CAREER GUIDANCE IN ADULT EDUCATION

PROJECT NO: NPAD-2015/10076

RESEARCH REPORT

2015

Latvia

1. Political and Legal Framework of Adult Career

Guidance and Development

In Latvia citizens have rights for free-of-charge career guidance and counselling.

Citizens' rights for free-of-charge career guidance

and counselling are determined in:

Social Security Law (1995):

a person who works or wishes to work paid labour has the right to free of charge

consultation, choosing one's education or profession;

Supporting Law of the Unemployed and Job-seekers (2002):

guidance is a preventive activity of unemployment, a person who has a permanent

residing place in the Republic of Latvia and who wishes to obtain education or

work or wishes to work paid labour, has the right to professional guidance.

Historical perspective of development of Career Guidance Policy

1994:

Concept of Vocational Guidance

(Minutes Nr. 57, Cabinet of Ministers, 15.11.1994)

2005:

Working group started work on the conception «On Improving the Carrer

Development Support System» (Based on EC Resolution adopted on May 28,

2004)

2006:

Education Development Guidelines 2007-2013

(Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, Nr. 742, 27.09.2006)

"On the Conception «Improvement of the Carrer Development Support

System", Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, Nr.214

2007:

Lifelong Learning Guidelines 2007-2013

Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, Nr. 11

The occupational standard for Career Counsellors was approved by the

Cabinet of Ministers

2010:

Regulations of the Cooperation Council on Career Development Support

System

"Latvia 2030" Sustainable Development Strategy of Latvia until 2030

2012:

National Development Plan of Latvia 2014-2020

The most significant document - Conception

«Improvement of the Career Development Support System» (2006):

A work group was established based on the Regulations Nr. 137, 23.09.2005,

isssued by the Ministry of Welfare on developing the conception on

professional guidance and improvement of the career education service

system.

The involved institutions: Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Education and

Science, Ministry of Welfare, Ministry of Regional Development and Local

Governments, Latvian Employers' Confederation, Free Trade Union

Confederation of Latvia, Latvian Association of Local and Regional

Governments, Latvian Adult Education Association, State Employment

Agency, National Agency of Professional Career Guidance, and State Agency

„Professional Education Development Agency" and State Agency „Social

Integration centre".

Conception (2006) : Envisioned making changes in laws and regulations, e.g.:

Law on Higher Education institutions, prescribing ensuring the career

education function in HEIs;

Regulations of the Council of Ministers Nr.577 «Bylaws of the state agency

"Professional education development agency"", foreseeing the promotion of

cooperation among the institutions involved in the system;

Changes in the legal documents under the competence of the Ministry of

Education and Science in order to specify the terminology in the field of

career development support in accordance with the explanations of the terms

defined in the conception.

Ministry of Welfare - to work out and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers the

draft law «Amendments in the Law on Supporting the Unemployed and

Jobseekers", foreseeing the transfer of functions under the Professional Career

Guidance State Agency to State Employment Agency.

Career Development Support System (CDSS):

CDSS consists of three key elements - information, career counselling and

career education;

CDSS is «a set of activities that gives a possibility for the individual in any

stage of his life all through the lifetime to identify one's interests, abilities,

skills, experience in order to make conscious decisions about the choice of

the education and/or profession and to organize and manage one's

individual way in the education, work and other spheres in which these

skills and experience are acquired and/ or applied» and the aim of which is

to promote the selection of the develoment direction (profession, branch of

education) corresponding to the individual's abilities and interests»

(„Improvement of the career development support system", 2006).

Lifelong Learning Guidelines 2007-2013: LLG set the ensuring of career services

(career education to learners and career councelling to the unemployed, job seekers

and employees) as a priority as well as the necessity for career support activities that

could ensure the flexibility and correspondence of education and learning offers to the

demands of the labour market.

Cooperation Council for the Career Guidance System: The Ministry of Education

and Science, National Centre for Curriculum Development, National Service for

Quality in Education, State Education Development Agency, Ministry of Welfare,

State Employment Service, Social Integration State Agency, Ministry of Economics,

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Latvian Career

Development Support Association, Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia,

Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, Latvian Employers

Confederation and Latvian Adult Education Association.

The council has met at least twice yearly since 2007 to discuss priorities in guidance.

