Approximately 10 participants. Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden represented.
Facilitators: Gisle Hellsten UiO and Anna Hansson BI Careers Service.
We started the open space with a discussion concerning what kind of competencies we feel that we need to have to work in careers services, or what competencies that needs to be updated.
Further, we continued with a brief sharing session about what kind of measures we take to stay updated on these competencies. This is a theme that can be further investigated, where we ran out of time. We mentioned the use of the LinkedIn group for NCNC as a relevant arena for sharing, as we all felt the need for more input.
Below, I have tried to group each competence with the measures mentioned, though I can’t recall exactly which institution that shared what.
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Common platform – what is it that we should know or should be able to do?
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How do I know that I update myself on the “right things” – there is so much information out there, how do I know that I put focus on what is most important? o Sites to share with students – it is difficult to stay updated on everything. Make sure you cooperate with the library, they often have a great overview and access to diverse company databases. Other tips to be shared at LinkedIn?
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Company needs – the real life – what really happens out there. What demands are there, and what will our students really meet? o Visit and/or lunch with a (partnership) company 2 times/week. The insights gained are shared with the rest of the department at a common lunch each Friday. o Job shadowing – follow a recruiter or other relevant positions for a day or two, or at a specific recruitment arrangement. Someone had also done this at another career center abroad.
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Counselling competencies o “Ethics corner” – counselling forum once a month where it is possible to discuss or get input upon ethical issues experienced in counselling sessions. For instance, when you apply for a position, when should you tell the recruiter about your MS disease? o
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Internal political life at the university or institution – to get our messages through internally, or to get a “go” for new concepts, it’s important that we are “street smart”, and both know who to contact, but also how to do it. What language to use with whom.
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Meet other industries – we often tend to update upon “trends in worklife” etc, but other industries are also important, go to other kind of conferences etc.

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Competence about the study programmes at the university / institution – new programmes
“pop up”, we need to stay updated. What kind of subjects does a MSc in XX have in their portfolio – what is the main purpose of the programme?
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Update on issues /subjects that motivates you – we often do kind of the same things year after year, and it is important to remember those things that really motivates you. What does it take to keep you motivated?
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Pedagogical methods in teaching – to stay relevant and attractive o Take part in the learning activities aimed for the lecturers, to keep them updated, especially if there is a “learning lab” present at your institution
Other “best practices”:
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Meeting once a week, to share what you have learned each week.
Culture to celebrate success – save all e-mails with great feedback, put them in a folder marked
“a good mail for a bad day”. To use when needed…