Katharina Schmidt worked in marketing in Belarus.
Because of love, she moved to Bernbeuren and changed her career completely.
She got help through a special project at the employment agency.
With the successful example, she also wants to encourage other migrant women.
District
- From Belarus to Germany, from work in marketing to care for the elderly. Behind Katharina Schmidt (35) lies a time of many changes. When she moved to live with her husband in Bernbeuren in November, it was already clear to her that she wanted to work here too - even if she didn't have to. But she wanted to do something for herself, develop, integrate and learn the language, explains Schmidt. Nevertheless, she found the job search “very complicated”.
The advice concept "Fem.OS", which she came across on Facebook, helped her.
It is a model project of the Federal Government and the Federal Employment Agency that is specifically designed to support migrant women in their social and professional integration.
Advisors from the education provider Minor provide those interested with initial information in ten languages - contact is established, as with Schmidt, via social networks.
Model project is intended to close the gap
According to a press release, the first orientation discussions on the net are about starting a career, arranging language courses and establishing anonymous contact with the local employment agency. Because "which aids and orientation offers are installed for a successful career start in Germany", many simply do not know, says Daniel Terzenbach, board member of the employment agency. And also not who to turn to with your questions. The model project aims to close this gap.
It was very successful for Katharina Schmidt.
Maria Vogl, who is the contact person in the Weilheim agency district as part of the project, “showed me how I can use the agency website, especially the job exchange, and recommended online workshops from various providers, also to improve my language and which she has gives me the contact where I can get advice on a possible recognition of my diploma, ”says Katharina Schmidt.
She is very happy about the support, she says: "If someone takes you by the hand and advises you, then it will work too."
Do something good and work with your head
In the course of the consultations, she thought carefully about which industry she would like to work in in the future and finally applied for a position in the retirement and nursing home in Lechbruck via the job exchange.
Because she wanted to do something good and work with her head, explains Schmidt.
In fact, when she applied, she was invited to an interview right away.
“I was so nervous, my first interview in Germany,” she recalls.
"But everything went well, didn't it Ms. Mair?" She asks, smiling mischievously at her new boss.
She nods in agreement.
She immediately had a good feeling and was fascinated by Schmidt's knowledge of German, says Gisela Mair.
Agency pays half of the costs for further training
Schmidt also masters another hurdle with the help of the employment agency: through the Qualification Opportunities Act, it takes over half of the necessary training to become a care assistant.
The old people's home also takes on a large part because they recognize the potential of the “motivated, young woman”.
Maria Vogl from the Employment Agency is very happy about the success of her protégé: “I would like many women with a migration background to take Katharina Schmidt as an example and use the opportunities offered.
We want to prevent the immigrant women from encapsulating themselves at home and being frustrated. "
This is how board member Daniel Terzenbach sees it: “Often all it takes is a little bit of impetus and information to get everything in the right direction.” That is why the “Fem.OS” project is so promising and important.