Change instead of dropping out: Your companion in the study and career jungle

For 9 years, the Hannover Region Employment Promotion Agency has been offering free and unbureaucratic access to a low-threshold counselling and support service as well as a specialized service with the "Umsteigen statt Aussteigen" programme. Over 870 consultations have already been carried out within the project. The project was also made permanent in 2022. The services are tailored to the target group without the risk of stigmatization by highlighting the status of "dropout".

Many students have doubts about their choice of degree course or are dissatisfied with the study conditions at their university location. This creates a desire for support in the search for suitable career alternatives, and the individual pressure to explain a change is also growing. This raises the question of the "right" self-presentation and the appropriate approach to employers for a cliché-free career choice. In addition to the helpful exchange by phone or e-mail with Marcus Voitel from "Umsteigen statt Aussteigen", the openconsultation hours canbe used as a low-threshold alternative for doubts about studies every Thursday in cooperation with the Employment Agency and the STAU project of the Jobcenter of the Hannover Region.

Every Thursday from 12:00 to 14:00 there is an open consultation hour for those in doubt about their studies at the Employment Agency Hannover, Escherstr. 17, 30159 Hannover in room 0B16 on the first floor. Registration is not required.

Hanover Region

Every consultation is open-ended in principle and addresses the individual needs of those seeking advice. Students receive motivation and advocacy through strength-oriented support. If necessary, a targeted referral is made to other institutions by establishing direct contact. Experience in counseling and referral and also the exchange with network partners shows that the target group is very difficult to reach. The reason for the target group's lack of access to advice is certainly also a feeling of failure, social isolation and stigmatization. The declared aim of the consultation hour for students with doubts about their studies is to reach a larger part of the target group and to inform peer groups such as parents, acquaintances, etc. This requires a long-term approach. This requires the long-term nature of the service and appropriate support through marketing and public relations work.

Not every doubt about studying ultimately leads to dropping out. At the same time, success stories such as that of Justus, who has now completed his studies without graduating and has switched to training as an IT specialist at a Hanover-based media agency, show that attending open consultation hours ultimately pays off. The target group receives individual, holistic and targeted support.

"I previously studied mathematics and philosophy as a teacher and then decided to train as an IT specialist for application development. My interests and strengths have always been in mathematics and technology, which is why I chose this apprenticeship. So far, I'm very happy with my decision because, despite my failures at university, I got the feeling from the company that I could build something here together with my colleagues, both for me personally and for the company.

An acquaintance had advised me to go there (= open consultation hours for students in doubt) as I had been unsure about my studies for a long time and she was of the opinion that an apprenticeship would suit me better. In order to find out more about this, I went to the open consultation hours for students with doubts and received competent advice.

I had expected that some of the differences between studying and training would be explained to me in more detail and that I would be shown specific training opportunities. I contributed to this by being open to new things and having already thought about a few things myself in advance (e.g. about the general subject area).

The "Umsteigen statt Aussteigen" program was able to give me a good orientation among the countless possibilities of an apprenticeship, while at the same time giving me courage at eye level, as I didn't have much self-confidence at the end of my time at university and at times didn't see any real career prospects. This changed at the latest after I went to the open consultation hours.

I would advise doubtful students to think about why they are unsure. Is it because you have chosen the wrong degree course or is it because of the structure of a degree course and the skills that you absolutely need for it (self-discipline, motivation, perseverance). This is not to say that you don't have these qualities if you have problems with your studies. Such skills are also important in an apprenticeship, but the difference is that you are "taken by the hand" more there than in a degree course, where you are responsible for virtually everything yourself. If you find it difficult to motivate yourself for the sometimes abstract content or the very anonymous lectures, I think you should definitely look into the possibilities of vocational training."