iJobs – An online implementation of the JOBS II program for fostering reemployment: A feasibility and acceptability study

The current study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of iJobs, an online adaptation of the JOBS II program (Curran et al., 1999). iJobs is a two-week internet intervention for the unemployed, consisting of five modules. This study is an open-label trial with an uncontrolled, within-group, pre-posttest, and follow-up design. Out of the 56 participants allocated to the intervention, 36 completed (M(age) = 25 years; 57.1 % females) the post-test (36 % dropout), and 34 the three months follow-up. The protocol-compliant participants followed the modules with great engagement (mean quality of assignments completion above 4 points out of 5 for each module). The online platform's usability was high (84.86 points out of 100). Participants reported high overall satisfaction with the program. Our results suggest that iJobs is a feasible intervention and was accepted by its beneficiaries. Relative to baseline, inoculation against setbacks (d = 0.64), job search self-efficacy (d = 0.50), and self-esteem (d = 0.28) increased significantly, while future career anxiety in the COVID-19 context decreased significantly (d = 0.34). No significant differences were found for depression, anxiety, and job-search behaviors. At three months follow-up, 55.9 % of the participants found employment, 5.9 % were in a job selection process, and 38.2 % were still unemployed. Job satisfaction was high among the employed.