Below are summarised 5 examples of good practice at the Latvian national level - practices that have been developed or transformed due to the pandemic and its consequences, as well as practices that have been operating for years.
Social integration state agency (SIVA) is a state administrative institution where main fields of provided services are social and vocational rehabilitation for people with disabilities or at the risk of getting disability aged 15-64.
Part of the vocational rehabilitation is a professional assessment process where is involved a multidisciplinary team such as doctor, physiotherapist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist, social worker, psychologist, teacher, caregiver, career consultant (and other if necessary). Each specialist evaluates each client (individually or in group sessions) according to the specialist’s specialisation. At the end of the assessment process each client receives recommendations on what to do in the future to: 1. improve if possible his/her health condition; 2. improve theoretical knowledge; 3. improve different social skills. And the main part of the recommendation paper is a conclusion about which vocational training program is the most suitable for each client according to his/her interests, capabilities and health condition.
SIVA provides its services to the clients from the whole country of Latvia for 15+ years.
In April 2020 the whole assessment process became 100% remote using different digital solutions.
SIVA specialists developed guidelines to ensure a remote assessment service because of the reason that not each client can receive service in a digital way.
All used tests, methods and tools in assessment that were used “in paper” now are digitalised and used for those clients who have technical capabilities (like PC with web camera and microphone or laptop, Internet connection and minimum of digital skills).
Remote assessment process differs a lot from a process that was provided at the place at SIVA and working one-to-one or in groups with clients. There are both advantages and disadvantages of remote working with clients. But the biggest benefit of the service is the ability for clients to receive the service at any time. Compared to the in-person assessment process, for remote assessment services are applying clients that are more motivated to change their life and get involved into the study process (vocational training) and to integrate into the labour market in the future.
Riga Technical University’s (RTU) Career Support and Services Unit, Student Service Department where the main field of activity is promoting cooperation and communication between universities, students, employers and RTU graduates; helping youth to integrate into the labour market and develop professional career as well as providing career and psychological support.
Because of the pandemic regular in-person RTU Career day became “RTU Virtual Career day 2021” and brought together 75 companies and organizations, and around 1 400 attendees. As event was online it was accessible from anywhere in Latvia and abroad. Each company had their virtual stall with lots of different information about them in text, pictures and video format. Companies’ representatives offered individual video conversations time slots, which needed to be booked in advance if attendees would like to have a private consultation or apply for a job offer. There was also option to start chat: for students with all companies, for companies – with all attendees. There was provided a parallel program with 9 webinars led by supporter companies and guest lecturers. Organizers and companies held different contests in their virtual stalls with option to win prizes for most active participants.
The Virtual Career Day is a great opportunity to get and keep in contact with the field’s strongest and biggest companies, which actually is a needed thing for students and recruiters. Students can get knowledge of what is needed and asked from them so they can work in industry. Companies can get in touch with their future employees. When students turn to Career service for recommendations where to work, we know the companies that are open for new employees. Comparing with previous year’s data, it can be stated that around 60% of attendees have found job or internship after the event.
State Employment Agency starting from 2016 is providing an e-learning modules for unemployed persons and job seekers so they learn and get skills on how to 1. write a cover letter and prepare for a job interview and get knowledge on 2. how to develop an effective job search strategy.
E-learning module “Writing a cover letter and preparing for a job interview” contains 2 parts. The 1st part is about cover letter’s content and technical side, focuses on motivation, how and where it can be found (motivation), what is essential in cover letter, how to foresee expectations of employer, how to structure and design cover letter. Self-assessment tools of motivation and examples of cover letters are included. The 2nd part is focused on the job interview: what is essential when preparing to an interview, information about corresponding dress code and appearance is included, how to present yourself and create a positive image to employer, how to overcome psychological barriers and what to do after the interview. Interactive thematic dialogues are incorporated. Self-assessment on these topics is provided.
