The Itak Job Project shows that, in order to succeed in today's job market, people must be daring and have a defined set of goals. Ljubljana, 12 June 2013 Lately the labor market has seen some important changes regarding employers' expectations, as well as the types of jobs and job positions that are available. The necessary knowledge and personality traits candidates need when looking for a job have also changed. The type of candidates landing jobs these days are talented, flexible, courageous, and most importantly have clearly defined goals. This is all the more true of young people seeking employment, who have not yet started working on their careers in any organized fashion, and who have not even yet been in contact with potential employers. The Itak Job Project helped more than 1,300 young people on their path to improving this skill-set, providing them with tips, know-how, and other advice about finding a job. The project took another 50 young people under its wing for an individual mentorship program, additionally encouraging them to be ambitious in setting and achieving their goals. Most importantly, 7 candidates found employment with Itak Job's direct help.The picture for young people in the job market is somewhat bleak, so they need all the help they can get.
According to data from the Employment Service of Slovenia, prospects for young people in the job market have been getting worse over the past 5 years. The statistics for Slovenia are the worst for all of Europe, where unemployment for young people has risen sharply in recent years. The economic situation here has been extremely weak since 2008, which has a large impact on employment among people aged 15 to 29, who enter the job market with less experience and in general later than their peers abroad. Data from the Employment Service of Slovenia (hereinafter: ESS) show that employment among young people dropped by 57% between 2008 and 2013. In May of this year, the ESS listed the number of unemployed young people at 27,645, which comprises almost a quarter (24%) of the nation's unemployment figures.
The Itak Job Project, a product of collaboration between Telekom Slovenije and the MojeDelo.com employment portal, has helped young people all across Slovenia to come to grips with the current situation, to get the know-how, skills, and tools they need to be successful in finding a job. More than 1,300 young people attended career lectures in Maribor, Ljubljana (twice), Novo Mesto, Portoro , and Kranj, and 50 young people who successfully convinced our committee were also individually helped by mentors. They also put together a free handbook for young job seekers, as well as other materials and advice, which is available at job.itak.si.
We are sure that Itak Job has helped young people gain clear insight into the challenges facing them in the job market. Response to the career lectures was extremely positive, and interest in mentorship exceeded our expectations. We are glad that we have been able at least in small part to help young people realize their career goals more easily. We are proud of each and every Itak user who finds a job or sets off on their own entrepreneurial path during these tough times, said Niko Ku ar, head of Marketing Communications at Telekom Slovenije.
Finding a job by actively seeking employment or by realizing an entrepreneurial idea
The Itak Job project gave us an excellent opportunity to spread knowledge among young people about modern ways of finding a job, helping them demystify some of the negative myths surrounding the job market, that only well-connected but incompetent people are the ones getting jobs. Nowadays successful job seekers are the ones who find suitable employers themselves, and are able to offer them the skill-set they are looking for. They don't give up because of a bump in their road to success. Some of the participants have already showed this by example. Three candidates succeeded in convincing employers that they had what it takes. Four others gathered up their courage and decided to head out on their own career path, said Gorazd Prah, a career consultant from the project's partner, MojeDelo.com.
The first to show that you can find a job, if only you have clear goals and a bit of courage was Marko Kure, an experienced and ambitious accountant with an acumen for sales. He enjoys work where he can combine these two talents, and Itak Job helped him take advantage of his know-how. Nowadays, in addition to his job at an accounting firm, he is working as a salesman for Kuponko.si through his afternoon business. His advice for young people seeking employment is not to give up, and to really know oneself and one's skill-set. He also recommends a dash of courage and confidence at job interviews.
Sanja Luki attended the Itak Job lecture in Kranj. With her newfound knowledge, it was not long before she landed her first job interview. Two weeks after the individual mentorship program came to a close, she received two job offers, and decided to take a position in accounting at Mimovrste.com. In her opinion, the project's greatest added value is that, despite the recession and unemployment, it helped young people understand the current conditions on the job market, motivating them in their search and arming them with loads of useful advice. Itak Job changed my life, says Sanja.
Through discussion with her consultant, Karmen Birsa found that accounting really was not what she was looking for. Tourism, new ideas, and working with people were the things that got her excited. With Itak's help, she was able to develop her business model and first service prototype. She is now marketing her services to her own clients. Karmen combined her own experience as a tour guide, her knowledge of Slovenia's hidden gems, and her acquaintance with some o
