Following last year’s successful debut, the joint career orientation event organized by the vocational high schools—the Robert-Franck-Schule, the Mathilde-Planck-Schule, and the Oscar-Walcker-Schule—entered its second year. Students from the three schools took advantage of the opportunity to talk with people from a wide variety of professional fields and gain valuable insights for their future.
Thirteen speakers provided insights into their professional worlds
The event was opened by Mr. Rosum, principal of the Mathilde-Planck-Schule, who welcomed the participants to Campus Day. Thirteen speakers had taken the afternoon off specifically to share their personal experiences. Their career paths were as diverse as the professional fields they represented: While some have been in the workforce for many years, others are still in the middle of a dual study program or have only recently started their careers. It was precisely this mix that provided authentic insights into very different life paths.
Honest Answers and Practical Tips
The focus was primarily on personal experiences and honest answers. What challenges does a degree program entail? What should you keep in mind when applying for jobs? And do you even need to know exactly where your career path is headed? The speakers spoke openly about their successes, uncertainties, and detours, and offered valuable practical tips.
Exchange on an Equal Footing Goes Over Well
The consistently positive feedback showed that this format resonated with the young people. In particular, the personal nature of the event—as well as its role in providing practical guidance and encouragement for individual engagement—was praised. The practical tips were also well received. One participant was pleased with the helpful advice and little “loopholes” that are rarely covered in traditional information sessions. One student also highlighted the rapport with the speakers, many of whom were young people themselves.
Working Together for Better Career Prospects
Once again, the success of the afternoon was due to the dedicated, cross-school organizing team consisting of Elisa Frank (guidance counselor and career advisor, RFS), Janina Boegel (upper-level guidance counselor, OWS), and Gabriele Rösch (department head of vocational high schools, MPS). Thanks to the collaboration among the three schools, this year’s event once again succeeded in opening up a broad spectrum of career prospects for the students and making career guidance particularly effective through direct interaction. After all, sometimes all it takes is an honest conversation, an unexpected insight, or a helpful tip to bring you a big step closer to your own future.