The State Education Development Agency's Information and Career Guidance

Department has been nominated as the secretariat for this Forum.

Influence of international legislation on Latvian Career Guidance

SystemBasic principles of Adult career development

have been formulated in line with relevant European documents:

on November 3, 2008 the Council of Europe adopted the Resolution on

successful inclusion of lifelong career support in lifelong learning strategies,

which defines as a priority field not only the acquisition of the career

guidance skills during all one's lifetime but also the accessibility of the

career support services to all the population, the improvement of the quality

of the career support services and the promotion of the coordination and

cooperation of all the participants involved in career support services on the

national, regional and local level. (Career Guidance and Public Policy:

Bridging the Gap (2004) OECD, p. 19.);

document published by the European Commission and OECD „Support to

career development - a handbook for policy makers" (2011);

Political responsibility

The development of Career Development Support System (CDSS) on political

level is the responsibility of the Ministry of Welfare and Ministry of Education

and Science.

Responsible Institutions for Career Guidnace in Latvia:

National Education Development Agency: agency is responsible for the

introduction of career development support system in education and

employement sectors and promotion of cooperation among the involved

institutions;

Ministry of Economics: ensures preperation of the timely and profound

ptognosis of the labour market and the development of respective policy

planning documents;

Minsitry of Education and Science: deveklopment of career education;

State Employment Agency (SEA): responsible for improvement of career

counselling area. Service department of SEA is the only state institution that

ensures free-of-charge counselling on the issues of choosing one's education

and profession to all groups of the population, provides psychological

support, free-of-charge career counselling to the unemployed, jobseekers,

students. Ensures counselling in 28 regional offices. SEA has 72 career

counsellors of whom 36 are the counsellors of the ESF project «Youth

guarantees» (Jauniešu garantijas" ) work in the regional offices of the SEA

and in 1 branch of the regional office.

Counselling Methodology in SEA:

o Use of psychological work methods and the client-centred approach;

o Unemployed persons and job-seekers registered with the SEA can

choose a group or individual career and/or psychological

counselling, career guidance, identification of suitable employment

goals, job search information and assistance, retraining and work

trials.

o Individuals are offered interest, aptitude, personality and psychometric

testing, health profiling, role play, coaching and information provision.

o Group activities involve consultations, seminars and lectures on career

management issues, career motivation tests and interpersonal

communication training.

o SEA internet services include online career interest tests, information

on career and training opportunities, storage of CV and motivation

letters as well as responses to user questions by career guidance and/or

psychological counsellors.

The Career Development Support Unit of the SEA develops methodology -

prepares information resources, tests, questionnaires, inventories and other

methodological materials for SEA career counsellors.

Social Integration State Agency: Support to people with disabilities offering

them the possibility to identify the professional suitability as well as offering

trial employment places.

Regional Governments (Municipalities):

o participation of regional governments in the implementation of the

career support and education is defined by the Conception (2006) and

Article 17 (point 15) of the Law on Education.

o The regional government has to ensure professional orientation and

career education of children and young people, including the

preparation and dissemination of the information on career support and

education as well as providing information on employability in the

planning process concerning its territory and implementing separate

activities in the frame of the annual plan, e.g., organization of

shadowing days, etc. (Law on Education, 1999);

Training programmes for career counsellors

Professional Master in Education/Career Counsellor:

Latvia University of Agriculture

Liepaja University

Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy

Rezekne Academy of Technologies

Daugavpils University

2. Research on career development support

I.Jaunzeme, I. (2007) Career. Rīga: SIA "Latvijas uzņēmējdarbības un

menedžmenta akadēmija".

I.Ģērmane (2008) Career development of disabled people and their

involvement in the labour market in modern Latvian situation.

E. Lemešonoka (2009) Career centre model for the career development of the

youth in gymnasia.

Lemešonoka (2009) Introduction of the career development support system in

primary school to promote the pupil's career planning skills.

Rūtenberga (2009) Career education model for planning the career

development of youth in evening school

E. Aploka (2010) Career development support system in secondary school.

N. Dogurevica (2010) Career education system for planning the pupil's career

in secondary school.

Una Libkovska (2011) Management of improving pupils' professional

interests in career education in Latvia.

