Soft Steps Forward
The importance of soft skills in
obtaining work
EU Seminar SUCCES December 9th 2010 (Kortrijk, Belgium)
1
Proces of the workshop
• Guest Speaker: Jos Wouters
(Gebruikersoverleg Handicap, Chronische
Ziekte en Arbeid)
• Group exercise and evaluation: Tess Tebboth
(Community Connections) and Justien
Jonckheere (Mentor vzw)
• Link to SUCCES: Medway Council
2
A face has two sides !
or from The painted bird (Jerzy
Kosinski - 1965) till now
3
The painted bird ?
4
The painted bird
• What I remember from this book :
- it’s a very pessimistic, dark book
- it’s a story about a boy that gets no place
anywhere, because he differs from other
people.
- it’s like a bird that has not the same colors on
his feathers, and therefore he’s excluded from
everything (food, sheltering …)
5
The painted bird
• What is on this moment my interpretation of this book :
- I have other feathers but I have the right to participate like
anyone else
- the color of my feathers can be an advantage, I can add
something special in an organisation
- I have to compensate in another way to solve (some)
problems (what means that there are different ways to solve
the same problem)
- in interacting with other people, I can learn them that
differences will not cause problems but will make it possible
to have better (and more) solutions for the same problem
6
A little bit of (my) history
7
My own network :
• Very nice parents that has always said, “you
are a human being like everyone, so act like
everyone else”
• Very nice neighbourhood : I always had a
place there, the others gave me a place like
anyone else (because I acted like anyone else)
8
Education
• Regular or special education : my parents (in communication with myself)
have always chosen for regular schools. It is better to climb a mountain, to
practice life like all the other people. “Other people” have to do it the
same way.
• Technical skills or study to go to high school : there was a very big
discussion when I had to go to secundary school. “Isn’t it better to choose
a technical study ? When you choose a general direction, you have to
study high school and perhaps that isn’t possible for you?”: in fact in daily
life I have a disability when doing practical things … i don’t understand
how to do it  … I’ve studied economics-modern languages till age 18.
• High school : studies of informatics and then university, sociology of labour
markets and organisations, … without big problems, I had found my “core
business” ! (high school was a very nice time … study hard, work hard but
being of person like all the others !)
9
From school to work ?
• Big problems in the transition from university to
work
• We had an economic crisis that time : 1981!
• Employers : fear to recruit me, … a disabled person,
two diplomas in contrast with problems in
communication … “You are too intelligent” … (The
painted bird !)
• Three years of unemployment (a lot of time to do the
things I wanted to do but no money to spend!)
10
From history to the reality of today
11
Working now ?
• Do I tell about my disability or not ? Not a problem for me : when I start
speaking my disability is there (exception : hidden disabilities or some
chronic illness)
• What can I do in my job inspite of my disability, example : working in a
hospital with patients, later on I’ve worked in housing of persons with
intellectual disabilities … development of people isn’t a straight line !
• Expectations : others have high expectations (he has come so far, then
“the sky is the limit” for him, we give him difficult things), or low
expectations (he is disabled, we won’t ask him for difficult tasks, which (in
my case) means much contact with others people. The reality is : we are
men and women like others, but some tasks are impossible, … (in my case
in contact with other people, when it is a difficult situation, always go with
two persons, but don’t exclude me from that contact)
• Wage : Because I am disabled, my productivity is low, result : low wage …
inspite of several studies, and a lot of experience
12
Mechanism
• Imaging of disabled people in a specific way (“they
can’t participate in society”) and stereotyping
• Exclusion : the feeling I haven’t a place anywhere.
Important : My “own” attitude plays also a role in
the problem of exclusion (try to be invisible)
• In Flanders : a strong special circuit of schools and
sheltered companies, with leads to
underdevelopment / inaccessibility of regular
activities in the regular circuit
13
What can we do ?
