Hollard Graduate Internship Programme 2026/2027: The Complete Guide to Applying

Updated October 13, 2026

Direct application link

Apply or check open roles: https://www.hollard.co.za (open the Careers section)

I couldn’t find an official Hollard page confirming one single, named “Graduate Internship Programme 2026/2027” with a fixed closing date. Hollard appears to advertise internships role by role, and applications go through the careers portal on hollard.co.za. Apply only through Hollard’s own website. Treat any other page that says “Apply Here” as unverified until it sends you to Hollard.

About Hollard
What the internship is
Why it is worth applying
Departments where interns have been placed
Eligibility and requirements
Locations
Internship vs learnership
Application timeline
Step-by-step application guide
Documents checklist
How to write a strong CV
How to write a cover letter (with a template)
Online assessments
Interview preparation with sample questions
Department-specific preparation
Your first weeks as an intern
What happens after the internship
Scam warning
Mistakes that cost applicants their place
Frequently asked questions
Final checklist and conclusion

1. About Hollard

Hollard Insurance Group is South Africa’s largest privately-owned insurance group, and it was established in 1980. The group covers individuals and businesses through personal, commercial and life insurance. Its head office is at Villa Arcadia in Johannesburg, and its international arm operates in several African countries.

The company also publicly stresses people development. Hollard says it invests in its staff through learning opportunities and aims to build a culture where everyone feels they belong. That is a good sign for an intern, because an internship only works well when the employer is willing to teach.

2. What the internship is

An internship is a fixed-term work placement. It gives a graduate real tasks, a manager, a team and a chance to show what they can do. It is not a permanent job, and the length, stipend and conditions are set in each advert.

Hollard tends to hire interns into a specific team for a specific role. Past adverts, for example, were for a tax intern and an HR intern rather than a general “graduate intake.” So when you apply, you are applying to a department.

3. Why it is worth applying

Real experience. Employers ask for experience even from new graduates. An internship gives you your first line of it.
A recognised name. Hollard is a well-known South African insurer, which helps your CV.
Exposure to the whole business. Insurance needs finance, data, tax, people, technology, marketing and claims, so you will see how a large company fits together.
A professional network. Colleagues and managers become references and sometimes your route to the next role.
A test of your career choice. You find out which kind of work you enjoy before you commit to a path.

4. Departments where interns have been placed

These come from past Hollard adverts. Do not assume they will all be open this year.

Tax. The tax intern supported technical and compliance work and was exposed to corporate income tax and VAT. It suits graduates with an accounting or taxation background.

Human Resources. The HR intern was the first point of contact for HR queries and maintained personnel records, HR documents and internal databases. It suits people who are organised, discreet and good with people.

Data and Business Intelligence. A BI Developer Intern role was advertised in Hollard Central, Data and BI. That listing is from a third-party site, so confirm it on Hollard’s portal. It suits graduates in IT, statistics, mathematics or information systems.

Other likely areas, based on how large insurers work, are finance, actuarial, IT, marketing, claims and operations. Check the portal for what is actually open.

5. Eligibility and requirements

Always follow the live advert. These are the patterns seen in past Hollard internship postings:

A relevant qualification. The tax role asked for a BCom (Honours) in Taxation. Other roles name their own degree or diploma.
Little or no experience. The tax advert said no experience was needed, and the HR advert asked for 0 to 1 year of knowledge of HR legislation and procedures.
Computer literacy. Expect Microsoft Office to be assumed.
Soft skills. Past adverts listed good verbal and written communication, an analytical and solution-driven approach, and the ability to work both independently and in a team.
Right to work in South Africa. Most local programmes require this. Confirm in the advert.
Fit with the role. Match your studies to the vacancy. A strong fit matters more than applying to everything.

6. Locations

Past Hollard internships were based in Parktown, Gauteng. Hollard also has operations in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria. Before you apply, ask yourself whether you can travel or relocate there, and what it will cost you each month.

7. Internship vs learnership

These are often confused.

	Graduate internship	Learnership
Who it is for	Graduates and diploma holders	Usually matriculants and unemployed youth
Goal	Workplace experience in a specific team	A formal qualification plus workplace learning
Qualification needed	A relevant degree or diploma	Often Matric

Hollard’s 2026 learnerships have already closed. The Unemployed Learnership 2026 (13 places in Parktown) closed on 7 October 2026, and the IT Learnership 2026 (reference HOL260911-1) closed on 18 September 2026. If you are a graduate, search for internship and graduate roles instead.

