Interest workshop

A career orientation program of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training [BiBB]

In a few years school will be over - what then?

To ensure that this question does not remain unanswered, there are career guidance programs funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Target group

The program is aimed at lower secondary schools (Hauptschulen, Realschulen, and Förderschulen) that offer a general education qualification. It requires seventh-grade students to undergo a skills assessment/potential analysis at their school beforehand, which provides a brief glimpse into their potential careers and interests.

Goals

The interest workshop offers orientation in professional fields and prepares students for career decisions.

Content & Services

As part of potential analyses [e.g., KomPo7], schools determine students' interests, among other things. The Interest Workshop tests the results of these interest tests. Students can experience firsthand whether their interests align with the reality of a career in one of the 10 offered career fields:

• Technical and practical activities in the areas of wood, metal, and electrical engineering by producing a workpiece
• Intellectual research activities in the fields of IT, electronics, for example, by working with PC hardware
• Creative design activities in the areas of colour and interior design by designing walls as well as in the area of gardening by creating various areas
• Get to know activities in the field of care
• Advisory activities in sales, e.g. by preparing and conducting sales talks
• Administrative office tasks through 2-3 days of office work

Duration & Course

The interest workshop lasts two weeks; registration is done through the school.

Process:

• get to know the workshops
• Enrollment in three (max. 4) professional fields
• 10 days of interest workshops in the workshops of the BWNW or the classrooms of our partners, the German Employees Academy [DAA] or the Education Center for Trade and Services [BZH] daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Practical work for 2.5 days per professional field
• Presentation of the workpieces and work results from the IntressensWerkstatt
• Feedback, certificate of participation and farewell
• possible internships

Financial support

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and by the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport and Housing