Soft-Skills Training Increase Employment Opportunities

Soft-skills training give Macedonian students the confidence and knowledge to compete in a rapidly changing labor market Aneta has used her interview, marketing and public speaking skills to help coordinate major educational events in Macedonia as well as apply for and win a $20,000 scholarship to attend university.

Aneta Delevska is a high school student and a member of MASSUM (Youth Association of Vocational High Schools in Macedonia), an association established and supported by USAID’s Secondary Education Activity project (SEA). Through support from USAID, Aneta has the opportunity to attended seminars and workshops that build the “soft-skills” of students in order to prepare them for the labor market.
Specifically, USAID-funded SEA workshops taught Aneta and students like her how to do active job searches, write CVs and cover letters, prepare for a job interviews, and build public speaking skills. USAID/SEA also provided a forum for Aneta and her fellow students to practice their newfound skills through the Educational Rendezvous. As a MASSUM leader, Aneta managed human resources and coordinated activities for this three-day event which hosts over 30,000 students, holds numerous competitions, and is attended by Macedonian and foreign dignitaries. 
Aneta notes, “USAID activities have helped me gain extensive experience in management and leadership… Volunteering in MASSUM has taught me how to be a dedicated person and that giving effort and time in doing what it takes to get the job done always pays off.”
The pay off for Aneta is a $20,000 scholarship to attend school in Australia. Aneta credits USAID and MASSUM activities for giving her the writing skills to prepare a strong application and the interview skills to impress admissions officers.
“MASSUM is teaching us how to incorporate the subject matter with our every day lives, and show why it is important for our future. USAID has given us the opportunity to create an environment where we are assured that each individual has an opportunity to achieve their maximum human potential, and no student is denied of their goals and ambitions. We are going to keep on being and making everyone up for this big challenge - the career journey, and I believe no star will be out of reach.”

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