This will be the second post on skill development sector continuation of Youth Mobilization Process in Skill Development. Vocational orientation and counselling is the logical step post identification of youths in the mobilization process. This is the process in which training center match the youths’ initial vocational ideas with their skill sets, capacities, and interests.
The counseling isn't a one-size fits all solution when it comes to skill development, livelihoods and career options. Understanding the the background of young job-seeker is of utmost importance to assist them in their search for meaningful careers. This is because for entry-level vocational courses, the candidates are a mixed group consisting of school dropouts, unemployed youth, and youth from socially and economically underprivileged background. The entry level job will be the first opportunity to test their caliber and earn decent livelihoods.
Counselling helps in creating realistic aspiration and reduce the attrition rates during training and employment by helping candidates make informed choices. The mismatch between interests, aptitude and aspirations of the candidates and nature of job causes a high attrition rate for employers as well as training centers. Hence, behavioral assessment tests and counselling to objectively assess the capabilities of the candidate is important to recommend appropriate career paths.
There is a context in which job search happens and the complex web of factors influences job search and aspiring candidate. The major factors are listed below:
1. Cultural factors: The youth seeking work is not the only one seeking work, i.e., family and friends are looking for a job alongside the youth.
2. Employment issues: Many youths begin their search with defeatist mindset due to the grim unemployment statistics and local scenario.
3. Personal issues: The counseling must help candidate with an honest assessment of competencies present and what the market demands in terms of worker skills.
Types of Counseling: There five major mode of counseling as per ILO -
1. Career information –provides information on occupations; employment opportunities; labor market trends and employment scenarios; educational programs, institutions, and opportunities; career services; and job opportunities, both local and global.
2. Career education – provides career planning and decision-making; labor market information and other information related to careers and work skills.
3. Career counseling – provides one-on-one or small group help on role clarifications, career decision- making, self-assessment and self-definition, aspirations and dreams.
4. Employment counseling – provides help with setting career goals, writing resumes, interviewing skills and the like, all such activities designed to help the person define the characteristics of the career or job he/she is looking for, assess suitability for it, and identify skills gaps that can be addressed by personal development efforts;
5. Job placement – provides actual job search services intended to connect job seekers and job providers.
In more Indian context, counseling is required to navigate constraints such as family hesitation, transport, inability to pay, accommodation etc. The experiences of past trainees and their feedback shared with the larger community.The scope of counseling is quite vast as candidates require holding hand support on communication skills, presentation skills, and financial literacy. Online portal have opened a new channel for youths even in remote areas access to the information. But there is always need of last mile reach to ensure that the right people, in terms of ability, interests and expectations, participate in skill development program.
The counseling isn't a one-size fits all solution when it comes to skill development, livelihoods and career options. Understanding the the background of young job-seeker is of utmost importance to assist them in their search for meaningful careers. This is because for entry-level vocational courses, the candidates are a mixed group consisting of school dropouts, unemployed youth, and youth from socially and economically underprivileged background. The entry level job will be the first opportunity to test their caliber and earn decent livelihoods.
Counselling helps in creating realistic aspiration and reduce the attrition rates during training and employment by helping candidates make informed choices. The mismatch between interests, aptitude and aspirations of the candidates and nature of job causes a high attrition rate for employers as well as training centers. Hence, behavioral assessment tests and counselling to objectively assess the capabilities of the candidate is important to recommend appropriate career paths.
There is a context in which job search happens and the complex web of factors influences job search and aspiring candidate. The major factors are listed below:
1. Cultural factors: The youth seeking work is not the only one seeking work, i.e., family and friends are looking for a job alongside the youth.
2. Employment issues: Many youths begin their search with defeatist mindset due to the grim unemployment statistics and local scenario.
3. Personal issues: The counseling must help candidate with an honest assessment of competencies present and what the market demands in terms of worker skills.
Types of Counseling: There five major mode of counseling as per ILO -
1. Career information –provides information on occupations; employment opportunities; labor market trends and employment scenarios; educational programs, institutions, and opportunities; career services; and job opportunities, both local and global.
2. Career education – provides career planning and decision-making; labor market information and other information related to careers and work skills.
3. Career counseling – provides one-on-one or small group help on role clarifications, career decision- making, self-assessment and self-definition, aspirations and dreams.
4. Employment counseling – provides help with setting career goals, writing resumes, interviewing skills and the like, all such activities designed to help the person define the characteristics of the career or job he/she is looking for, assess suitability for it, and identify skills gaps that can be addressed by personal development efforts;
5. Job placement – provides actual job search services intended to connect job seekers and job providers.
In more Indian context, counseling is required to navigate constraints such as family hesitation, transport, inability to pay, accommodation etc. The experiences of past trainees and their feedback shared with the larger community.The scope of counseling is quite vast as candidates require holding hand support on communication skills, presentation skills, and financial literacy. Online portal have opened a new channel for youths even in remote areas access to the information. But there is always need of last mile reach to ensure that the right people, in terms of ability, interests and expectations, participate in skill development program.
