"Not graduating from high school wasn't really a big deal for me, because I knew the classic academic pathway was not for me. So I had to find another path that would suit my unique interests. I decided to enroll in a vocational training course in agri-food at the Sidi Bouzid vocational training center.

My choice was partly influenced by my father, who is a milk collector. Since I was very young, I've always helped him and learned a lot from him. So I thought it would be a good idea to capitalize on this experience and follow in his footsteps.

I was contacted by a representative of the Kasserine vocational training center where I was registered to take part in the job fair*. Although I'm not currently looking for a full-time job, I did want an internship to build my skills. I took this opportunity to present my curriculum vitae and attend interviews to sharpen my interview skills and better understand employers’ interests as I consider my career in the future."

As a result of the job fair, I am now more convinced that vocational training is the path that suits me best. My goal is to become a senior technician in food processing, which will give me a better chance of being hired by a large company that offers a variety of development and growth opportunities within that company. This job fair gave me a chance to dream of and prepare for my future.

Houssem Slimani - Agri-food BTP apprentice - CFA Sidi Bouzid

*The "Kasserine & Sidi Bouzid JOB Fair" is the fruit of collaboration between the Tunisian agency for vocational training (ATFP), private sector companies, and USAID Tunisia JOBS.

The event provided 351 young people with an opportunity to interview with 42 recruiting companies.