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Antarang Career Readiness Programme

  • 12 hours ago
  • 2 min read

Mumbai, India


Need

Across Mumbai's low-income communities, many young people are first-generation learners whose families invest heavily in education with the hope of creating a better future. However, education alone does not guarantee employment. According to the State of Working India Report 2019, 60% of urban youth are unemployed and 25% of college graduates earn less than INR 7,000 per month.


This gap between education and employment leaves many young adults without clear career pathways or the skills needed to access meaningful opportunities. Antarang Foundation works to bridge this employability gap by helping young people build awareness of career options, develop essential workplace skills, and access opportunities in education, employment and training.


Intervention

SJNEFFL partnered with Antarang Foundation to deliver the CareerReady programme, an intensive career guidance and employability initiative for students from low-resourced colleges across Mumbai.


The programme combines career exploration, individual counselling, employability skills training and mentorship to help young people make informed decisions about their futures. Students receive support in identifying career pathways, understanding further education and training opportunities, and accessing internships, apprenticeships and employment opportunities aligned with their aspirations.


Building on the success of CareerReady 1.0, Antarang introduced CareerReady 2.0, a two-year programme delivered across Grades 11 and 12. Students participated in classroom sessions covering self-exploration, career planning, employability skills and career readiness, while also benefiting from counselling, industry exposure, experiential learning opportunities and engagement with parents.


Impact

Over the three-year partnership, the programme supported more than 1,600 young people across Mumbai to strengthen their career awareness, employability skills and readiness for future opportunities.


CareerReady 1.0 (2021-2022)

  • 296 students received intensive career readiness training.

  • 80% successfully completed the programme.

  • 96% of graduates progressed into Education, Employment or Training (EET).

CareerReady 2.0 (2022-2023)

  • 620 Grade 11 students participated in the programme.

  • 81% undertook at least one experiential learning opportunity.

  • 84% demonstrated awareness of five or more career readiness skills.

  • Nearly half of participants reported making informed career choices through the programme.

CareerReady 2.0 (2023-2024)

  • 698 Grade 12 students participated in the programme.

  • 87% engaged in at least one experiential learning opportunity.

  • 78% demonstrated awareness of five or more career readiness skills.

  • 79% developed a clear post-secondary career plan.


The partnership has helped young people build confidence, aspirations and practical employability skills, supporting successful transitions into higher education, training, internships and employment opportunities. Among the nine career readiness competencies measured by Antarang, students reported the strongest improvements in job interview skills, English communication, and teamwork.



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