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What comes after school?
Vocational and study choice orientation in NRW
Pupils in NRW receive targeted help with career orientation
Making a decision about a future career is not easy for young people. After all, there is a wide range of options and many a question: Which fields of work suit one's own strengths and interests? Which course of study opens up the best prospects for one's own talents? Which paths lead to the job of one's dreams? In North Rhine-Westphalia, students are systematically guided on their way to choosing a career starting in grade 8. Here you can find information and online sources on career and study orientation and what is behind the state-wide transition system "Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss (KAoA)", for example.
Training
Many good reasons speak for training. There are currently 324 recognized apprenticeship occupations in Germany in these areas: Industry, crafts, public service, home economics, agriculture, maritime shipping and in liberal professions.
In addition to the school and digital offers for career guidance, it is advisable to talk to a career counselor about personal options and paths to the dream job. Young people can make a free consultation appointment at their local employment agency.
The Chambers of Industry and Commerce and the Chambers of Crafts also offer advice and have detailed information available.
A good way to actively find out about training opportunities is to visit a training or job fair. There the enterprises and enterprises present themselves in the region and present their offers. Students get a personal impression of potential employers and can make initial contacts. Free lectures and coaching for job applications and interviews round off the program.
Study
After graduating from high school, the question usually arises: What should I study? The choice is huge. In Germany alone, there are more than 17,500 different courses of study at around 400 universities and colleges, and the trend is rising. In addition, there are study programs abroad.
For a comprehensive orientation as to which course of study best suits your own strengths and interests, you should take your time. Digital Internet portals can be used for an initial overview.
University information days are a good way to get to know the study programs offered by universities. Also a taster and pupil study gives an insight on trial.
In the employment agencies, specially trained Abi advisors offer qualified study advice. They also help to find out which educational paths fit personal strengths and talents.
Once the course of study has been decided, the Central Student Advisory Service is an important point of contact for prospective students. In general, it is always advisable to form one's own picture of the universities on the shortlist. The student advisors at the local universities will be happy to help and give tips on choosing a subject, allocating study places, study content and requirements.
KAoA - No graduation without connection
The statewide transition system supports young people from grade 8 onward in choosing a career
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In North Rhine-Westphalia, young people in grade 8 and above receive targeted help in choosing a career. The statewide transition system KAoA - Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss - supports all students in North Rhine-Westphalia in early career orientation.
The process, which is accompanied by schools, ensures that everyone is given follow-up prospects for vocational training or university studies at an early stage. All public secondary schools in NRW participate in the state initiative.
KAoA ensures that all young people receive early support in their career orientation, their choice of occupation, and their entry into a profession or university. Starting in grade 8, every student undergoes a binding and systematic process that is accompanied at school. Local coordinating bodies bundle the activities on site and network all the players involved. Local employment agencies, job centers, schools and vocational colleges, youth welfare services, educational institutions, business organizations, chambers and trade unions work together in this process.
The systematic vocational orientation of "Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss" begins in grade 8. KAoA includes the following standard elements:
Potential analysis
The potential analysis supports all students in identifying their abilities and strengths. Detailed information on the potential analysis can be found on the Internet site of the NRW Ministry of Labor.
Vocational field exploration provides students with realistic insights into the world of work. It builds on the findings of the potential analysis and offers the chance to get to know different occupational fields in a hands-on way.
For detailed information on career field exploration, visit this Internet site of the NRW Ministry of Labor.
The brochure "Berufsfelderkundung. Schüler und Schüler erleben Praxis - zur beruflichen Orientierung" explains how the exploration takes place in practice and describes examples and experiences of young people. Click here to download.
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Practice Courses
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In grades 9 and 10, all students receive an in-depth look at the professional and working world through practical courses.
When students enter upper secondary school, career orientation continues. To this end, workshops are held in the upper school and practical elements are offered. The NRW Ministry of Education has produced an explanatory film on this subject, which you can view.
The transition from school to work is not always completely smooth. Students with handicaps or special needs receive additional support.
Vocational Orientation for Youth with Handicaps (KAoA-STAR)
For young people with handicaps, starting a career comes with additional challenges. Especially when the goal is in-company training and employment and the path should not lead directly to a workshop for people with disabilities. With the KAoA-STAR offerings, these students receive career guidance support that is precisely tailored to their individual needs.
The career orientation elements of the KAoA-STAR offers are aimed at
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Youth with (severe) disabilities
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and / or need for special educational support in the areas of mental development, physical and motor development, hearing and communication, vision, language
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Further information and an explanatory film on KAoA-STAR can be found on this Internet page of the Ministry of Labor NRW.
Vocational entry support
Students with a secondary general or special school leaving certificate are supported in the transition from school to vocational training by career entry guides. They answer all questions about the transition to vocational training, help with application documents and arranging internships, and assist in the search for a suitable training position.
For more information on this support program, visit this website of the NRW Ministry of Labor.
The workshop year is a low-threshold vocational preparation year. It is aimed at young people who are not yet ready for vocational training. It provides them with a transitional offer. The workshop year combines vocational qualification with practical phases in the company.
For detailed information on the workshop year, visit this Internet site of the NRW Ministry of Labor.
The flyer "The Workshop Year. Your chance to start a career" is also available for free download.
The digital career choice passport 4.0 supports students in dealing with their own career choice orientation in a self-responsible manner. The online tool provides the opportunity for information and documentation as well as for planning and organizing personal career orientation. A digital version of the Berufswahlpass NRW is already available. In 2022, the Berufswahlpass will appear as an app. The NRW Ministry of Labor provides further information on this internet site.
More informationLinks for further reading
On the Internet there are a large number of online platforms where parents and children can get an initial overview of career and study choice orientation. Here on Familienportal.NRW, we have compiled an overview of recommended portals that can be consulted for the development of career perspectives.
Expert career counseling is offered by local employment agencies. A counseling appointment should be made early. A contact form is available on this website of the employment agency.
The advice centers of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the Chambers of Crafts in the region also provide competent advice and know exactly which training companies offer vacancies. The chambers are partners of the companies and can answer all questions about training. Use the IHK finder to go directly to your local IHK. Use the Chamber of Skilled Crafts search engine to find the relevant Chamber of Skilled Crafts in your region.
Training and career fairs are held regularly in all regions. The fairs offer a good opportunity to get to know training companies up close. Personnel managers are often on the stand together with trainees, who provide authentic insights into practice and answer all questions in detail.
The Vocational Orientation portal of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia provides comprehensive information on the goals of the state initiative "Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss (KAoA)". The explanatory films provide information about the building blocks of KAoA in various languages. Click here to download the videos in German, Arabic, English, Farsi, Polish, Serbian and Turkish.
