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What I wrote in my job application.

June 28th, 2009 oda Leave a comment Go to comments
So I was asked to write a statement on what I would do to get people jobs.
Here is the result:
How I as an employment advisor would help my clients in finding suitable, sustainable employment:
Being unemployed for a long period is a horrible situation to be in. Not only does it cause entrenched poverty and economic inactivity, but also complex psycho-social issues. The isolation lessens the chance of being introduced to opportunities, drastically hurts confidence in one’s own abilities, and may lead to depression and apathy. Getting someone not only a job, but a good job, is more than getting them means with which to support themselves; it is a restoration of sense of value, social networks, and belief in one’s own abilities.
Relationship-building: An important factor in being able to help someone is to treat them like a human being, and build confidence and trust in your ability to help. To do so I must take time and make it clear that I am on their side, not “the enemy”. Being a non-governmental body may help in establishing trust.
Identifying the position of the client: Why is the client long term unemployed? Were they caring for children, never got a first job, did they have a long term illness? 
-And what is stopping them now? Are they a single carer, do they lack the confidence to face being turned down for jobs, or do they have unrealistic expectations? Is their skill set outdated? The client will have unique obstacles to re-entering the market, and a “one size fits all approach” will be of little use.
Bettering the chances: After identifying what situation the client is in, I am able to advise on what measures are available to help them overcome their obstacles. The first thing to do is uncover the motivations of the client. Would they benefit from more training? How much better off would they be in employment? Building on already existing motivations will be a softer and less authoritarian approach than a strictly workfare way of thinking.
Informing of help available: The current and ever-changing patchwork of welfare programmes and legislation is difficult to navigate, even for professionals. Being able to inform about precisely which help is available, such as the right to ask for flexible working times, various childcare options, or support for disabled employees such as guaranteed interview might eliminate obstacles the client saw as impossible to overcome.
Building a CV and interview materials: The client should be convinced that their set of skills has value. Through interviews one can identify skills acquired through various non-employment means, such as care work, volunteering, hobbies and other life-experience. This can be used to pad out holes in the CV. Another thing to build up in this way is a set of examples to be used in case of competency-based questions in interviews, which the jobseeker may not have known could be used.
A good job, not just a job: Revolving-door employment is also a part of the unemployment issue. On-off jobs may even cost the jobseeker money, and enforce the perception that there is no permanent way out of unemployment. These jobs may however be good chances to gain experience. I would try to instil a positive attitude, and point out the options that may arise from a more padded out CV, whilst attempting to build a self-confidence that may lead to aiming for a job that has a route of progression.
The difficult market: Changes in the market mean that  the sectors in which there are jobs readily available vary frequently. Building on the skills the client already has and what long-term goals they wish to reach, I would advise them on which sectors might best suit them. At the present time these difficulties are especially  pressing, however I would reinforce the client’s faith in that getting a job is possible with their skill set, and that there still is activity in the economy. The faith and self-confidence will translate to tenacity and resistance to repeatedly having applications returned, which is more likely in the current climate.
Access to information: There is link between economic resources and education, and IT skills. Being computer literate greatly increase access to available jobs, training, market information etc. Access to these sources, and the ability to use them, is key to being able to compete as a jobseeker.
Throughout the process of getting employment the focus should not be on “any job as fast as possible”, but on a long-term way out of unemployment. The success is not measured in how many people I can get a job, but in how many people have a better job ten years later. This can only be done by focusing on the growth of the clients’ abilities and confidence, and working with them, towards their goals.

So I was asked to write a statement on what I would do to get people jobs.

Here is the result:

How I as an employment advisor would help my clients in finding suitable, sustainable employment:

Being unemployed for a long period is a horrible situation to be in. Not only does it cause entrenched poverty and economic inactivity, but also complex psycho-social issues. The isolation lessens the chance of being introduced to opportunities, drastically hurts confidence in one’s own abilities, and may lead to depression and apathy. Getting someone not only a job, but a good job, is more than getting them means with which to support themselves; it is a restoration of sense of value, social networks, and belief in one’s own abilities.

Relationship-building: An important factor in being able to help someone is to treat them like a human being, and build confidence and trust in your ability to help. To do so I must take time and make it clear that I am on their side, not “the enemy”. Being a non-governmental body may help in establishing trust.

Identifying the position of the client: Why is the client long term unemployed? Were they caring for children, never got a first job, did they have a long term illness? 
-And what is stopping them now? Are they a single carer, do they lack the confidence to face being turned down for jobs, or do they have unrealistic expectations? Is their skill set outdated? The client will have unique obstacles to re-entering the market, and a “one size fits all approach” will be of little use.

Bettering the chances: After identifying what situation the client is in, I am able to advise on what measures are available to help them overcome their obstacles. The first thing to do is uncover the motivations of the client. Would they benefit from more training? How much better off would they be in employment? Building on already existing motivations will be a softer and less authoritarian approach than a strictly workfare way of thinking.

Informing of help available: The current and ever-changing patchwork of welfare programmes and legislation is difficult to navigate, even for professionals. Being able to inform about precisely which help is available, such as the right to ask for flexible working times, various childcare options, or support for disabled employees such as guaranteed interview might eliminate obstacles the client saw as impossible to overcome.

Building a CV and interview materials: The client should be convinced that their set of skills has value. Through interviews one can identify skills acquired through various non-employment means, such as care work, volunteering, hobbies and other life-experience. This can be used to pad out holes in the CV. Another thing to build up in this way is a set of examples to be used in case of competency-based questions in interviews, which the jobseeker may not have known could be used.

A good job, not just a job: Revolving-door employment is also a part of the unemployment issue. On-off jobs may even cost the jobseeker money, and enforce the perception that there is no permanent way out of unemployment. These jobs may however be good chances to gain experience. I would try to instil a positive attitude, and point out the options that may arise from a more padded out CV, whilst attempting to build a self-confidence that may lead to aiming for a job that has a route of progression.

The difficult market: Changes in the market mean that  the sectors in which there are jobs readily available vary frequently. Building on the skills the client already has and what long-term goals they wish to reach, I would advise them on which sectors might best suit them. At the present time these difficulties are especially  pressing, however I would reinforce the client’s faith in that getting a job is possible with their skill set, and that there still is activity in the economy. The faith and self-confidence will translate to tenacity and resistance to repeatedly having applications returned, which is more likely in the current climate.

Access to information: There is link between economic resources and education, and IT skills. Being computer literate greatly increase access to available jobs, training, market information etc. Access to these sources, and the ability to use them, is key to being able to compete as a jobseeker.

Throughout the process of getting employment the focus should not be on “any job as fast as possible”, but on a long-term way out of unemployment. The success is not measured in how many people I can get a job, but in how many people have a better job ten years later. This can only be done by focusing on the growth of the clients’ abilities and confidence, and working with them, towards their goals.

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