How can you get young people excited about vocational training jobs?
This question was at the heart of a creative future workshop that took place on Tuesday, May 13th, at the premises of the construction company Gieseke in the Brocker Feld industrial park in Senden-Bösensell. Around 20 participants from companies and schools came together to develop new ideas for career orientation in Senden.
A group of adults and a teenager at a table, talking. The teenagers participated with great enthusiasm in the future workshop.
At the initiative of the business association WIRtschaft Senden e.V., which has existed since the summer of 2024 and is committed to strengthening local businesses, the first exchange of ideas took place, during which the workshop concept was developed. The event was organized by Tobias Matzelle (Gieseke), Jens Hemersch (Agile Augenhöhe), Derk Strybny (Rotary Senden), and Sonja Seidler (WIRtschaft Senden e.V.). The goal was to kickstart planning for a major career event – doing so in a practical, modern, and student-friendly manner.
The session began with the question: „What was your first contact with the professional world?“. The subsequent reflection immediately fostered a discussion at eye level. Afterward, a video of the career fair from the previous year was shown, among other things. It served as an example of how practical formats had already been successfully implemented.
Video of the career fair
Workshop Result: The Apprentice Event of the Future
In group work, the vision of a multi-day job festival in the summer emerged, making career worlds tangible, exciting, and entertaining.
The core ideas:
- Street food and live music in a relaxed atmosphere, e.g. in a central park
- Appearances by influencers, athletes, or celebrities
- Diverse hands-on activities from participating companies
- Strong digital support via social media, including invitations and event updates
- Additional services for parents, e.g. information materials
- Contests and sweepstakes
- Low-threshold access during school hours, embedded in everyday school life
With these elements, the event is intended to be a real highlight for students. It is already clear that the successful collaboration will continue in further workshops. The goal is to further develop the concrete ideas together, clarify responsibilities, and implement the job festival step by step. All participants agree - this process thrives on dialogue, openness, and active co-creation by students, teachers, and companies.
