Helps young people into work and education working from home

It is no secret that NAV employees who make decisions about unemployment benefits have an extra lot to do during the day. But did you know that NAV also has an important task in helping those who want it out in work or education? Linn Lindmo Haug is employed at the Kongsvinger office and works primarily with helping young people between the ages of 18-30 into their studies and working life. She has taken the time to answer some questions in a hectic everyday life where two of the family members work from home and two have online school.

Name: Linn Lindmo Haug
Workplace: NAV Kongsvinger
Job title: Supervisor / Job Specialist

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Questions for you who keep the wheels going

What kind of skills / education is required in your job?

To work in NAV, higher education is required at a minimum bachelor's level and preferably in guidance, pedagogy, social work or health. NAV has many different work tasks within supervision and case processing, but we also work very much with work-oriented follow-up. In fact, one of the core tasks of NAV is to help those who want it out in work or education! To do this in a good way, many employees in NAV spend a lot of time with employers. In Kongsvinger, we have our own job specialists whose task is to know the needs of employers as well as the needs of the jobseeker. Therefore, some employees in NAV also have experience from the employer side, and have themselves been business leaders. Many employees in NAV have also brought with them experience from other professions because they have worked for a long time either as teachers, educators or in the health sector.

What are your core tasks?

I work primarily with helping young people, ie young people between the ages of 18-30 into work or education. This means that I have a lot of contact, and cooperation with employers and with the educational institutions, especially at the upper secondary level. I also have collaborative meetings with the health sector in order to be able to make it as easy as possible for the young people, who want a job or education, to be able to experience mastery. Many of those we work with have experienced little mastery through their children's and secondary school years and may have lost faith that they can contribute their knowledge.

How has your workday been in recent weeks compared to normal conditions. Give a brief explanation of what a "normal" day looks like in these corona times?

I have only had a home office since March 12 and was therefore early and picked up my "big screen" in the office. We have good solutions for home offices in NAV Kongsvinger, and many were already trained to work outside the office. I still work to get young people into work, but I also work to make decisions about financial social assistance according to the Act on social services in NAV. Contact with the youth and employers takes place over the phone or in writing via nav.no. It turns out that surprisingly much can be solved over several phone calls! Last week, a young person came to work with a wage subsidy, a tool NAV has, only with negotiations over the phone. It is fun.

Why is your job important and how do you / your company contribute to keeping society going?

One of NAV's core tasks is extensive contact with employers, which is no less important now in the corona era, than before. We need to know what the company needs at all times and we need to know which industries need employees. Unfortunately, many have been laid off and they get help from NAV to secure their income. The NAV employees who make decisions about unemployment benefits therefore have an extra lot to do during the day. In addition, we at NAV have an important task in reassuring those who need our help that they should receive that help. I spend much of my day calling those I follow up, sometimes just to hear how they are doing, but also to tell them that there are industries that now need employees. For example, I have a jobseeker who has a couple of years of experience from the health sector, but has no education. It is important to convey that there are opportunities for work.

Do you have any professional tips or advice that people should follow in these times?

Here at home, where two have online school and two work from home, we were clear on one thing and that we must have an hour of physical activity in the middle of the day. We use the word FYSAK, as they do in school, and we adults take turns so that we are responsible for this class every other day. Another important thing is to take short breaks. I discovered far out in week one with home office that I forgot to take those short breaks, such as picking up a cup of coffee, getting up to chat a bit with a colleague, etc. Routines are also important. Every day should look reasonably similar right up until dinner.

What would you say to others who are considering your career?

If you choose NAV, you get a very varied everyday life. You get to work closely with people with challenges and you get the opportunity to help individuals master their everyday lives in a better way. You get close to employers. You also get to work in a professionally strong environment with expertise from many different fields.

What is the best thing about working / living in the Kongsvinger region?

The very best thing about living in the Kongsvinger region is the proximity to nature. I appreciate this in everyday life, but now I am extra happy that I do not live in an apartment in Oslo! I find that hiking trails are better marked than they were a few years ago. In the Kongsvinger region, there is also a bustling cultural life that I greatly appreciate and there is a sea of leisure activities for children - and young people. In addition, I must point out the Strandpromenaden and the library as great places.

Watch the film about the family's preparations for the daily FYSAK session Insta og Facebook.

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Read more similar cases in the series "We keep the wheels turning" where the goal is to highlight exciting and relevant jobs in the Kongsvinger region that have a particularly important task in a demanding time.