A positive psychology perspective on an intervention to enhance the employability of new graduates

Peet RoosWerner de Klerk

ECPP 2014

STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION

• Problem

• Purpose

• Intervention

• Method

• Findings & Discussion

• Conclusions

PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY

Lack of ability to describe and prove potential for

employment

PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Optimal FunctioningStrengths Flourishing

INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

EmployabilityCompetenceRecruitment

INTERVENTION

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Meaning

Self-defining activities

Positive emotions

COMEPETENCE

Cognitive*

Psycho-motor*

Affective*

Competence-based CV writingDefine and describe competence

in CV by describing:

* Bloom, et al. (1971)

INTERVENTION

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Meaning

Self-defining activities

Positive emotions

COMEPETENCE

Cognitive*

Knowledge#

Psycho-motor*

Practice#

Affective*

Commitment#

Competence-based CV writingDefine and describe competence

in CV by describing:

* Bloom, et al. (1971) # Compton (2005)

JOBYOU

OFFER NEED

COMPETENCE

Attitude/Personality

Skills

Knowledge (Qual./Courses)

(Verbs/Actions)

(Adjectives)

Job Ad.Job

Descr.

Web Site

Brochures

Business Plan

Etc.Requirements

ExpectationsRECRUITER/EMPLOYER

CV TEMPLATE

THE INTERVENTION

• Create context: Clear boundaries of the discussion

• Customized CV template - New graduates' first job

• Specific to general with diverse possibilities

• Translate expectations of recruiter/employer

• Learning strategies: Direct instructions

Experiential learning

Observations of other examples

THE INTERVENTION (Continued)

• Examples from the world of graduates

• Translate student experiences to employment competence

• Learn to take a meta-position to reflect on experiences that could be applied to the work context

CONTEXT OF RESEARCH

• Faculty of Engineering

North-West University, South Africa

• Need for CV-writing and interviewing skills

• 250 - 2nd Year, B Eng. Students

• 23 Feb 2012

• 1 Hour CV-writing; 1 Hour Interviewing

• Course evaluation vorms

• Voluntary and anonymous

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Qualitative data

• 106 graduate students

• Open-ended, inductively formulated

questions (after the intervention)

• Self-reported reflections were

analysed thematically

FINDINGS

Positive gains on:

Cognitive level

Practical skill level

Emotive level

Also :

Motivation

Self Assessment

FINDINGS: COGNITIVE LEVEL

“I now have a better understanding of what a CV should look like”

“I am now more aware of what a CV should look like”

“I reflect on how I really am and how to show other people that”

“I see that this knowledge will definitely help me in creating a good CV”

FINDINGS: PRACTICAL SKILLS

“With the gathered knowledge I am able to compile a more professional and goal orientated CV”

“… equipped to write my own CV”

“I’ve learned a great deal of new skills in writing a CV”

FINDINGS: EMOTIVE LEVEL

“Enthusiastic about creating a CV and making it creative to reach my full potential”

“Confident in writing a proper CV”

“Relaxed because I am now more informed”

“… adds confidence and helps calm the nerves”

“I am encouraged to asses the qualityof my current CV”

FINDINGS: MOTIVATION

“… can take initiative in my current CV”

“… achieve the best I can to reach my goals”

“Dream big, use every opportunity and get experience”

FINDINGS: SELF ASSESSMENT

“I need to improve my communication skills”

“I need to learn to use the correct language”

“It motivated me to prepare myself for”

“It bettered me as a person”

“I now know where my knowledge is not satisfactory”

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Understanding and awareness;

Able to apply new skill;

Enthusiastic, creative,

confident and relaxed.

Found meaning in and comprehended the competences they possess;

Can describe self-defining activities through personal expressiveness;

Experienced positive emotions about their imminent participation in the employment process.

DISCUSION (Continued)

The employability of new graduates can be enhanced by an intervention that includes positive psychology constructs like flourishing, strengths and optimal functioning.

The intervention creates awareness of how to present work-related competence holistically and how to translate their potential to recruiters during recruitment.

DISCUSION (Continued)

The intervention facilitates self-regulated learning: Awareness Self-reflection Ability to assess CV and adjust it to achieve

goals

The intervention facilitates internal motivation

The intervention has transformative potential and can facilitate social change

RECOMMENDATIONS

Further research needed on

Opinions of:

Graduate recruiters/EmployersPeers (other career consultants)

The presenter is doing that in current PhD studyAnd will describe the development of the intervention

THANK YOU!!

CONCLUSION