SKILLS OVER MEMORY - Proposal 2 – Luxembourg

Subject : How to make employers understand what young people can offer in spite of little work experience,
what could be new approaches to recruitment especially suitable for a young audience…
SKILLS OVER MEMORY - Proposal 2 – Luxembourg
(Pitt Sietzen, Helio Fortes, Ruben Delgado, Stany Dos Reis)
What is the idea?
Twice a year, a ”Job Jam” will take place in your city. During that day, employers will have a chance to visit different Open Youth Spots in the city. In these spots
the young people are placed in a context where they are used to and where they can behave naturally. During this event people will have the opportunity to
present the whole range of their competences and skills. (e.g. painting in a Skate Park if you have potential employers on the event from an advertising agency,
discussion forums where you can look for a good sales manager, music studio…). During these events the young people will also be given the opportunity to
present themselves, to talk and exchange ideas in more natural way than during the job interview.
How will it work?
The event is meant to be the opposite of a traditional Job Fair. It will not be the young people that will go to look for employers but the employers will be
encouraged to invest one day in the quest for new candidate. By this way they can show a part of their personality that cannot be shown in a traditional CV. This
process will take place in the natural environment of the candidate. The employers will receive a map (or an app) with all the Open Youth Spots where young
people will wait for them.
Why should we do it?
Fact is that employers are most of the time looking for candidates with the best degree. Sometimes, this degree only shows that the candidate has been very
assiduous or just has a good memory. It does often not show the real potential of the young person and it excludes those who don’t have the good points but who
might have the good skills. That’s why we think we need to change the artificial context of recruitment from standard processes (CV plus interviews, Job Fairs) to
create an environment where employers can meet young persons in their daily, non- artificial conditions. That will allow them to discover the real competences
of young people - in action.