Job Fair
An activity of our computer project is aimed at improving the employment opportunities of disabled persons in the job market. At the end of 2006, we launched a Job Fair portal (at
www.kontobariery.cz/burzaprace), with the obvious aim to offer a forum to companies and individuals where the imaginary curves of offer and demand in the job market may meet. The goal is to improve the opportunities for disabled persons in the job market.
The first months of operation of our portal was ample proof that such a step made sense. Visitors’ counts exceeded all our expectations. We were also successful in gaining major partners for our project. We managed to persuade LMC (or rather, their parent server www.prace.cz) to collaborate with us. The company is the market leader in job placement activities and their commitment to our portal makes a huge difference.
Our new portal hosts an ever-growing database of job opportunities. Job-seeking individuals may also have new job offers sent to them via e-mail, or create their CV. The project is connected with the Barriers Account and thus draws upon the experiences gained by the latter and enjoys the increased respectability lend by the latter. If an applicant does not meet the exact requirements of a firm or the qualification criteria for a given job, he or she may sign up for tailor-made retraining under the 4G University project mentioned above.
The employment opportunities on our Job Fair portal are primarily from the field of information technology. They are categorized by professions, i.e. programming, administrative work (involving PC skills), help desk support, web design, DTP, graphics, accounting, etc.
We offer companies the unique opportunity to hire qualified staff from the ranks of handicapped people who very often make a contribution to their business development. We quote the words of Tomáš Jindříšek, executive at Ogilvy and Mather, in testimony of the fact that the project is beneficial for both sides:
“Originally, we had planned to hire Ms. X. for standard administrative work. But when we invited her for an interview and saw her self-projection skills, her motivation to work, and her qualification, we offered her an account manager position right away. Today, she wins over our VIP clients! To be honest, we were amazed what a contribution a wheelchaired employee can make to actual business!”
What does the portal offer?
To companies:
- option to register and then to post ads for disability-friendly vacancies
- review registered CVs of job applicants
- consult Foundation staff and receive assistance in finding a suitable candidate
- arrange for additional training, if the applicant does not fully meet the company’s requirements for a given position, in a “tailor-made” form, under the Foundation’s 4G University project
To job applicants:
- easier choice and orientation among the vacancies on offer, by job description or by employer profile
- assistance in creating a résumé
- option to create an account containing also the CV, which will then be accessible to registered firms for review and possibly interview contacts
- option to receive e-mail notification of new vacancies
- new offers of training courses and other helpful opportunities for improving one’s job market qualification
Our plans for the future:
- webpage re-design for greater ease of orientation
- easier web navigation and improved accessibility for people with all kinds of disabilities
- helpdesk and forum for exchanging experiences among handicapped people, but also for their employers