European Guidance and Counselling Research Forum

I pose this question for two reasons, firstly, as a parent I have not been actively encouraged by my son and daughter's school to meet with an Adviser and/ or Teacher to talk about the labour market and how this might impact on future possibilities for my off-spring; secondly, I'm fascinated by the idea expressed by some colleagues that there isn't an easy way of connecting with large nos. of parents/carers because "they're too hard to reach".

What lessons can we learned from our European counterparts? Do you have any examples of working with parents/carers either 1:1 and/ or group settings? Have you undertaken any research aimed specifically at capturing parents/carers  views of the concept of 'career' and how they perceive their role in the 21st century career education and guidance process? My colleague Hayley Lamb (Researcher) at the Centre for Gudance Studies, University of Derby, is currently investigating this topic email: h.lamb@derby.ac.uk   

As part of my PhD studies, I am currently working with UK and European colleagues to explore the potential for developing a European-wide performance indicator framework to support policy formation, research and practice in career guidance and counselling. We have recently submitted a proposal to the EU Seventh Framework Programme to help secure funds to take forward this work and await the results. In addition, close working links have been established with colleagues in Canada who are exploring the potential to develop 'proxies' or 'equivalences' that could be used to link the 'softer' obeservable outcomes of guidance to the achievement of 'harder' outcomes linked to the labour market and social equity policy goals.

I'd like to hear from you if you have any experience in designing and/ or utilising performance indicators within an education, health or unemployment setting. What indicators have you used and why have you used these? Do you have any experiences and/or tools that you would like to share to feed into an evolving community of researchers, practitioners and policy-makers who have a strong interest in this topic? If you need further information email: d.m.hughes@derby.ac.uk

Did you know? There's a United Nations (1989) Handbook on Social Indicators- Studies in Methods. Series F No.49. United Nations New York. Look forward to hearing from you.

My name is Ioanna and am in the middle thirties. I have a bachelor in Business Administration and a master degree in Finance. Since 1998, almost a decade, I am working as a financial analyst in a private bank. My department is responsible for small business�s financing and I am in charge of appraising the financial state of small companies that apply for business loans. Even though, the first five years were quite productive and I got through to be promoted twice to the position of appraiser C, the last five years I am stucked in the same position. In January, one of appraisers B left the company and I applied for this placement. Unfortunately, my application was rejected and the place was given to a colleague who was two years older than me but has no master degree. Even worse, it took him three months to grasp what the job is about since was coming from another finance department that has almost nothing to do with small business financing. I like my job but the last rejection really got me very disappointed. On the other hand, the company I am working is one of the most respectful in, the salary I get is rather good but at the same time I could not help doing the same thing any more. Whenever, I think to leave the company, as my colleague did, I do not feel liking getting the hassles of finding another job. Could you please help me figure out what to do?

Hi. My name is Elena and I'd like to express my opinion about unemployment of young people.

Here, in Greece, unemployment is a huge social problem. In our century, demands become greater and young people are not well-qualified, in order to find a well paid job. As a result, most of them are unemployed. In addition, there is a big percentage of people, who can’t find a job, so they choose to do something different, which is incompatible with their studies. They find a job, which they don’t like and they are always underpaid.

Furthermore, when young people finish their studies, they need practise, in order to have experience. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult for someone to be experienced, as most of the employers are not willing to help them.

It is well accepted that women should hold certain job positions because as, it is believed, they possess such personal characteristics that consist them capable for holding only specific jobs. 

Are we born with those characteristics, such as sensitivity and tideness, or do we learn to behave in certain ways that shape our lives even our dreams that eventually, entraps us in certain posts? 

Vasiliki

Many people experience work as drudgery and their jobs as painfully empty.A 'soulless' work day can leave people feeling drained and 'used up', with little desire to return to that job the next day.Soulless work consumes enthusiasm until motivation goes dry.Skills and knowledge remains intact,but the will to perform the spirit within is diminished.Smothering the will, burnout is a malaise of the spirit.

Hardest hit are service providers like nurses, counselors, teachers and police officers who often become cynical about their work and openly hostile to the very people they' re dedicated to serving.

According to recent international researsh, Special Educational Needs(SEN) teachers serve one of the most stressful occupations.

What is your opinion about this?

Dear Julian,

I believe that young unemployed people should be encouraged to enter the labour market by seting up their own entrepreneurs. Probably, it is only through entrepreneurship that an unemployed person can fight against unemployment. Entrepreneurial values should be promoted amongst young people so as to be encouraged to create their own business. As far as I am concerned, the European Union has been funding young unemployed people in order to promote self-employment.

