Information and Computer Research for Career Practitioner

1. Information and
Computer
Research
TECK L. TAN

2. Forces That Shape The Business
World
New Technology
Global
Interdependence
Move to ServiceOriented,
Information
Society
Unpredictable,
Changing
marketplace
Changing
Demographic
Values

3. Labour Market Trends

Shift to non-standard employment – part-time,
temporary, contractual, multiple sources
income

Lifelong learning – commitment to a life of
upgrading skills and learning new ones

Technology – continually upgrading workrelated skills

Growth of small business

Industrial shift – from good-producing to
service –providing industries

Globalization – outsourcing

Demographics – factors include age of
population, gender, ethnicity, settlement,
immigration

4. Factors for Successful in the New
Labour Market
Adapt to change
Flexible
Creating your own
jobs
Self-promotion &
networking
Assume
responsibility for
own lives and
financial planning
Knowledge in new
economy
Self-awareness
Creativity
Self-esteem
Proactive career
planning
Life-long learning
Constant retraining
Learn new tech
Teamwork
Skills

5. Industry Groupings
GoodsProducing
• Manufacturing
• Mining
• Construction
• Agriculture
• Forestry
• Fishing
ServiceProducing
• Transportation, communication & utilities
• Trade
• Health, social & education
• Finance, insurance & real estate
• Government services
• Business & retail services
• Accommodation, food & beverage services

6. Range of Service Sector
Dynamic service
industries
• Include the more knowledgeintensive or high tech services,
e.g. telecommunications and
business services
Traditional
services
• Refer to services directed
toward meeting the needs of
consumers, e.g. retail trade,
personal services and tourism
Non-market
services
• Include health, education and
government

7. Primary and Secondary Job
Markets
Primary Market
Secondary
Market
Freelance
Managers, professionals
and skilled trade workers
Small and Medium-Sized
Firms
Independent
marketplace for skills and
expertise
Healthy salaries and
benefits
Struggling to remain
viable and profitable
Opportunities for
advancement
Operate on tight money
and lower profit margins
High level of job
satisfaction
Workplace of choice for
mothers, immigrants and
disabled workers
Market
Demands both skills and
experience
Holds a lot of
opportunities

8. Labour Market Information
Components
Employment and Unemployment Rates
Job Openings – Employment Prospects - now and in the future
Employment Sectors
Wages – per hour and salary
Skills Needed – Essential Skills
Job Descriptions
Education and other Training Requirements

9. Tips On Becoming LMI Savvy
Be curious
Ask
Questions
Get
Informed
Question
Information
Get
Connected

10. Questions and Search
Keywords
Questions
• What kind of employers seem to always be
hiring?
• Who’s making the big money
• How did those people get those jobs?
• What education do they have?
Search
Keywords
• Labour market information
• Economy
• Employment prospects
• In demand jobs
• Hot jobs
• Hot industries

11. Self-management
skills
Use to code with
environments
transferable
e.g. assertiveness,
cooperation,
diplomacy…
Developed by
learning
Generally not
transferable unless
related field
Acquired on the job
Also acquired by
training in institute
Also developed in
spare-time hobbies
Rooted in aptitudes
Functional Skills
Rooted in
temperament/
Personality traits/soft
skills
Work Content Skills
Adaptive Skills
Types of Skills
Use to carry on
activities in the work
setting in dealing
with people, data, or
things
how we function on
the job in specific
tasks
Transferable skills;
each person has 500700 functional skills

12. Soft Skills vs Hard Skills
Hard skills can get you an interview
But you need soft kills to get and keep the job
Soft Skills:
Optimism, common sense, responsibility, a sense of humour, integrity, empathy,
teamwork, leadership, communication, good manners, negotiations, sociability, the
ability to teach, remain calm under pressure…
Hard Skills:
MS Office, typing, software applications, operating machines, software development,
speaking foreign language…

13. Essential Skills

The foundation skills use to carry out the work task, learning and life

The building blocks used to learn new ones

Allow people to grow with their jobs and adapt to changes in the workplace
1.
Reading
2.
Document Use
3.
Numeracy
4.
Writing
5.
Oral Communication
6.
Working with Others
7.
Thinking
8.
Computer Use
9.
Continuous Learning
Sources: Guide to essential skills - HRSDC

14. What’s Important to the Clients
Empower clients
to do job search
on their own
Clients be willing
to change,
learn & flexible
Match the
personality with
job
Arrange
informational
interview
Get a mentor
Be polite
persistence
Adhere to work
ethic

15. Networking
What is Networking?

Networking is getting out and meeting people either formally or informally, in groups or
one-on-one

It s a chance to get to know other people and let them know something about you
Why
Network?
•Obtain information and build personal contacts
•Gain first hand knowledge into the hidden market

16. Advantages of Networking
Meeting new people through people you know or people you meet somewhere
You can plot your own course of action
You can set your own pace
You can be original because you are not competing with anyone
Use information interviews as a way to meet people in an industry, become known,
and to expand your “professional” network

17. What Kinds of People to Network
with?
Decision
makers
Referrals to
decisionmakers
Referrals to
other
contacts
Advisors on
your search
Referrals
from people
with wide
connections

18. Core Competencies for CDPs
Attitudes
•Insightful
•Honest
•Open-mined
•Results-oriented
Skills
•Document client interactions and progress
•Accommodate diversity
•Collect, analyze and use information
•Convey information clearly when speaking and writing
Knowledge
•Career development models and theories
•The change process, transition stages, and career cycles
•components of the career planning process
•the major organizations and resources for career development and community services

19. Specializations (Unique Competencies )
for CDPs

Assessment
o
o

Guide client assessment
Information and Resource Management
Facilitate groups
o
o
Possess knowledge about facilitate
learning
Facilitate groups
Possess knowledge in career counselling

Demonstrate method of practice in
interactions with clients

Facilitate groups
Work Development
Develop work opportunities for clients
o
Guide client in work search strategies
Guide client in work search strategies

Guide client in work search strategies
o
Career Counselling

Provide clients with access to information
o

Develop and maintain information an
resource base
o
Facilitated Individual & Group Learning
o



Community Capacity Building
o
Promote community partnership and
participation to increase self-sufficiency
and enhance productivity
o
Facilitate groups