At EFOS, ‘Alumni Talk’ Held to Bring Students Closer to the Job Market

At the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, a Christmas edition of the event titled EFOS Alumni Talk was held, during which successful EFOS alumni and representatives of the local business community shared their experiences and insights through lectures and panel discussions. Under the overarching theme ‘EFOS in the Job Market – What After Graduation?’, attendees discussed the most important trends in the job market with the aim of exchanging knowledge and experiences for those who are about to graduate or are seeking a career change.

As stated in the press release, this gathering continued the tradition of quality collaboration and networking between the business and academic communities, which share the common goal of providing high-quality education and better employment opportunities, as well as the overall socio-economic development of the Osijek-Baranja County.

Under the moderation of EFOS alumna Ana Živković, the latest in a series of events named EFOS Alumni Talk featured Ivana Bestvina Bukvić, EFOS alumna, Aleksandar Zemunić, Managing Partner, SELECTIO Ltd and EFOS alumnus, Marko Todorović, Head of Ops & People, Rentlio, Ivan Jurlina, EFOS alumnus, HR Manager, COBE, and Kristina Ribičić, EFOS alumna, Head of Human Resources, ENNA/PPD.

– Today, unlike a few years ago, many more economists are employed, and if they view the market as global, quality individuals should not have problems with employment. We participated in the creation of a global market research that shows that the professions of the future are data scientist, data analyst, and digital marketing specialist, i.e., professions related to information technology. Students of economics are not expected to have specific technical knowledge and experience; they will learn that on the job. Soft skills such as teamwork and communication, basics of project management, and presentation skills are expected, which implies that students have thought about future employment during their studies and gained experience through student jobs and association work, Zemunić stated.

Despite the continuous positive trends in youth employment in the Osijek-Baranja County, there is still a noticeable discrepancy between the prevailing narrative and actual indicators. Therefore, there has been a significant need for additional education for young people, specifically high school students and university students from Slavonia and Baranja, regarding employment opportunities after graduation. This, they state, is one of the most important strategic goals of the Faculty of Economics in Osijek.

– In positions such as project manager and in areas like sales, marketing, and accounting, economists can stand out because they have developed social and communication skills and the financial foundation they acquired at the faculty. Such students progress more easily later on, making them easier to work with. I participated in the development of a new master’s program in Business Informatics and I will do my best to ensure that this program succeeds. Business Informatics is the future, so our goal is to ensure that all students start working in their field immediately after graduation and that employment reaches one hundred percent, Jurlina emphasized.