Get out and go new ways

Your alternatives to studying

. Take a look at your resources

Which skills and competencies have you already acquired? Which subjects were you particularly interested in at school? Which talents have you discovered? Which working methods, for example during your studies, did you enjoy and which ones led to frustration? What activities do you engage in in your spare time or have you already tried out in internships? What is your personality?

https://www.16personalities.com/

It also makes sense to reflect on your expectations for your future professional life: What do you wish for? What is really out of place? (Inside or outside / Contact with people or not / With technology or without /…)
After your own assessment, it is very helpful and often informative to ask people in your immediate environment (family, friends) about possible suitable professions or to get to know their professional fields.

We would be pleased to accompany you through this process of orientation with coaching. During a coaching session we use proven methods and can also point out further information or support if necessary.

When you have already decided which field you want to work in and have found the first indicators, then it is helpful to look at concrete job descriptions in this area. You can do this, for example, by contacting people and companies in the respective professional field, or by researching online. If you are really interested, an internship is also an option. The right profession depends above all on your competences, abilities, educational requirements and last but not least on your personal wishes and inclinations. The internet offers you various online tests that can help you find the right job profile.

Orientation in professional fields

It is difficult to keep track of the diversity of professional profiles. It is still helpful to distinguish broadly between the various occupational fields. It is generally easier to decide which ones are not suitable for you or to put them on a short list.

www.planet-beruf.de (Federal Employment Agency)

Career advice from the Federal Employment Agency

Comprehensive advice on career orientation is offered by the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit). This counselling includes both study counselling and counselling on all aspects of dual and school-based training. If you have already decided on a dual training programme, you can also take advantage of the consultation services of the respective chambers .

Training - more practice and good career opportunities

Dual training combines practice and theory and offers positive career opportunities. There are also many options in the public sector to obtain a state-approved qualification and to pursue a career. If you wish to progress further, numerous advanced training courses are also available.

DUAL/COMPANY VOCATIONAL TRAINING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO UNIVERSITY STUDIES

The dual training system as an initially classic path for vocational training has a successful history in Germany and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. It offers you a modern and solid career start in currently 327 trades with very good career prospects. It is therefore often a suitable alternative to studying.

In view of the current shortage of skilled workers, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are interested in recruiting suitable applicants for training and employment and are willing to invest in the further qualification of their trainees and employees. For this reason, students who have dropped out of university are an attractive target group for these companies. In some cases, recognition of your previous academic achievements or even admission to the final examination without training is possible.

The central feature of dual training is employment and practical training within a company, combined with attendance at a vocational college or college. Training is completed when you have passed a final examination before the competent chamber after which you will receive a state-recognised vocational qualification.
Over the duration of your course of training the company pays you a salary as well as your social security contributions.
You can get competent general advice in our Counselling Network, depending on individual requirements from the Federal Employment Agency, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce or the Chamber of Trade (trades sector).

You can find concrete training positions here:

Seite der Jobbörse der Agentur für Arbeit

Lehrstellenbörse der IHK

Jobzentrale des Jobcenter Kreis Kleve

https://www.jobbörse.de/ausbildung/

You can find further information on dual vocational training at www.studienabbruch-und-dann.de.

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For international students, access to academic or dual courses is subject to various requirements. It is particularly important for students to have a good command of the German language. Please note that counselling is therefore usually offered in German.

make-it-in-germany.com

Tips and advice on job search & the application process:

Starting a career in Germany – tips on the application process and job search.
(Lecture by the Employment Agency as part of the Thementage Studienzweifel, January 2022)

Back to the workforce

As an alternative to full-time studies, it is possible to enrol in a dual study programme. This is a combination of practical vocational training in a company and university studies. This very challenging and tightly organised form of acquiring a degree is definitely worthwhile, as there are usually good opportunities for you to be taken on by your company when you have completed your programme.

