Print version Recommend this page Press release
15/ 2011
Bonn, 13.04.2011
Choosing an occupation: Practical experience and the internet play the most important role for young men and women
When it comes to occupational orientation, young people rely first and foremost on practical experience and the internet. More than three-quarters of the trainees interviewed by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in a current research project said that practical placements are the best way to learn about an occupation. This was followed by the internet (approximately 64%) and company visits (some 48%). Although the internet ranks very high overall among youths, special websites that focus on vocational guidance did not score well (around 20%). Not quite 40% of the young women surveyed reported that Girls' Day 0 which is being held on 14 April this year 0 was a helpful source of information for their occupational orientation.
Young women know sooner and more exactly what they want to be. Compared to young men, they base their choice of an occupation somewhat more frequently on practical experience. Indecision regarding the choice of occupation is greater among young men. Correspondingly, the choice of an occupation that requires completion of formal vocational training is more frequently a 'chance decision' for young men.
For both sexes, finding an appropriate occupation that suits the individual and is fun is of primary importance when preparing to choose an occupation. However security aspects rank second, directly after personal 'fit'. Youths find it important to find a training place in general and to be protected against the possibility of being laid off. It is equally important to both young men and young women nowadays to "be able to help other people" as well.
The subject of money also plays an important role for young men and women when deciding on an occupation. The respondents unanimously said that a generous training allowance is "not so important" or "unimportant". By contrast, future potential earnings are a "very important" consideration in the decision on an occupation for some 40% of young men and for approximately 33% of the young women surveyed.
When it comes to advice and support, youths count first and foremost on their parents. Some 60% of the trainees surveyed said that their father or mother had a strong influence during the vocational guidance phase. The youths used the word 'influence' here more in the positive sense as 'backing' and 'support' and less seldom as 'pressure' or 'outside control'. However, friends (32%) and teachers (30%) also play an important role. In the case of friends, it turns out that youths tend to place more trust in the support of friends of the same sex rather than consult with the other sex when deciding on an occupation.
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training surveyed some 430 youths in 2010 as part of the Occupational Orientation of Young Women Changing research project which BIBB conducted together with the Technik-Diversity-Chancengleichheit e.V. (technology-diversity-equality of opportunity) competence centre at the FH Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. The trainees 0 half of them young men and half of them young women 0 came from the four training occupations Information Technology Officer / Information and Telecommunications System Support Specialist, Management Assistant for Retail Services, Motor Vehicle Mechatronic Technician and Medical Assistant.
Further information is available in German at www.bibb.de/berufswahl
Point of contact at BIBB:
Angelika Puhlmann, E-mail: puhlmann@bibb.de
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