Once upon a time, finishing college was almost a sure ticket to the job market. Today, a diploma is important, but it is no longer the only criterion employers are looking for. Foreign languages, digital skills, practical experience, certificates and readiness for continuous improvement are increasingly being prioritized by companies over formal education. This is precisely why an increasing number of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to invest in additional education after finishing school or college in order to increase their chances of employment.
The labor market has been changing faster than ever in recent years. The development of new technologies, digitalization of business and the arrival of international companies have changed the needs of employers. Many jobs that were in demand today almost didn’t exist ten years ago, while certain professions are slowly disappearing.
Education in the field of information technology, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, foreign languages, finance and project management is especially sought after. More and more young people invest their own money in internationally recognized certificates because they believe that they can open the door to better employment.
The twenty-five-year-old economist graduate from Tuzla says that he found the job only after completing several professional educations.
“At job interviews, almost no one asked only about my diploma. They were interested in whether I could work in certain programs, whether I spoke English and whether I had experience on projects. I realized that I had to keep learning if I wanted to advance,” he says.
Research has shown that a large number of companies have been investing in the education of their own employees in recent years. They organize internal trainings, finance international certificates and enable training in the country and abroad, aware that investing in knowledge is one of the key factors of competitiveness, writes NOISE.