8. Application timeline

I couldn’t verify dates for the 2026/2027 internships. Past internship adverts closed in August 2020 (tax) and late August 2020 (HR), which shows that roles can open at different times of year. Use this as a planning guide:

Now: Update your CV, collect your documents and create a profile on the portal.
Weekly: Check the careers page for new internship adverts.
When a role opens: Apply within the first few days. Roles can close quickly.
After applying: Check your email and spam folder daily.
If shortlisted: Expect an invitation to an assessment or interview. Respond promptly.

9. Step-by-step application guide

Go to https://www.hollard.co.za and open the Careers page.
Search for “intern” or “graduate.” Filter by department and location if you can.
Open the full advert. Write down the reference number, closing date, qualification and any required skills.
Create your profile and complete every section accurately.
Upload your documents as clear PDFs, named sensibly (for example, “Thandi_Nkosi_CV.pdf”).
Answer screening questions honestly and specifically.
Review everything. Check names, numbers, dates and contact details.
Submit before the deadline, not on the last hour.
Save your confirmation, either a screenshot or the email.
Keep a tracker of roles applied for, dates and reference numbers.

10. Documents checklist

Up-to-date CV (one to two pages)
Certified or clear copy of your ID
Degree or diploma certificate, or latest academic record if still studying
Matric certificate
Cover letter tailored to the role
Contact details of two referees who agreed to be listed
Proof of any relevant short courses or certificates

11. How to write a strong CV

Many companies screen applications with software before a person reads them, so a clean CV matters.

Layout

Use plain formatting, standard headings and a readable font.
Avoid photos, graphics, text boxes and tables.
Save as PDF unless the portal asks otherwise.

Content order

Contact details and a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one
A three-line profile statement
Education, with your qualification, institution and year
Experience, including part-time work, volunteering and projects
Skills
References

Profile statement example
“Taxation honours graduate with strong knowledge of VAT and corporate income tax, seeking an internship where I can apply my technical skills and learn in a compliance environment.”

Turn duties into results

Weak: “Responsible for filing.”
Stronger: “Organised and filed over 200 client documents, cutting retrieval time for the team.”

Only include claims you can back up, because you may be asked about them in the interview.

Match the advert’s keywords. If the advert mentions VAT, SQL, record keeping or stakeholder communication, use those words where they truthfully apply to you.

12. How to write a cover letter

A good cover letter is short, specific and honest. Keep it to one page.

Structure

Opening: the role you are applying for and one line on why you fit
Middle: two short paragraphs linking your skills to the advert’s requirements
Close: thank them, state your availability and invite contact

Template

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am applying for the [Role Name] internship (reference [number]). I recently completed my [qualification] at [institution], and I am keen to apply my knowledge in a practical setting at Hollard.

During my studies I [specific project or achievement relevant to the role]. This taught me [skill], which I believe will help me contribute to your [team name] team. I am also comfortable with [tool or skill from the advert], and I work well both independently and as part of a team.

I am drawn to Hollard because [one genuine reason, such as its position in the insurance industry or its focus on developing people]. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can add value.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
[Full name]
[Phone number] | [Email address]

13. Online assessments

Graduate recruitment often includes some form of assessment. I couldn’t confirm Hollard’s exact process, so prepare for the common types:

Numerical reasoning: tables, percentages and simple data interpretation
Verbal reasoning: reading a passage and judging statements
Situational judgement: choosing the best response to a workplace scenario
Role-specific tests: for example, Excel, SQL or tax scenarios

Tips

Practise free online tests before the real one.
Use a quiet space and a stable internet connection.
Read instructions fully and watch the clock.
Keep a calculator and pen handy if allowed.

14. Interview preparation with sample questions

Before the interview

Re-read the advert and your own application.
Learn what Hollard does and who its customers are.
Plan your route or test your video link in advance.
Dress neatly. Business-smart is a safe choice.

Use the STAR method for behavioural questions: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Sample questions and how to approach them

“Tell us about yourself.”
Give a 60-second summary: your studies, one or two highlights, and why this role.
“Why Hollard?”
Mention something genuine, such as its standing as a large South African insurer or its stated focus on people development. Avoid vague flattery.
“Why this department?”
Link your studies and interests directly to the work the advert describes.
“Describe a time you worked in a team.”
Use STAR. Say what your own contribution was, not only what the group did.
“Tell us about a mistake you made.”
Pick a real, modest example. Spend most of your answer on what you learned and changed.
“How do you handle pressure or tight deadlines?”
Give a concrete example of how you planned and prioritised.
“How do you handle confidential information?”
This matters in HR, tax and insurance. Say that you understand discretion and follow company policy.
“Where do you see yourself in a few years?”
Show ambition tied to growth in the field, not only a job title.
“Do you have any questions for us?”
Always have two or three ready.

