The current situation is totally different from the previous students. Reason being that

: (1). Previous student were motivated by scarce skill and too much job opportunities, while the current students experience the opposite

(2). The industry previous was so big and few companies were closing, most people were getting their training in time, while currently is the opposite, you have to know someone somewhere

(3). South Africa was not part of the global community and Chinese were not giving us too much competition, apartheid was making black people to feel inferior and there were lots of metallurgist from black communities who were being under paid, while currently we have so much metallurgist who are idling at home and those who are working are under paid

(4). Motivation is the main factor between then and now, hence, the current students may lack the motivation dew to scarce opportunities in metallurgy, while the previous students were motivated dew to lack or limited number of metallurgists.

In conclusion, previous students were so motivated and very few people knew about the study of metals and most companies were using experience people and more posts were available cause there were shortage of academics in industry, while currently is totally the opposite. Hence, comparing the two will be totally wrong.