Ms Villiger, what role does the working environment play in choosing an apprenticeship?
A very significant one. If young people have negative experiences during a taster apprenticeship – for example, if they are left to their own devices or are only allowed to watch – they often cross the profession off their list straight away. In the best-case scenario, they'll try another taster apprenticeship at a different company and get a second impression. However, the environment is not only crucial for career choice, but also for whether young people successfully complete an apprenticeship.
Young people should experience, through their training, that they can make a difference.
What do you mean by a «good working environment» in a company offering apprenticeships?
It is essential to value young people and take them seriously. Above all, this is a question of one's inner attitude. If young people are made to feel that they are important to the organisation, they will remain motivated. This involves having designated points of contact and the opportunity to take on responsibility and learn from mistakes. Young people should experience that they can make a difference. This strengthens their sense of self-efficacy and their willingness to learn.
To what extent does the working atmosphere influence a person's decision, compared with salary or the commute?
The choice of career always depends on a number of factors: the nature of the work, the working environment, pay, the commute, or even the views of one's peers. It is usually the interplay of these elements that is decisive. However , when it comes to dropping out of vocational training, the focus is often on the working atmosphere, as well as performance at vocational college. Adults, too, prefer to work where they feel at ease.
Which aspects of the business are particularly important during the apprenticeship?
Of course, we need professionals whose expertise the trainees can benefit from. Equally important is a culture that actively embraces mistakes. Particularly at the start, it helps young people enormously if they are allowed to openly discuss their uncertainties. It is also valuable when different people come together in the workplace and treat one another with respect. Trainees should be able to say how they are getting on and learn to give and receive feedback. This enables them to learn how to assess their own skills.
What role do vocational trainers play in this context?
Vocational trainers must be approachable and responsive. Ideally, a relationship of trust develops that goes beyond purely technical matters. Regular opportunities for dialogue provide support: these allow for reflection on learning progress, and enable young people to feel that someone is taking an interest in them and their well-being. Vocational trainers also ensure that the content covered at vocational school can be put into practice in the workplace. This role is therefore crucial. Anyone who invests heavily in apprentices’ vocational training makes an important contribution to their successful completion of an apprenticeship.
Why is a supportive environment so important, particularly for young people?
During adolescence, young people have to tackle many developmental tasks simultaneously. They develop an idea of the kind of relationships they wish to have, must come to terms with physical changes and learn to cope with them, and must also find their place in society. Choosing a career is one of many developmental tasks during adolescence. When we ask parents in our courses what behaviour of their child they notice at home and which developmental task they attribute this to, the choice of career is never mentioned. In the eyes of young people, making friends is far more important.
The apprenticeship years offer enormous potential for development.
How does this affect career choices?
The sheer number of these developmental challenges makes young people sensitive and vulnerable. Their sense of identity has not yet been firmly established. That is why a supportive environment is particularly important. At the same time, this stage of life holds enormous potential for development. Anyone who supports young people effectively can see just how much they grow and gain self-confidence during their apprenticeship years.
What questions should young people ask during a job interview to get a better idea of the working environment?
It is important to find out what tasks apprentices are responsible for and how the collaboration is organised. What decisions can they make for themselves as apprentices? Useful questions to ask during the interview include, for example: «What happens if I make a mistake?» or «How often do you meet with your vocational trainer?». If possible, it is also worth speaking to other apprentices at the company.
How will the importance of the working environment evolve in the future?
Relationships have always been important and will continue to be so. Stable relationships are particularly important in a complex and fast-paced world. People outside the family can provide young people with a sense of security and support them as they navigate the challenges of growing up. Good role models therefore remain essential.
