Bethel - He fits into our team

He was young and stupid, says Nikola Djukic, looking back on his young life. Once he had his secondary school leaving certificate after year 10, he just wanted to earn money and definitely didn't want to do an apprenticeship. He first worked in a warehouse, then for eleven years in a friend's security service. Today, Nikola Djukic is 28 years old, a career changer at Bethel Integration Assistance and is making up for what he missed out on: He is currently in his second year of training to become a social assistant. But not only that, the next step has already been decided. Nikola Djukic has a promising professional future ahead of him.

"Mr Djukic came to us through friends of his who work for us," reports Hans-Joachim Giese, Division Manager of the Gihon home in Bielefeld-Bethel. "Applications via personal contacts and less via job advertisements are typical these days." The young man spent two days as an intern at Haus Gihon, after which Hans-Joachim Giese was certain: "We'll hire him." An applicant's behaviour towards the clients is crucial, and Nikola Djukic treated them with empathy and respect right from the start. During his time as a security guard, he gained a lot of experience in social institutions and knows how to deal with the people living there, even in conflict-laden situations.

"The decisive factor in hiring Mr Djukic was also the fact that the employees said: He fits into our team," emphasises Hans-Joachim Giese. Nikola Djukic confirms that his colleagues all listened to his questions and supported him. Hans-Joachim Giese is pleased about this, as he is convinced: "If you take on new employees who have changed careers, you also have to look after them and be approachable for them. That's only possible with the whole team!" Nikola Djukic receives financial support from Bethel.regional so that he can earn a living during his training.

With his back thus strengthened, Nikola Djukic has the courage to continue on his chosen path. For him, who firmly rejected an apprenticeship when he was younger, one thing is clear: "Next year, I will start a three-year training programme to become a curative education nurse at Bethel vocational college." There is no doubt in Hans-Joachim Giese's mind that he will succeed. The young colleague quickly got used to going back to school and learning after many years. "And now he's class representative and has top grades!"

Nikola Djukic is the first of several career changers at Gihon to complete an apprenticeship. His example shows what is possible. "Enabling people to train helps us to counteract the labour shortage," emphasises Hans-Joachim Giese. And he knows that his team sees it the same way. Otherwise, his colleagues would not have presented Nikola Djukic with a well-filled school bag to mark the start of his apprenticeship.

Text: Petra Wilkening | Picture: Christian Weische