated CV
- Certified copy of your SA ID – certified within the last 3 months
- Certified Matric certificate
- Certified tertiary qualifications and academic transcripts (graduates)
- N-certificates and trade subject results (artisan applicants)
- Driver’s licence if the advert requires it
- Bursary applicants: proof of university acceptance, latest results, proof of household income and parents’/guardians’ IDs
How to apply for Eskom jobs and learnerships: step by step
Step 1: Open the official Eskom careers portal
All Eskom recruitment happens on the official e-recruitment portal, which you can also reach through the Careers link on eskom.co.za:
This is the only legitimate application channel. Eskom does not accept walk-ins, emailed CVs, paper applications or WhatsApp applications, and it never charges a fee.
Note: Eskom occasionally suspends the portal for maintenance or between intakes. If you see a suspension notice, don’t panic — applications submitted before a suspension still count, and new intakes are announced on eskom.co.za/careers. Check back regularly.
Step 2: Register your profile
Click Register / New User and sign up with your email address and cellphone number. Use an email you check daily — all communication about your application goes there. You only register once; the same profile is used for every application.
Step 3: Complete your profile
Fill in your personal details, education, qualifications and work experience, and upload your certified documents. A complete profile lets you apply for new vacancies in minutes.
Step 4: Search for vacancies and learnerships
Use the job search to filter by category (engineering, general worker, HR, etc.), job type (permanent, learnership, internship) and location. Sort by closing date so you don’t miss urgent deadlines. For training opportunities, search terms like “learnership”, “apprentice”, “learner plant operator” or “in training”.
Step 5: Read the advert and apply
Open the vacancy, check that you meet the minimum requirements, note the reference number, then click Apply. Answer the application questions accurately, confirm your documents are attached, and submit before the closing date. Apply a day or two early — last-minute traffic on closing day is heavy.
Step 6: Track your application
Log into your profile to see the status of your applications. Shortlisted candidates are contacted for assessments and interviews using the contact details on their profile.
What happens after you apply
Depending on the position, shortlisted candidates may go through:
- Psychometric or aptitude assessments
- Interviews at the relevant power station, office or the Eskom Academy of Learning
- Medical assessments (operational and plant roles)
- Qualification, criminal record and reference checks
Large intakes attract tens of thousands of applications, so the process can take weeks to months. If you hear nothing after the closing date, keep your profile active and apply for the next intake.
Tips to improve your chances
- Apply for every vacancy and programme you qualify for, not just one.
- Get your documents certified in advance so a closing date never catches you unprepared.
- Use the exact wording of your subjects and qualifications from your certificates.
- Follow Eskom’s official social media pages and check the portal weekly — learnership intakes open and close quickly.
- Matriculants with Maths and Physical Science should target the engineering and plant operator learnerships, which recruit the biggest numbers.
Warning: Eskom job scams
Eskom application scams are everywhere, especially on WhatsApp and Facebook. Protect yourself:
- Eskom never charges for applications, forms, medicals, uniforms or “placement fees”.
- Eskom never recruits through WhatsApp, Gmail addresses or agents.
- The only application channel is the official portal linked in this post.
- Report suspicious offers to the Eskom Crime Line: 0800 11 27 22.
Summary
To apply for Eskom jobs and learnerships, register a free profile on the official Eskom careers portal, upload your certified ID, Matric certificate and CV, then search and apply for vacancies before their closing dates. Everything is online and free. Matriculants with Maths and Science can enter through learnerships and plant operator programmes, graduates through internships and Engineer-in-Training posts, and qualified artisans and professionals through advertised vacancies.
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Good luck with your application.