Equipping young people to succeed in job applications through practical tips, shared experiences, and meaningful connections.
In a country where over 60% of the population is made up of young people, many of whom face high unemployment and limited access to career guidance, YMCA Madagascar remains committed to empowering youth with the tools and knowledge they need to shape their futures.
As part of this commitment, a career orientation and job preparation session was held both at YMCA Antsirabe and YMCA Ankerana, as part of the RISE Project, designed to help young people better understand how to approach the job market and increase their chances of success. In total, 45 participants joined these sessions, eager to take the next step in their professional journey.
The sessions were led by Zoky Tsiki ANDRIHERINDRAINY, National General Secretary of YMCA Madagascar, who shared practical advice and strategies on how to search for a job, stand out as a candidate, and develop essential professional skills. This was not a typical CV-writing workshop. Instead, the session focused on developing the right mindset, strategy, and preparation, encouraging young people to take a more thoughtful and intentional approach to their job search.
During the session, participants received practical advice to improve their job applications, such as:
Customize every application: Carefully read the job offer, research the organization and recruiter, and adapt your CV to highlight the most relevant experience.
Avoid unnecessary information: Leave out irrelevant details, like exact diploma dates or unrelated work experience that doesn’t align with the job offer.
Build the skills you’re missing: Identify areas for growth and invest time in developing those skills.
Expand your network: Opportunities often come through connections and this session itself was a chance to start building those.
What truly made this session impactful was the participation. Each participant had the chance to introduce themselves, share their background, and talk about their career aspirations, ranging from web development and computer science to tourism and marketing. This created a sense of community, encouragement, and shared purpose.
And there was more, to keep the momentum going, an online group will be created for all participants, offering a space to share job opportunities, exchange tips, and continue supporting one another. Because real empowerment doesn’t stop at the end of an event, it continues through community and mutual support.
To further help those young people in their job search, YMCA Madagascar is open everyday from Tuesday to Saturday, offering free internet access for those who need help creating professional profiles (such as on LinkedIn/ Portal job) or exploring other career-related platforms. Participants can also benefit from free one-on-one support to guide them through the process.
As Zoky Tsiki said: “Competition is healthy, but only when it helps us grow. Don’t waste energy competing in the wrong race. Choose the right one.” These words encouraged the group to reflect on their choices and stay focused on their personal goals.
