Pre-employment training for the unemployed: A case study of a call centre foundation programme

Julian Clarke

Local Economy, 2014, vol. 29, issue 1-2, 113-128

Abstract: This paper examines a single pre-employment training programme for the unemployed. The training aimed to prepare unemployed participants for work on the front-line of telephone call centres. Drawing on participant observation and semi-structured interviews, the paper analyses one area in particular; the training participants received to enhance their soft skills, particularly as they relate to the concept of ‘aesthetic’ labour. Through providing an in-depth account of the training the paper offers a critique of the programme and identifies the potential drawbacks associated with offering this form of ‘employability’ training for those who face many barriers to employment.

Keywords: aesthetic labour; call centres; pre-employment training; soft skills; welfare-to-work; workfare; work-first; unemployment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:loceco:v:29:y:2014:i:1-2:p:113-128

DOI: 10.1177/0269094214520938

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