Agita Smitina (2011) Possibilities of improving students' support to decrease

drop-out in higher education institutions of Latvia.

Inta Jaunzeme (2011) Problems of improving career management and support

system in higher education.

Guna Pudule (2013) Improvement of career education management in general

comprehensive schools in Latvia.

3. Contact List – Career Guidance Providers in Latvia

No.

Institution Description Contacts

1. State Employment Agency (SEA)

SEA provides: individual

career consultations;

group career consultations.

SEA provides the following types of career services:

individual career consultation;

individual diagnostic consultation;

group career consultation;

informative group career consultation.

Career counsellors:Aldona Britāne, Aldona.Britane@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 22114714Gunita Freiberga, Gunita.Freiberga@nva.gov.lv , 00 371 25685850Kristīne Virka, Kristīne.Virka@nva.gov.lv , 00 371 25685841Sanita Rušķe, Sanita.Ruske@nva.gov.lv , 00 371 64322441Anda Bogdane, Anda.Bogdane@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685847Sarmīte Raibekaze, Sarmite.Raibekaze@nva.gov.lv 00 371 29259736 Inga Ozoliņa, Inga.Ozolina@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685840 Elīna Januška Elina.Januska@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685283 Skaidrīte Astahovska – Eglīte, Skaidrite.Astahovska-Eglite@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685276Lauma Landratova, Lauma.Landratova@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685853 Vitālijs Filipskis,

Vitalijs.Filipskis@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685839 Evita Lukša, Evita.Luksa@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685839 Daina Samuša, Daina.Samusa@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685266 Ināra Puļaho, Inara.Pulaho@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685266Ingrīda Lībiete,

Ingrida.Libiete@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 63714101 Vineta Nikandrova, Vineta.Nikandrova@nva.gov.lv, 00 371

25685285 Iveta Bružāne, Iveta.Bruzane@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685831 Ligita Goldberga- Krasauska, Ligita.Goldberga-Krasauska@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 65236145 Marika Matvejeva, Marika.Matvejeva@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685862Helga Kanča, Helga.Kanca@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685287 Saulcerīte Briede , Saulcerite.Briede@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 28233875 Inta Magazniece,

Inta.Magazniece@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685289Līga Japiņa, Lga.Japina@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 65620905 Anita Jasjukoviča , Anita.Jasjukovica@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 65620905Santa Hemminga, Santa.Hemminga@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685251 Anita Japēņina, Anita.Japenina@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685845 Linda Niedola, Linda.Niedola@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 63401867 Ilze Daugaviete, Ilze.Daugaviete@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685844 Aira Klampe, Aira.Klampe@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685838 Ramona Kočāne, Ramona.Kocane@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685250 Skaidrīte Deksne, Skaidrite.Deksne@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685848Ināra Laizāne, Inara.Laizane@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685274 Agrita Mūrniece,

Agrita.Murniece@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685860 Solvita Drele, Solvita.Drele@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 68800980 Evija Lazdiņa, Evija.Lazdina@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685286 Diāna Šķēle, Diana.Skele@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 28392220 Ineta Īvāna, Ineta.Ivana@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 28392220Inga Aleksejeva,

Inga.Aleksejeva@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685867 Ilona Utināne, Ilona.Utinane@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685259 Rasma Šmaukstele, Rasma.Smaukstele@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 64607804 Sandra Ragause, Sandra.Ragause@nva.gov.lv,00 371 64607802 Vilhelmīne Gosteva, Vilhelmine.Gosteva@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 64607802Sandra Stikute, Sandra.Stikute@nva.gov.lv

, 00 371 64607806 Kristīne Ivanova,

Kristine.Ivanova@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 64607806 Inese Markēviča,

Inese.Markevica@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 80200206Vera Pitļuka, Vera.Pitluka@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 80200206Solveiga Isačenko, Solveiga.Isacenko@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 80200206Santa Dzērve, Santa.Dzerve@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 80200206Ilona Kalēja, Ilona.Kaleja@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 80200206Elita Dombrava,

Elita.Dombrava@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685861 Nora Vilaua, Nora.Vilaua@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685869 Egita Pētersone, Egita.Petersone@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685829 Zanda Pētersone, Zanda.Petersone@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 28352628 Daiga Korpa, Daiga.Korpa@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685830