Also, each european country has its own association of young Entrepreneurs where information and assistance can be provided to young and future entrepreneurs.There are also courses that have been set up by each association so as to help young entrepreneurs seting up their own business plan. Young entrepreneurs all over Europe are supported by 'Yes for Europe' which is the european confederation of young entrepreneurs and aims at improving the economic and social performance of European Entrepreneurship.

Vasiliki

Hi I want to say some things about the problem of unemployment of young people all over Europe. The unemployment numbers have been increased the last few years. Many young people cannot find a job even if they are higly quilified. One of the reasons is that many European companies have been moved to Asian and African countries where they find cheap labour hands. The governments do nothing to protect and help young people to find jobs.

geia sas doulevw edw kai 9 xronia san elektis enaerias kykloforias
dialeksa to sygegrimeno epagelma giati mu dinei xrimata afinontas eleuthero xrono
alla afenos paraeinai agxwtiko
afaiterou panat pisteua oti borousa na kanw kati dhmiourgikotero
estw kai an to sygegrimeno den einai vareto synithws

ti lete?

Hi, Lenka.

I 'm writing to you, because you seem interested in matters like this. I would like you to tell me, please, what the position of women in Slovenia is, in general, and if women in your country take action in the field of business.

Thank you, Lenka. I 'm looking forward to reading your answer!

Anda.

Αγαπητή Ρένα,

Dear George,

I can see your point of view and I believe that many students that study abroad face similar problems like yours. I understand the financial costs as I as well obtained my Bsc degrees in a European country. It is possible that collecting information will make things clearer. 

Erasmus provides students with the opportunity to study in a European country for a period of 3 to 12 months. Each host University has a given number of places and grants available, which are allocated to students after a selection process organised by the university of origin.I suggest you visit the International Relations Office/or the Socrates, Erasmus office of your University and ask about erasmus. Also you could consult the website of your University. More information could be found in ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/erasmus/erasmus_en.html. The fact that you could spend a whole year studying in a Greek University would, probably, help you clear your thoughts. 

I hope that I have been of some help

Do some search and get back to us. I and other co-students would be pleased helping you out.

Vaso

 

Hello everyone!

I study Finance and Commerce at Verona University, Italy, where my parents also studied. Demands here are high and if someone wants to obtain his graduation degree, he or she has to work hard. But greek community is almost non existent and the cost of life high enough for someone who cannot work (because  he/she has to study all day). Given the situation, I would like to make a change, if not a permanent one, then at least for some months. I was thinking coming back to Greece and continue my studies there, or maybe using the Erasmus programmes and get back to Greece for a while. The problem is, first of all, I need to know more things about Erasmus and secondly, is it worth coming back? I 've heard things are not so good: lockouts, sit-ins, students don't attend their classes and problems arise daily in this field. I see many of you are students and your advice would be of paramount importance to me, to make up my mind. I ask you to tell me your point of view, if possible. What would you do if you were in my shoes?

I 'm looking forward for your replies.

Thank you in advance.

Regards, George Kartalis.

Research has shown that, today, most couples share a common problem that can have detrimental effects on their well-being and that is the conflict between their work’s demands and their family’s needs. Both male and female employees are required to place work before family demands in order to ‘succeed’ in the work sphere. They both engage in increasingly complex responsibilities and roles that can result in an extensive conflict between the two central realms of adult life.

 

Although some studies demonstrate that the entrance of women in the labour force brought many changes concerning gender equality within the home, this is not completely true. In particular, in Greece gendered family roles remain remarkably resilient. It is widely accepted that working women are responsible for performing childcare or for caring of elders. What is the situation like in other European countries and what are the effects of the ‘work to family’ conflict on couple’s mood and life satisfaction?

 

Receiving thoughts from any European citizen would be of a great importance to me.

 

Many thanks

Vasiliki Plarinou  

Dear Rena,

My name is Vasiliki Plarinou and I am currently attending an Msc at the university of Athens in Counselling and Career Guidance.

After having read your inquiry ragarding gaining information on acquiring a job in the European Union I suggest that searching on the internet is, probably,

the best way of finding information on that.

Below I list some internet sites that I reccomend you to look at:

www.monster.com, www.jobcentreplus.com, www.lgjobs.com, www.europa.eu.int/eures, www.guardian.co.uk.

Also The European Union provides young Europeans with the opportunity to gain practical experience by offering them a 6 month scholarship through Leonardo Da Vinci.

Should you search on that in www.ep-katartisi.gr.

I hope that I have been of some help.

Vaso