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Case studies - back to basics: what sort of LMI do clients find useful?
What sort of LMI may help individuals to make effective and informed decisions about their careers?
One of the reasons individuals seek out career guidance is because they want help in navigating an increasingly complex labour market. Practitioners are often seen as ‘experts’ who will have access to knowledge and networks that can help make sense of the maze of opportunities. Labour Market Information is seen as of central importance, because applied to an individual’s circumstances it can help lead to an informed and rational decision. Of course, not all our decisions are rational, and many factors will influence whether or not an individual chooses to act on information or advice ... but that’s another story!
At the most basic level, the following scenarios give some examples of how LMI might have the potential to help a person make a better decision than would be possible without reference to it!
Why might Robin, Jo, Li, Russell and Angelina bother with LMI?
The scenarios:
Case studies:
- Robin (Part 1 - Robin's Questions)
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Robin is at secondary school and is considering a career in Nursing. He is wondering if there will be opportunities for Nurses in his area when he finishes University.
Robin might want to find out about
Job Descriptions and Job and Skills Requirements for Nurses to make sure this is an occupation that he is really interested in and that he has the skills to do well.
Employment Prospects to determine if the employment potential is good for nurses in his local area.
Employers who have hired nurses in the past. He may want to set up an informational interview with one of these employers to learn more about the occupation and to find out about their future hiring needs.
What all this LMI means for him!
The funny thing about having information, is that often this raises more questions than it answers. The ‘so-what’ factor! Robin will probably want to talk to someone. He may still have questions, and who knows, he might end up coming to you for further assistance! What topics and issues will you be prepared to discuss, and what other resources might you use.
- Robin (Part 2 - web resources)
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Robin could use these web-based resources:
Job Descriptions and Job and Skills Requirements
For job descriptions he could try the 'Jobs4U section' of the Connexions website, for example the descriptor for 'adult nurse' includes case studies, salaries information, entry routes and some skills information.
He might also like to look at the NHS careers website and search for information about nursing and midwifery there
Employment Prospects
This could be much harder for Robin without assistance - the picture is quite complex. If he is confident and pro-active, he might try contacting local course providers to find out what the destinations were for graduating students and use professional websites to find out what the future prospects look like for nurses
What all this LMI means for him:
Some ideas might include... More detailed and complex job descriptions from the NHS careers website, or prospects website eg adult nurse.
Quality information on future trends in health careers (see the NGRF website on health sector information
Consideration of the equal opportunities dimension of what remains quite a gender-segregated occupation... have a look at the NGRF future trends website on equal opportunities and health. You may also help Robin make sense of resources such as those within the prospect website on the health sector.
- Jo
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Jo is an Electronic Engineering Technician who is having difficulty finding employment in her local area. She has already checked out the local job centre and local newspapers to determine if there are any current job vacancies posted for Electronic Engineering Technicians. Although Jo would like stay in the local area, she is willing to travel to find work.
Jo might want LMI to help her:
- Find out which employers have hired Electronic Engineering Technicians in the past in her local community. This way Jo can make sure she has exhausted the opportunities in the local area. If she decides that it is time to expand the area for her job search, she might want to put together a list of potential employers in the area that she is willing to re-locate to
- Find out where Electronic Engineering Technicians are in demand, and what the current wage rate for Electronic Engineering Technicians is in the area she is considering relocating to.
- Think about whether her skills are really up to date – or does she need some top up training?
What all this LMI means for her!
And of course, armed with all of this, arises the ‘so-what’ factor! Jo will probably want to talk to someone. She may still have questions, and who knows, she might end up coming to you for further assistance! What topics and issues will you be prepared to discuss, and what other resources might you use. Will the focus be on LMI, or will it be about marketing herself, transferable skills, identifying the hidden job market, decision making? What frameworks for practice do you adopt in your work?
- Li
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Li is a carpenter, and is looking for employment. She has been checking the local newspapers, reviewing various job posting Web sites and talking to family and friends but has not found a suitable job. She has heard about a major construction project starting in the area and would like to know more information.
Li might want LMI to help her:
- Identify any major activities or projects that are planned in the area. If Li finds information on a project, she can contact the particular company involved.
- Compile a list of potential employers who have hired carpenters in the past. She can then contact these employers directly to discuss possible job opportunities.
- Consider if self-employment might be a realistic option.
What all this LMI means for her!
And of course, armed with all of this, arises the ‘so-what’ factor! Li will probably want to talk to someone. She may still have questions, and who knows, she might end up coming to you for further assistance! What topics and issues will you be prepared to discuss, and what other resources might you use. Will the focus be on LMI, or will it be about marketing herself, speculative applications, how to identify the hidden job market, support for starting your own business? Could she benefit from any initiatives aimed at encouraging more women to enter and stay in the construction industry? What frameworks for practice do you adopt in your work?
- Russell
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Russell is an employer looking to establish a business in the area. He is looking for current wage rates, a list of similar employers located in the area and some general information on the local economy.
Russell needs LMI to help him
- Get an idea of the current wages for the specific occupations that he would employ.
- Gain an appreciation of the existing competition in the area.
- Determine the employment potential for the occupations that he would employ. A surplus of workers could mean that Russell would have a large number of workers to choose from.
Russell may well have questions or concerns. He can contact the appropriate sector skills council, professional association or relevant local authority for the destination business for more detailed information and support. He may even contact you for advice on employment legislation or how to advertise for, select and train staff. Are you equipped to help? Do you have networks with the wider base of support a prospective employer to the region may be interested in.
- Angelina
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Angelina is a pharmacist and wants to emigrate to Canada, but is not sure what information she needs or where to start her research.
Angelina needs LMI to help her:
- Review the Job Descriptions and Job and Skill Requirements for a Pharmacist. She must read the main duties and employment requirements for the position very carefully. By reviewing this information she can make sure that the description matches the job that she does in the country where she is currently living.
- Of course, job titles can be misleading and the name given to a particular occupation in one country may be very different in another country.
- A pharmacist coming to Canada must have his / her credentials (education and training) assessed before being allowed to work in the occupation. More detailed information on various organizations to contact to have foreign credentials recognized in Canada can be found on the Work Destinations Web site for Canada
- Angelina can also find out where Pharmacists are in demand by using the Employment Prospects section of the Service Canada website
- Use the Wages & Salaries section of the Service Canada website to see the current wage rate for Pharmacists is in the various areas she is considering relocating to
But Angelina may well have questions or concerns. Emigration is a huge deal! There are many other factors to consider, the factual information may help, but the decision is likely to pivot on consideration of other subjective factors. Family and friends links and attitudes, education and health care provision in the destination country, housing, travel, to name but a few! If she comes to you are you equipped to help, what other sources of support are you aware of, what issues might you expect to be explored? How hot are you on the possibilities for employment mobility in an increasingly global labour market?
Back to basics - learning from case studies.
What do you make of Robin, Jo, Li Russell and Angelina's LMI requirements? Add your own ideas, reflections, comments and anecdotes by commenting on this post.
How much are you using LMI with clients in your work? What sort of LMI is most useful and how do you bring it into a guidance context?
NB - don't forget to also look at the related case studies under 'frameworks for practice'. These consider how practitioners use LMI will vary, according to their conscious or unconscious principles for practice.
Last cached: 2008-05-06 02:20 PM