Mentorship is a door opener to jobs
Career Talk with HP Managing Director, Bernhard Fauser
Mentorship helps people land jobs
When we ask ReDI School students what their motivation is to study with us, they usually say “To find a job!”. But finding a job as a newcomer in Germany is easier said than done. In fact, the most recent statistic from AIB-BAMF (2018) showed that after 5 years in Germany, only 49% of the people with refugee status are in jobs. At ReDI School we believe we can do – and have to do – better!
In 2016 ReDI School started its first tech courses, but we soon realized that having the right tech skills would not be enough to help our graduates land a job. Since 2018, ReDI School has therefore offered a career program to support our students and alumni land jobs faster.
One the pillars of the ReDI Career Program is organizing career talks with thought leaders from the tech industry to learn from their experience. The second pillar is the ReDI mentorship program, which is powered by the ReDI Connect matching-platform, our market-place to connect talent with job opportunities.
After 5 years in Germany, only 49% of people with refugee status are in jobs. - AIB-BAMF (2018)
HP’s Managing Director shares useful career tips
On September 6th, HP’s Managing Director, Bernhard Fauser therefore visited ReDI’s office in Berlin to meet with former and present students and share tips and tricks to “Building your tech career in Germany”.
The students heard anecdotes from HP’s founding years in1938 when William Hewlett and David Packard started in a garage in Silicon Valley, but also how sustainability and “Giving Back” to the community has been embedded in the company’s DNA from the very beginning. That is why HP employees today can spend 2 hours a month coaching ReDI students!
Mentor - Mentee share experience
One of those mentor-mentee couples is Michael Gieseke (HP) and Kazim Özdemir (ReDI) who are both based in North-Rhein-Westfalen, and both were therefore joining via video-call. The two of them were matched based on a long list of shared interest tech but also an active interest in society and politics. “Mentoring is a two-way street” Mr. Gieseke commented and continued to explain how he has been inspired by Kazim’s high level of ambition and strength to persevere to get what he wants.
“My English is a little inactive at the moment” Nasrin apologizes. She has 10 year’s experience as a data analyst from Iran, and is currently intensively studying German to land her first job in Germany. At ReDI she started with the data analytics path, even gave birth right before DemoDay, but still submitted her final project on time!
But even women with super powers like Nasrin can still benefit from having a mentor at their side, because landing your first job is “All about your network. It is about your connections” Bernhard Fauser explains. His advice to the students was “Stay agile, stay curious and stay visible. Getting a mentor can give your tailwind and be a real career booster. Since your mentor can open doors to their networks.”
Mahar from Syria, another of ReDI’s data analytics students nods her head and asks how she can best pitch herself to mentors and companies, without it being awkward. Bernhard Fauser has no doubt in his answer “You need to be authentic, to hit the emotions of the people who you are talking to. Positive change happens one step at a time, and each step brings you closer to your goal”.
“You need to be authentic, to hit the emotions of the people who you are talking to. Positive change happens one step at a time, and each step brings you closer to your goal.”
Written By Anne Kjaer Bathel
Anne is our CEO & unofficial chief mentor to her entire staff at ReDI School of Digital Integration.