Global Compact International Yearbook 2014

Good Practice
Labour Standards
Patrick De Maeseneire concluded: “Young
people must be willing to learn languages,
work abroad, and show a cando
attitude – all are crucial to seizing
opportunities on today’s job market. My
sincere thanks to our clients around the
globe who supported this initiative by
providing such a varied and enriching
range of jobs for our winners.”
adecco Greece employees on the
streets, explaining the purpose of the
adecco Way to Work Street Day.
start up their careers. The labor market
in Greece is currently one of the toughest
and people looking for a job really need
to acquire skills to become competitive
in this environment. We are honored to
have the opportunity to lend a hand.”
The long-term value of such actions has
reverberated to local and national business
communities. For example, in Australia,
the New South Wales Business Chamber
CEO, Stephen Cartwright, remarked: “Too
little is being done to support students
entering the workforce. It is well known
that prolonged disengagement from the
labor market at an early age has very
negative consequences for individuals
through the course of their working lives.”
The Street Day is a symbolic act that can
only inspire concerted action from governments,
businesses, and individuals alike.
More flexible labor markets, reform of
education systems, and young people’s
willingness to accept temporary job assignments
or job opportunities abroad
are essential requisites to overcome the
current job crisis.
Coaching as a catalyst
Although nothing beats face-to-face advice,
online access and support to the
digital generation has been available
through the Adecco Way to Work online
‘Career Center’ and its Facebook
pages. These resources are visited by
thousands of young job seekers, eager to
learn how to improve their employability.
It is a one-stop-shop that includes: tips
and tools for a compelling CV and how to
use it as a marketing tool; how to write
cover letters or e-mails; job interview
preparation; as well as advice on how to
create a professional social media profile.
The resources are accessible in various
languages and adapted to the varying
requirements in different countries that
job markets demand from applicants.
The work experience contest –
job journeys across five continents
Dreams are what futures are made of.
As part of the Adecco Way to Work
program, a competition was launched
to fire the work spirit and motivation
of young people aspiring to build better
futures for themselves. The nine winners,
selected from more than 23,500 contestants,
received a unique opportunity to
experience the world of work in a diverse,
international way. Adecco designed “job
journeys” across five continents that provided
the winners from France, the United
States, Japan, Germany, Spain, Italy,
Australia, and New Zealand with a taste
of a wide variety of jobs and companies.
The nine youngsters were encouraged
to share their experiences and journeys
via a blog with family, friends, Adecco
employees, and the broader public.
In total 46 Adecco clients in 49 countries
bought in to the Adecco Way to Work
program and were willing and eager to
give these young job seekers a unique
experience and an insight into their
businesses. Andri Bodmer, HR Director
of the five star hotel Dolder Grand in
Zurich, said: “It is of utmost importance
to acquire work experience as early as
possible, especially in order to develop
the soft skills crucial in any business in
which personal or client relations are
essential.”
As they traveled around the world, the
job experience winners had much to
share with their peers. Federico Sattanino
from Italy offered this advice:
“Don’t believe anyone who tells you
that there are no jobs out there. There
are, but we need to broaden our horizons
and look a bit further afield.”
Imane Krirat from Germany wrote: “I’ve
learned that there are doors that could
be opened… And one thing I know for
sure is that this trip not only expanded
my horizon but also added an important
message to my CV!”
There is a whole generation at risk of exclusion
from the world of work. Adecco
took action by reaching out to more than
half a million young people all over the
world. The purpose was to give them
back their dreams and to let them know
that they are not a lost but a loved generation.
With the scale and intensity of
engagement that Way to Work reached
in 2013, Adecco aims to help more than
one million young people find their way
to work in 2014.
www.adeccowaytowork.com
www.facebook.com/AdeccoWayToWork
Global Compact International Yearbook 2014 99