Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology PREGLEDNI RAD Graduates of agribusiness searching for a job in recession times Lucijano Jakšić 1 , Mario Njavro 2 1 Slava Raskaj Education Center Zagreb, Ulica Vladimira Nazora 47, Zagreb, Croatia (lucijano.j@gmail.com) 2 Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 25, Zagreb, Croatia Abstract This paper analyses the area of application and the potential of the group intervention process on graduates of agribusiness searching for their first job. The study took place over the course of 2 months, with a survey on a sample of 68 graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture Zagreb, and carrying out exploratory group intervention on 8 volunteer graduates. Methodology of research was based on participants’ self-assessment before and after the intervention. The results show that group approach has potential of significant upgrade the personal capabilities of participants. Best results are achieved in terms of self-confidence, advanced self presentation skills and approach to short and mid term professional planning. Key words: agribusiness graduates, youth unemployment, employability, group intervention. Introduction In the past two decades, Croatian society has faced a rapid change in economy, meaning a transition from a planned economy to a market economy. Market transition in general represents a similar process in all transitional countries, but these processes’ realization significantly differentiates in some social contexts. Differences among countries are the consequences of different political circumstances in which a transition is carried out and present traditional matrices in some transitional societies. Matrices are modelled through perennial historic reasons but nonetheless with types of socialistic regimes preceding the transition (Tomić-Koludrović, Petrić 2005). Transitional countries face the additional risk of society differentiation, decline in social protection level, and new risks like organized crime, juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, trafficking, etc. (Tivadar & Drvar, 2002). The most important reasons behind the vulnerability of youth are: lack of life and work experience, risky behaviour, indistinguishability of reality, need for prominence among peers, emotional and psychological fragility, economic dependency, social role and status (UNESCO, 2002). The transition of the economy as a matter of fact means the transition of the mind from what was a collective opinion on what the government may do for you, to what you may do from your standpoint. In that sense, the role of an individual person in life, among other things, is also influenced by a legacy of socio-cultural and value system. In Croatia, there is still a coexistence of former socialistic-collectivistic and contemporary capitalistic-individualistic European value systems, and in that sense the State “should” preserve its role in the social sphere. Transition reforms should result in combined optimized methods of state intervention (Jelušić, 2000). The scientific society in Croatia indirectly experienced an escalation of the economic recession in the country. A significant decline in industrial production, consumption, and GDP (-6% annually), consequently worsened the situation at the national labour market in the last quarter of 2008 (Matković, 2010).. The unemployment rate in Croatia has a cyclical character and oscillates ±4% (for the 2007-2009 period). (Matković, 2010). The average unemployment rate in Croatia for the period between 2006 and 2011 is 15.8% (Croatian Bureau of Statistics (CBS), 2011; 2012). At same time, 140 49 th Croatian & 9 th International Symposium on Agriculture | Dubrovnik | Croatia