The little road in Solothurn's Wildbach district lies quietly in the evening sun. A narrow path leads through the garden, straight into the Stähle family's living room. Lennie-Joe, his mother Silke, his father Andreas and Sarina Ettore, Lennie-Joe's girlfriend, are gathered around the large wooden table. The mood is relaxed, as Lennie-Joe's apprenticeship contract as a solar installer EFZ has long been signed and sealed.
How do parents feel about the older of their two sons soon starting his apprenticeship? Father Andreas laughs out loud. «We're getting old!» he thought to himself. «But seriously, it was intense and exciting to go through the whole career choice process again. Lennie-Joe's starting point was very similar to my own.»
Got to know my son all over again
The 51-year-old started out as a CNC programmer, went on to train as an industrial foreman and completed an apprenticeship in technical business administration. Now, as Global Key Account Manager, he concludes contracts with customers from all over the world. «It was always important to me to convey to Lennie-Joe that anything is possible.»
After studying library science with a minor in psychology, Silke now works as an executive assistant at a psychological centre. «My career start was different, with my A-levels and university studies, so a lot of things were new to me. But it was incredibly interesting to really engage with my own child again and ask myself: What suits him? I really appreciated the intensive discussions we had during this time. We got to know Lennie-Joe in a completely different way.»
A difficult start to secondary school
At the beginning of secondary school, no one could have imagined that Lennie-Joe would be sitting here at the family table, having been the first in his year to receive an offer for an apprenticeship. The transition to secondary school was anything but easy. «I had a huge mental block,» says Lennie-Joe. It got to the point where the now 16-year-old was temporarily unable to attend school at all.
«We were at a loss and tried lots of different things,» says Silke. « Fortunately, the school management and teachers were incredibly accommodating and open to unconventional solutions.» As a first step, Lennie-Joe only had to attend the subjects he was good at: crafts and sports. This approach proved effective. Gradually, he found his way back into the classroom.
We have always tried to give Lennie-Joe security without taking too much off his hands.
Silke, mother of Lennie-Joe
Unseen by those around Lennie-Joe, but all the more important to him, was a message that popped up on his mobile phone one day. In it, Sarina asked how he was doing. «That's how she is,» says Lennie-Joe, looking at his girlfriend. «She cares about those around her and shows interest in how others are doing.»
In his case, the interest was mutual. As he returned to school, the two young people also got together. They have now been a couple since the end of their first year of secondary school and have thus mastered the entire career choice process together.
Disastrous trial assignment
For Lennie-Joe, the career choice process actually began earlier than for his classmates. While he was struggling at school, his parents looked for job opportunities. «When the gardener was working in our garden, Lennie-Joe actively helped him. It was obvious that a manual trade would suit him,» says his father Andreas.
Without further ado, Lennie-Joe tried his hand at a garden centre in his first year of secondary school – without success. «It was a disaster,» recalls the 16-year-old. «I was assigned to mopping for days on end.» His motivation? Gone after that experience. Lennie-Joe's father finds it completely incomprehensible why craft businesses behave this way at a time when there is a shortage of skilled workers.
Sorting out his thoughts with his girlfriend helped Lennie-Joe immensely – and Sarina too.
«That was such a shame,» he says. «A young person with a practical mindset and genuine interest comes along for a taster session and ends up being put off. All it would take is a realistic, accessible insight so that the company's efforts are also noticeable.» After this experience, Lennie-Joe definitely didn't want to become a gardener anymore.
«It wasn't a good first professional experience,» says Lennie-Joe. «But it showed me that my parents are behind me and support me. I knew that already, but in my crisis at the time and after this experience, I felt it very strongly once again.» His mother Silke agrees: «We always tried to give him security without taking too much away from him or putting too much pressure on him. It was a balancing act.»
Unbuttoned
His girlfriend Sarina was also by Lennie-Joe's side, often as his first point of contact after the taster sessions that followed in his second year of secondary school. And there were quite a few: roofer, painter, automotive specialist, polymechanic, carpenter, stove builder... Lennie-Joe felt that he was on the right track, but had not yet found his ideal profession. Sorting out his thoughts with his girlfriend helped him immensely – and Sarina too.
«We always support each other,» says Lennie-Joe. «Once, when she didn't dare to press the call button on the phone to apply for a trial position, I did it for her.» They both laugh; a lot has happened since then.
«They have matured together over the last two years, and the relationship is good for both of them,» says their mother Silke. While Lennie-Joe supported Sarina with his open manner when she was a little more reserved, she helped him at school. «Sarina is still top of her class and has always had good grades,» says Lennie-Joe. «She managed to motivate me to study.»
I am looking forward to working life. This made the search for a suitable apprenticeship easier.
Lennie-Joe, aspiring solar installer
His parents were amazed by the process their son went through. «After the crisis in his first year of secondary school, he gradually transformed into a real high achiever!» You can see how delighted his father Andreas is with the great strides the budding apprentice has made.
«He has started to take responsibility and stand up for his concerns.» As a result, the pressure to get good grades and find an apprenticeship at the same time did not cause Lennie-Joe as much stress as it did others. Instead, he was able to work towards his goal with a great deal of initiative. «I'm looking forward to working life, which made everything much easier,» says Lennie-Joe. «I also felt the support of my parents and Sarina.»
