Research area

Short description

Correct matching of applicants for training positions with the business’ requirements is essential to both the smooth running and success of the training and to the readiness of the company to provide such training places. Many companies, however, especially small and medium-sized ones (SMEs) are, however, uncertain about how to select applicants.  At the same time, applicants are often unable to make informed decisions about their choice of future career and therefore apply for training places which are not suitable for them.  This allocation problem can lead to trainees dropping out of training or to people spending several years in the preparatory stages of a career.

The aim of this initiative is therefore to improve the matching of applicants and training places in SMEs.  This should reduce the number of inappropriate appointments and reduce the drop-out rate, and increase the willingness of companies to provide training places.

Aims

The project develops ways of supporting businesses and schools in order to make easier the choice of career and the application process.  This focuses on the interface between school and career and involves both parties to the allocation process, company and applicant.  Of key importance here is the involvement of schools in providing career guidance, in cooperation with business.

Support for SMEs in selection of training applicants:

Information on the various steps of the applicant selection process are custom-analysed for SMEs, systematised and developed into practice-orientated guidelines in a target-group specific way.  The issues covered range from the formulation of advertisements in daily papers or on the internet to the vetting of application documents and the selection procedure.

• In addition, information is provided about the support and advice available from other institutions, e.g. job centres, IHL, zab.
• A special information module is aimed at providing information on the training of young people with disabilities, as there is a particular shortage of information on this issue.

The website www.ausbildernetz.de offers small businesses who would like to offer training places for the first time information, checklists and further materials on the preparations required for training and on applicant selection (the information – in German – is found in the “Erstmalig Ausbilden in KMU — Schritte der Planung” section of the site).

Support for schools and young people:

• Analysis and systematisation of existing tools for assessment of career aptitudes and preferences.
• Information on the aims, contents and range of individual tools is made available to companies, young people and teachers.
• “Best practice” examples of career guidance, in which schools work together with companies, offer companies and teachers inspiration for initiating career guidance projects in schools.
• The website www.school2job.de informs teachers and students about online career aptitude tests and provides examples of “best practice” in career guidance in schools.

Information transfer / publicity work:

• Provision of information about educational networks and initiatives to external educational managers
• Presentation of the project to occupational education providers
• Presentation of results at professional conferences and in workshops with companies

Publication on the internet and in specialist journals

Runtime

Promoters

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  Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Infrastruktur, Verkehr und Technologie