«Young people want their concerns to be taken seriously»

Step 5: Review and decision

Ms Kronenberg, after the 9th school year, young people are faced with a choice between secondary school, the 10th school year and around 230 career options. Where do you start with the counselling?

First of all, it is important that young people feel comfortable with me. Then it's about the question: Where does the person stand? Basically, it's about getting to know someone's personality and the environment in which they operate. This creates an initial framework.

How do you manage to get school leavers interested in this process?

The attitude that resonates is central. Young people want their concerns to be taken seriously. The aim is to strengthen their self-efficacy so that they can ultimately make their career choice. Counselling is voluntary, which is certainly conducive to motivation. In return, this presupposes that young people become active themselves.

Does the activity sometimes falter?

Of course, there are individual cases of young people who need more support and are not very motivated. Experience shows that these are apprenticeship seekers who have had bad experiences in the education system or who have difficult circumstances such as an unstable environment. These circumstances must be taken into account by providing resources for support and guidance.

The aim of my counselling is to strengthen young people in their self-efficacy.

To what extent are these necessary?

Closer support is needed to ensure that they don't miss out on starting their career. For example, I call if someone doesn't turn up for an appointment.

With a raised index finger?

No, with a lot of openness. We find out why the appointment was not kept. Everyone has to draw their own conclusions from this so that, for example, appointments are kept on time in their future careers. These are practice areas for so-called key and life skills.

Then the motivation increases again?

Absolutely. Adults are also more likely to engage in learning processes if they are met with goodwill. It is important that change is possible, sometimes it just takes a little time. Basically, it is important for all young people to find a place in our society. As a rule, 14 and 15-year-olds are very motivated to actively seek this place.

Being 14 or 15 years old and having to make such an important decision: Does that even fit together?

This is very individual and depends heavily on your personality and experiences. Some are more challenged or even overwhelmed by the jungle of career choices, for others the moment is just right. And still others have been pawing at the bit for a long time because they are waiting to swap their school desk for a practical job.

This range requires a great deal of flexibility from you as a consultant.

But that's also what makes my own career field so interesting. Everyone who is about to choose a career has in common that they are making a decision for the next three to four years. Our education system is very permeable, so many roads lead to Rome. This realisation takes a lot of pressure off the decision-making process.

Does that mean that your first profession doesn't have to be your absolute vocation?

Exactly. However, it is important that it is a job that someone is happy to do, gains confidence in their own abilities and has positive experiences. If this is the case, further steps or training opportunities will automatically follow.

Career entry therefore goes hand in hand with personal development.

Not only that, but they also find their own role in society. The feeling of being needed is crucial for your own well-being. In addition, knowing and being able to assess yourself better is always an advantage for your future career.

The feeling of being needed is crucial for a young person's well-being.

Are special methods also used in counselling?

Of course, there are questionnaires or potential tests that can be used. These are used depending on the situation. It depends very much on where someone stands. However, the counselling interview remains crucial. It helps to find out more about yourself and to approach suitable professions.

When do you release young people into working life with a good feeling?

Then, when they are curious to move on to a new stage in their lives and know where they can go for support should they ever need it.