Older trainees: “I really enjoy learning” – Start an apprenticeship at 50 plus | EUROtoday

He was fairly daring. Recep Parlak is 52 years outdated, has lived in Germany for round 30 years – and is now doing coaching for the primary time in his life. “He is a role model for all the other trainees in my company,” says his boss Rüdiger Bahm. Bahm, who runs a automobile dealership with a workshop in Kraichtal (Karlsruhe district), describes his oldest apprentice by far as extraordinarily motivated, at all times dependable and virtually by no means sick. Even at college, he’s at all times totally concerned in classes – in distinction to a lot of his a lot youthful classmates. Parlak, the aspiring automotive mechatronics technician, is in his third yr of coaching and can take his remaining examination subsequent yr. “I really enjoy learning a lot,” he says.

Older trainees nonetheless a uncommon however rising species

Relatively “old” trainees like him are nonetheless a rarity. But now increasingly more older individuals are daring to start out yet again. Since 2010, a shift within the share of trainees within the southwest has been noticed in the direction of older ages, experiences the State Statistical Office. Accordingly, the proportion of 35 to 39 yr olds within the complete variety of trainees within the southwest rose from 0.2 % in 2010 to 0.9 final yr. This signifies that round 1,460 folks of this age had been at the moment in coaching.

People over 40 additionally elevated in quantity. In 2010, round 350 (0.2 %) had been in coaching; The quantity has now nearly tripled to 972 and a share of 0.6 %. All in all, greater than 170,000 folks had been in coaching final yr. Most had been between 17 and 22 years outdated.

For firms, the main target is normally on younger folks

Shortage of expert staff or not – for many firms, the main target is on younger folks when recruiting trainees. “The main target group for training is Generation Z,” says a spokeswoman for the Karlsruhe power provider EnBW. Around 850 individuals are at the moment finishing coaching or twin research at EnBW and Netze BW. However, the corporate additionally sometimes acquired purposes from older folks. Their expertise is seen as an awesome added worth.

At the pharmacy chain dm, the vast majority of the 4,400 apprentices are below 25 years outdated. But there are additionally trainees between the ages of 30 and 45. “These are usually people who are looking for a new direction or who want to get back into work after being out of the workforce for a long time,” says a spokeswoman. “We are firmly convinced that older apprentices bring valuable perspectives,” she says.

Women particularly dare to make a brand new begin

In her expertise, ladies particularly have the arrogance to make a brand new or new begin, says Patricia Montbrun, consultant for equal alternatives within the labor market on the Karlsruhe-Rastatt employment company. Overall, nevertheless, the “older trainees” complicated stays a section with restricted potential. There is a selected enchantment to firms not solely to make use of older folks, but in addition to coach them. But many are hesitant, “it’s just not the norm,” she explains.

It can be not simple for potential candidates to enterprise into coaching once more. “You have to learn again, at first you are at the bottom again, you often have a full private life with children, other obligations, etc.,” she says. The monetary facet additionally performs a task. “Many people ask themselves: What will I live on for three years?”

Father and son – each are in coaching on the identical time

Parlak, who has labored all his life, additionally earns much less throughout his coaching and now has to spend each penny – but it surely’s price it, he says. With a level he lastly has one thing to point out for it and can later be paid higher than earlier than as an unskilled employee.

His 22-year-old son can be at the moment coaching to change into a automobile mechatronics technician. He is studying in the identical firm, he’s in the identical yr of coaching and within the parallel class on the vocational faculty. Aside from age, there is just one distinction between father and son: “My grades are better,” says Parlak, the older one. Next yr is the ultimate examination.

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