Career Day Project Continues Its Mission to Guide Romanian Students Toward Their Professional Future

Career Day Project Continues Its Mission to Guide Romanian Students Toward Their Professional Future

The “Career Day” project, initiated by the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL) in collaboration with Școala de Valori, aims to facilitate interaction between students and industry experts, providing them with the opportunity to explore various career paths in the business services sector and beyond, gain a better understanding of job market requirements, and acquire practical knowledge and insights.

“Career Day” is designed for high school students in grades 11 and 12, who are planning their academic and professional futures, as well as for 8th-grade students preparing for high school admission. This year, students from Bucharest, Iasi, Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, and Brasov will have the chance to participate in the project. Each Career Day session consists of two main components: a storytelling session featuring industry experts and a dialogue & networking session with participating professionals.

At the beginning of this year, two Career Day sessions were held at “Iulia Hasdeu” National College and “Dimitrie Leonida” Technical College in Bucharest, where approximately 100 high school students from grades 11 and 12 took part in these events, gaining real-world insights into career opportunities and industry expectations. At “Iulia Hasdeu” National College, professionals engaged in discussions with over 50 students, sharing insights into labour market perspectives for early-career professionals and potential career challenges.

At “Dimitrie Leonida” Technical College, 50 students participated in an interactive session focused on career alternatives and youth preparation for entering the workforce. Experts encouraged students to ask questions, and through these interactions, students gained a deeper understanding of the importance of career planning, personal skills development, and adaptability in their professional journey.

Mihaela Bochiu, a Romanian Language and Literature teacher at “Dimitrie Leonida” Technical College, shared her perspective on the event: “It met my expectations. I was anticipating a different approach compared to usual projects, which typically focus on setting goals and achieving them. This event felt so natural and simple, reinforcing an old pedagogical principle I believe in, that a clear, simple message, delivered with emotional support, reaches any student, regardless of their age.”

Mario-Andrei Caplan, an 11th-grade student at Dimitrie Leonida, also shared his experience: “It was an interesting event where there was real interaction between the speakers and students. In my opinion, such sessions should be available in all high schools because every student needs guidance on how to shape their future, pursue their dreams, and never give up.”

In 2023, the project brought together over 100 students and 8 experienced professionals in 2 sessions organized at “Spiru Haret” National College and “Dragomir Hurmuzescu” Theoretical High School in Bucharest, where students discussed job market trends and challenges.

“At Școala de Valori, we strongly believe in fostering connections between the academic and business environments. Together with ABSL, we aim to bring experienced professionals into classrooms for meaningful career-related discussions with students. In today’s world, information is everywhere, but we’ve found that personal stories can inspire and create ‘aha’ moments in students’ minds. Through these sessions, we want to encourage young people to ask questions about their future and to be curious, understanding that, with the support of those around them, they can clarify their educational and career paths.” (Dragoș Belduganu, Manager of Institutional and International Collaborations, Scoala de Valori)

We believe in the power of dialogue and experience-sharing to inspire courage, aspirations, and professional potential in today’s generations. “Career Day” allows us to expand our outreach to high school students after focusing for 11 years on adapting universities to business needs. By combining SdV’s expertise in Romania’s education system with ABSL’s strong background in the business sector, our successful 2023 pilot is evolving into a 2024 program that will impact 1,000 students across 50 schools and high schools in their final academic years.” (Adrian Baron, Vice President of ABSL)

Teachers and school principals can support their students in making informed career choices after graduation by registering for the “Career Day” project HERE. Companies in the Business Services industry interested in participating in “Career Day” sessions can send a request to absl@absl.ro.