E-learning module “How to develop an effective job search strategy” helps to develop job search methods, how to structure job search step by step, how to prioritize job search activities and develop a job search plan. The module includes 3 parts: job search, time management, and stress management. The module helps to explore and improve job search skills, to be effective at time management during the job search and to cope with the stress, that can occur at unemployment situation and during a job search. The module contents include theoretical issues, audio and video materials, simulations of dialogues. Self-assessment on these topics is provided.
The positive impact of these digital tools is a possibility to be available for everyone who is interested in knowledge and skills improvement on job search issues at any time. Implemented e-learning modules are friendly to users. There is no need for special knowledge to use these modules, a basic level of digital skills is enough.
CV-Online Latvia SIA and CV.lv online job portal that offers for jobseekers to easily apply for any job ad, get notifications about new suitable jobs, register CV and use other options as well as get career advices from recruiters.
CV.lv is an online source where each job seeker is able to create his own CV (together with having advices on how to do that) and update the information in it at any time. All published CVs are available for employers, so, the portal’s search system works both ways – for users to find a suitable job offer and for employers to find the best employee.
Profile settings allows to mark potential employer’s fields of activity the user is most interested in, and get notifications about the vacancies. In that way user can be sure that he/she won’t miss the suitable job offer.
Portal offer to use a search system where each job seeker can find job ads by different criteria like location, category (field of activity), minimum salary and languages required.
By filling the information properly in the profile and CV itself user can be confident that in the positive case scenario employer might also contact him/her for a job interview.
CV-Online Latvia is leading online recruitment player in the Baltic States, operating in Latvia for 20+ years and providing multiple solutions for jobseekers and employers on national level and abroad.
CV-Online is the first online recruitment company in the Baltic States established in Estonia in 1996 and expanded to Latvia and Lithuania in 1999. During more than 20 years of operation CV-Online has become a stable market leader in the Baltic states not only by the sales turnover, but also as the forerunner of innovation in its segment. It has been achieved based on its well elaborated technology and strong marketing activities in combination with the service minded organisation culture. CV-Online Latvia today represents several business lines and brands.
Each day CV.lv job portal matches job seekers and employers, supporting both of them to make the right choices. At the moment there are: 1 600 000 monthly visits of job portals; 190 000 registered users; 77 000 followers on social media; 41 000 CVs on the database; 30 000 published job ads annually; 3 500 active business clients (employers); 400 recruitment projects per year; 21 year of experience in the field allows to provide the most quality and sustainable services.
IT Education Foundation created an online platform startdesign.lv – online course about design thinking and digital books for Design and technology that is created for students, teachers and other people who are interested in developing their skills in the field of technology and design.
Startdesign.lv is an online platform for everyone who is willing to learn about design thinking. This methodology is very popular and currently used not only in the information technology companies but also in other fields that require development of new products, ideas, approaches.
Startdesign.lv is developed by IT Education Foundation in cooperation with the Latvian mobile communications operator SIA Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT), innovations quarter VEFRESH and information technology company Accenture.
The platform startdesign.lv consists of two parts – an online course about design thinking (https://www.startdesign.lv/) and digital books about several directions of design such as environmental design, interior design, fashion design and design of digital products (https://www.startdesign.lv/dizains-un-tehnologijas). All the materials are created by field professionals and are available free of charge for everyone who is interested in design, technologies and design thinking. It is very important that content is in Latvian and is available for those who do not read in English or other foreign languages or feel more comfortable to learn in Latvian.
Online course about design thinking consists of descriptions, examples, videos etc. that introduce to the steps of design thinking process starting from research and problem definition to prototyping and testing. Digital books about design are also made from the perspective of design thinking so people can see how this methodology can be implemented in real life projects.
IT Education Foundation continues to work on new learning materials which can be included in the platform.
Therefore, these inspiring practices will work as a great base for MOTIV-ACTION learning modules and tools to use to increase the job opportunities for unemployed adults.
Check out more about these organisations and their practices:
The Social Integration State Agency https://www.siva.gov.lv/en
Riga Technical University https://www.rtu.lv/en
State Employment Agency https://www.nva.gov.lv/en
CV Online Latvia SIA https://cv.lv/en/
IT Education Foundation https://www.startdesign.lv/