In May 2023, ten students from vulnerable backgrounds were granted an extraordinary opportunity. Randomly selected to participate in a training program at our headquarters, their lives were about to take an inspiring turn. Focusing on quality education, this initiative aimed to help these young individuals create compelling applications and CVs for apprenticeships. The program got together Human Resources (HR) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) under Leschaco's CSR pillar, "Our Friends - Quality Education".

Marvin, fifteen years old, expressed his transformation, "I now feel much better prepared for an interview." The program had equipped him with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the intimidating interview process successfully. Reflecting on his experience, Marvin shared, "Next time, I would make more of an effort with my application documents right from the start and have someone check the spelling again."

Ayshe (fifteen years old), grateful for the opportunity, exclaimed, "Thank you for letting me attend; it took away my fear of a real job interview." The impact of the program extended far beyond creating CVs and writing applications. It instilled belief, eradicated self-doubt, and ignited a flame of possibility within each participant.

On the other hand, Justine Pleuß, Team Manager, Apprenticeship & Training at Leschaco also shared her perspective and answered a few questions:

Question: How was this day for you, conducting the job application training for students?

Justine Pleuß: The preparations for this day are always a bit time-consuming. As recruiters, we have to familiarize ourselves with the various professions in order to be able to ask the right questions. But once the day gets started, you know again what you're doing all this effort for. You get to know many different people in a short time. You get to see how the young people blossom after the first few questions and discover what profession they are passionate about. It's a rewarding experience to witness their personal growth and identify their strengths and interests.

Question: How was it to work with these students from Oberschule GSW Bremen?

Justine Pleuß: The school we work with is located in a socially disadvantaged district of Bremen. Many students there are unfamiliar with the concept of apprenticeships in Germany, or they don't have enough knowledge about it. Some of the students have grown up in the third generation of unemployment, while others face challenges due to migration and language barriers. It requires a lot of educational work to bridge these gaps and provide them with the necessary information.

Question: Would you repeat this experience of conducting job application training for students?

Justine Pleuß: Absolutely. We have been running this campaign for many years and have established a long-standing collaboration with the school. We've noticed that finding suitable applicants for apprenticeships has become increasingly difficult. Sometimes the applicants are not personally ready for training, or their academic performance is insufficient to pass the vocational school and final exams. We need to address the disparity between the personal and professional levels of students when they leave school and the level we require when they start their training. While I don't believe companies should solely bear this responsibility, I am convinced that we can make a significant impact on the success rate of school leavers through many small actions like this training.