IT Consultant

Socio-emotional skills, also known as “non-cognitive” or “soft” skills, have been demonstrated to be key for success in different areas, from education, to healthy behaviors, to the labor market. Socio-emotional skills are valued and needed to succeed in the labor market: evidence from employer surveys shows that these skills are important factors in the choice between candidates for a job.

Socio-emotional skills are also essential for successful job search. Job seekers put these skills to use throughout their job search, as it is a process that requires, among others, self-awareness, self-efficacy, perseverance, resilience to setbacks, and frustration tolerance. Several authors note that the process of active job seeking is not only taxing in these skills, but it is sometimes thwarted by their inadequacy. For example, procrastination and low job search intensity can be associated with low self-control and motivation, high degree of present bias, as well as a higher propensity to believe that events in one’s life are the result of uncontrollable forces (i.e. external locus of control).

While there is a burgeoning body of empirical research demonstrating that socio-emotional skills could be critical determinants of success in the labor market and the job search, less is known in terms of how to cultivate such skills. The literature that is available on such socio-emotional skills interventions has mostly focused on school-age populations and in a developed country context (mostly in the US). Thus, there is a need to learn more about interventions to develop socio-emotional skills among the working-age population and their impacts on employability.

The proposed activity contributes to fill this knowledge gap by examining the impact of a pilot intervention that provides job seekers with information and evidence-based tools to plan and persevere in the job search process, including practical strategies to sustain the motivation to overcome obstacles and setbacks in their pursuit of successful labor market (re)integration, with a particular emphasis on unemployed youth and women struggling to make the transition to employment. The intervention, consisting of brochures and group training sessions on socio-emotional skills, will take place in Turkey in the context of the existing employment support services of the national public employment agency (İŞKUR), with a focus on young job seekers (about 60% of current job seekers in the country) and women.

The World Bank is collaborating with İŞKUR in the design and implementation of the intervention, and in collection of data to evaluate its impacts along different labor market outcomes. To support the implementation and evaluation objectives, the World Bank is hiring an IT specialist to support project-related tasks related to data collection and data processing.

Tasks for the Consultant

The Consultant is expected to support İŞKUR IT team in project-related tasks for the duration of the project (October 2017-December 2018). Specifically, the tasks shall include:

i.                  Processing of data and creation of a project-specific database based on the flows of job seeker registration with İŞKUR.

ii.                Monthly update of the database and creation of working-form sub-bases for the project implementation needs.

iii.               Processing of data and creation of a project-specific database based on different databases, including the İŞKUR job seeker profile database, İŞKUR services users’ database, and data obtained by İŞKUR from other partners related to the project’s participants; the task includes data anonymization, database matching and merging, and monthly updates to the database.

iv.               Supporting İŞKUR with project-related processes, such as management of training invitations, and information flows between project-related teams and implementing ISKUR centers at the local level.

v.                Designing of an online interface for the project allowing different project-related teams to connect and enter/access information for project-related needs in a timely manner. The task requires also developing a user manual and troubleshooting for users during the duration of the project.

vi.               Supporting İŞKUR in other tasks related to joint İŞKUR-World Bank project, as well as other IT tasks related to job seekers’ acquisition of socio-emotional skills to support higher employability, as deemed fit by the World Bank team.

Data confidentiality

Prior to commencing work, the consultant will sign a data confidentiality agreement, committing him or her not to misuse the data obtained from İŞKUR database.

Timeline and reporting

The Consultant will deliver intermediate outputs for the tasks described above on a rolling basis and on a timeline agreed with the World Bank team. The consultant’s work will involve close collaboration with the ISKUR IT team, so the selected candidate will be required to be based in Ankara for the duration of the contract.

Interested applicants should send their CV and cover letter to turkeywebfdbk@worldbank.org  by November 5, 2017.

·        High-level proficiency in C#;

·        Experience developing an application using ASP.NET Web Forms

·        Experience with object-based analysis and design;

·        Working knowledge of technologies such as XML Web Services (SOAP, RESTFul Services (Web API));

·        Experience in web technologies such as Jquery, Ajax Teknolojileri, CSS, XML, Javascript, HTML, and XHTML;

·        Experience using configuration / change management tools (svn);

·        Good knowledge of SQL, PL/SQL(Oracle), Transact-SQL(Microsoft), stored procedure and function, experience developing an application with a relational database

·        Working knowledge of multi-layered architecture;

·        Experience with Windows services, web technologies, web services, Net Framework 4 and above;

·        Working knowledge of developing mobile applications is preferred;

·        3 years experience in developing software;

·        Ability to handle and manage big data with minimal oversight;

·        Ability to work under tight deadlines, manage multi-task requirements, high attention to detail and a high degree of pro-activity and initiative;

·        Hands-on and results-oriented approach;

·        Well-developed interpersonal and team working skills, initiative, persistence and positive attitude;

·        Fluency in English and Turkish.