"Stumbling Beginnings in Initial Careers Receive Assistance" - Guidance for Beginning Professional Development
In a bid to make professional life more accessible for young people with support needs in Thuringia, the region offers a range of promotion opportunities. These opportunities, spanning from entry qualification to assisted training, have been hailed as excellent by Thomas Malcherek, the managing director of the Chamber of Crafts.
One such support option is the VET transition system (Übergangsbereich), which provides targeted assistance to young adults who have not been able to secure a training position on their own. This system offers measures that help prepare and transition them into vocational education and training (VET) contracts in companies.
Another valuable resource is vocational language courses, organized by the Federal Agency of Migration and Refugees (BAMF). These courses enhance job-related German language skills, improving the chances of securing an apprenticeship or job. Eligible individuals registered with the Federal Employment Agency or Jobcenter can participate, with specific programs available in Thuringia.
Vocational upper secondary programs at Berufsschulen provide a three-year combination of classroom instruction and industry apprenticeships, leading to vocational qualifications. While typically for those with contracts, these schools also serve as key vocational education centres in the region.
Additional educational support and scholarships are also available. Institutions like the Nordhausen University offer scholarships and study startup grants to promote talented young people in vocational training, advising on financing options such as BAföG, parental funding, and student jobs to ease financial barriers in education or further training.
The "Summer of Vocational Training" campaign, initiated by the Chamber of Crafts Erfurt, includes a series of information offers to help young people make informed career choices. Vocational orientation education offers serve to specifically prepare for vocational training, allowing young people to learn about different occupational fields.
Entry qualification, a social security-paying long-term internship, serves as a bridge into vocational training. Assisted training, a regular in-company apprenticeship that is supported by additional promotion, is also available.
In Thuringia, there are currently 2,800 applicants without completed training contracts out of 7,100 registered applicants. The regional directorate of the Federal Employment Agency in Sondershausen has announced various promotion opportunities for these applicants. The employment agencies and job centres in Thuringia are offering support to these applicants.
Particularly sought after are motor vehicle mechatronics, plant mechanics for sanitation, heating and air conditioning technology, and information electronics. These opportunities could be limited due to factors such as too many applicants in the desired profession, an insufficient school leaving certificate, or health problems.
With these promotion opportunities, young people in Thuringia have a comprehensive support system designed to help them access and succeed in vocational training despite initial difficulties in securing a contract.
Community policy in Thuringia emphasizes education-and-self-development and career-development, particularly through vocational training. The VET transition system, vocational language courses, Berufsschulen, scholarships, and the "Summer of Vocational Training" campaign all aim to facilitate job-search for young adults with support needs in Thuringia. These initiatives offer measures such as entry qualification, social security-paying long-term internships, and assisted training to bridge the gap and increase the chances of securing a vocational training or job placement.
