Abstract:

Given the shortage of skilled workers, it is important to ensure the best possible match between students and training positions. Digitalization and the associated changes in job profiles and the use of digital media further intensify this challenge. Therefore, the question arises, whether the current methods of career counselling are suitable for these challenges.

To enable young adults to have a smooth transition from school to working life, career counselling takes on a crucial role. On the one hand, career counselling needs to assess the students' competences, motivations, talents and interests. On the other hand, it needs to enable companies to employ the best fitting candidates to a role and address regional shortages of skilled labor. This paper provides an overview of the current state of career counselling in the context of vocational training in Germany.

Furthermore, the paper explores the status quo of career counselling to get an understanding of its effectiveness. Moreover, it gives an overview about practical methods as well as the latest trends and developments in career counselling. For instance, different methods to assess competences and interests will be discussed, as well as the potential of technical solutions that aim to enhance counselling processes. Furthermore, it focuses on challenges and opportunities arising from digitalization. Finally, it discusses possibilities how to foster career counselling so that both students and companies will benefit from it.

The findings offer valuable insights for educational counsellors, policymakers, and researchers interested in advancing effective career counselling strategies.

Keywords:

Career Counselling, Competence Assessment, Recommender Systems, Vocational Training, Lifelong Learning.