Inga Kaļmuka,Inga.Kalmuka@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 25685263 Žanna Meija, Zanna.Meija@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685263 Daila Notte, Daila.Notte@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685868 Ieva Sondare, Ieva.Sondare@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 26369624 Rita Grence, Rita.Grence@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 22030071 Agnese Vizbule,

Agnese.Vizbule@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 63181160 Daiga Vanaga, Daiga.Vanaga@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685851 Linda Upmale, Linda.Upmale@nva.gov.lv

, 00 371 26813317 Ineta Balode, Ineta.Balode@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685280 Darja Jonele, Darja.Jonele@nva.gov.lv,

00 371 25685849Sandra Citoviča, Sandra.Citovica@nva.gov.lv, 00 371 63629349

2. The Social Integration State Agency

Career Counseling (specialised on people with disabilities)

Santa Egmiņa, santa.egmina@siva.gov.lv;Marika Sermule, marika.sermule@siva.gov.lv Katrina Sevruka, katrina.sevruka@siva.gov.lv

3. Privat Career counsellor

Career Counseling

Jolanta Priede, jolanta.priede@ rtu.lv , 00 371 29193377https://karjeraskonsultants.lv/

4. „PeRtipo” Career Counseling

Ineta Meldere, ineta.meldere@pertipo.lv , 00 371 27542276http://www.pertipo.lv/lv/karjeras-konsultants/

5. Privat Career counsellor

Career Counseling

Jānis Pāvulēns, pavulens@inbox.lv, 00 371 29752750, http://parkarjeru.ucoz.com/

6. RTU (Riga Technical University)Career Center

Career Counseling

viktorija.gaina  rtu.lv, 00 371 67089053, http://www.rtu.lv/content/view/10975/2170/lang,lv/

7. RSU (Riga Stardins

Career Counseling

studentuserviss@rsu.lv

University) Career Center

8. University of LatviaCareer Center

Career Counseling

00 371 67034410,karjera@lu.lv,  www.karjera.lu.lv

9. Dobele Youth Initiatives and Health Centre

Individual counseling with a career consultant. Deterrmination of professional suitability information of professions and educational opportunities support for individual career development plan.

Ilze Vīķe, 00 371 63725550

10. JV-KIKC Career Counseling

Inta Lemešonoka, inta.roks@gmail.com

11. Riga Raina 8th Evening (shift) School

Career Counseling (psychologist)

Diāna Feldmane, dianadziviba@inbox.lv

4. Survey Report

Methodology

In this reaearch was used an exploratory mixed method design in which both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered to explore the adults career counselling needs and expectations. As well perceptions of employers and career counsellors about career counselling process and clients expectations.

This approach was selected because of the exploratory nature of project, to to create the adult guidance program to increase self-dependency and to develop skills and competences which are necessary for adults to plan their professional life and to overcome challenges of modern citizenship. In the research were used questionnaire (to identify the respondents previous experience with career counselling, to explore the expectations, opinion and needs with respect to career counselling services) and conducted interviews (to gathers data concerning the perceptions about career counselling process and clients expectations).

Instruments

In the study were used open ended questionnaire, with modified „Expectations About Career Counselling” ( Lim, 2007) measure included and interviews.

A four – part questionnaire was distributed to the adults (clients, prospective clients), Part 1 – respondent demographic data (gender, age, current activity), Part -2 about career skills, barriers and Part 3 – needs of career counsellling (open ended questions about career goals, views of how they would like a career counsellor to help them, whether they had seen a career counsellor) and Part 4 – experience of career counselling service at work, experience and expectation about career counselling (questions about counselling process, counselling methods, career counsellors competences and personality).

A three part questionnaire was distributed to employers and career counsellors. Part 1 – respondents demographic data (gender, age, qualifications in career counselling, education level), Part 2 – main client group, professional competences and skills, Part 3 – career counsellors perception about clients expectation.

