Russian young people don’t believe in themselves

Actuality, November, 27, 2007

According to the data of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (ARPORC), today young people in Russia do not aspire to make a career because of uncertainty in their future professional success. The majority of Russian inhabitants at the age of 18-35 years old (this is the very age interval that is defined as “youth”) skeptically estimates their career prospects.

ARPORC has studied the viewpoints of 1600 people from 153 settlements, in 46 regions, territories and republics of Russia and has come to the following conclusion: about a quarter of interviewees (24 %) considers that it is a little bit easier to become successful in creative sphere, than in business, management, and especially in politics. The answer is predictable if to consider, that now there are many propositions from mass media representatives to become a star or even a people’s artist. It appears that not only teenagers, who go to school, but also quite conscious citizens trust the promise that to become well-known equally means to become rich.

The writer’s profession also belongs to the same sphere. Young people consider that it is not very difficult to earn well on own books in the days of freedom of the press. There is only a prospect to become the head if to work at office on an administrative job from dusk to dawn. Then one can achieve well-being or even stable earnings as a reward for good work that will be enough for young people. So consider 14% of interviewees. There are no any doubts in the efficiency of such way of career rise. The executive positions in Russia are occupied by young employees in increasing frequency. And it is quite non-obligatory to jump over some steps to reach the top  position. Many students begin their professional activity with the very first years of studying at the university.

In spite of the fact that political activity receives popularity among students and youth parties, in practice only 7% of interviewed young people consider, that one can make a successful career in this sphere. Perhaps, activists are motivated by ideological aspirations when going in for politics, but not by the itch for money. Young people are attracted by prospects in business most of all: 58% of interviewed would like to become successful exactly in business. At the same time, only 45% would like to become successful in administrative work, and 23-25 % in politics and creative spheres accordingly.

The most optimistic in the estimations of career prospects are young people in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The most pessimistic are young people in small towns and villages. It is not strange, because in fact the same public organizations and large enterprises that have good career prospects are basically situated in large cities. Frequently the provincial young people cannot simply find application for their professional abilities because of the lack of the suitable enterprises in small cities. The most ambitious of them leave “to conquer the capital” hoping to pass the castings and “to become a star” and, of course, to earn money.

It is possible to give some answer variants to the question what factor guarantees a good career rise. The conclusion is obvious. Time changes, but the public opinion remains practically the same. It is not necessary to apply superfluous efforts to get a job in the office and to take up an administrative post that is on the second place on popularity and opportunities of earnings, one needs only to look around and understand if there are “useful” acquaintences among your friends.

It is necessary to have the so-called “useful contacts” to get good job. So consider more than a half of interviewed young people (59%). It is possible without a great effort, but with a guarantee to become successful in any professional sphere if to marry (or to get married) successfully, so consider the same 59% of interviewees. It is important to have rich parents for a good career too, so consider 39% of respondents. Well, it is quite reasonable that if parents are not oligarches who can give their child an executive position in their own holding company, they can still have necessary acquaintances. The talent, strange though it may seem, can also affect the career in a good way. Even if there are no other factors listed above. About 35% of polled hope to earn on their oneness. 26% of young people consider that to live in the large center like Moscow and St. Petersburg is already a half of success and a hope for successful career. The fact of luck is considered only by 13% of interviewees. 9% of respondents are eager to learn the skill of adaptation and to flatter the chief in time for the sake of career and 6 % are ready to start close relationships. 4% of respondents rely on attractive appearance and physical strength accordingly.