On 11 November 2016 within the framework of the international exhibition of agricultural machinery and equipment ‘InterAGRO’ an event called ‘Your professional start’ was organized with the support of Ukrainian Agribusiness Club, Kyiv International Contract Fair and Science Methodology Center ‘Agroosvita’. Young professionals and students had the opportunity to establish effective communication with employers and graduate students of agricultural educational institutions who are in the search of work.

The major event visitors were young agricultural specialists, students of agricultural higher educational institutions, colleges and technical schools from different regions of Ukraine who were able to learn about existing vacancies, meet with potential employers and had a chance to find their occupational work.

During the exhibition, agricultural companies including IMC, Poletekhnika, Svarog West Group, Сygnet, Agricom and others presented their open vacancies and employment proposals. Representatives of the companies stressed that they were looking for young specialists. Most of them have special internship programs for students, including for those without work experience. ‘Upon taking part in this event, communicating with representatives of the companies, it can be concluded that modern agricultural enterprises require not only skilled experts. They are willing to collaborate with the students who want to study and gain new knowledge. During the event ‘Your professional start’, the companies had an opportunity to communicate with active youth from those regions where agribusinesses locate their production capacities and require renewal of the staff composition’ - said Olena Kovtun, Deputy Director General of UCAB on Cooperation with Agricultural Universities and Scientific Institutions.

As a part of the event, ‘Marathon of interviews’, an effective communication way to which students from all over Ukraine from Mukachevo to Kakhovka joined, was organized. All interested persons could submit their CVs or fill in the application forms. Before and after the interviews, participants of delegation accompanied by representatives of the organizers visited the exhibition, got acquainted with achievements of the world and domestic machinery manufacturing, seed farming and agricultural chemistry as well as talked with representatives of the leading agricultural companies.

During the event, a launch of the unified information platform for practical training in agricultural sector - AgriIntern (http://agriintern.in.ua) was presented. It is a new site with convenient interface enabling to place in free cost unlimited quantity of potential vacancies for practical training and CVs of applying students. AgriIntern informs students about the current training places, trends of labor market and facilitates process of finding the first job position in agricultural sector.

Yaroslav Ivanytskyi, the fifth-year student of Zhytomyr National Agroecological University said: ‘Formerly, we often participated in such exhibitions but visited them mostly in order to get acquainted with the exposition, it was interesting for us to see the machinery, since I am an engineer by occupation. Today, we have the opportunity to be interviewed in parallel. Among employers I choose those who can offer a position similar with my specialty. I am willing to prepare some background for my future career’.

Viktoriia Marchuk, the student of Zhytomyr National Agroecological University said:

"I have already submitted my application forms to several companies according to my specialty - agronomist. At first, I am planning to do practical training since I am finishing the fourth year, and then, with luck, to find a work. I wish studying at the university would be at better level, whereas the theoretical part is good, practical part is poor. Because of this, many students go abroad to undertake an internship. I believe that giving students an opportunity to realize themselves and facilitating them searching for a job or internship in Ukrainian companies are very useful’.  

Association

‘Ukrainian Agribusiness Club’

 146 Zhylianska Str., 3^rd floor

01032 Kyiv, Ukraine

Tel/Fax: +380 44 236 20 97, 79

[email protected]

www.ucab.ua

Viktoriia Onykiienko

Association ‘Ukrainian Agribusiness Club’ (UCAB), , was founded in 2007 to protect economic and professional interests of the agribusiness players of Ukraine. UCAB is a unique platform in Ukraine for establishing business contacts between the agribusiness leaders, enhancing their performance efficiency as well as building dialogue with the government authorities. UCAB greatly facilitates establishing and maintaining international business relations for the Ukrainian producers. The Association includes the largest producers and processors of agricultural products in Ukraine.