Three-quarters of all unemployed people under the age of 25 have not completed vocational training. Conversely, this means that a solid vocational education is the best protection against unemployment. The good news is that young people’s willingness to pursue vocational training is encouragingly high. For 80 percent of high school students, vocational training in the dual system is an option, and for half of them, it is even a firm goal, as a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation shows.
To help pave the way for them, the Birkenfeld National Park District—as the governing body for secondary schools—has, together with the city of Idar-Oberstein and the Bad Kreuznach Employment Agency, launched the “jobzzone” apprenticeship guide for the tenth time. “jobzzone” is made available to young people free of charge one year before they graduate from high school. It supports families in career planning and offers employers a platform to specifically recruit young talent.
“From traditional crafts to major industrial companies and academic career paths, everyone can find the right opportunity here. Our employers show young people a wide range of possibilities and support them in successfully entering the workforce,” emphasizes Frank Frühauf, mayor of Idar-Oberstein.
“‘jobzzone’ offers students the best overview of apprenticeship opportunities near their homes and the companies behind them,” said Miroslaw Kowalski, District Administrator of the Birkenfeld National Park District. “You can’t start early enough to think about which career is right for you. ‘jobzzone’ helps you better navigate today’s almost overwhelming selection of apprenticeship programs and dual study programs,” adds the District Administrator.
“Digitalization is rapidly transforming existing job profiles, and new ones are emerging. Young people have a wealth of options open to them, with excellent opportunities for career advancement and development. ‘jobzzone’ offers a regional overview of opportunities close to home and enhances the appeal of dual vocational training,” says Edeltraud Nikodemus, Executive Director of the Bad Kreuznach Employment Agency. She adds: “Career counseling experts can help you sort through, evaluate, and apply the information during the career selection process: Call 0800 4555500 to schedule an appointment.”
“‘jobzzone’ is more than just a directory of apprenticeship programs and companies for our students. We use it specifically for career guidance, to prepare for internships and career fairs, and in our classroom instruction and counseling sessions. Thanks to its regional and practical focus, it helps young people connect career opportunities with their own interests and skills. In this way, it promotes career decision-making skills, independence, and realistic decisions about the future. At the Realschule plus Idar-Oberstein, career guidance is an ongoing educational process. “‘jobzzone’ is a valuable component in this process that provides guidance and opens up concrete paths into the working world,” explains Julia Molter, educational coordinator at the Realschule plus in Idar-Oberstein.
“jobzzone” is published as a high-quality print edition featuring all employer profiles, as well as plenty of tips and useful information on career guidance and job applications. The accompanying recruiting portal, www.jobzzone.de, offers a comprehensive regional database with useful tools for targeted searches. There, companies also have the opportunity to present themselves and their training programs in short videos.
“With ‘jobzzone,’ we reach tomorrow’s skilled workers directly and get them excited about apprenticeship positions and dual degree programs in the region,” explains Matthias Ess of Matthias Ess Publishing. A particularly handy feature: QR codes in the print edition take students directly to the respective company’s online profile, allowing them to easily get in touch with the companies offering apprenticeships.