What challenges do young people face when looking for work?
In order to learn about the real challenges faced by young people on the job market, we met with people who have different experiences in this area. Additionally, we conducted in-depth interviews with career counselors and recruiters who support young people, in order to combine these two perspectives.
It was a very creative and fruitful time, and the workshops and conversations that were held confirmed that this is an important topic that hides many secrets.
Below you will find conclusions from our work and a list of the basic difficulties and challenges of recruiting young people.
START SMART: A guide to avoiding career mistakes
Starting a career can be exciting but also challenging. It’s a time of learning, first jobs and some mistakes. But mistakes are part of the process. This guide is based on a report that looks at common challenges young people face when entering the job market. The goal isn’t to criticize, but to support and inspire smarter choices.
The insights come from workshops with young people from Poland and Bulgaria, as well as interviews with recruiters carried out in February 2025. We hope this helps you better understand the job market and build a confident, informed career path. It also helps our HIRE-FIRE team create useful learning materials that match real needs.