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including interview with Dagmar Laube and Kirsten Heininger.

Role models encourage women skilled workers with foreign qualifications as they enter the German labour market

Starting point/challenge

The subproject “Energie ist Zukunft” [Energy is the Future] run by the provider LIFE Bildung Umwelt Chancengleichheit e. V. [LIFE Training, Environment Equal Opportunities] in the Berlin Regional Integration Network is focussed on improving employment opportunities for women. The main emphasis is the areas of renewable energies, energy efficiency, climate protection and sustainable digitalisation. Over a 20-week period of further training, participants receive subject-specific and personal qualifications. They are encouraged and individually supported when searching for appropriate future-proof jobs. However, accessing the labour market for women skilled workers with foreign qualifications often proves difficult. Barriers include, for example, extended periods away from work due to parental leave, foreign professional qualifications which are not clearly suitable or recognised, language barriers, and a lack of contacts, which make it difficult to actively search for work. Furthermore, it is sometimes difficult in the renewable energy sector for those companies seeking to appoint staff with foreign qualifications to correctly assess the potential which employees provide and to get into contact with them.

Implementation of the “Women role models open doors” event format

The manager of the “Energie ist Zukunft” subproject aimed to develop a digital event format with in-person elements alongside the technical topics covered by the further training. The digital event format would enable participants to exchange views and ideas in person with successful women from companies and institutions. The concept behind “Women role models open doors” was focussed on encouraging and empowering participants. Experts with interesting professional careers and areas of work were recruited as mentors for the project by the initiators at LIFE e. V. from businesses and organisations. A detailed briefing outlined the objectives of the further training and the requirements for the “Tech-talk” in which the women role models give short presentations, enter into discussion with participants and respond to questions. An important aspect of this is that the role models are aware of gender-specific and social barriers in their own professional careers and talk to participants about these.

The women role models benefit just as much as the participants from these meetings as the discussion is often the first time they reflect on their unique professional lives. Many are mothers and have a migration background which means they can well understand the challenges the participants face. The motivating presentations they give about themselves help to reduce fears of speaking up. They receive a lot of positive feedback which increases their willingness to remain active as a women role model. The lives and career paths of the role models, which have often taken twists and turns, become more “relatable” for the participants seeking advice at the events, and it becomes easier for them to identify with the positions of the female role models.

Participants come with foreign professional qualifications or degrees from a wide range of areas, from accounting and engineering to environmental management. The online format allows them to present themselves and their professional backgrounds and to see that their international experience and language skills are valued. They are encouraged to pursue their professional career. They also receive specific advice on applications and are invited to pro-actively contact the women role models and their companies.

Conclusion

It is very important for the event format that the women role models share their own motivation, strategies for success and personal experiences from their professional lives. These requirements extend beyond delivering subject-specific topics, but are very enriching and encouraging in helping course participants making their own way in the labour market. So far, the event format has also helped 60% of participants to successfully integrate in the labour market. 13 women role models were involved and effectively encouraged all 28 participants to apply for jobs with confidence and to establish long-term professional contacts with the role models.