Program Places College Grads with Prospective Employers
Every morning Khatia Jambazishvili hurries to her new job. She is one of 35 young people who received permanent jobs after participating in Georgia’s Youth National Internship Program.
The concept of internships, a rite of passage for most Western college students, is new in Georgia. Young people are often bewildered by the post-college job search, lacking both practical job skills and exposure to new businesses and career paths. Meanwhile, many businesses in Georgia, especially small enterprises, still prefer to hire staff through networks of personal and family connections. Students who lack such connections have no way to get their foot in the door. Yet, employers also complain that they cannot find reliable, skilled and motivated workers.
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| The concept of internships, a rite of passage for most Western college students, is new to Georgian grads |
The Business Ethics Association, with support from USAID through the Eurasia Foundation, introduced the concept of internships to its members as a way to connect them with motivated and educated recent college graduates who simply lacked practical work experience. The Association publicized the Youth National Internship program widely through the media, and received over 700 applicants. After a rigorous interview process, the Association selected 150 interns and matched them with over 60 Georgian companies, media outlets, government agencies and non-profit organizations. Many of the interns were offered permanent jobs after completing the three-month program.
Jambazishvili describes the process that led her to a permanent position at the Association for the Protection of Landowner’s Rights.
“When I graduated from the University, I started actively seeking a job. I began to lose hope because I didn’t have enough experience. Just at that time I heard about the Youth National Internship program and successfully applied. According to my contract, the internship was supposed to last three months, but on the third day of my internship, [the company with which I was placed] began delegating many tasks to me. After two months, I was offered a permanent position. I have acquired many skills which will certainly help me in my future career: I have learned how to communicate with foreign colleagues, work in teams and deal with administrative issues,” says Jambazishvili. “I have suggested [that] my friends to participate in the Youth National Internship Program and today they are also taking part.”
As more companies and students see the value of internships, demand for the program continues to grow. The Business Ethics Association now has a database of companies who are eager to participate in future rounds, and the organization is exploring how to continue the program in the future through sponsorship from local companies.
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