When an opportunity becomes the first step towards the future
Read the story of Elja
For many young people who have recently completed secondary education, entering the labour market can seem like a major challenge. A lack of qualifications and professional experience is often one of the first barriers they face when looking for a job and building a sustainable future.
For Elja, a young woman who had just completed secondary education, the desire to gain her first professional experience and take her first steps towards a career came with precisely this challenge.
Through the Youth Guarantee Programme, with support from the #EU4Youth project, Elja joined the On-the-Job Training Programme, taking up a position as a sales assistant at a private cosmetics business in the city of Vlora. This opportunity has given her not only her first experience in a real working environment, but also the space to learn, practise and develop skills that are essential for her professional journey.
During her on-the-job training, Elja is gaining practical knowledge in customer service, professional communication, product organisation and managing daily responsibilities. Beyond technical skills, the experience is also helping her develop important personal qualities, including a sense of responsibility, commitment and self-confidence.
For a young person at the beginning of their professional journey, learning through hands-on experience can be particularly valuable. Each day at work gives Elja the opportunity to learn from experience, navigate new situations and better understand the skills she needs to build her future.
For Elja, this opportunity represents more than just her first work experience. It is a step towards more sustainable integration into the labour market and an opportunity to gradually build the skills and confidence she needs for her professional development.
The Youth Guarantee Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Albania and UNICEF, aims to provide young people with concrete opportunities to develop their skills, gain work experience and move closer to the labour market. Through On-the-Job Training, young people have the opportunity to learn by working and build a stronger foundation for their professional futures.
Elja’s story shows how a first opportunity can be exactly what a young person needs to begin their professional journey—with stronger skills, greater confidence and a clearer vision for the future.
#EU4Youth is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Albania and UNICEF Albania, in collaboration with the National Employment and Skills Agency and the National Youth Agency, under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation.
