At the Open Day event entitled ‘Welcome Day: Career Start’ organised by Zaporizhzhia National University, young people from Zaporizhzhia explored educational and professional opportunities. Zaporizhstal presented one of the most popular areas at the event and demonstrated that a career path in metallurgy can be clear, modern, and promising.
At the plant’s interactive area, participants learned about the opportunities available to young people even during their studies: introductory, industrial and pre-graduation placements, paid internships, mentoring support, and for the best candidates, prospects of employment. Each year, more than 300 students and pupils benefit from these opportunities at Zaporizhstal and other Metinvest Group enterprises in Zaporizhzhia.
Particular emphasis during interactions with visitors was placed on youth support programmes that help not only to enter the profession but also to build a confident and sustainable career. In particular, the ‘First Job’ programme includes paid on-the-job training, mentor support, and additional financial incentives of UAH 50,000 during the first year of employment. Since the launch of the programme, 248 young specialists at Zaporizhstal have already taken part, and the total amount of payments has exceeded UAH 6 million.
For students of vocational and professional educational institutions who choose specialisations in demand within the industry, the ‘Steel Future’ scholarship programme is available. It provides not only scholarship payments but also additional social guarantees, including free meals during placements and corporate benefits. At present, more than 50 students are participating in the programme, having already received payments totalling over UAH 370,000.
“Metallurgy has long been, and continues to be, one of the fundamental sectors of the economy, and in the context of the country’s future reconstruction and transformation, its role will only continue to grow. That is precisely why the profession of a metallurgist is not only in demand today, but also one with an unequivocally strong future. It will be needed wherever infrastructure is developed, industry is restored, and the country’s economic resilience is built. In this context, young people are the driving force of development, and at Zaporizhstal we regard the younger generation as an integral part of the enterprise’s and the country’s future. It is precisely for this reason that we systematically invest in youth support programmes and create opportunities for education, professional entry and career development,” said Maksym PED, HR Director at Zaporizhstal.
As part of the event, young people were introduced to the advantages of working at the plant through interactive activities, including a quest and a quiz: funded training provided by the enterprise, a clear career pathway, the ‘Steel Bonus’ corporate discount scheme, as well as opportunities offered by Zaporizhstal’s youth organisation, which brings employees together through sports, volunteering, cultural and motivational projects.
“I was interested in visiting Zaporizhstal’s stand and learning more about the opportunities available to young people. I learned a great deal of useful information about training, placements and employment, and took part in the quest. For Zaporizhzhia, this represents a clear and tangible prospect, which is why the topic attracted my interest. I saw that there are genuine opportunities for development here,” noted school pupil Mykyta PODKOVA.
Together with Metinvest Polytechnic, representatives of Zaporizhstal also presented participants with a comprehensive pathway – from choosing an educational route through to building a career in metallurgy. Modern educational programmes, digital simulators, practical experience at industrial enterprises, and flexible learning formats make this pathway accessible and easy for young people to follow. Information on university admissions, educational programmes and opportunities for young people is available on the Metinvest Polytechnic website.
“Zaporizhzhia is a metallurgical city, so this topic is close to me. At the event, I learned more about the advantages of working at Zaporizhstal and began to consider it as a potential option for my future career. I was particularly interested in the programmes that can support education, placements and entry into employment,” said school pupil Artur KARLENKO.
Through direct interaction and real-life examples of career progression, school pupils were once again convinced that metallurgy today is not merely a profession, but an environment of opportunity where people are supported, educated, and helped to build their future.
