Difficulty expressing skills
As mentioned previously, because NEETs are inactive for long periods, their professional experiences are often sparse and far between.
It’s worth noting that behind NEET status can be very different stories and situations.
Among NEETs, we find young people who
§ dropped out of school early without qualifications,
§ even have a high school diploma or degree but struggle to enter the workforce.
§ after repeated attempts and disappointments, they have lost confidence (including in themselves, as in the rest of the world) and stopped actively seeking opportunities.
§ live in contexts with few job offers, perhaps in disadvantaged geographical areas, or face personal, economic, or family obstacles that make it difficult to commit to a career or training path.
In short, being NEET is often a complex condition, not necessarily the result of laziness or lack of willpower, but rather of a combination of social and individual factors: this often also affects the psychological profile of NEETs, who may feel stigmatized or ashamed of their situation, which can make it even more difficult to express their (few) skills.
Furthermore, NEETs can often have difficulty translating their skills into terms that employers can understand.
However, it would be helpful for them to focus on themselves and identify their skills.
The most common mistake is to think they have no skills at all.
This happens because skills are associated with extensive professional experience and do not take into account individual predisposition or the abilities developed through life experiences.
Soft skills, on the other hand, are often more sought after than technical skills: for example, for a young NEET, clearly expressing that they are good listeners, capable of time management, able to meet deadlines, and flexible is certainly a key aspect when writing their CV.