As a rule, after three to three and a half years you will complete your dual studies with a Bachelor’s degree and a vocational qualification from the relevant chamber. Funding is usually given in the form of training allowances paid by the company, possibly in combination with state subsidies (BAfÖG). The time models for studying and working in the company are quite different.

The Rhine-Waal and Niederrhein Universities offer dual degree programmes. For further information contact the Central Student Advisory Service.

You can find cross-regional dual courses of study here.
You can find dual courses of study offered by the federal government here.

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For international students, access to academic or dual courses is subject to various requirements. It is particularly important for students to have a good command of the German language. Please note that counselling is therefore usually offered in German.

make-it-in-germany.com

From the idea to the company

Depending on your professional field and previous education, it may also be possible to apply for a job immediately after leaving University.

If, for example, you have completed an apprenticeship, it is quite possible to apply to companies in the relevant sector and highlight the additional experience you have gained and the latest subject matter in your studies to date. Some branches, e.g. the IT sector, are often very interested in students who have dropped out of their studies and who have experience in corresponding degree programmes. This does not mean that a career is no longer possible, as there are various opportunities for further education and training as well as qualification opportunities alongside work.

Simply contact the Federal Employment Agency for advice and assistance in finding a job. On their “Jobbörse” you will find advertisements for jobs.
One service offered by the Kleve Job Centre is the new job exchange for the entire district of Kleve and the surrounding area. Here you will find advertisements for jobs, internships and apprenticeships. You can access the job exchange at www.jobzentrale-kreis-kleve.de.

And you will find advertisements for Jobs here.

It is definitely also a good idea to ask the Career Service of your university which jobs are currently available there. You can also get help there to write your application.

Here you can find a salary calculator for IT jobs. Find out how much you can earn in the IT world.

Job portals are also helpful in finding a job.

This link provides a helpful list of different job portals.

Job portals can be divided into the following categories:

Search engines that only search for vacancies, e.g.: https://www.euroweb.de/blog/die-11-besten-jobportale-im-internet.
Mega job portals: https://www.jobboersen-im-test.de/home/metasuchmaschinen
Target group job portals that search for vacancies in specific work areas. A comprehensive list can be found at https://www.jobmenu.de/jobboersen/jobboersen-liste/#allgemein
Job portals for specific age groups, e.g. for students: https://www.stepstone.de/jobs/Student.html or https://www.monster.de/jobs/q-student-jobs.aspx
Furthermore, company job portals can be found on the respective company website

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For international students, access to academic or dual courses is subject to various requirements. It is particularly important for students to have a good command of the German language. Please note that counselling is therefore usually offered in German.

make-it-in-germany.com

Orientation through voluntary service

Voluntary Services offer the opportunity to gain initial professional experience, to gain personal orientation and at the same time to get involved with others. Voluntary Service is usually carried out in a non-profit sector, e.g. in the social, cultural or ecological sector. This is where the Voluntary Social Year (FSJ), the Federal Voluntary Service (BFD), the Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) or the Voluntary Military Service (FWD) differ. Apart from these, legally regulated Voluntary Services are also offered abroad.

A Voluntary Service usually lasts 12 month. It is acknowleged from 6 month and can be extended to 18 month under certain circumstances. During this time, you are part of the team and support your colleagues in one area of work. This can be in nursing care, in pedagogical support or in the administration of an institution. The field of work are very diverse. In addition, a Volunteer Service is alway acconpanied by seminar days, where you can exchange and reflect on your experience with other volunteers. Furthermore, you will work there on personal future wishes, goals and also on social topics.

A volunteer Service is regulated by law and has other advantages. You are socially insured during your work and also receive pocket money. In some places you can even live for the duration of your service.

Voluntary Services are offered by many institutions. They are always happy to welcome people who are interested in volunteering for a time and at the same time get to know the field of work. Each placement site works together with an educational institution. These can be independent but also church institutions.

You can get in contact with the sponsors, who will help you to find a suitable placement. You can also go to the institution of your choice or in your town and ask directly if it is possivle to apply for a Volunteer Service there.

