Starting a career can be exciting but also challenging. It’s a time of learning, first jobs and some mistakes. But mistakes are part of the process. This guide is based on a report that looks at common challenges young people face when entering the job market. The goal isn’t to criticize, but to support and inspire smarter choices.

The insights come from workshops with young people from Poland and Bulgaria, as well as interviews with recruiters carried out in February 2025. We hope this helps you better understand the job market and build a confident, informed career path. It also helps our HIRE-FIRE team create useful learning materials that match real needs.