EUROPASS COURSE FOR GUIDANCE PRACTITIONERS

Europass is a widely applicable tool used by many different user profiles. Europass is a particularly convenient and popular tool for students in higher education when they need to apply for their first job or volunteering experiences, student practices, Erasmus+ mobilities and many more. In the following sections we are going to explain what makes Europass such a natural choice for students. Why do students need a Europass profile, CV or Cover Letter in the first place.

Students are often first-time job seekers, which means they may not have a particularly long or thorough CV writing experience. In addition to having difficulty showcasing their skills and experience on a CV, newer job seekers can find it equally challenging to write a CV of good quality, which includes all the information to help them shine and which is in line with the CV structure desired by the prospective employer. While job seekers with several years of experience will highlight their work accomplishments, newer job seekers can put more focus on education and non-work experience sections of the CV. Lastly, students can often focus too much on making sure that the content is right, that they will forget the obvious fact that „Presentation is everything“- their CV also needs to look good as well as sound good. Research shows that the average length of time spent by an employer reading any applicant's CV is approx. 10 seconds. If we have such a short time to hold the reader’s attention, we need to make an immediate impact.

There are many opportunities where students may need to provide their CVs. Students may be asked for a CV when they are applying for their graduate studies, research positions, student practices or student jobs, traineeships, volunteering opportunities, Erasmus+ mobilities and scholarships or grants.

For students with little or no work experience, writing a CV may seem like a difficult task. Even experienced professionals can have difficulty showcasing their employability on a CV. Of course, this challenge is much greater for students and recent graduates without an impressive work history. Europass is ideal for candidates who want to present themselves to their prospective employers in the best possible light but still do not have considerable work experience to impress their potential employers. Therefore, they often find it difficult to think of relevant information to include in their CVs.

Even if they have little or no work experience, students can still stand out among other similar candidates by showcasing skills gained in different educational or non-educational environments. Very often, students think of CV writing mainly in terms of listing their education data and job experiences. In turn, they are often not aware that this is also a place to showcase the skills they gained in different educational and non-educational contexts. These skills may not have only been strictly gained through a formal study or work experience and may have also been developed in many different student jobs, volunteering experiences, etc. not necessarily related to students’ field of study. Europass portal offers several sections where students are encouraged to analyse and reflect on their skills and interests, as well as experiences, in order to include them perfectly in their CVs and cover letters.

USING EUROPASS IN CAREER GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Europass CV and Cover Letter Editor helps students create their first Europass CV to document projects, part-time jobs, and volunteering experiences. It guides students in structuring and writing a first CV for applying for different job, volunteering or mobility opportunities.

Below, you can find some examples of discussion questions that can encourage students to think in depth about the activities they have been involved in during their education or student work that can help them in preparing their CV.

• • Have they worked as a brand promotor in a supermarket? Skills they have developed here are communication and presentation skills.
  • Have they done a group project in a sociology class? Skills they have developed here are communication and teamwork.
  • Have they ever created their own simple mobile app, a piece of art or music? They have creative skills.
  • Have they ever studied Dutch, Croatian or another language? Even if they are not fluent, learning a language shows discipline and commitment.
  • Are they good at interpreting research results or solving mathematical problems? They can think critically.
  • Have they ever organised a study group to revise for exams? They are adept at time management and organisation.
  • Let them think about their interests, hobbies, or any other activity they have been involved in. Do they play an instrument in a band? Do they volunteer at a retirement home or, perhaps, run long races? These show they have enthusiasm, focus, dedication and discipline.

Europass Profile enables students to track their achievements and skills over time, making future career planning easier, finding interesting jobs and learning opportunities, managing applications, and creating CVs and cover letters as well as prepare for the interview. It allows reflection on their skills and experience: registered Europass users will have access to the My Skills, which helps users self-assess their skills and have a clearer idea on the jobs that match those skills with descriptions that will help them understand the related sets of skills by describing and defining them in the context of different jobs. Registered users of Europass can also use the My Interests, which guides them in reflecting on their interests and career goals by adding topics they are interested in, where they want to work or study, and what goals they want to achieve. These transversal skills can be easily adapted or transferred to their future job environment, and employers are well aware of that (and they take it into account in the job selection process). Transferable skills that many employers look for include time management, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, communication, organisation, working under pressure, enthusiasm, customer service, meeting deadlines, and many more.

Europass Library - Europass helps students prepare for their European job search by creating a Europass profile, students get a platform where they can regularly list and update their skills, experiences, and store many other documents relevant for their job search. In case a job opportunity presents itself, students can quickly and easily make a tailored job application and respond to any job ad within a few minutes.

EURES Job Portal - Europass is linked to the EURES job portal, providing access to a wide range of job vacancies across Europe to explore opportunities that match their qualifications and preferences, whether they are looking to work in their home country or abroad.

Europass Mobility documents international learning experiences, such as Erasmus+ exchanges or training placements, ensuring acquired skills are recognized by employers and institutions across Europe.

Digital Competence Self-Assessment Tool - beyond just helping users create documents, Europass serves as a tool for developing essential skills. Students can further assess their digital skills using the Digital Competence Self-Assessment Tool, which helps them identify areas for improvement in today’s digital job market.

Learning Opportunities Search (Course Search Tool) - Europass supports job seekers who wish to pursue further education or training to enhance their employability. The portal is linked to national databases, making it easier for users to find relevant courses and qualifications across Europe. The Learning Opportunities Search (Course Search Tool) helps individuals expand their skills, whether they are looking for short-term training or longer academic programs.

National Qualifications Frameworks across Europe, Comparison tool provides valuable information on national qualifications, training courses, and their content and levels in both the National and European Qualifications Frameworks. This tool helps students understand and compare qualifications, facilitating smoother cross-border mobility and job searches.