Employment Opportunities for Students and Recent Graduates of Universities and Colleges in the Kurdistan Region" was the title of a roundtable of Sey Research Center, held on April 30, 2024, at the office of the center. The roundtable aimed to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing students and graduates in the private sector in the Kurdistan Region. Another objective of the roundtable was to try to understand the quality and skills of the new graduates and their readiness for the labor market. In addition, the roundtable provided an opportunity to bring together and explore the linkage between Fresh graduates, Human resources, NGOs, and entrepreneurs in Sulaymaniyah. The speakers addressed three main themes: 

• The private sector and low quality of the CVs; the expectation of the private sector for fresh graduates and the environment of the sector as generating well-being and individuals’ rights.
• The programs and funds support NGOs to create job opportunities and entrepreneurship; prepare youths for the workforce, follow up with their alumna and participants, and how do they contribute in enhancing employment among youths. 
• Entrepreneurs are between options and lack of employment opportunities; the entrepreneurship environment, personal characteristics on being independent, and to what extent you can provide opportunities due to being entrepreneurs. 

Business and Employment Financial Support Organizations play a crucial role in encouraging young people to explore diverse avenues for income beyond traditional employment. They provide valuable support through activities and training programs, helping participants refine their ideas, expand their networks, and develop essential skills. 

These organizations, exemplified by initiatives like Five One Labs, maintain consistent communication with program graduates, fostering ongoing support and guidance. 

Furthermore, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the local environment is crucial for initiating and sustaining successful businesses. In addition, Passion is identified as a driving force behind innovation and risk-taking among young entrepreneurs, prompting them to seize opportunities and overcome obstacles. Moreover, cultivating a strong social network is pivotal for entrepreneurs, enhancing their reputation and facilitating business growth.

Participating in career events and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn are highlighted as effective strategies for networking and accessing job opportunities for recent graduates. Notably, employers increasingly prioritize skills over experience when hiring new graduates, underscoring the importance of continuous skill development.

Speakers:

• Hala Nihad: HR manager at IQ company and founder of Ideal Management 
• Haval Sirwan: Officer manager at 5 1 labs.
• Sarah Naqeshbandi: Entrepreneur and owner of Soz Cakery. 

Participants:

• Shnyar Mohammed (Fresh graduate)
• Hannar Najad (Fresh graduate)
• Baxtiyar Mohammed (Senior student)
• Meer Abdulkarim (Senior student)
• Sarko Fatih (Senior student)
• Bahar Bakir (Graduate)

Key Findings: 

• Business and employment financial support organizations encourage young people to move away from public or private sector employment as it is not the only way to earn an income.
• Through regular participation in organizations' activities and training courses, young people can gain good support for their ideas, strengthen their networks, and develop personal skills.
• Business and employment financial support organizations such as Five One Labs are in constant contact with graduates and participants of their programs and activities.
• Fresh graduates have poor CV design and writing skills, which prevents them from demonstrating their abilities well, thus weakening their chances of getting a job.
• Creating opportunities in crises and difficult times such as during the coronavirus is often a good opportunity to start your own business and take advantage of technology such as social media platforms to make the processes easier.
• Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the environment you live in is the best way to start and grow your own business.
• Having a passion in the career field is one of the points that young people can create opportunities to start their own businesses and innovate and overcome risks.
• Having a strong network will strengthen the reputation and personality of the entrepreneur to develop his business further easily.
• Diversity in the presence of different businesses creates job opportunities for graduates from marginalized sectors.
• The main criteria for employers to give job opportunities to fresh graduates is not based on experience but on skills.
• Participating in career events, as well as using career platforms (LinkedIn), allows you to strengthen your relationships (Networking) and increase the chances of catching job opportunities.

Recommendations and Solutions

• Universities and colleges can always take the initiative to improve the level of student service centers so that students can participate in continuous training and put them in joint programs between universities, companies, and institutions. 
• Participate in different courses and start a small business in the beginning as a way to improve and increase your chances of admission. 
• The law of duties and rights in the private sector should be regulated in the same way as in the public sector. There should be social insurance in the private sector. 
• The private sector should be aware of having a salary scale to retain employees. Leaving their employees after six months or a year due to low salaries is harmful to the company (increased turnover).
• Young people and new graduates should rearrange their CVs according to the demands of the jobs they are applying for.