The Work Zone
Download the leaflet by clicking on the link below The Work Zone
Part One - What is the Work Zone?
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Whether you are starting out, unemployed, returning to work after a prolonged absence, moving on or searching for a new direction, the Work Zone can help with advice, stimulating thought and hard fact.
Full time careers advisers are on hand to offer guidance on a number of recruitment, career progression and learning matters. There is a modern learning area equipped with the latest information and communications technology so you can access information, use self-directed profiling programmes and IT skills improvement courses. Every effort is made by the staff to make services as accessible as possible. Careers advice and our facilities are available free of charge.
Whatever your employment circumstances, the Work Zone can help in several ways. If you are not exactly sure of your next move, an informal chat with one of the advisers may clarify your thoughts. You can express your ideas and concerns in confidence, discuss your options and in return receive objective advice.
Unemployment Registration
If you are out of work you should visit the Work Zone as soon as possible, where you will be registered as unemployed. An adviser will explain your rights and entitlements under the Social Security scheme.
Even though you are out of work you are still liable to pay Social Security contributions. However you may qualify to have your Social Security contributions credited for you while you look for work. Unemployment credits take the place of contributions. The Adviser will inform you if you qualify and how the system works.
Please note: If you are in receipt of a Short Term Incapacity Allowance, because of illness or injury, you are not permitted to work as this allowance is a replacement of earnings.
However, if you are awarded a Long Term Incapacity Allowance you may undertake work as this is a compensation for a loss of faculty.
For further information please see the leaflet entitled Incapacity Benefit
Part Two - Getting Into Work
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Careers Advice
The Work Zone will arrange a meeting for you with a careers adviser. This will help to identify your development needs and provide information on entry routes into possible work opportunities.
One of the first steps towards applying for a job is identifying your skills. The adviser will assist you in matching these to current vacancies.
Because employment is a two-way fit between you and your potential employer, the advisers will encourage you to think about what you require from the position and how closely you match the job criteria. They will also give you some hints on what to expect during an interview and how to conduct yourself when you are there. Further information is available to give more detail.
Writing Skills
At least 80% of job applications require a Curriculum Vitae, but few people relish the prospect of writing one. The Work Zone has CV templates available as well as staff to offer assistance. Help can also be given on writing covering letters to accompany your CV. These could be letters that answer a job advert or they may be speculative letters - after all, as many as 75% of jobs are never advertised.
Career Matching
There are several self-directed computer packages that can assist in finding possible career matches. The programmes allow you to discover what sort of job would suit you, or they can be used to explore your interests, which may be useful if you have an idea of the type of work you would like to do.
Current Vacancies
Vacancies are continually updated and displayed in the Work Zone and on our website www.jobsinjersey.gov.je
Part Three - Change of Career Direction
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Perhaps you have realised that the career path you chose many years ago at school or college does not fit the person you are today.
Maybe you are ready to face a new challenge or you want to increase your earning potential.
Careers Advice
The careers advisers can help to point you in the right direction, whether it is about how to get your feet on the next rung of the ladder or how to re-evaluate your current position in order to make a complete change.
A careers adviser is trained in giving independent advice and talking around the issues objectively. Very often it helps to have a fresh pair of ears to act as a sounding board for thoughts. Should more definite plans develop, the adviser will be able to provide information on suggested career routes.
Career Matching
There are specific interactive computer packages available to help recognise or define possible career direction. ‘Adult Directions’ is a computer programme to help all ages and academic abilities with career planning. Another software package that helps with career planning is ‘Career Builder’. After asking questions to assess your interests, skills, work values, personality and learning styles, it provides options for managing change, setting goals, action and personal development planning. Finally, there is an Occupations Database with general information on over 700 careers.
Psychometric Testing
For those wanting to make a change of career, psychometric testing can provide some guidance. Careers advisers have been through a training programme and are registered providers of one of the most widely used ability tests, the Morrisby Profile. This involves taking a series of individual tests which do not require any preparation.
Combined, the tests give objective information that helps to identify the most appropriate career areas for the individual. For example, good verbal ability tends to be associated with people-orientated occupations and management, while strong perceptual ability indicates a potential in scientific and engineering areas.
