Zweite Chance: Erfolgschance für Schulabbrecher: Mit Wille und Soft Skills

Many young people are leaving school without a diploma. In the 2024/2025 school year, over 64,000 young people will have left school without a qualification, according to research platform Correctiv. What happens next for them? "These young people need professional support and most importantly, people who give them confidence," says Anke Burmeister from Düsseldorf's youth employment and young adults assistance center.

Behind a failing school career lies more than meets the eye: school leavers without a diploma are often under great stress due to learning difficulties, language barriers, lack of support from family, or anxiety disorders. This should not be a reason to bury one's head in the sand, however. "Accompanying those affected on their path to further education and training or employment is often a slow process," Burmeister adds.

Even if it seems difficult at first, it is possible. The key is that the young people seek help, for example from youth welfare offices, vocational counseling agencies, or job centers. While entry-level positions in the job market are limited for those without a school diploma, Burmeister notes that there are industries offering unskilled jobs, though competition would be fierce against qualified candidates, such as degree students.

But targeted support and promotion can help school leavers enter the workforce. Openness towards those lacking a diploma is a matter for the industry. Burmeister highlights the construction industry, scaffolding trade, retail, food service, courier services, and parcel delivery as sectors with realistic entry-level opportunities.

Sometimes, sections of the trades, logistics, or individual service sectors offer apprenticeships or part-time jobs not only as a way to earn money but also as a training opportunity. What should young people bring to the table? "Motivation, willingness to work, and the readiness to develop further are decisive," says Irmgard Pirkl from the Federal Agency for Labor in Nürnberg.

The goal should always be to obtain a vocational qualification, as obtaining it automatically grants the former school leaver the equivalent of a lower secondary school leaving certificate. Whether as a helper position requiring no school diploma or a vocational training, Pirkl emphasizes that a must in one's professional life is the development of soft skills, or personal and social competencies.

These skills are often challenging for those without a school diploma, as the factors that led to dropping out often continue to affect them beyond school. However, the good news is that coaching offers can help school leavers develop these skills. In vocational preparation courses, young adults specifically learn these soft skills.

While obtaining a school diploma is a significant milestone for future career prospects, Pirkl stresses that the availability of a vocational qualification is decisive for long-term job market chances. With more practical qualifications and better integration into the specific working environment, the school diploma becomes less crucial.

Burmeister agrees, stating that the more practical qualifications one acquires and the more stable and better one integrates into the concrete working environment, the less relevant the school diploma becomes. However, obtaining a school diploma expands the range of professions and increases the chances of finding a suitable apprenticeship.

This investment is worthwhile, as various adult education programs offer the chance to obtain a school diploma up to and including the Abitur. These programs often have flexible class schedules to accommodate part-time work to secure a living. Another option is vocational preparation courses, where participants often attend classes two days a week.

The specific nature of these courses varies by region, Burmeister notes. There are also other options available. "Which option is right depends on the individual situation of the young person," Pirkl concludes. The Federal Agency for Labor or the Jobcenter can help find the right path.