11.09.2015, Sofia, American Chamber of Commerce:
10 socially disadvantaged young people started work or internships at 7 leading companies as a result of their meetings this spring with Philip Morris International, Hewlett-Packard, Mobiltel, Regus, Experian, DHL, VIVACOM, organized by BCAF and AmCham. In addition, 10 other socially disadvantaged young men and women embarked on their career paths, all of them pointing out how the training, advice and the opportunity to meet with potential employers gave them the experience and skills necessary to be successful at subsequent job interviews and eventually obtain the desired position.
Since the start of our initiative a year ago, three groups of socially disadvantaged young people met with employers in the form of speed-dating interviews - a series of meetings where each candidate has 15 minutes to convince the company that he is the right person for the job. Since May 2014 over a hundred girls and boys received practical experience and instructions on how best to cope with the meetings with prospective employers. As a result, nearly 30% of them have already started their career, 20 of them at AmCham companies.
So far 25 companies joined the initiative - AIG, AIMS, Amgen, AON, August Research, AVON, Comverse, DHL, Engineering Services, Experian, EY, Geotechmin, Hilton, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Mobiltel, Philip Morris Bulgaria, PPD, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Proxiad , Regus, SITEL, Unique Estates, UniCredit Bulbank and VIVACOM. Thank you!
This May BCAF received the support of the Trust for Social Achievement for expanding the scope of this effort. Currently BCAF is expanding its database of young socially disadvantaged people and will assist in the career development of young people raised in institutions, from Roma communities, orphans and others. Next meetings with employers will be held in late October and November 2015.