From January to February 2025, 13 participants worked on their applications for an internship. The BIWAQ application training took place in cooperation with the VHS German course Bildungsjahr.
The German course Bildungsjahr covers the topics of practical vocational German, political education, IT basics and digitalization as well as career orientation. A central component is a five-week work placement. The aim of the educational year is the professional integration of the participants.
Guided and supported by Vera Holzwarth, who works as a BIWAQ project employee at the Gmünd VHS, and in coordination with Radka Effenberger, VHS lecturer during the educational year, the BIWAQ training course enabled participants to improve their application documents and prepare for possible job interviews. The participants prepared their application documents on seven dates:
They initially focused on the content and structure of their CV and cover letter as well as the correct choice of words. The participants then corrected spelling, grammar and punctuation using both the computer's auto-correction function and with each other's help. This was followed by the finishing touches, namely a uniform font and font size, line spacing and sensible paragraphs.
The preparation of lists of important technical terms for the respective activities in the internship and the creation of the template for the internship diary on the computer rounded off the application training and prepared for the internship.
The participants were very interested and motivated. Using their application documents, they independently looked for internships at various companies and institutions in Schwäbisch Gmünd and were successful. All of them were able to complete an internship.
The additional job application training provided the participants with important knowledge for their applications. The lecturer's extensive professional experience in the field of career guidance enabled her to provide tailored support for this important step towards professional integration.
08.04.2025, Vera Holzwarth
