Job Search Clubs

Overview 

Job Search Clubs (JSC) is a methodology to support young people who face difficulties in their job-search process. It acknowledges that all young people have sets of skills and agency in their job search but may lack experience in translating experience into employment opportunities. The core of the JSC is a two-to-three-week intensive activity for groups of 16 young people, assisted by two trained facilitators. This group phase is not designed as training but as a space where each club member is supported through activation measures, peer-to-peer support and other behavioural methodologies to acquire a range of hard and soft job-search skills. There are two main learning objectives of JSC: ensuring young people understand that the job-search process requires dedication and time, and helping them become independent in their job search.

Depending on the country context, JSCs in PROSPECTS have been implemented as an extension of employment services, as part of youth engagement initiatives and as post-training support to help young people transition into employment. The peer-to-peer format was particularly well suited to PROSPECTS, as it brought young people from refugee and host community backgrounds together to work through challenges and offer mutual support in the process.

Key stakeholders

• JSC facilitators and master trainers
• UNICEF
• UNHCR
• (I)NGOs
• Government representatives (national)
• Academic institutions
• TVET institutions
• Training providers
• Public employment services, or other employment service providers
• Refugee- and youth-led organizations