Hoang (62): Successful re-entry through professional reorientation

January 6, 2025January 6, 2025

After more than 15 years in Germany, during which Hoang (62) only gained a little professional experience, she wanted a fresh start and better guidance on the job market. With the help of education and career counselling, Hoang gained clarity about her strengths, professional interests, and options. She eventually found a suitable job in retail, which provided her with the security and independence she had been longing for.

manager and employee working in a supermarket (Substitute image: FG Trade via iStock)

Looking for support with professional reorientation

Hoang had been living in Germany for over 15 years but had gained little work experience and had limited knowledge of the labour market. She was very motivated to return to work but felt overwhelmed by the many options and information available. To get support with career reorientation and choosing the right path, she turned to the education and career counselling service.

Identifying strengths and career aspirations

Hoang’s strengths and career goals were explored in several counselling sessions—on-site, over the phone, and in other formats. She received support in comparing different options and identifying the most suitable career path for her. Together with her counsellor, Hoang worked on how to present her skills and aspirations in the application process. She also received general information about the job market and advice on rejoining language courses to further improve her German.

Successful return to work

Shortly after her counselling ended, Hoang’s application for a job in the fruit and vegetable department of a large supermarket was successful. Six months later, she is still working there and is very happy with the security and independence she gained from returning to work.

A success story from the Lichtenberg & Marzahn-Hellersdorf Counselling Centre.

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What our clients say:

Im thankful for your service, it supports people to find orientation and motivation.

Helps me out to find a school. I really appreciated the way they handled, friendly people with high knowledge.

After our counselling session, I was motivated further to make my desire of becoming a nurse in Germany, a reality! Thank you!

It is a good starting point. I am very happy with the counselling. All my questions were answered and I got new ideas from the counselling.

Really helpful to know what I should do for now. And what are my options.

I so much appreciate the counselling and I got all the relevant information I need and also corrected the mistakes I did during my applications.

This service is invaluable for somebody like me to help me understand how the work market functions in Germany (very different from the UK!). My counsellor was excellent, pointed me in the right directions, helped me find right organisations I needed. I’m very grateful!!

Extraordinary experience. I get detailed answers to my questions.

The counsellor understood my background and education during the first visit and in the second visit they gave me my options and gave advice on financial assistance. I am now clear on which way to proceed. Overall my best decision to contact the counsellor. Thank you.

The counselling was good and helped me evaluate, however I would have loved it even more if I had come up with a concrete answer by the end. 🙂

The counsellor made me feel very comfortable around him and also took the time to break down the relevant information into digestible bits, while ensuring that I have a good overall picture of the education system as well as Ausbildung in nursing in Germany.