Good questions to ask

What would a typical week look like for the intern?
Who will mentor or supervise me?
How will my progress be reviewed?
What do successful interns do differently?

15. Department-specific preparation

Tax: Revise the basics of corporate income tax, VAT, dividends tax and employees’ tax. Be ready to explain a concept simply. Past requirements stressed theoretical knowledge of these taxes and an ability to build good working relationships.

Human Resources: Review basic labour legislation, recruitment steps, onboarding and confidentiality. Practise talking about record keeping and employee queries.

Data and BI: Refresh SQL, Excel and any BI tool you know. Be ready to explain a project and the data decisions you made.

Finance and other areas: Review your core subjects and think of one practical example from your studies for each.

16. Your first weeks as an intern

If you are selected, these habits help:

Arrive early and be reliable. Punctuality builds trust quickly.
Ask questions early. It is better to clarify than to guess.
Take notes. Write down instructions, names and processes.
Ask for feedback regularly, not only at the end.
Take small tasks seriously. They are how people judge you for bigger ones.
Protect confidential information. In insurance, discretion is part of the job.
Build relationships across teams, not only in your own.
Keep a record of your achievements. You will use it in your CV and future interviews.

17. What happens after the internship

Internships are usually temporary, but they open doors:

Permanent opportunities. Some interns are considered when roles open, though no employer can guarantee this. Ask the hiring team what is realistic.
References. A strong manager reference is valuable.
A sharper CV. You can now show real tasks and results.
Clarity. You learn which part of the field suits you.

Ask your supervisor for a reference letter and connect with colleagues on LinkedIn before you leave.

18. Scam warning

Fake recruitment posts are common. Protect yourself:

Use only the employer’s official application channel and never pay to apply.
Be wary of anyone asking for registration fees, deposits or banking details.
Check that emails come from a genuine Hollard domain, not a free email account.
Be cautious with messages on WhatsApp or social media offering guaranteed placements.
Check the vacancy on Hollard’s own careers page before sharing personal documents.

19. Mistakes that cost applicants their place

Applying after the closing date
Using one generic CV for every role
Applying for roles that don’t match your qualification
Leaving the profile incomplete
Submitting documents that are blurry or unreadable
Having an unprofessional email address
Not checking email after applying
Arriving unprepared for the interview
Exaggerating on a CV

20. Frequently asked questions

Is there an official “Hollard Graduate Internship Programme 2026/2027”?
I couldn’t confirm one. Hollard appears to advertise internships per role, so check the careers portal.

What is the closing date?
It depends on the individual vacancy. Read the live advert for the exact date.

What is the stipend?
I couldn’t find a verified amount. Be careful with unofficial sites quoting a salary scale.

Do I need work experience?
Often not. Past adverts accepted candidates with little or no experience if they had the right qualification.

Can I apply while still studying?
Some adverts require a completed qualification. Check each one.

Can I apply for more than one internship?
Usually yes, if you meet the requirements. Tailor every application.

How long does the internship last?
The duration is set in each advert. Check it before applying.

What if there are no internships open?
Create a profile or job alert on the careers portal and check weekly.

Is the learnership the same thing?
No. The 2026 Unemployed Learnership was aimed at young unemployed South Africans. Graduates should look for internship roles.

Will I be paid?
Check the advert. I couldn’t verify pay details for 2026/2027.

21. Final checklist and conclusion

Before you apply

Opened https://www.hollard.co.za and found the Careers page
Read the advert fully, including the closing date
Confirmed my qualification matches
Tailored my CV and cover letter
Scanned and named all documents clearly
Checked my email address and phone number are correct
Told my referees to expect a call

After you apply

Saved my confirmation
Checking email and spam daily
Practising interview answers
Revising key subject knowledge

A Hollard internship can give you a strong start in one of South Africa’s best-known insurance groups. Start early, match your application to the role, and use only Hollard’s official website. Good luck with your application.

If you’d like, I can put this into a Word document or PDF, or draft a tailored cover letter for a specific role.

Posted in: Internships

Conversation