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  • To find a job, you sometimes need a helping hand, especially when you’re young and not familiar with labour market laws. Having a mentor allows you to take stock of your background, your desires, and to respond to job offers more effectively … and it works!

    WHAT IS A MENTOR?

    At DUO for a JOB, a mentor is a volunteer

    • who has experience in your professional field,
    • who has been coached by the association,
    • and who accompanies you free of charge for a maximum period of 6 months.

    Every week, he or she advises you, answers your questions about your career path, your skills to be developed, while giving you the benefit of his or her experience.

    This is a good way to project yourself objectively, to boost your ambition and self-confidence, and to expand your network.

    GET YOUR DREAM JOB

    Whatever your background, skills or career plans, DUO for a JOB will find the right mentor for you and help you land your dream job 🚀

    One year after the start of their duo, half of the young people have found a sustainable job (permanent or fixed-term contract of at least 3 months). If we add to this the young people who are heading for training or a professional internship, more than 70% of the participants find their way!

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    During the programme, your mentor can help you develop:

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    Your professional project

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    Your self-confidence

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    Your CV and motivation letters

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    Your professional network

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    The way you handle job interviews

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    Your language skills

    I love DUO. A team that is both professional and honest. I love the attitude and energy. It can simply make life better!

    Yasser, 25 years old

    DUO is just the programme I needed. It enabled me to go further in my search efforts towards employment. I gained experience. I regret that I did not hear about this programme much sooner but I am very proud of all I have learned from it

    Francine, 30 years old

    I have learned so much. Thanks to DUO, I have regained confidence in myself. I had run out of ideas. I was lost and now I have found myself

    Ali, 22 years old

    To participate, you must:

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    Be between 18 and 33 years old

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    Have a non-EU nationality OR be Dutch with an immigration background (you must have at least one parent or grandparent born outside of the EU)

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    Have a valid residence permit (temporary residence permits < 6 months are not taken into account)

    Our impact on young people

    But beyond the employment results, mentoring also allows these young people to develop many skills that will serve them throughout their lives. After 6 months as a duo, it is estimated that:

    90%

    feel more independent/autonomous in their job search.

    68%

    were able to define a career plan with their mentor.

    77%

    were able to expand their professional and/or social network.

    Our methodology

    The key to the success of DUO for a JOB’s mentoring program lies in the implementation of a methodology and qualitative and effective support based on eight main steps.

    1. Information session

    Information sessions are an opportunity to present the project, to clarify the roles of each and to answer any possible questions.

    2. Individual interview

    If interest in the project prevails, future mentors / mentees then meet an association coordinator in order to learn more about their experience and expectations.

    3. Mentor training

    New mentors follow an initial training course to provide them with a basic tool kit on the do’s and don’ts of being a mentor.

    4. Matching

    On the basis of different criteria (sector of activity, languages spoken, personality, availability, etc.), and taking into account all respective needs and skills, the coordinators constitute the new duos: this is the matching session.

    5. First meeting

    The first meeting is an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other. After this meeting both the mentor and the mentee will decide independently whether they want to work together or not.

    6. Signing of the Agreement and the Charter

    If the mentee and the mentor confirm that they want to continue together, a second meeting is organised to sign the mentoring agreement that clarifies the framework and the commitments of each party, and “officially” marks the beginning of the support period.

    7. Period of mentoring

    The accompaniment period, during which the pairs will meet once a week, lasts a maximum of six months. Each duo is accompanied by a coordinator from the association.

    8. Evaluation

    At the end of the 6-month period, the duo is invited to assess whether the programme has met their expectations and whether the objectives they set themselves have been achieved.

    My parents were born in Morocco but I was born in the Netherlands, am I eligible? icon

    Our mentoring programme is aimed at young people of foreign origin, i.e. all young people who have a foreign nationality from outside the European Union, but also all young people who are Dutch but who have a parent or grandparent who was born outside the EU.

    Why is this? It is well acknowledged that having a foreign origin is a barrier to accessing the labour market, so our action aims to restore equal opportunities for all.

    Does it really work? icon

    Having a mentor by your side really increases your chances on the job market. 7 out of 10 young people find a job, an internship or a training course thanks to their duo!

    How long does it take to find a mentor? icon

    After attending an information session, you will meet with a coordinator from Duo for a Job who will take the time to assess your background, your expectations and your personality. Following this interview, you will be matched by Duo for a Job with the mentor who best suits you! Depending on your availability, you will meet your mentor for the first time and if you want to continue the adventure together, you will start your duo!

    These steps usually take between 15 days and 1 month.

    I have a master’s degree, so I guess I don’t have the profile of the young people supported by your association? icon

    Think again! 25% of the young people we mentor have a higher education degree. In the job search, a degree is not everything. Your mentor can help you to better understand the codes of the sector, share his or her experience with you, help you build a network, etc.

    I want to work but I don’t have a business plan, can a mentor really help me? icon

    Of course! Each duo starts with an inventory to be made together: who you are, what you like to do, what your skills are, what your priorities are, etc. All this information will allow you to better define the path you want to take.

    Do I need to have a degree or professional experience to take part? icon

    No, you don’t need to have any qualifications or professional experience before starting your duo.

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