Questionnaire

Participants

Table 1. Age and gender of questionnaire participants

Group Number of participants

Gender Age rangeF M

Adults (clients/prospective clients)

30 19 11 19-55

Career Counsellors working in:

educational establishments (universities, colleges)

State EmploymentAgency of Latvia

Self-employed

5

22

3

27 3 25-62

Employers 10 5 5 30 -51Total: 70 51 19

Table 2. Age and gender of interview participants

Group Number of participants

Gender Age rangeF M

Adults (clients/prospective

clients)

10 6 4 19-55

Career Counsellors 10 8 2 25-45Employers 5 3 2 39 -51

Total: 25 17 8

Career Guidance Needs of AdultsFig.1. Employment of adults (clients/prospective clients)

Fig.2. The mother tongue of the respondents

Table 3. Career guidance services availability at workplace (N=11)

Number of participants Answer3 yes8 no

Only 3 respondents form 11 (employed respondents) answer that career counselling service is provided at their work.

Table 4. Who provides career guidance services at your workplace?

Number of participants Answer3 I do not know6 Nobody1 Career center1 Enterprise

2 respondents answered that delivers of the career guidance service are Career center and „Enterprise”.

Table 5. What kind of career guidance services are available at your workplace?

Number of participants Answer3 I do not know6 None1 Career counsultations,

professional development1 Testing of employees

Mentioned career guidance services include: career consultations, professional and personal development and testing.

Fig.3. Do you regularly improve your digital skills?

Fig.4. When was the last time you were in some kind of training courses or seminar, etc?

Fig.5. Do you know where to find a career counsellor?

Fig.6. Have you ever used a career counselling service?

Over 56% of the respondents had used a career caounselling service.

Table 6. When do you seek career support?

Number of participants Answer10 I do not seek any career

support, it is not necessary14 When I was/will be looking

for work, it might be helpful to get some careers advice or training, CV and motivation letter writing.Professional development.

2 I am person with special needs, career counselour helps me to find work

4 I am not sure what type of work I’d like.Want to find out more about a certain career/my career possibilities

Table 7. What problems do you feel with your job or career?

Number of participants Answer10 None6 Environmental and attitudinal

barrier5 Barriere because of special

needs7 Communication6 Financial5 Lack of experience4 Insufficient professional

competence3 No relevant qualifications

Table 8. What assistance or support do you need regarding jobs or careers?

Number of participants Answer6 Career counselling5 Professional development

courses/activities3 Psychological Advice9 Academic Advice, Knowledge

management11 None2 Advice of other people

Fig.7. How much money can you spend on career guidance?

When asked how much money they thought spend on career counselling, more than 43% respondents answered, that they would not spend any money for it.

Fig.8. How much time can you spend on career guidance?

Fig.9. What kind of career assessment tools and tests have you used?

Fig.10. What is your current career goal?

In terms of their current career goal, over 90% stated they have a career goal. However, approximately 7% were unsure of their career goals.

Fig.11. In which career planning stage, you are experiencing the most problems?

Career Counselling SurveyFig.1. The mother tongue of the respondents

Table 1. What is your current primary professional role?

All of the career counsellors have postgraduate qualifications. 60% of the career practitioners have Masters degree and qualification – career counsellor.

Fig.2 Have you taken a master's level career counseling course?

Fig.3 When was the last time you were in some kind of professional development training courses or seminar, etc?

Table 2 What career guidance programs you offer to adults?

Number of participants Answer7 Individual career counsultations5 Group career counsultations3 Counseling program to diverse

population2 Implement programs11 Workplace readiness skills

programs9 Programs for unemployed

people13 Career development programs7 Client resource identification

and development2 Unsure

Table 3 What do you think is most important factor in a successful guidance program?

Number of participants Answer8 Motivation15 Real World Connections 6 Communication7 Cooperation2 Use adult-oriented models of active

learning6 Reflective practice9 Realistic and sustainable 11 Goal oriented4 Include all stakeholders in program

design2 Learn from successful programs2 Develop good support materials9 Programs must be planned

according to what is affordable in

the long run

Table 4. What career guidance programs most lack people starting from age 21?

Number of participants Answer7 Individual career counsultations2 Group consultations17 Motivation11 Self-knowledge9 Services to support the Career

Development2 Vocational support intervention to

people with special needs5 Information, advice and guidance

to help young adults make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities

10 Developing CV, improving interview skills

Fig.3 What age is most of your clients?

Table 5. What types of assessment tools and tests do you use in career counseling? Please name them!

