Erika Juhasz Workshop presentation from Cross-Border Seminar 2017 in Belgrade

1. Credibility on the labour market
Supporting university graduates joiningthe workforce

2. Building a career starts with
discovering who we are
1. Young generation - Characteristics of young
generation (Y/Z – age 16 to 26)
2. Cross generational communication
3. The VUCA World
4. The Biblio-counselling Modell
5. In practice
6. Summary

3. „Young generation”
When you hear that term, what’s
the first word that comes to mind?
ü presumptuous
ü entitled
ü disrespestful
ü disloyal
ü lazy
ü intellectually shallow
New attitude on the labour market brought
by young generation:

4. Cross generational
communication
Because of technology we have lost our ability
to communicate generationally.
So improve communication between the
generations at work:
ü less frustration at work
ü stress level is reduced

5. Particularities of the young generation
• Technology-driven
• Multi-tasking skills
• Less-focused
• Entrepreneurial generation
• Hate disrespect
• Personalized communications
• Friends’ opinion matters
• Privacy
• Honesty, transparency

6. VUCA world
The VUCA concept took off after the global financial crisis of
2008 and 2009.
The concept describes a business environment characterised
by:
— Volatility: a brutal increase in four dimensions: the
type, speed, volume and scale
— Uncertainity: we are unable to predict future events
— Complexity: widespread confusion with no clear
connection between cause and effect
— Ambiguity: lack of precision, and existence of
multiply meanings

7. VUCA world
We need different mindset: not to focus on what is
PROBABLE, but what is POSSIBLE.
How to change the mindset?
ü Seeing the possibilities instead of trying to figure out
what is most likely to happen
ü Create new habits and new patterns (talk differently,
collect information differently, develop different
strategies and plans for the future)
This is where BIBLIO-COUNSELLING can help.

8. Finding your own way in career
management
In this deeply technicized environment it is hard to
ü find, maintain and manage real human relationships,
ü find relevant information, solution and answers,
ü learn competent patterns, problem-solving skills, empathy and tolerance,
ü recognize and share real values and emotions.
It is crucial to improve students’
ü social and emotional skills,
ü independent revelation,
ü and support them to share their experience.
Learning to be a „better” professional requires great self-awareness.
Self-discovery is a difficult process, but essential before we enter labour market.
Strenghts-based development instead of focusing weaknesses.

9. Biblio-counselling / therapy
Bibliotherapy is the use of reading creatively books, stories
and poems to make people feel better in themselves, about
themselves and about others.
The term bibliotherapy derives from the Greek words for
„book” (biblion) and „healing”, „supporting” (therapeia).
It helps readers gain insight into themselves by
connecting with characters, values and with other group
members.

10. Biblio-counselling
An excellent tool
Humankind’s awareness of the therapic value of words
dates back to the past.
Reading alters mental states and influences behaviour.
Ø„Poetry and drama play out dangerous emotions”
(Aristotle)
Ø„Literature can help relieve and restore the troubled
mind… and can also reduce stress and anxiety.”
(Freud)

11. The Biblio-counselling Model I use
vflexible: adapt the material to the group and their needs
vreading a literary text is followed by group discussion when
group members share their ideas and feelings
vgroup interactions might lead the person towards new
attitudes and new motivations for actions
The text itself
ü fosters common thinking and discussion about the topic,
ü guides its reader to a deeper understanding of him or herself.
ü develops his/her self-awareness, social and emotional skills.
The aim of the group therapy / counselling in general:
Ø elicit change in the attitude and behaviour
Ø enhance problem solving skills
Ø increase resourcefullness

12. The Biblio-counselling Model
My program (7 sessions) focused on personal development:
Ø self-awareness
Ø problem solving skills
Ø improvement of positive self-image
Ø adaptability
Ø empathy
Ø stress reduction
The aim of the group was :
Ø prepare students for their first career step
Ø give them tools how to present themselves on the job market
Ø face challanges and traumas during the process of job search
Ø reduce fears and stress of the coming „unknown” situation.

13. The structure of a session
1. The start – brainstorming about success
2. The text - Örkény’s short stories (one minute stories) are full of
absurdities.
ü Irony and humour are best ways of opening up hidden thougts
and feelings. It can attract the attention of the students.
3. Lead-in games
ü help participants to open up and get involved in „here and
now”
4. The „core” of the session
ü Group leader read out the short story
ü Group discussion about the stories, the memories, feelings,
emotions that the text evokes
5. „Take-away message”

14. The Biblio-counselling Model
„No judgement but feedback!”
Summary:
ü Participants learnt about themselves and
understand that they are not alone with their
problems and concerns.
ü had the opportunity to share feelings
ü learnt new strategies how to deal with career issues
ü realised the need to improve problem-solving
skills, communication and social skills

15. The Biblio-counselling Model
Results
ØEmotional changes:
— development of empathy
— more realistic self-image
— increased tolerance
— respect and acceptance of others
ØCognitive changes:
— insight into human behaviour and motivation
— understanding different perspectives and the
universality of problems
— alternative solutions for problem-solving

16. Demo - Örkény: Song
I aimed at greater self-aweraness
1. On a general level (involvement):
a) How can you describe the characters of the story? – age,
appearance, personality, profession etc.
b) What do you think Janász’ strengths were?
c) Has anybody had similar effects on you before? (share with us,
please)
2. On a personal level:
a) Do you affect others?
b) Do you know what you are really good at?
c) Do you know what you are really special at?
d) Are you familiar with your competencies?
e) How do we see ourselves?
f) How the others see us?

17. Demo - Örkény: Song
3. Goup conclusions:
ü we have to know who we are, what our competencies are
ü we have to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses too
ü weaknesses can be altered
ü we should be authentic (show our true colours)
ü we have to live up to our own expectations and not others’
4. Take-away message (which rezonated to the story’s last
sentence):
Ø everyone is special in some way – and that is true.
As a conclusion I asked them to think of what their „song” was –
i.e. What are they each good at?

18. In practice
Örkény: Thoughts from the cellar
Plan a biblio-counselling session
1. Theme– What would you use this short story for?
2. Questions
a) general and
b) personal level
3. Take-away message
Task: one participant from each group will „present” the
group’s concept. Stickers are collected and systemized in
order to create a „common plan”.

19. Summary
The greatest part of our success in life should depend on
CONFIDENCE (and self-confedence)
Ø Change begins when the fear of not acting outsteps the fear of
making a mistake.
Ø When we think of entering the job-market or changing
careers – think of your
Ø self-awareness
Ø competencies
Ø strengths
Ø motivation,
the factors that give us confidence.
Ø Stop thinking about jobs you want to do, and start thinking about
your qualities, competencies that a job needs, e.g. creativity,
leadership skills, empathy, flexibility, resilience

20. Thanks for your attention.