The "Build Your Future Today: Education, Employment, Economy" youth career fair was hosted on May 22 at the Armenia Marriott Hotel by the USAID Pension and Labor Market Reform (PALM) Project, the State Employment Service Agency (SESA) of Armenia and the Youth Career Orientation Center of the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues. The career fair is the first in Yerevan to address youth unemployment.

100 employers, 7 university career centers, and representatives from the event's 10 partner organizations were on hand to provide career advising and help students structure their university curriculum to make them competitive job applicants.

During the workshops, participants were instructed on job search techniques, resume writing, interviewing, how to stay competitive in the labor market, and presenting themselves professionally to employers.

USAID Armenia Acting Mission Director John Seong noted at the event's opening ceremony that "In a highly competitive world, today Armenia more than ever needs to engage its brightest, most capable people in businesses, in the government, in courts and in schools to increase its competitiveness, to provide adequate social services for all its citizens and to educate its children."

Gohar Sargsyan of the American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia said, "The event is not only a great opportunity for students to meet with employers who hire and offer internships, but also a good chance for employers to explain their hiring needs and market trends to the new generation."

The fair was made possible with assistance from the Ministry of Education and Science, American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia, Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers Union of Armenia, British Council, DVV International, and Global Developments Fund.