CHARACTERIZATION OF GOOD PRACTICES AND NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICES OF GUIDANCE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT

This study aims to identify needs and experiences/factors that characterize good practices in the employment services, developing in two phases respectively. For this, a mixed study was carried out, applying a questionnaire to 214 users of various services located in the Region of Andalusia. 25 of them were also interviewed. For the analysis of the data, the content analysis was used by the elaboration of a category system, supported by the SWOT technique and the triangulation. The results indicate the existence of needs related to insufficient infrastructure in services, time and opening hour limitations, and excessive bureaucracy, as well as insufficient provision of information and poor career guidance skills. We also identified good practices associated with actions to improve self-knowledge and to strengthen self-esteem and decision-making as well as actions to optimize networking and to develop job-searching strategies. Triangulation enabled us to identify strong and weak points and to reach the conclusion that a more integrated model is needed for such services with a network of resources to facilitate adequate follow-up of guidance actions. It is also necessary to strengthen the good practices adopted and to make greater efforts to adapt better to users' needs and characteristics.