• Disabled people want to participate like all other
people : accessibility of society in all domains
• In communication,“nothing about us, without us”
• Changing of the image : there is no one that reaches all
(100 %), and there is no one that reaches nothing (0 %),
changing that is a responsibility for all members of society
(included disabled persons)
• Development of measures to support people
• Change of the attitude of disabled people (we also
can have a role in society)
14
In one sentence …
From helping people
to supporting them
15
Contact
Jos Wouters
Koningsstraat 136
1000 Brussel
032498431041
16
Group exercise
Picture-puzzles with profiles on the back
Find the pieces that match yours to complete the puzzle
17
Group evaluation
The hot-air balloon: uplifting approaches
0. What are the barriers that keep the beneficiary from a durable employment?
>> Write this around the balloon
1. Which soft skills should the beneficiary gain to take steps to durable employment.
Which soft skills can lift him/her up to the next level?
>> Write this in the balloon
2. Where would you go with the beneficiary, which direction/approach would you
take?
>> Write this on the steering device
3. What are the skills and talents that the beneficiary already has? What does he/she
already carry with him/her?
>> Write this in the basket
4. What aspects would you throw out? What would you NOT focus on during the
guidance?
>> Write this in the air under the basket
18
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
My name is Chloe, I am 32 years old.
I worked as an Account Executive, for five years before I was made
redundant.
I have a Masters degree in Business Management and pride myself in my
academic excellence.
Due to the length of time I have been out of the workplace, employers
are telling me I no longer have relevant work experience. I am reluctantly
applying for roles of a slightly lower grade. I am being rejected because
employers fear I will not stay in the role due to my level of seniority.
There is lots of money available for people to re-train on a lower
educational level. There is no funding for people like me.
Employment Centres have no relevance to me – they do not advertise
executive jobs and do not understand my background, issues or needs.
My employment adviser has tried to help me with my CV and job
applications. I do not need help I am extremely capable, I just need
someone to give me a job.
My partner is a law student and we have three children - a three year old
daughter with autism and one year old twin boys.
We have had to move into rented accommodation since I lost my job.
Our house is smaller and further out of town.
My friends have since found work. I am unable to participate in our
social calendar because I do not have the same levels of expendable
income.
I have to use public transport as my partner now uses our car for getting
to University.
I refuse to look at basic wage jobs. I have worked hard to get to the
position I reached. Why should I start all over again, doing a minimum
wage job that will bring me the same income as I get now?
19
My name is John, I am 48 years old
I am married with Coleen for 28 years, she works part-time in a factory.
My daughter is 25 years of age, she still lives at home. I have a son of 27,
he moved out with his girlfriend.
After school I did some temporary jobs and after that I worked for a
contractor for over 25 years.
I did not finish high school and have no other degrees or certificates.
I am unemployed for 3 years.
Working in outdoor-construction is out of the question, I have a back
injury.
I will never find a job again, nobody wants me.
I went to every enterprise in the neighbourhood to introduce myself for
the job of handyman but did not get any positive answers.
Cooking for friends and family is one of the things I like the most.
My kids say I am to friendly and polite, I would help everyone, even if
this means that I don’t have any time left for myself.
Now that I am unemployed, I spend most of my time doing small chores
for friends, family and neighbours.
In the time I am home, I have build an outhouse for my tools, I painted
the kitchen, I repaired all small defects in the house and I installed a new
bathroom.
I enjoy creating things with my hands and helping people out. I hate the
feeling of being useless.
I feel I am to old to learn something new, it’s to late to start a training.
20
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
My name is Peter and I am 49 years old.
I live on my own.
I used to be in the military for 20 years but when I
left I found it difficult to get a job. At last I got a
driving job, driving a van.
The company I drove for did not have insurance on
the van and when I got stopped by the Police I was
given 6 points on my licence. I have not been able
to get driving work since.
I have been out of work for nearly 2 and a half
years.
I have put on a lot of weight as I am not very active
and this has resulted in back problems.
I don’t get out very much.
I received help for an organisation who paid for me
to take a Portable Appliance Testing course a year
ago but I have not been able to find work since.
21
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
My name is Sarah, I am 19 years old.
