Project 1

General:

In this process, which is subsidized by the City of Mechelen, OCMW Mechelen directs people entitled to a living wage to JobRoad, where OCMW has made the assessment in advance that these people are ready for a job on the regular labour market. These candidates are then picked up by JobRoad and personally guided in a matchmaking campaign of three consecutive steps: the kickstart, the screening day and the project days.

This project is part of the recovery plan that the City of Mechelen launched in 2021 to match their living wage recipients to a job or training. Four matchmaking campaigns are organized each year, to which 10 companies can register per campaign to get to know this target group, in order to find a match for their vacancies.

How does a matchmaking campaign work?

The matchmaking actions follow the three-phase model developed by JobRoad:

1. Kickstart – the companies

Companies that are looking for employees and declare that they are open to the target group, inform the trajectory counsellors of (ex)integrators during the kickstart meeting about the corporate culture and their relevant vacancies. These companies are committed to meeting candidates from the target group, who are presented by JobRoad, without the requirement of a CV (‘blind hiring’).

2. Screening & Matching – the candidates

Candidates are registered by trajectory counsellors on the screening & matching day, organized by JobRoad. On that day, the candidates are screened for their motivation, learning ability, relevant experience, competencies and talent for basic communication. They are matched by JobRoad to participating companies and vacancies.

3. Project week – the introduction

During the project week, JobRoad accompanies the selected candidates to the participating companies. Through the exploration of the working environment, they are presented with all information about the vacancies. Later that day, the candidates meet individually with the company’s HR manager.

For candidates who are not retained after the project week, opportunities within the network of JobRoad companies (ambassador companies) will be further explored.

The personal approach via the JobRoad model transcends the barriers of language, mobility and competence(s). These aspects often make easy access to the regular labour market difficult for this target group. The project model appears to be an efficient lever to help them find a job, allowing them to fully participate in society again.