By Gina Vanessa Pérez Torres

(General Coordinator of Órale CDMX)

and José Fernando Soto Bistrain

(Coordinator of the Laboratories of

Digital Participation of the Órale program)

For many young people, the job search isn't just a step toward self-sufficiency: it's a process fraught with expectations, frustrations, and learning curves. Vínculos y Redes AC, through its Órale program, becomes a key tool in this process.

This comprehensive learning model supports young people between the ages of 16 and 29, providing them with life, employment, and entrepreneurship skills, with the goal of facilitating their job placement, formalizing a business, or reintegrating into the education system. Since 2019, the program has been implemented in Mexico City, with more than 1,150 participants across 22 generations.

This article recounts the experiences young people go through during their job search, as told by Pati, the program facilitator. Her role involves not only providing guidance but also empathetically supporting each young person in discovering their potential, strengthening their self-confidence, and making meaningful decisions for their future.

Through their perspective, we will briefly explain what the job search/rejection cycle is like, the challenges young college graduates face when trying to access decent employment, as well as the profound emotional and motivational impact this process entails. These stories not only reveal the hardship of the path, but also the determination with which many young people continue to move forward, paving the way toward a more just future.

Context of youth and employability

According to information from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), there are 31 million young people between the ages of 15 and 29 in our country, which represents almost a quarter of the total population (23,941 TP3T) (National Institute of Statistics and Geography, 2024a, p. 1). However, only 21 TP3T of this group have higher education. Of the 31 million young people, 16.7 million (54,11 TP3T) were part of the Economically Active Population (EAP); that is, they were working or looking for work. Of these, 15.9 million (95,21 TP3T) were already employed and 810,000 (4,81 TP3T) were looking for work. The remainder—14.2 million—were not part of the active labor force. Regarding this last group, the majority were unavailable to work primarily for school reasons or to take care of the home. Of every 100 young people in this situation, 64 were not working because they were studying—a trend more common among men—and 31 were working because they were engaged in domestic work, a reason more common among women (INEGI, 2024a, p. 1).

Experiences of young beneficiaries of the Órale program

Pati is a facilitator for the Órale CDMX program, a role she took on after a personal journey of emotional recovery. Her entry coincided with a time when she was seeking to rebuild her confidence, and working with young people not only boosted her professionally but also meant a personal transformation.

One of the aspects she values most about her experience has been becoming a support figure for young people, "an adult I would have liked to have," capable of listening and supporting with empathy. Although her previous training wasn't focused on employability, she trained intensively to provide useful tools in this area.

Based on the challenges she observed young people face during the sessions, Pati designed "Accepting Rejection," a mentoring program focused on helping them emotionally process job rejections. The idea arose after hearing about cases like that of a young man with high self-importance, a lack of emotional support from his family, and poor communication skills for interviews. He had decided to pursue a career in technology, motivated by the promise of earning a high income upon graduation.

This expectation is not isolated: according to the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), there is a disconnect between educational offerings and real job opportunities. Although careers such as specialized medicine, economics, general medicine, automation and electronics engineering, and computer science are among the best-paid, vocational choices continue to lean toward more traditional options such as business administration, industrial engineering, law, business and commerce, and nursing. This gap between what is studied and market demand leaves many young people in a vulnerable position (IMCO, 2024, paras. 3-9).

Added to this is a complex labor market: more than 671 million people who manage to find work do so in informal conditions, without access to benefits or social security, which directly impacts their quality of life and emotional health (IMCO, 2022, para. 5). Furthermore, 4.8 million people who are economically active are looking for work, while 14.2 million are not part of the active labor force, often due to a lack of real opportunities (INEGI, 2024a, p. 1). This scenario, marked by precariousness, contributes to high levels of anxiety, stress, and even depression, especially in those without a support network.

The "Accepting Rejection" mentoring session was held in a safe and inclusive environment, utilizing activities such as mindfulness, letter writing to the "Future Self," and reflecting on what is and is not within one's control. The response was overwhelmingly positive: one young woman shared that, before a job interview, she applied the mindfulness techniques taught in class, which helped her feel calmer and more confident. Furthermore, she found the letter exercise so useful that she shared it with her friends so they could also benefit from it. These kinds of testimonials demonstrate the real impact that a well-thought-out and emotionally meaningful session can have.

Pati believes the time allocated to these types of sessions should be expanded. She proposes at least two sessions to delve deeper into both job rejection and other types of rejection, such as family or personal rejection. She also points out the need for educational institutions to better prepare young people for the workforce, integrating practical content on CV writing, interviews, and effective communication.

Furthermore, it highlights the responsibility of companies in the way they communicate rejections to applicants. The lack of feedback or even a response creates a considerable emotional burden and a feeling of uncertainty for many young people: "They don't even reject me, they just stop answering me," they report. This lack of response fuels a cycle of self-criticism that leads them to believe the problem lies within themselves: "I made a mistake, but I don't know what it is."

In a country where more than 401% of suicides occur among people between the ages of 15 and 29 (INEGI, 2024b, p. 2), initiatives like this take on a vital meaning. The transition from school to work isn't just a change of stage; it's a transformation of identity. For Pati, this mentoring wasn't just a class: it was "a hug for the Pati of the past," an act of caring "done with the heart."

In conclusion, the experiences shared within the framework of the Órale CDMX program, and particularly through the "Acceptance of Rejection" mentoring program, demonstrate the urgency of addressing youth employment not only from a technical perspective, but also from an emotional and human perspective. The numbers are clear: Mexican youth face a challenging employment landscape, marked by informality, precariousness, and a disconnect between their education and market demands. However, behind every statistic are stories of resilience. Investing in comprehensive, empathetic interventions focused on emotional well-being not only increases the chances of job placement, but also offers young people a powerful message: you are not alone on the path.

References

Covarrubias Feregrino, Arlette. (2022). Job insecurity in Mexico: A comparison between youth and adults. Population Papers, 28 (111), 49-75.

         Epub September 19, 2022. https://doi.org/10.22185/24487147.2022.111.03

Mexican Institute for Competitiveness AC (2022) The Educational and Labor Outlook for Young People in Mexico. Retrieved from: https://imco.org.mx/el-panorama-educativo-y-laboral-de-los-jovenes-en-mexico/ 

Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (2024). Compare Careers 2024: Are We Training the Talent Mexico Needs? Retrieved from: https://imco.org.mx/compara-carreras-2024-formamos-el-talento-que-mexico-necesita/

National Institute of Statistics and Geography (2024a). Statistics on International Youth Day. Retrieved from: https://en.www.inegi.org.mx/app/saladeprensa/noticia/9227

National Institute of Statistics and Geography (2024b). Statistics on World Suicide Prevention Day. Retrieved from: https://www.inegi.org.mx/app/saladeprensa/noticia/9294