Launch of GEMS NI Best Practice Guide for Recruitment and Selection

Anne Downs, GEMS NI Employer Relationship Manager pictured with Dr Eddie Jackson, Chief Executive Belfast LSP at the launch of the GEMS NI Best Practice Guide at the Long Gallery Stormont September 2006

"In a growing, vibrant city, hungry for business and for labour, we cannot contemplate a situation where the haves and the have-nots are separated by an invisible and inflexible economic barrier and where both employers and the disadvantaged suffer equally from ignorance of how to communicate with each other.

GEMS best practice guide for the recruitment and selection of long-term unemployment people is intended to address that challenge; and to open the labour market those who are currently economically inactive and disadvantaged.

The publication represents not only a remarkable and sensitive guide to the challenges facing the long-term unemployed and how employers should engage with them; it is a first rate; hand-on guide to recruitment best practice."

Stephen Kingon CBE, PriceWaterhouseCoopers

For Further information on the Guide contact Anne Downs: anne.downs@gemsni.org.uk

028 90 332313

On Employer training programmes....

"We provided open days for the candidates focusing on the opportunities and providing insight into various careers within the health sectors…"

"Miriam Gibson, Royal Victoria Hospital

We appreciate the importance of developing and maintaining a strategic and dynamic platform with employers - international, national, regional, SME's, micro businesses and incoming businesses.

We are successful in establishing effective relationships with a range of employers by "making the business case for unemployed people".

Working closely with employers we are aware of employer's expectations and requirements in relation to skills, attitudes, motivation and competence and in turn we support and encourage our clients to meet such requirements.

How will GEMS help me?
I have been unemployed for 1 year and have been unsuccessful with all of my job applications that I have made.
What can I do?

I am interested in becoming a teacher.
Can you give me some guidance on teacher training?

I would like to apply for warehousing jobs but some adverts specify a forklift licence requirement.
How would I get this?

I have no GCSEs and would like to return to study English and Maths.
How do I do this?

I left work to look after my children. I now want to return to the workplace but do not know how to switch to employment again.My skills and training that I have completed in the past are of no use now - there are few jobs in my area of expertise -
How can I get a job?