Nora Washington was a JOBLINGE participant in Ludwigshafen and needed two attempts in the program to find her personal career path.
Read here why she dropped out of her first apprenticeship, what important skills she learned at JOBLINGE and what advice she would give to other young people in her situation:
Fachabitur – And now?
“My name is Nora and I’ve been doing my voluntary social year at Wohlfahrtswerk Mannheim since September 2021.
I feel very comfortable here and have finally arrived.
But I wouldn’t have made it without JOBLINGE.
After my vocational baccalaureate, I had no idea what direction my career would take.
All doors were suddenly open to me, but nothing seemed quite right.
I quickly realized that academic strengths are not at all comparable to professional strengths.
That’s why I sought outside support.
Two attempts to reach the goal
My JOBLINGE story took two attempts.
The first time, I was quickly placed in an apprenticeship to become a notary’s assistant – a profession that I thought would suit me.
I dropped out of the apprenticeship because I realized that I hadn’t seriously considered my professional strengths.
However, I didn’t let this discourage me and started a second attempt.
This time, together with the JOBLINGE employees, I focused on the question of what my strengths are and where I want to develop in the long term.
In the middle of the coronavirus lockdown, my group started with a lot of uncertainty, a lack of internships and lots of question marks.
But we stuck together as a group and helped each other.
I was impressed by how much effort the JOBLINGE team put into connecting us with potential companies during this difficult time.
On some days, we even had four digital company presentations.
I particularly liked them and one of them was from Wohlfahrtswerk, where I am now doing my FSJ.
Trust yourself and stand by it
Over time, I became more and more aware that I wanted to work in the social sector and help other people professionally.
The JOBLINGE team was there for me, they gave me more self-confidence to make decisions, try things out and stand behind them.
To stop doubting and to trust myself instead.
Even when I realized that I didn’t want to decide on a permanent apprenticeship yet, they stood behind me and still support me today in planning and placing me in my voluntary social year.
“I am taking my future into my own hands”
My personal future is very important to me, because there were some hurdles in my past that I had to overcome.
These experiences meant that I also felt little security and stability in my professional life and was often left to my own devices.
I want to change that and take my future into my own hands!
I would like to have a regular job in the future.
Maybe I’ll go to university like my siblings and I’d like to have children whom I can offer a good life.
Don’t question it, do it
Without JOBLINGE, I would probably have done many more laps without knowing what I was actually heading for.
That’s why I’m so grateful!
My advice to others in this situation: seek help and get started!
Don’t question everything and stay motivated, because there are people who want the best for you.”
Thank you very much for the interview and good luck for the future!
