Career Changers: Individuals Switching to a New Professional Field

A career changer is someone who moves from one professional field to another without having completed the typical training for that new field. This transition often involves applying existing skills and experiences in a new context.

Reasons for Career Changes

• Personal Motivation: Desire for a career change or new challenges.

• Labor Market Situation: Changed conditions in the current field or demand in other industries.

• Skills Shortage: Companies hiring career changers to address workforce shortages.

Industries Open to Career Changers

Business: For example, engineers moving into leadership positions.

Education: Teacher shortages leading to the hiring of career changers.

Railway Industry: Training career changers to become train operators.

Legal Framework

In Germany, certain job titles are legally protected, which must be considered by both career changers and employers. For example, titles like doctor or lawyer can only be held by those with the appropriate qualifications.

Government Support: The Federal Employment Agency provides support for career changers through subsidies for starting employment or setting up a business if there is a viable concept.

Career Opportunities for Career Changers

A 2020 study by the Bertelsmann Foundation shows that companies are increasingly hiring career changers to counteract the skills shortage. Partially qualified individuals are now just as in-demand as those with completed formal training.

Conclusion

Career changers enrich companies with diverse experiences and perspectives. With the right support, they can successfully establish themselves in new professional fields.