Examples, case studies^8 , exercises
The caller is a young man who has found out that his position is about to be affected by a
cutback. The young man is worried because he does not seem to be able to keep a job for
long.
The counsellor asks him about his marital status and his situation at home; she finds out
that he is “the head of a family”, has two small children, rents his apartment and has
loaned money for purchasing durables, such as home appliances.
The objective situation is that the company must give up the IT assistant position the
client had earned a year before. The certificate obtained by taking specialty training and
the professional certificate from the local technical high school had ensured this position,
but there are no guarantees for him to be kept in the field.
The counsellor wants to know what skills the young man has and what he likes to do
outside his profession. The client mentions electronic repairs, and music industry as his
hobbies, from which he has gotten satisfaction since adolescence.
Emotionally, the young man blames himself for the insecurity of his family, he is afraid
of his wife silent contempt for his failing to provide for them. He had hoped for more
from his profession, he knows how fragile the labour market is in their town, but had
considered that punctuality at work would recommend him for long-term employment or
even promotion.
On the counsellor asking him about his initiatives and contacts made at work, the young
man realizes he has nothing, instead he has always obeyed to the existing protocols. The
young man is aware of some talent in fields where innovation, unusual ideas,
improvement suggestions are appreciated, features that bring astounding progress in
electronics and music. It is then proposed that the young man turn from the IT sector to
service for electronics and/or household appliances, or local disk jockey. Asked what
benefits he expects from a next job, the young man says he expects similar social prestige
and some financial stability. That ruled out the DJ idea...
The counsellor recommends that in the next two weeks (along with his notice) he let
people know (friends, former school mates) he is comfortable with that he is actively
looking for a job. At the same time, he should carefully study the labour market
(newspapers or websites he knows as an IT professional) and send his CV to envisaged
employers. During this period, by telephone or in face-to-face appointment the client and
the counsellor will be able to discuss the structuring of a letter of intent and how the
young man should conduct himself in an interview, once he retains advantageous offers.
(^8) From the seminar “Professional counselling”, 16-19 March 2004, Buşteni, for vocational counsellors and
mediators in the pilot network ADO SAH ROM.