Contributing to an Unmployment Tackling Initiative
I was approached by a consulting company working in an English-speaking country on initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment. They identified recruitment as one of the sectors with the potential to pivot.
My task was to design self-paced, asynchronous training introducing the role of an agency recruiter. The main challenge was catering to a broad audience that included recent graduates as well as professionals requalifying from different fields.
The client, knowing the nature of these programmes, was upfront that motivation levels would vary among the learners. My experience of working in the employability sector enabled me to offer insights and approaches to fostering motivation.
The client briefed me on the initiative, its goals and the audience. They specified the focus areas and relied on my subject knowledge and instructional design expertise to create full content.
Before embarking on the design, I conducted a thorough needs analysis to confirm the expectations and priorities. Although the audience was disparate, I managed to draft learner personas that the client approved. I also provided samples of similar training that I created before to showcase my approach and methodology.
The objective of the course was to ensure that the participants were job-ready. They were expected to take part in interviews and could step into a new role immediately, if successful. I designed a syllabus and content prioritising practice and easy transfer of new knowledge and skills to the job. I arranged the material to guide the learner through the stages of the recruitment process, gradually increasing complexity. To make the course more appealing, I added practical tips and insights I gained working with and training recruiters.
The tight project timeline didn’t allow for the development of advanced features or animations. However, I ensured that learners would be active participants throughout the course. To enhance their motivation, I varied the module structure so as each experience was different and balanced the theoretical input with hands-on activities. I included simulations of using recruiter tools and web quests, mirroring the tasks and searchers recruiters will carry out in their jobs. The client was particularly keen on finishing each module with a gamified quiz to revise and reinforce the material.
Throughout the project, I maintained regular communication with the consulting company via email and video calls. They were very receptive to my suggestions, but it was crucial that we kept aligned with the overall initiative's goals.
The client was happy with the final product – an 8-module e-learning course covering the basics of a junior recruiter role.
Due to the confidential nature of the project, I don’t have access to the broader outcomes of the initiative. However, the consulting company that contracted me, was very satisfied with the course's design and delivery. They noted that the interactive and practical approach fulfilled the programme goals very well. They also complimented my input and understanding of their needs.
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