Number of participants Answer12 Holland’s Inventories1 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator11 Strong

Interest Inventory, Interest Inventory

3 NLP methods2 Interviews7 Occupational Interest Survey1 Jackson Vocational Interest Survey4 General Aptitude Tests2 Card Sorting

3 Values Clarification5 Competence Screening2 Autobiography and Self-

characterization8 Decision Making Techniques4 Problem Solving1 Narration1 Observation9 The Intelligence Structure Test

(R.Amthauer)5 Unsure

Table 6. Which are the most important Employability Skills?

Skill PlaceCommunication skills 1.Self Motivation 2.Decision Making 3.Problem Solving skills 4.Time Management 5.Team-working 6.Leadership skills 7.Managerial skills 8.

Fig.4. Is your work appreciated by clients and colleagues?

Fig.5. Is your work highly rated?

Table 7. What are the main barriers for adults to achieve their career plans?

Number of participants Answer17 Lack of motivation9 Personal circumstances, marital

status4 Communication skills8 Poor language knowledge14 Confusion16 Lack of experience, knowledge5 Location7 Bad habits6 Health conditions11 Inactivity

Fig.6. In which career planning phase your customers are experiencing the most problems?

Table 8. How do you help your clients choose the most appropriate course of action?

Number of participants Answer16 I try to meet adequately the needs of

client11 Progress monitoring/ plans that

must be followed to ensure effective results

7  To be well informed about the services and employability requirements

5 Asking the client for feedback17 Identifying clients objectives7 Setting objectives which

are achievable and measurable6 Identifying the steps needed to

achieve your goals12 Working together to develop a

plan13 Observing, testing, asking

questions, modelling

The results showed that career counselling interventions, such as individualized interpretations and feedback, modelling and attention to building support, respondents find effective.

Table 9. How do you react to regional, national, global labor market changes, offering career guidance services?

Number of participants Answer10 Exchange of practical experiences

with other specialists working in the area of career guidance and counselling.

21 Knowledge of updated information8 Social and cultural sensitiveness5 Adjust to rapid labour market

changes2 Matching skills and jobs3 Unsure4 Inform clients7 Use innovations in career

counselling

Table 10. Which skill every career counselor should cultivate?

Number of participants

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly

AgreeA Genuine Interest

in Others2 2 7 19

Self-Reflection 2 2 1 15 50The Ability to Listen – On

Multiple Levels

1 0 2 6 21

Accessibility and Authenticity

1 0 3 13 13

Flexibility 1 0 5 13 11A Sense of Humor 1 0 6 14 9

Table 11. What kind of further education and training would you like or need?

Number of participants Answer18 Innovative career counselling

methods5 Foreign languages9 Coaching16 Psychology, Conflict resolution3 Methods and tools to work with

people with special needs7 Accounting, record keeping

3 Unsure4 I do not need any further training

The responses show that there is a need to provide further education and training for career counsellors.

Fig.7. Do you belong to any active network within this field of job?

Employers’ opinion on employees career guidance

Table 1. What skills are lacking among adults in the available local workforce?

Number of participants Answer4 Forign language knowledge,

Russian language knowledge3 Lack of experience, professional

knowledge3 Low self-esteem4 Communication skills2 Decision making skills

Fig.1. Do you have in your organization skilled staff members, who can elect candidates professionally?

Fig.2. Do you organize courses to raise the qualification of your employees in the workplace?

Fig.3 How many courses for your employees during the year you organize?

Table 2. What kind of career activities do you organize?

Number of participants Answer4 Job shadowing2 Mentorship2 Career Day,

Career Discovery Days5 Internships1 Work observation1 Job sharing7 Professional development courses3 Seminars, workshops, expert

lectures

Table 3. Describe 3 seminars, which you would organize for your employees, if you do not inhibit any restrictions.

Number of participants Answer4 Tima management, work planning

skills2 Digital skills3 Teamworking skills4 Language courses6 Communication skills5 Professional competence

development2 Unsure

Fig.4 Do you pay for employees' qualification outside the organization?

Table 4. What are the Key Components of Successful Career Guidance and Counseling Programs?

