Over the last number of years the Ballymun Job Centre through its involvement in EU funded programmes developed a number of audio/visual, web based guidance tools. The tools were developed from our work with our clients where it was found there are significant numbers of unemployed individuals, who are unaware of their own interests, specific aptitudes and personality style, and how this lack of self knowledge can inhibit the individual in accessing appropriate vocational training and subsequently fulfilling employment. We also found that the available guidance tools tend to be unsuitable for our clients. We found that the clients using the tools were often disadvantaged by a limited repertoire of language, lack of understanding of the concepts presented and unfamiliarity with the testing environment and methods. 

The guidance staff use the tools in their day to day work with clients. The tools form part of the career guidance process. For example the tool provides information to the client on the type of or area of work they are most interested in. When the client completes the tool the guidance staff and the client discuss the results. The meeting is used to explain the results and to clarify any questions the client may have.

The guidance tools are an example how an idea identified from a gap in the service provided to clients was tested as a pilot EU project and then developed into a mainstream practical guidance tool that is now used in the BJC day-to-day work with the clients.

1.      INFORM is a system that assists clients who are unaware of their competencies (developed in everyday life such as managing a household/doing the shopping/looking after children/watching TV/ participating in sports etc.) to identify the competencies that they have already developed which may be transferable to the labour market / can be used as a springboard into education/training/further career guidance. The tool is very much pitched at clients who are vulnerable and who may feel that they have very few skills/abilities. the real benefit of using this tool is to motivate clients who may have weaker skills (including literacy) / low self esteem or who feel they have little to offer to the world of work.

2.      EGUIDE is a web based career guidance tool consisting of a number of career guidance assessments (which form part of the EGUIDE Quality Framework for guiding disadvantaged job seekers). In traditional guidance processes the practitioner assists the client to become more aware of their Interests, their preferred behavioural style and their specific aptitudes. The EGUIDE tool aims to support the practitioner in this process,

The tools give the BJC capacity to deliver a higher quality guidance service and to deliver a career plan that matches the needs of the client. 

The tools help the client to: 

• Clarify their work interests

• To identify aptitudes/skills they may not have realised they had

• To clarify areas of work, education and training as part of a career plan leading to more sustainable employment

• Give the client greater self-confidence to manage their career goals