The JobIRL.com is a social network that helps young people develop their career plans through a wide range of resources: from an orientation test for the most confused students (developed by JobIRL with the help of an employment psychologist), to profiles of professionals available for discussion via the site's internal messaging system, as well as online resources such as job descriptions, interviews with professionals and students, and thematic support groups (e.g. Parcoursup, SOS Resume & Cover Letter).
JobIRL.com Online Platform
Abstract
Resource overview
Website: JobIRL.com
Workshops are organised by JobIRL teams in partner schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods or rural areas. Part of the workshops concern the use of the platform by the students. They aim to help them understand the notion of "professional network", to create an account on jobirl.com and to contact professionals in the professions that interest them.
During these workshops, students also discover the site's resources on "jobs of the future" and training courses. It is observed that they are particularly fond of the online quizzes (on cybersecurity, sports jobs, gender diversity in jobs, knowledge of social networks, etc.).
The ninth graders (aged 14-15) are required to complete a one-week internship in a professional environment. During the workshops, these students use the platform to search for and apply for internship offers online: creating an account, writing a message, adding attachments to the message (CV).
Description of technology
The whole site is developed under PHP.
It uses API feeds for the exchange of internship and work-study offers from our partners - companies or other job boards.
API feeds from Onisep (the official platform of the State for the orientation of schoolchildren) are also used to enrich data available: the presentation of job descriptions and training courses that prepare for these jobs, with a link to students who follow these courses to be able to contact them.
The site also makes use of a database that offers a multitude of entries for young people to find a professional or a student ready to answer their questions: job, company, school, location.
How the resource makes career guidance more effective, efficient and/or equitable for students
JobIRL presents itself as "the professional network for those who don't have one". It allows young people to access a community of over 7,300 professionals representing more than 1,000 jobs in 47 sectors.
Who, in their circle of friends, has a surgeon, a computer specialist, a beautician, a journalist, a banker, a beekeeper, etc., ready to talk about their profession to young people lost in their orientation? On jobirl.com, all these profiles and thousands of others are available in a few clicks.
The site’s orientation test, with questions adapted to young people, sheds light on their RIASEC profile and encourages them to go further in the discovery of professions that could correspond to them by exchanging with professionals who practice them.
In an effort to offer a "collaborative guidance" service, JobIRL has set up thematic support groups that respond to pupils’ problems: a Parcoursup group on the most sought-after training courses, a group for proofreading CVs and motivation letters, an "intrepid women" group to fight against the self-censorship of girls towards science and digital professions, and others.
There is no other equivalent platform in France. Consequently, JobIRL brings an unprecedented added value to the landscape of educational and professional guidance.
Challenges or potential barriers to use
Jobirl.com's services are very easy to use. Nevertheless, in very disadvantaged schools, students are not at all familiar with the operation of digital services. There is often a form of "digital divide" that prevents young people from getting the most out of the platform's services.
In addition, to use JobIRL at home, students must have a computer and be able to access it regularly. Not all underprivileged young people have this opportunity. This is why a Web-App is currently in development that will students to use JobIRL from their cell phone.
The JobIRL Connect to your future workshop program, delivered in nearly 150 disadvantaged middle and high schools in France, helps overcome this barrier by helping young people understand how jobirl.com works.
The resource is free of charge.
Support for users
Explanations on how the platform works by accessing by application on cell phone.
Additional details
This resource is government supported.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by the submitting organisation.