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral Agree Strongly agree

A planned sequence of activities and experiences to achieve specific competencies such as self-appraisal, decision making, goal setting, and career planning

1 2 4 3

Accountability (outcome oriented) and program improvement (based on results of process/outcome evaluations)

1 5 4

Qualified leadership 1 2 7Effective management needed to support comprehensive career guidance programs

1 9

A team approach where certified counselors are central to the program

1 9

Adequate facilities, materials, resources

10

Strong professional development activities so counselors can regularly update their professional knowledge and skills

3 5 2

Different approaches to deliver the program such as outreach, assessment, counseling, curriculum, program and job placement, follow-up, consultation, referral

2 2 4 2

Comparison of client and career counsellor views

„Expectations About Career Counselling” ( Lim, 2007)

Questionnaires were collected from 60 respondents. The respondents were from clients and career counsellors.

Despite the fact that more than 43% had no experience of career counselling service and many had no idea what actually career counsellor does, they were able to express their expectations about career caounselling and career caounsellor.

Table 1. What do you expect from career counsellor?/ What do you think your clients expect from career counsellor?

Career counsellors Clients Just give me information 96.7 86.7Be friendly and warm towards me 93.3 90Explain what's wrong with my career ideas 80 86.7Be a "real" person not just a person doing a job

93.4 83.3

Give encouragement and reassurance 93.3 90Work with me to develop an action plan of steps I need to take to achieve my career goals

86.7 86.6

Know how to help me 83.4 83.4Inspire confidence and trust 96.7 80Find out about me -my interests, abilities, goals, and lifestyle

93.4 83.3

Use a test, computer program or questionnaire to find out about my interests and abilities

90 80

Provide me with information about occupations I can enter with my skills

93.3 90

Determine what my ideal job would be 66.7 80

Table 2. What do you expect from career counselling?

Career counsellors Clients Be given detailed information about the career in which I am interested

73.4 86.7

Take responsibility for making my own career decisions

66.7 76.7

Find out about my chances of obtaining the job in which I am interested

56.7 86.7

Understand the purpose of what happens in the career counselling interview

53.3 73.4

Find that during the interview I will identify strategies on which I need to work

83.4 83.3

Have access to free career counselling services throughout my life

40 73.3

Gain some experience in new ways of solving problems

53.4 86.6

Become better able to help myself in the future 73.3 86.6

Receive a very good service if I have to pay for career counselling

76.7 80

Talk about my present career issues 83.4 86.6Go to career counselling only if I was very uncertain about my career

86.6 56.7

Be given information about education/training pathways and courses

96.7 83.3

Be given the names of potential employers in the occupations in which I am interested

73.3 80

Learn job search skills e.g. resume writing, job application letters, interview skills

93.4 83.4

Be given brochures or handouts about occupations and courses

63.4 76.7

ConclusionsThe results of the research showed that there is a gap between career counsellors

perceptions and clients expectations.

The findings indicated that the clients had high to very high expectations for Career

Counsellor personality, e.g., Be friendly and warm towards me (90%), Career

Counsellor professional competence, e.g., Explain what's wrong with my career ideas

(86,7%), Work with me to develop an action plan of steps I need to take to achieve my

career goals (86.6%) and Give encouragement and reassurance (90%), Provide me

with information about occupations I can enter with my skills (90%); moderate to

high expectations, e.g., Be a "real" person not just a person doing a job (83.3%),

Know how to help me (83,4%).

Findings for the career counsellor participant group showed that they perceived their

clients to have high to very high expectations for, e.g., Just give me information

(96.7%), Inspire confidence and trust (96.7%); high expectations for Find out about

me -my interests, abilities, goals, and lifestyle (93.4%), Give encouragement and

reassurance (93,%), Provide me with information about occupations I can enter with

my skills (93.3%) and moderate expectations for Explain what's wrong with my career

ideas (80%), and Determine what my ideal job would be (66.7%).

Implications for adult career counselling programms:

• Provide worksite and other work-based learning experiences

• Leverage connections to suppliers and other businesse

• Engage employers

• Invite feedback and other support as the program develops

• Maintain regular communications

Problems identified in the career development support system

• Insufficient cooperation among the involved institutions.

• Career support services corresponding to the needs of different target groups

of the population are not available. (EMKAPT, VIAA, 2011)

• Incompleteness of career support activities