I am a single mom of 2 sons, Seth (1,5 years old) and
Aaron (6 months old).
Since I got pregnant during high school, I dropped out
and didn’t graduate.
I get alimony for my children, but it doesn’t cover my
expenses for them.
I don’t have a permanent employment, but
sometimes I do temporary jobs, mostly as cleaning
lady.
For child care I can rely on my parents, they are very
helpful.
I feel guilty that my sons don’t have any luxury, I don’t
have the means to do fun things with them.
When I am looking for a job, it has to be close to my
home, because I have to get there by bus.
I try to have a clean, nice and cosy home, but it isn’t
easy with a small income.
I am worried about the future, I don’t have any
savings. I am in debt with several credit companies.
What if something happens to me or one of my
children?
22
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
My name is Steven, I am 28 years old.
10 years ago, I graduated as a carpenter. I was very creative
and good with my hands, so I got a job in no time.
After working for the same boss for 5 years, I got bored. I
got some problems with my employer and with my
parents. I started drinking and doing drugs in the weekend
to escape my problems.
My parents do not want to have anything to do with me.
They think I am a quitter.
I currently lost my job because of my problems with my
employer and I lost my place to live because I couldn’t pay
the rent.
For now, I am living in a shelter, where I also get guidance
for my addictions to intoxicants.
Once I am sober and healthy, I want to move to a place of
my own, but I don’t have any money to finance it.
I want to look for a job, but which address should I give to
an employer? I can’t tell anyone I am living in a homeless
shelter.
I still want to work with my hands, I am totally capable of
working as a carpenter again.
23
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
My name is Karima, I am 38 years old.
I moved from my country Iran 8 years ago. In this 8 years, I
never worked, but I did learn the language and now I can
understand, speak, write and read it.
In Iran, I was a respected woman. I had my own pharmacy
and I worked together with my husband.
Because my husband and I couldn’t live in the strict
conditions of the leader of Iran and we did not want to
raise our children in a dangerous environment, we moved
here to live with family.
Since I am here, I took care of my household, my children
and the children of my family that also live here.
My husband works as a landscaper. He loves his job and
has a good boss. It’s a totally different job than a
pharmacist, but he loves the outdoors and working with
his hands.
I want to work, not because we need the money, but
because I want to feel useful.
I already responded to job openings for cleaning lady, in
childcare, in factories, … but I am told that I don’t have
any relevant experience. I think it’s because I am from a
foreign country and I have a strong will, nobody can push
me over. I am not the suppressed Muslim-wife that
everybody expects me to be.
I am willing to learn something entirely new, if an
employer gave me the chance to prove that I am a hard
worker and a loyal employee.
24
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
My name is Helen, I am 35 years old.
I live with my parents and help to care for my mother, who
has alzheimers.
I help out around the house a lot. I do the shopping each
week and always make sure the house is clean and tidy.
When I was at school, I was diagnosed as having a learning
difficulty. It took me a bit more time to learn things than the
other children, but I was always very hardworking and tried
to keep up.
None of the teachers ever gave me much extra help though,
and as a result I don’t read and write very well.
I haven’t ever worked although I would love to have a job. I
wouldn’t really mind what I did, as long as I knew I was
capable.
I have been volunteering for the past 5 years in a charity
shop. I help to sort out the items that come in to the shop to
be sold. Sometimes, I operate the till. I really enjoy being at
the shop, and especially chatting to the customers and the
other volunteers.
My parents never really encouraged me to get a job. They
didn’t really want me to start volunteering although they
have got used to it now. My dad says that no-one would ever
pay me to do a job because I’m too slow. He’s probably right.
I don’t go out very much and sometimes feel lonely. I used to
have a good friend who I’d go to the cinema and other places
with. She moved away though and since then, I’ve found it
hard to meet other people.
25
Link to SUCCES
• Round up of the general themes that emerge from
the workshop
• How does this relate to SUCCES?
• General way in which we approach working with
clients
26
Thank you for your attention
Merci de votre attention
Bedankt voor uw aandacht
27