This link is provided by the Bundesarbeitskreis FSJ and lists all institutions.

This link is provided by sponsor of a Voluntary Ecological Year.

Under this link you will find futher information about the BFD.

COMPANIES ARE INTERESTED IN YOU

Here you can find companies along the Lower Rhine that are open for dropouts

Many companies have long since recognized that there are a number of reasons for hiring students who have dropped out of university as trainees or employees.

The following list contains companies that are looking forward to your application!

“I have had good experiences with study doubles in my company!”

Stefan Löb

Managing Director, Elektro Löb GmbH & Co. KG

Dual study, two in one

As an alternative to full-time studies, it is possible to complete a dual study program. This is a combination of practical vocational training in a company and university studies. This very demanding and tightly organized form of earning a degree is well worth it, as there are usually good opportunities for you to be taken on by the training company.

After usually three to three and a half years, you complete the dual study program with a bachelor’s degree and a vocational certificate from the relevant chamber. Financing usually takes the form of a training allowance paid by the company, possibly in combination with a state subsidy (BAfÖG). The time models, when you study and when you work in the company, are quite different.

The Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences are providers of dual study programs. Information on this can be obtained from the Central Student Advising Offices.

You can also find more information here:

Application checklist

Deckblatt (optional)

Text: „Bewerbung für/als …“
Name und Adresse (seriöse Email-Adresse)
Telefonnummer
Bewerbungsfoto
kein Muss und wenn nur eine Seite
- Tipp: das Layout vom Deckblatt auch für das Anschreiben und den Lebenslauf nutzen

Anschreiben

eigener Name und Adresse
Anschrift Unternehmen
Ort, Datum
Betreffzeile: „Bewerbung für/als …“
Anrede, wenn möglich persönlicher Name der Ansprechperson im Unternehmen, an den die Bewerbung geht
Text mit Bezug auf
- das Stellenangebot
- zur persönlichen Eignung und bisherige Vorkenntnisse
- Bereitschaft zu persönlichem Gespräch
Unterschrift (Vor- und Nachname; geht auch digital/eingescannt, bei digitalen Bewerbungen
maximal 1 Seite

Lebenslauf

Bewerbungsfoto (wenn es kein Deckblatt gibt)
persönliche Angabe wie Geburtsdaten, Nationalität eventuell Familienstand oder Religion (nur wenn es für die Stelle wichtig ist)
Berufserfahrungen, wenn es schon welche gibt
- gerne auch Nebenjobs oder HiWi-Jobs angeben
- mit Zeitangaben: Monat/Jahr – Monat/Jahr
Ausbildung: bisheriges Studium, ggf. bisherige Berufsausbildungen und Schulausbildung
- Mit Zeitangaben: Monat/Jahr – Monat/Jahr
Kenntnisse und Fähigkeiten: IT-Kenntnisse, Sprachkenntnisse, Führerschein, ggf. Hobbys
ehrenamtliches Engagement (wenn vorhanden)
- mit Zeitangaben: Monat/Jahr – Monat/Jahr
Datum und Unterschrift (Vor- und Nachname; geht auch digital/eingescannt, bei digitalen Bewerbungen
weitere Tipps:
- maximal 2 Seiten und tabellarisch zeitlich absteigend
- keine zeitlichen Lücken

Anlagen mit Zeugnissen:

Übersicht über bisherige Studienleistungen (Prüfungsamt / online Service um Bescheinigung bitten)
- Tipp: Übersicht nur mit bestanden Studienleistungen anfragen
Schulzeugnis und wenn vorhanden Ausbildungszeugnis
Arbeitszeugnisse über bisherige Praktika, Nebenjobs und/oder Hiwi-Jobs
Nachweis von Qualifikationen die wichtig für diese Position sind
- Tipp, bei der Online-Bewerbung alle Anhänge als ein pdf zusammenfügen