Why Some People Struggle to Keep Jobs – and How to Turn It Around

In South Africa’s mining and engineering sectors, job security is rarely determined by technical skills alone. Recruiters at Bilnor Staffing Solutions observe a consistent pattern: some workers thrive and build long-term careers, while others move from one short-term contract to the next.

The difference? Reliability, respect, and the small daily habits that build trust in the workplace.

Employers don’t usually terminate staff for lacking skills. More often, it’s behaviors that erode trust and disrupt teams:

• Attitude problems – Complaining, resisting instructions, or refusing to collaborate.
• Poor timekeeping – Repeated lateness or missed deadlines that signal unreliability.
• Substance abuse – Drinking on the job or arriving hungover, a major risk in high-hazard industries like mining.
• Disrespecting seniors – Talking back, ignoring guidance, or undermining supervisors.
• Failure to adapt – Refusing to learn new skills, embrace technology, or follow procedures.

“Employers want stability,” notes Bilnor Staffing Solutions. “If you repeatedly show up late or clash with your team, your career will remain stuck in short-term job mode.”

Long-term employees aren’t always the most technically advanced—they’re the ones employers can count on.

Key traits include:

• Reliability – arriving on time, prepared, and ready to work.
• Team spirit – supporting colleagues and sharing success.
• Respect – listening to feedback and interacting professionally with seniors.
• Work ethic – taking pride in the job and maintaining consistent effort.
• Adaptability – embracing change, from new safety rules to updated processes.

As Bilnor recruiters emphasize, skills can be taught—attitude cannot.

Workers seeking stable, long-term employment can start by adopting small, consistent habits:

• Arrive early and communicate clearly with supervisors.
• Avoid late nights or heavy drinking before shifts.
• Take every opportunity to upskill.
• Demonstrate respect in language and behavior, valuing the experience of senior staff.

Bilnor Staffing Solutions positions itself not just as a recruiter, but as a career partner.

By mentoring candidates to develop the right habits and values, the agency helps workers move beyond temporary placements.

For employers, this means dependable, motivated staff. For workers, it’s the path from a job to a career.