This article was prepared based on an interview with Elgün Oruclu, co-founder and director of HR Option company, and an expert in business and career development.
Elgün Oruclu, who has been working for many years on career guidance for young people, labor market dynamics, and specialization selection processes, emphasizes that the transition from secondary school to the labor market is a stage that determines the future of society not only at an individual but also at a strategic level.
Specialization selection does not only shape individual destinies.
One of the most important issues for teachers and applicants is the proper direction of knowledge acquired in secondary school. Sometimes, due to specialization choices made under emotional, random, or external influences, the placement process based on admission exam scores does not always align with the individual's potential and interests.
This process shapes not only individual destinies but also the social, economic, and cultural development of society in the long term.
The importance of proper guidance
Guidance provided in secondary school plays a decisive role in students' future career and specialization choices. The teacher's ability to make the subject enjoyable, the methodology applied, the influence of family and social environment, media sources, and parents' awareness level about the labor market directly affect this process. Over time, incorrect guidance can lead to loss of motivation, career changes, and difficulties in adapting to the labor market, creating a need for many graduates to acquire additional education and new skills to find themselves. Thus, the issue does not remain at the level of individual choice but transforms into a strategic process affecting the overall social literacy, economic stability, and personnel balance in the labor market, with the shortage of specialized personnel in the labor market reaching a critical level.
Society and the labor market: changing priorities
Socio-economic studies show that societies differ significantly from the previous generation approximately every 30 years. In the early years of Azerbaijan's independence, there was a greater need for specialists who would work in public administration and possess international relations and legal knowledge. This is why interest in fields such as law, journalism, and international relations was higher between 1995 and 2005. In 2010 and subsequent periods, as economic development accelerated, demand for areas such as banking, accounting, marketing, human resources, and business administration began to increase. The integration of this trend into secondary schools and higher education institutions is of paramount importance. In international practice, several large companies have formed order-based cooperation models with higher education institutions to adapt quickly to changes in the labor market and maintain business effectiveness. Within the framework of this cooperation, companies support the training of suitable personnel, thereby striving to maintain economic stability and competitiveness. It is no coincidence that currently in Azerbaijan, representatives of the real business environment are also involved in lecture and training processes at higher education institutions as active participants in the labor market. While this is a commendable and positive change, the transformation of this approach into a systematic need and a tradition of continuous cooperation could yield more effective results.
Career guidance model: HR Option experience
Against the backdrop of these realities, the role of professional career guidance services is further increasing. HR Option human resources development and training center has been working for many years with young people who have been misguided or have difficulty identifying their potential. Through the "Career Counseling Days" regularly organized at our institution, individual meetings are held with graduates and students, and their interests, skills, and potential are analyzed using methodical approaches.
Our training center has been operating for almost 10 years, and our observations during this period show that large companies in the labor market can more easily secure the employees they need.
“As HR Option, we observe that large organizations with whom we cooperate – such as the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Veysəloğlu LLC, Avrora, and Baku Steel Company – pay special attention to directing their employees to training and meeting their training and development needs. European practice suggests that an office worker is directed to an average of 10-12 training sessions per year by the institution. It is gratifying that the number of such institutions is also increasing in our country.”
Modern era: responding to changing demands
The rapid development of technology has created new demands in the labor market and led to fundamental changes in the field of the labor market. HR Option regularly updates its programs, taking these changes into account, and equips participants with skills to work with artificial intelligence tools. This approach accelerates the adaptation of managers and specialists to new trends and enables them to make more effective decisions in their work processes.
Conclusion
Proper guidance, specialization selection, and adaptation to the labor market in secondary school are among the fundamental conditions not only for individual success but also for the future of society as a whole. Teachers' methodical approach, parental support, awareness of the labor market, and professional career guidance services play a decisive role in establishing this process correctly.
Recommendation
Parents and teachers should be more careful in career selection, focusing more on the probable future prospects of the relevant profession rather than factors such as current trends or income levels.
The recommendation for graduates is to prioritize salary less in their first job choices and enter the corporate work environment specifically with the aim of understanding real work ethics and analyzing which field is more suitable for them.
At the same time, there are also volunteer and internship programs being implemented, which, undoubtedly, are excellent opportunities for new graduates to develop themselves.
