“Don’t be intimidated by the ‘big picture’, but look at the next smaller step,” is what JOBLINGE mentor Luise Herrmann tells her mentees.
At the same time, the mentor also learns a lot from the young adults, as she explains in the interview.
Ms. Herrmann, why are you involved with JOBLINGE?
I have always found working with young people exciting and very rewarding.
It’s nice to build a trusting relationship with another person and to experience how they make decisions and to support them in doing so.
What I found particularly interesting about JOBLINGE Kompass is that it involves people from different cultural backgrounds.
I found getting to know both of my mentees very enriching.
What I also find very exciting is the clear direction that the project takes.
The aim is to support young people in their search for their professional future and, in the best case scenario, this means starting an apprenticeship at the end.
I find that very worthy of support!
Why are mentors important for young people?
In a phase in which you have to realign yourself and make important decisions, it is helpful to have a neutral contact person.
If the relationship between mentee and mentor is right and characterized by trust, this can have a positive effect.
Especially when things get difficult and there is someone there to encourage and challenge at the same time.
It often helps if the mentee can get in touch simply and easily so that they don’t feel alone.
What distinguishes your mentee Marshet, how did her training work out?
Marshet was determined and disciplined right from the start.
She always said: “If you make time for me, then I have to work hard too”.
She had set herself an incredibly high goal for her professional future, fought her way through, worked incredibly hard and is now finished with her dream training as a dental assistant.
Even during her training, she stuck to her attitude: “When others invest time and energy in me, I want to give them something back. I do that by giving my all.”
What have you learned from your mentee?
Determination and incredible discipline; staying focused and confident despite adverse circumstances and seeing the opportunity in the challenge.
She impressed me with this attitude and is an absolute role model for me.
What tips do you prefer to give your mentees?
It depends on the personal situation.
I generally try to encourage people to ask questions and show interest.
It is often the language requirements that lead to difficulties.
Mentees often don’t dare to ask about meanings or content because they don’t want to be labeled as incompetent.
However, it is sometimes not clear that it helps them more if they ask and it is interpreted as interest.
What I also try to convey is not to be intimidated by the “big picture”, but to look at the next smaller step.
JOBLINGE mentor Luise Herrmann is one of many companions who we let speak on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of JOBLINGE gAG Leipzig.
