Overview
To support a person well, you need to understand who they are, what they value and what their life situation is. This requires getting to know them as a whole person and includes understanding:
- their strengths and skills
- what kind of tasks and activities interest them
- what their goals are – both personal and vocational
- their conditions for success, including:
- the types of environments where they feel most comfortable and able to do their best
- any supports, adjustments or flexible arrangements they might need to work safely, confidently and successfully.
In an employment service context, this step is a form of personal assessment or mapping, often called things like a ‘personalised client assessment’ or ‘vocational profiling’.
Assessment activities help jobseekers and their support networks to learn about job options, build a strong connection with employment specialists and highlight the person’s skills, interests and support needs.2
There are several evidence-based approaches to this process including some designed specifically for certain groups, such as people with cognitive disability. No matter which approach is taken, they all share core elements and play a vital role in job search, helping to create stronger matches between each person and the right role.
Whichever approach is used, engagement should focus on putting the person at the centre and helping them feel safe, confident and supported.
Key strategies for success
A range of evidence-based strategies can be used to get to know the jobseeker, including: