Not more than a week has to pass before nestlings are fully fledged and ready to leave their homes and fly out into the world. So it is with people.
It takes five or sometimes 10 years of parents’ help and support before a young person is educated and trained enough to begin their independent life.
The question is this: How do we make the first steps from school to the job market smooth and painless?
It is one that plagues every young mind, regardless of nationality and professional discipline.
The German approach to this problem and the opportunities that are open to young graduates and students deserve some attention. The attractiveness of that approach is embedded in the fact that students do have a lot of opportunities for successful careers once they are out of school.
The German social system does a lot to support and direct them. The idea that stands behind it, however, does not have so much to do with providing guidance and protection, but rather, with being the first to get access to the best.
It is a deliberate policy of companies and business representatives in Germany to work with students and young graduates in search for the really talented and motivated ones.
Sifting through all those young and bursting minds, companies are able to attract and hire new employees whose creativity, combined with cutting-edge skills, will benefit them.
With just one click, a student can register on their website, get updates on the most recent news and information and look through the list of companies and job vacancies.
To a great extent, those career fairs are, of course, nothing but huge premises filled to the brim with company representatives, flashy fliers, colorful posters and throngs of overexcited youngsters.
At the same time, they offer a perfect opportunity to see the real worth of your education and skills. Students can ask professionals to look through their resumés and cover letters and get some tips about how to survive a job interview and how to make the most of one’s ambitions and talents.
On their part, companies, through that active interaction with students, look for the best candidates for their internship and trainee programs.
In some cases, they are even ready to sponsor a student’s thesis or support conducting research. The competition is fierce and companies give preference to candidates with a well thought-out and precise idea of what they would like to do once they are accepted.
Students should be able to demonstrate their abilities to communicate and interact, find solutions in critical situations and possess team and leadership skills. The best way to get through such an exam is to come as prepared as possible.
After all, nobody wants your career path to be successful more than you. No one can give your life the turn and the shape that you feel is right for you.
Nadja Panchenko is a graduate student studying journalism and American studies who attended Ohio University last quarter and is a columnist for The Post. She is continuing her studies at Leipzig University. Email her at np577711@ohiou.edu.
