Susanna Valentin: Our eldest son is currently on a work experience placement at an architectural practice as a draughtsman (EFZ).
Stefan Michel: How are you finding this stage of helping your son choose a career?
Valentin: It's important to Lio that he prepares for his taster work placements independently and travels there on his own. At first, I tended to check in with him to see if he'd got everything sorted. I've become more relaxed about it now.
Michel: Nora came home absolutely thrilled after every taster work placement as a care worker and would have loved to start work straight away. She's looking forward to her day-to-day work; her weariness with school has only grown in Year 3 of upper secondary school.
Valentin: I've heard Lio talk about this too. Working life promises a salary, more freedom and greater independence. But during his taster work placements, he also realised that there are challenges ahead: the commute takes time, working days can be long, and there aren't as many holidays.
When should I give them a nudge or weigh in, and when is it better to hold back? It's a fine line for parents to walk.
Susanna Valentin
Michel: The taster sessions provide that «reality check», which I think is good. The autonomy, on the other hand, can be a challenge for me at times. Perhaps I'm worrying for nothing again, but I do sometimes have reservations about the level of commitment required. For example, when Nora recently cancelled a dentist's appointment only when it was too late. I recognise that habit of putting things off until it's too late from my own youth. At sixth form and later at university, it wasn't such a big deal. But during an apprenticeship, that could go down badly. Generally speaking, though, our daughter is conscientious.
Valentin: When I was at school, I, too, used to leave a lot of things until the last minute. But of course, as a parent, you always want everything to go as smoothly as possible and for your children not to have any problems. It's a fine line between personal responsibility and providing a safety net. When should I give them a nudge or have a say, and when is it better to step back?
Michel: To be honest, Nora's search for an apprenticeship went almost too quickly. I felt as though we were more like observers than active participants. During that time, Nora proved that she can organise herself. We were just there as extras. However, she still likes to hand over responsibility when we get involved. That can become a trap.
Valentin: Yes, we're extras and suddenly we're called upon to act as the fire brigade when there's a fire. Have you ever had a moment like that?
Just ten days after the job advert was published, the company stopped accepting applications. It came as a shock
Stefan Michel
Michel: The shock came when she submitted her application for her first-choice apprenticeship. Just ten days after the vacancy was advertised – whilst the summer holidays were still underway – the company stopped accepting applications. She really should have made sure to submit her application as soon as possible after it went live on the online platform. Because we hadn't put enough pressure on her in that regard, she probably thought it wasn't that urgent. I felt guilty at that moment.
Valentin: How did she find her apprenticeship?
Michel: We got in touch with the HR department at the training company. They asked Nora if she'd be interested in an apprenticeship at one of their partner companies. She actually likes this one even better now and is really looking forward to the apprenticeship.
Valentin: How did you go about putting the dossier together? Did you help her with it?
Michel: Of course I'm supporting her as a professional writer. Seriously, it was important to me that she made the most of this opportunity. Her grades were average, so she had to win them over with her personality and submit a portfolio that stood out.
Valentin: How did she go about it in her application to ensure she could even introduce herself in person?
Michel: She used pictures and short sentences to describe what sort of person she is and how she spends her free time. She hadn't realised that sport climbing and belaying her climbing partner were good examples of responsibility and teamwork. We also encouraged her to write about the fact that she has been looking after two young children in the neighbourhood for the past two years. By describing her personal development in simple sentences, she showed that she hasn't just started thinking about this topic since she began looking for an apprenticeship.
Ultimately, it is down to us as parents to ensure that our children are successful in their search for an apprenticeship.
Susanna Valentin
Valentin: That's a good point! Lio can certainly benefit from the fact that he's not only very committed to university hockey, but is also active as a coach for very young players. He takes on responsibility and enjoys playing as part of a team. Membership of youth organisations such as the Jungwacht, of which he is a member, is also viewed favourably for the same reasons.
Michel: My partner and I have learnt something else: the school takes care of a lot, but it's important for parents to keep up to date and, for example, to be aware of deadlines. Our daughter's class had finished their portfolios for the Career Guidance module by the time many companies had already stopped accepting applications.
Valentin: Do you think parents are lulled into a false sense of security because the school also takes care of the career choice process? Ultimately, though, the responsibility lies with us to ensure our children successfully complete their search for an apprenticeship – including all the intermediate steps and mandatory tasks that go with it. Have you made use of career guidance services?
Michel: Minimal. As our daughter knew what she wanted, and we ourselves have quite a lot of expertise, we didn't need that sort of support – apart from a few brief meetings with the careers adviser at school. It can be quite different for others. I know of cases where careers guidance has played a crucial role.
Sometimes I wish I could go back to the time when Nora was a little girl and I was the most important, coolest, funniest man in her life.
Stefan Michel
Valentin: The main thing is that everyone finds the right apprenticeship for them. Our eldest children will soon be starting their working lives – time really does fly! It really does make you think, doesn't it?
Michel: Sometimes I wish I could go back to the time when Nora was a little girl and I was the most important, coolest, funniest man in her life. But I'm also looking forward to the conversations I'll have with her when she tells me about her working life. How does it feel for you?
Valentin: I find it fascinating to discover a career path through Lio that's new to me but very interesting. It really makes me proud to see how he's developing into his own person.
