It's true, a lot of information is available on opportunity provider websites, but that's only a partial picture, a personal contact might also get you...

Insider information

If you are serious about getting 'insider information' about what is going on in the labour market then a great way to do this is to meet with employers and other opportunity providers in person. Although many larger companies and organisations will have comprehensive websites these often have a focus on marketing and understandably will focus on the positives of their particular opportunity. Talking to an opportunity provider allows you to ask questions that might not be covered on websites, and to get a local perspective. You can also explore to what extent any general guidelines they give might be flexible.

New opportunities for your service users

If you are smart, through building a personal relationship with organisations, you might even be able to negotiate new opportunities such as work experience placements or mentoring schemes for your clients.

Greater credibility amongst your service users

If you are trying to advise people about the state of the labour market your perspective will be much more credible if you have recent employer contact. Your clients can probably look at a website for themselves, but if you can give them a perspective based on a recent visit that is much more powerful. Did the reality match the rhetoric of the website, did you manage to find out if their apparently rigid selection requirements might be flexible for e.g. a mature entrant?

A higher profile for your own organisation

Any visit should be a two-way process. You will have information you want to find out, but you and your organisation will have something to offer too. Your local opportunity provider might be delighted to find out about services you can offer whether that is advertising their vacancies or giving advice on current qualifications.

An opportunity to identify and possibly challenge bad practice

Hopefully there wont be too much of this going on, but if there is, your visit asking about e.g. the existence of an up to date equal opportunities policy might just help raise awareness of the importance legally and morally of attending to issues of social justice

A renewed enthusiasm for what you do!

Don't knock it! A day out and about can remind you what your job is all about, you will meet new people, learn new things and explore new work places. This can re-energise you and will certainly make you more confident in your role!

Confidence in working with opportunity providers!

Many jobs related to career guidance will bring you into contact with opportunity providers including employers, there are plenty of job descriptions that will ask for evidence of recent employer work, so keep yourself professionally up to date and skilled and get out there.

Next: How can I improve my techniques?

Click here for the next section, "I visit plenty of opportunity providers already, but how do I know if I'm conducting those visits effectively, and how can I improve my techniques?"