Off to work: This is how the start of training works almost without any worries

Help, all new colleagues! And what if I don't like it there? The training represents a formative turning point.

Off to work: This is how the start of training works almost without any worries

Help, all new colleagues! And what if I don't like it there? The training represents a formative turning point. With these tips, nobody need fear the change to professional life.

Starting your career straight after school can sometimes feel overwhelming. With a few tricks, the transition to the new phase of life is easier:

Get a grip on excitement

No one goes into the training company completely relaxed on the first day. A little stage fright could even be a good sign, says Carolin Klaus, coach from Augsburg. It is best to address the nervousness directly. "You're right to be a little excited." This is a good way, especially for young and rather shy apprentices, to deal with their insecurity.

In her experience, the right breathing technique helps to relieve physical tension: breathe deeply and take a short break to relax. In order to allay the newcomers' shyness, most training companies try to make the first few days as pleasant as possible.

Appear curious

The more open and curious a young person is, the easier it is for them to join a new group of colleagues, says Carolin Klaus. "As an apprentice, I'm in a position where I don't know that much yet, but that's okay too."

Approaching the new job with interest can be an important contribution. For example by asking lots of questions. As soon as trainees try to understand something new, a relationship on an equal footing is more likely to succeed. Klaus advises not to be too passive and always be on the lookout for new tasks.

Find connection in the team

Those who approach the new team openly are usually warmly welcomed. "It's often groups of trainees who start - they form a close-knit network and support each other," says Klaus. But you can also quickly make contact with colleagues with whom you share things in common.

Avoid overload

Carolin Klaus recommends always having a pad and pen to hand. Especially at the beginning, trainees have to deal with a wealth of new information. It's completely normal not to be able to remember everything. It is crucial to signal commitment and to structure the information. "I don't have to revolutionize the processes in the company on the first day. Nobody demands that."

Transition to 40-hour week

Working life can be a big change. Klaus advises to consciously use the end of the day to relax. The best thing for trainees to do is ask themselves what is good for them as a balance to their new day-to-day work. After a while, the right balance can be found - for example through sport, chatting with friends or reading a good book to relax.

Learn to deal with stress

If the stress during the training gets out of hand, adviser Klaus recommends trying to talk to other trainees or friends. Anyone who feels increasingly overwhelmed with the new situation can also discuss the problem with the training manager and ask for feedback. "It gives you security again, because you often get positive feedback."

Parents can also be a great support, especially for young people. But they should hold back and leave the responsibility to their children. "The start of training is also a way to become fledged."

Deal with disappointment

Apprentices must be aware that there can also be moments on the job that are boring or not fun. Ideal ideas about the job can quickly disappear into thin air after the first few weeks.

Klaus then advises listening to yourself first and asking yourself: Is the work itself fun? Maybe it's just a lack of motivation. Anyone who notices that the profession itself is not the right one should act in good time. Klaus recommends talking to the parents. Trainees can then contact their trainer or trainers.

The finances at a glance

With the first step into professional life, it is also important to regulate your own finances and insurance. According to Julian Uehlecke, consultant for vocational training at the youth department of the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB), health and liability insurance should not be missing.

Apprentices need their own bank account before their first day at work and should take care of a tax identification and social security number well in advance - so that they can be communicated to the employer.

According to Uehlecke, anyone who needs financial support has two options. On the one hand, there is the vocational training grant from the Federal Employment Agency. On the other hand, trainees in full-time school training can apply for BAföG. If you live in your own apartment, you may be entitled to housing benefit.