Bulgarian university students not ready for job market

Most university students and graduates in Bulgaria are not ready for the labor market, a Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) survey released here on Thursday revealed.
The survey, which interviewed employers and students on their attitudes and expectations regarding successful professional performance, found that only 10 percent of future graduates had a clear idea of the criteria they must meet in order to get their desired job, BIA said in a press release.
Only 50 percent of the young respondents indicated they kept an eye on job announcements and tried to establish direct contact with potential employers, the survey showed.
More than 70 percent of job applicants said they relied on relatives and friends to find a job, and only 17 percent of respondents were willing to participate in competitions and exams to get their desired job.
Furthermore, 62 percent of young people were not in a hurry to look for employment, and only eight percent considered starting their own business after graduation, BIA said.
Meanwhile, 39 percent of young people intended to move to another country and 46 percent to another city upon graduating, the survey showed.
There is currently a gap between professional and educational standards, and a gap between the needs and requirements of the labor market and the level of employable Bulgarian graduates, BIA added.