In the UK - where hundreds of thousands of people have used the tool to guide them into successful careers - 85% of clients improved the view of their own ability after completing the test, and 92% of them thought the career suggestions were helpful. (Please note: there may be a charge for this service)
Career Development Loan
The Jersey Career Development Loan recognises that the world of work is changing, that people can no longer be assured of a job for life and that many will change career more than once during their working lives. The interest-free loan (which is subject to bank approval) has been developed to help people who want to improve their current job prospects or change direction completely through vocational education or training. Applicants can borrow between £300 and £8,000 to cover up to 80% of the course fees, plus the full cost of books, materials and other related expenses. Loans can be used to cover living expenses if the course is full-time. No repayments need to be made during the period of training/study or for up to one month after starting work.
Part Four - Access to Learning
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Access to learning within the Work Zone has been developed to assist and support individuals in improving their skills for the workplace. So if you want to improve your computer skills before applying for a new job, use the Internet for online training, or learn about development opportunities your adviser will recommend the appropriate training.
Building on existing skills and learning new ones
Your adviser will assist and direct you in putting together an action plan to identify which skills you may wish to develop.
Learning to type programmes are designed for people who wish to learn, improve or maintain their keyboard skills. Over the course, clients may work at their own pace through the interactive programme with personalised instruction, skill-building games and exercises.
Taking a course in IT skills is a good way to get into the world of computer literacy or simply to boost your confidence on the PC. The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) consists of seven modules covering core areas of IT. Now the benchmark for basic computer literacy, the standard is increasingly proving its worth as the broad demand for computer and keyboard skills in the workplace continues to rise.
Internet access is made available for careers information and links to online training. The lending library includes a variety of texts on employment subjects such as IT, occupations and training.
Part Five - Workwise
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Workwise is part of the Work Zone at Social Security. The aim of Workwise is to help people who have a special employment need into suitable employment.
If necessary, job coaches will work with you and may even start your new job with you, providing support as you learn your new role
With your job coach, you will agree an action plan that helps you to recognise your current strengths and employment potential, as well as greater direction in your job seeking.
You will be advised on the most suitable employment options and helped with the application process.
If appropriate, a variety of training courses are available to assist you into employment. These include basic food hygiene, confidence building, computer courses and care training. There is also a resource area in the Work Zone with access to a library and computers, offering the opportunity to improve or update your skills.
The level of support will be agreed between the coach and the customer. Your job coach or job coach assistant will remain a point of contact for you and your employer.
If you are already employed but are having some difficulty with your present job, you or your employer might consider speaking to a member of the Workwise team on 447387.
For more information please see the leaflet entitled Workwise
Part Six - Further Information
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This leaflet gives general information and does not try to give full details on any particular matter. It cannot be treated as a statement of the Law.
Please contact us if you have any questions or suggestions about the information contained in this leaflet.
Our staff are here to help you, please telephone us on 445505 or call into our office.
If you become unemployed you may wish to visit our website www.jobsinjersey.gov.je and search for current vacancies online.
Please note: calls to the Department may be monitored for training purposes.
Member Organisations
AFSE
The Association for Supported Employment is the membership organisation for over 200 agencies and many thousands of staff working in supported employment agencies in the UK. A registered charity, the association endorses and promotes quality standards in the delivery of supported employment; encourages the setting up of new supported employment services; and promotes the training of supported employment personnel throughout the United Kingdom.
The Guidance Council
The Guidance Council is the national advisory body for the careers and educational guidance sector. It is also the representative body for all organisations in the UK concerned with information, advice and guidance about learning and work for adults and young people.
JEND
The Jersey Employers’ Network on Disability or JEND promotes opportunities that assist employers in the recruitment, retention and development of disabled people. In Jersey there are thousands of people who have some form of disability so providing services and facilities for disabled people makes good business sense. Further information is available on 447377.
MIND
Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales and works for a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.
Other leaflets that may be of interest
Employment Services
Leaflets on the range of employment services are available from the Department.
Our staff will be delighted to assist you. If you have any queries please telephone 280440.
Health and Safety
Leaflets on health and safety matters are available from the Health and Safety Inspectorate - telephone 280475.
Large print versions of the leaflets listed above can be provided. Please call us on 445505 and we will be happy to send them to you.
