The "Starter quartet" orientation programme is helping young adults to change careers. It allows them to try out different occupations and discover what suits them best.
Ismael Althebe is pleased to have taken part in the "Starter quartet" orientation programme. Following his upper secondary-school leaving certificate, he completed training as an electronics engineer back home in Syria. After fleeing from his country in November 2015 and following the initial period in Germany during which he successfully passed his language examinations, he nevertheless realised that the German language skills barrier in the electronics sector was too great and that, for the time being, he would not be able to work in this occupation in Germany. He made the decision to change career direction - a real challenge as he now had to identify his other strengths. He also had to get to know and understand the German system of training and employment. The BANG Startercenter in Delbrück in North Rhine-Westphalia helped him with this. This is a vocational orientation centre which offers advice and provides trial phases in training workshops and companies.
Finding out about new areas of work
The "Starter Quartett" orientation programme enables young people and young adults such as Ismael Althebe to try out different areas of work. Each participant has the chance to choose from four different occupational fields and then see whether the choice is right for their capabilities and interests.
Althebe received approval for the retraining which he will complete at the end of 2019. He had the following to say about his experiences in the "Starter Quartett" orientation programme: "We were producing simple components on the machine straight away. I was able to see how I would cope with the machines and the work tasks in German." He had no knowledge of this sector from his home country. "It was explained to me using the tasks how the retraining would run. I enjoyed it and it made me think: I can do this."