Students from the Kaufmännische Schule and Johannes Brenz Gemeinschaftsschule were slightly excited as they waited in front of the Johannes Brenz Gemeinschaftsschule auditorium for the trainee speed dating event. They had already been preparing for this day for several days together with their teachers, and some of them had high hopes for it. On Monday, 27.03.2023, the time had finally come. Representatives from a total of 30 companies from the Schwäbisch Hall area were seated at tables in front of the colorful display walls of their companies to make contact with the young people. The pupils were able to talk to pre-selected companies for 10 minutes at a time. The short time intervals made it possible to get to know as many companies as possible in one day, which meant that over 1000 discussions could take place between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm. The young people had different expectations and intentions. While students aiming for the Abitur were interested in dual courses of study, secondary school and secondary modern school students inquired about specific apprenticeships based on their interests. Some young people took the opportunity to apply directly for an internship with a completed application portfolio, while others wanted to get to know one or two companies first. Regardless of which interest the individual young people pursued, all of the pupils emphasized the overcoming of getting into conversation with companies and the associated growing self-confidence as being beneficial after the event.
However, the companies were also impressed by the format. One representative praised the great preparation, the great outfits and the politeness of the students, who, unlike at an anonymous fair, were given the short time units and the familiar environment of the school. Another company emphasized the opportunities that such an event also represents for the companies. They would be happy, the two representatives mentioned with a slight smile, if two interested schoolgirls actually came. One company described the speed dating event as the best format in the area of trainee recruitment that they had ever been able to help shape, which naturally pleased the organizers Dagmar Zwilling from the Johannes Brenz Gemeinschaftsschule and Jürgen Hoffmann from the Kaufmännische Schule Schwäbisch Hall and made up for all the organization and effort.
The young people would definitely take part in the trainee speed dating again, even if it didn’t lead to each and every one of them confirming their career aspirations, as one pupil actually wanted to join a very specific company after leaving school, she said afterwards, and now she has many other career prospects, she complained. But this completely new experience of officially introducing themselves to adults and being able to shape an interview for their own future and make a good impression was brilliantly accepted and implemented by many of our students. On this day, we were very proud to be able to show students different perspectives and make a concrete connection between school and the world of work. Perhaps one or two questions will be answered during a work placement, as this is the next step for the eighth and ninth graders at Johannes-Brenz-Gemeinschaftsschule on their journey from school to work and into adulthood.