A persistent teacher
His grades improved at school, and the subject «career guidance» (BO) – especially the teacher herself – was also a great help. «Our BO teacher kept kicking us in the backside,» says Sarina with a laugh. «She was really persistent and regularly demanded that we step outside our comfort zone.»
For example, she insisted that young people had to call the company first to apply for a trial apprenticeship. «That was always very strict, but looking back, her commitment was invaluable. She showed us that it's worth putting in the effort. And in the end, she was absolutely right.»
Lennie-Joe's dedication and enthusiasm for our work were immediately apparent during his taster session.
Remo Zürcher, vocational trainer
Lennie-Joe certainly didn't lack enthusiasm during his trial assignments. It was his father Andreas who ultimately brought the profession of solar installer to the table and got his son up on the roof. The 16-year-old remembers well the moment when it was first brought to his attention.
«that's it!»
«A job that involves a lot of movement and is done outdoors, work that can be tackled directly and carried out collaboratively: that sounded incredibly appealing to me. It's also an opportunity to contribute to solving our world's environmental problems.» Without further ado, he applied for a trial position and knew right away: «This is it!»
His parents were delighted by their son's enthusiasm, but at the same time advised him to definitely try out a second employer. «We wanted to be absolutely sure that it was really the job that Lennie-Joe liked, and not just the team he worked with,» says his mother Silke.
«We know that his environment is very important to him. Exercise and teamwork are the two elements that Lennie-Joe needs for his well-being.» Lennie-Joe is also a team player outside of work. For several years, he has been playing lacrosse, a team sport played with a special stick and ball. «He has always been very sociable,» says Silke, «and he works very well in a team.»
Mutual enthusiasm
The second taster session took place at his future employer's premises. As soon as he arrived at the BKW campus in Solothurn, Lennie-Joe felt that he had come to the right place. «Everything was very well organised by Mr Zürcher, the vocational trainer at Solstis Energy AG. I was given a warm welcome and was first given a tour of the entire company,» says the prospective apprentice.
«Then we went straight to the construction site. Everyone was very nice and helpful; it was clearly important to them that I saw everything and felt comfortable. The insight was extremely interesting.» By the time he had lunch with his future colleagues, everything was clear to him. «I was convinced that the job was really right for me, and I could see that the atmosphere among the team was good.» Lennie-Joe took his enthusiasm home with him.
Secondary B pupils are often considered to be the less intelligent ones. We have demonstrated that we are capable of achieving something.
Sarina, Lennie-Joe's girlfriend
Double duty
As he was looking for a job opportunity during the summer holidays, he asked his vocational trainer whether it would be possible to do another longer placement at the company. Remo Zürcher immediately invited him to come back for a second taster placement.
«Lennie-Joe was always ready to work,» recalls his father Andreas. «We never really had to motivate him to help out anywhere. We saw our role more as being in the background, teaching him things like: what is expected in the adult world, how do I dress? We discussed things like that with him or tried to set an example.»
Dos and don'ts for parents
- Tell us about your own career choice and professional career
- Expressing your expectations and wishes without making them a requirement
- Show interest
- Taking wishes and dreams seriously
- Ask open questions
- Keeping the topic of career choice alive
- Helping your child complete their career choice tasks
- Promote skills, for example talking to adults, making telephone calls
- Proofread applications
- Encourage your child; support them after rejections and disappointments
- Attitude: Your child decides, you support them in their decision
You should refrain from doing the following:
- Looking back, evaluating early professional experiences as exclusively negative
- Evaluate your child's ideas immediately
- Push your child
- Talking oneself out of wishes and dreams
- Give closed, absolute answers (yes, no), make rules
- Put pressure on your child
- Complete career choice tasks for the child
- Leaving your child to their own devices, giving them too much responsibility
- Writing applications for your child
- Protect your child from disappointment and unpleasant situations
- Attitude: «We know what is best for our child, and we will guide them there."
This attitude, together with Lennie-Joe's performance on site, also made a positive impression on the Zurich vocational trainers. «Lennie-Joe's commitment and enthusiasm for our work were immediately apparent. The fact that he applied for a second work placement convinced us even more.» As a result, Lennie-Joe came home from his taster session with a signed preliminary contract.
«I could hardly believe it!» Lennie-Joe smiles as he recalls that day. There was great joy at home. Sarina cried with happiness, his mother Silke cheered, and even his father Andreas had tears in his eyes. «That was the hay fever,» he says and laughs. «The fact that he managed to be the first in his entire year group to find an apprenticeship, despite his difficult start in secondary school, is incredible and fills us with pride."
Self-confidence boosted
Sarina was also able to celebrate soon afterwards, signing her apprenticeship contract as a pharmacy technician EFZ as the second in her year group . « It was good for my self-confidence,» she says. «Secondary B students are often viewed by outsiders as being less intelligent. We have demonstrated that we are capable of achieving something.» Lennie-Joe's early success has also encouraged him. «Grades are certainly important when looking for an apprenticeship, but it's also your personality that counts.»
And now? – First, it's time for a holiday. Sarina and Lennie-Joe are travelling to the Mediterranean with his family so that they can start this new chapter in their lives feeling relaxed. «But I'm actually so excited to start my apprenticeship,» says the budding solar installer, «that I'd love to start tomorrow.»
