Lorenz (58): From self-employment to employment
Lorenz successfully ran a small company in the tourism industry for many years. However, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine caused his company’s business to collapse. After a long period of self-employment, Lorenz decided to seek employment and wants to join a non-profit organisation.
Looking for support during a challenging phase
To ensure a successful career transition, Lorenz turned to the education and career counselling service. During the initial consultation, the reasons for seeking advice and his current situation were discussed. The focus was on Lorenz’s goals and what he expected from the counselling. It quickly became clear that he needed support with the application process—from preparing and reviewing application documents to getting tips for job interviews and salary negotiations—since he had not dealt with these topics for years due to his long period of self-employment.
Lorenz came to the consultation with the following questions: What are the current common application formats? How can professional experience and self-employed work be presented effectively in a CV? What role does age play in the application process? What salary expectations are realistic, and what strategies are there for negotiating salaries in the non-profit sector?
Counselling process: step by step towards new career prospects
Lorenz’s application documents were thoroughly reviewed over several appointments. The focus was not only on the format and content of his CV and cover letter but also on how to best present his extensive professional experience and achievements. Another key area was preparing for job interviews and salary negotiations. Lorenz received tips on the attitude and information he should bring into the discussions.
Successful new start at management level
Thanks to the counselling and intensive preparation, Lorenz was successful after his first interview. He was offered the position and salary he wanted and successfully managed the challenge of moving from self-employment to employment. After a little over a year, Lorenz applied for a new job and again received support from the education and career counselling service. Today, he holds a management position at a non-profit organisation in Berlin, which matches his personal interests and values, and provides him with the working conditions he was looking for.
Lorenz’s success story shows that even after major career disruptions, it is possible to make a successful new start. With the right support and focused preparation, new career prospects can be found and realised.
A success story from the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Mitte Counselling Centre.