The student jobs of the corona crisis: slowed down, but full of energy - two pandemic fighters report

Clubs and bars have closed - with that many student part-time jobs are gone.

But the situation also opens up completely new avenues.

The one in the vaccination center, for example.

Two young pandemic fighters from Bavaria report.

Karlsfeld

– “Are there burgers here too?” is the question Valerie Schäder has heard most frequently in recent months. "Because we organized our vaccination center according to the drive-in principle and vaccinate people in the car, we hear this fun again and again," says the 20-year-old and laughs. The woman from Allach has been working at the Johanniter vaccination center in Karlsfeld (Dachau district) since last June. Out of necessity, the Slavic studies student applied there. Her part-time job as a hostess was dead, like almost the entire event industry.

The same thing happened to Sebastian Pichler from Neubeuern near Rosenheim.

"I was a working student in the finance department of a large company," says the 28-year-old.

“Because of the pandemic, the job was canceled.

In February, I started at the vaccination center in Rosenheim during the hot pandemic phase.” The business education student went straight from his desk “into cold water” and into the Malteser vaccination cabins.

Since then he has had the same experience as thousands of schoolchildren and students throughout Bavaria.

After all, the classic part-time jobs in the catering and event industry have long since disappeared - or have recently been uncertain.

Part-time job in the vaccination center: knowledge of human nature and social skills are free

Even now, Pichler sits at his desk a lot, but he finds the work in the vaccination center varied.

"Register, query data, check proof, fill out forms - the bureaucracy is stupid and the same for everyone," he says.

"But: The patients themselves are very different." Especially for older people you have to take your time and be sensitive.

In general: It is a job in which there is a “human touch” – in both a positive and negative sense.

Employees in vaccination centers often have to deal with excited citizens, whether angry or afraid.

Not a bad environment to improve your knowledge of human nature and social skills.

+

Sebastian Pichler enjoys the versatility of his part-time job at the Malteser vaccination center in Rosenheim.

© private

Pichler has had his job as an administrator at the vaccination center in the Inntalhalle for almost a year now.

He even worked on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

"It's really a nice balance to studying, which is currently only taking place online," he says when he returns from a special vaccination campaign at a dairy in Wasserburg.

Mobile use, especially in a nursing home, is always special for him: "Last year, many people had tears in their eyes when they were vaccinated - some hadn't seen their grandchildren for almost a year."

Johanniter vaccination center in Karlsfeld: A 20-year-old becomes deputy director

A good feeling that is addictive.

Like Pichler, Schäder has also discovered her "social streak" - and the fact that she works full of energy and heart in the Karlsfeld vaccination center did not go unnoticed.

"In November I offered her to be my deputy," says director Neslihan Bektas.

That means a lot of responsibility for the 20-year-old.

"I coordinate mobile assignments, create duty rosters for our twenty employees and the volunteers and conduct job interviews." You have to be helpful, reliable and not afraid of conflict for the job.

"We can not do anything for the Stiko recommendations," says Schäder.

"But many people believe that, which can always cause discussions."

+

Deputy manager at the age of 20: Valerie Schäder coordinates the teams at the vaccination center in Karlsfeld.

© private

Schäder has since discontinued her studies.

"It wasn't the right thing and I wanted to concentrate on fighting the pandemic until I found an apprenticeship." Schäder wants to do it in the social sector.

Maybe in nursing.

Working in the vaccination center showed her: "You can't save the world, but you can do something good."