Operating Modes

In addition to the basic searching in DeskTop mode as outlined in the Getting Started section, Profile Professional 2004 also provides more comprehensive searching through two independently functioning operating modes that can be used with the same Client File under a single licence usage. The following is a description of the purpose and functions of each mode.

Standard Mode:

The Standard mode is invoked by default when a new Client File is created. Use this mode to select and apply one or more Search Filters against the NOC CH database using the comparison search engine.

In Standard Mode, you begin with an empty Search Filter profile. Then, you select and activate specific Search Filters to create a Search Filter profile. The Search Filter profile can consist of any combination of NOC CH Descriptors and Labels including Aptitude levels, Interest profile, specific Physical Activities ratings and so on. Once the Search Filter Profile has been created, a comparison search can be conducted against the entire NOC CH database, or a subset of the NOC CH organized by Skill Level or Skill Type. The results set of the comparison search will consist of a list of Unit Group occupation titles that are subsequently displayed in a grid. All occupation titles shown in the results set have NOC CH characteristics (Descriptors and Labels) that 'match' the Search Filter profile you created.

Individual Search Filter settings can be modified, activated and deactivated as required to arrive at an optimal results set. For example, your Search Filter profile may contain a set of Aptitude levels, an Interest code, and a Physical Activities Strength rating. When these filters are applied against the NOC CH database, the results set will consist of a number of Unit Group Occupation titles assuming that all Search Filter profile parameters have passed during the comparison search. If the results set you obtain contains too few (or no) occupation titles, you may choose to deactivate a specific Search Filter profile parameter, and repeat the comparison search in the hopes of increasing the number of occupation titles that are selected. In this hypothetical case, deactivating the Interest code filter may result in the selection of a larger number of occupation titles. Conversely, if the results set contains too many occupation titles, you may choose to modify the components of the Search Filter profile, or include additional Search Filters to reduce the number of selected titles.

Most commonly, the Standard mode is used to arrive at a listing of Unit Group occupation titles that are consistent with a client's known, or assessed attributes. These attributes may be obtained through standardized testing such as GATB testing, administration of the Canadian Work Preference Inventory, or Physical Activities ratings determined on the basis of a functional abilities evaluation or physical demands analysis of a job.

Composite Transferable Skills Analysis (C-TSA) Mode:

The C-TSA mode is used to create a complete composite Search Filter profile that in a general sense, is based on a client's employment record (Work History).

In Profile 2004, you add individual occupation titles to an initially empty Work History list by selecting each one from the display grid, and then clicking the Add to Work History button situated below the grid. There is no limit to the number of Unit Group occupation titles that can be added to the Work History list. Once you click the Finish Work History button, Profile automatically derives a composite set of Descriptors and Labels taken from each occupation title in the Work History, and then displays them in their appropriate locations in the left pane of the screen. Once you have finished creating the Work History list, it is not possible to add more occupation titles to it.

At this point, specific C-TSA Search Filter profile components can be modified, activated, and deactivated as required. For example, if the C-TSA Search Filter profile contains a Physical Activities Strength rating of Heavy, and your client's Strength rating is currently in the Light range, then the C-TSA Strength rating can be changed to Light. Upon completion of the comparison search, the results set will consist of Unit Group occupation titles that 'match' the activated Search Filters, including a Strength rating of Light or Limited (if a hierarchical Strength Filter was chosen).

By default, Profile automatically activates Aptitude levels, DPT ratings, Education/Training Indicators, and Strength ratings in the C-TSA Search Filter profile. These settings can however by changed as needed. Please see the Help section Understanding the Comparison Search to obtain additional information on how the various Search Filters function during that process.

The C-TSA mode is commonly used to identify suitable occupational alternatives for clients who are no longer able to continue with, or to return to a previous job due to the limiting influence of an injury or disability. In such cases, Profile can help to identify vocational alternatives or retraining goals that capitalize upon a person's existing vocational skills, training, and experience as represented by their Work History.