Director of NIU Ekaterina Lebedeva: "One must build a career consciously."

      May 7, 2026 11:21 Society The Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Management of the Presidential Academy, Ekaterina Lebedeva, during the Youth Career Forum organized by the regional government, spoke about the career expectations and real opportunities for youth employment. According to her, the new generation of "digital" largely defines the conditions being formed in the labor market itself. "A new generation is entering the labor market, which is not inclined to hold on to their current job until the last moment: young people are open to experimentation and are not afraid of change. To attract and retain young talent, employers often have to restructure labor processes - minimize overtime, include remote work opportunities and flexible schedules, offer decent salaries, non-material compensation, and ensure growth prospects. Everything must be taken into account! At the same time, 78% of Russians believe that employers today should be socially responsible. As a result, large corporations are focusing on producing environmentally friendly and high-quality products, implementing charitable projects, and most importantly, forming a new personnel policy! Employers invest in the growth and development of employees, organize additional health insurance, develop corporate culture, and create social programs. A situation is developing where young people now have to meet expectations, striving to be worthy of the conditions offered: showing loyalty to the organization and enhancing their competencies. All this is possible only if the career is built consciously, so that expectations from the "dream job" match reality. It is worth noting that there is a persistent gap in the country between expectations when seeking employment and the actual state of affairs: only a quarter of Russians report full compliance between expectations and the actual situation. It is important to form the right expectations for the future career track, so as not to be disappointed in the chosen direction later. For this, real working mechanisms have been created in the region. These include a seamless education system, career forums, job fairs, and Competence Centers - platforms where students can form an individual development trajectory for future employment. All this allows for a conscious career build, which means it helps avoid disappointments for both employees and employers," said Ekaterina Lebedeva. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+