Young people are the ones most severely affected by unemployment. The latest data of the National Statistical Institute show that 24% of Bulgarians aged between 15 and 24 years remain outside the labour market, with only 6 per cent being graduates. Lack of experience is one of the main reasons for young graduates not being able to find a job. That's why many of them look for various opportunities for practice, while still studying at the university. One option is the Youth Employment Initiative, financed under the new Human Resources Development OP. In 2015 and 2016 some 35 million euro of financing will be provided under the program that will help some 8,000 young people to find jobs. In September last year, Bulgarian and foreign companies united in the "Alliance of Youth," as the idea is to provide a chance to young Bulgarians to find a job. A forum entitled "National Career Days - Good Career, Good Life" is another opportunity for students to meet with representatives of business and find their place in the labour market. This year, the fourteenth edition was launched on March 10 in Sofia. The forum will also visit the cities of Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Svishtov, Plovdiv and Burgas. Traditionally, the event is organized by the Job Tiger - HR company career site. Statistics show that over the years more than 187,000 young people took part in the forums and more than 32,000 of them have started an internship or career. This year the organizers expect just the event in Sofia to be visited by about 12,000 people. 

"We talked over the years about how important internships are. This is the first place where students can get acquainted with a job,” says Svetozar Petrov, manager of Job Tiger. "Thus they can see whether they made the best choice about their profession and use more effectively their time for studying. Internships can also give a good start to a career, because employers prefer people who have some prior experience. Those who are about to graduate have the chance to find their first job during the forum. Over the years many people have found jobs and are now the ones who select the employees of their companies.”

Traditionally, during the forum, students will have the opportunity not only to meet with employers, but also to get advice from career counsellors. Job Tiger experts will also organize seminars to teach young people how to use social networks when searching for a job and how to be proactive. 
 
Interest towards "National Career Days" not only among young people but also among the business has been constantly growing. Over 860 companies have participated over the years. The number of companies taking part in the forum in Sofia is the biggest -more than 120. Plovdiv and Varna are the other cities where the business actively uses the opportunities provided by the forum. Which are the sectors of the economy that show the greatest interest? Here's what Svetozar Petrov told us:
 
"There are both manufacturing and financial companies, i.e. banks, insurers. There are also telecommunication companies and of course, many IT companies and call centres. There are a number of companies present, because the business needs employees."

English: Alexander Markov