From Academic to Craftsman - How to Make the Transition
Mechanic instead of Linguist, Mechatronics Engineer instead of Media? An apprenticeship in crafts can also be an option after a degree. What you should know beforehand.
In many academic professions, the results of the work remain abstract, and some people may lack practical experience. A possible option then: leave the academic profession and start an apprenticeship in crafts. Here, young talent is in demand.
But how do you find out if this could be the right step - and how do you go about it?
Olaf Craney from the German Association for Educational and Career Guidance knows the desire of academics to switch to crafts. "This happens more often with creative and linguistically oriented degree programs because an orientation phase follows after the degree," he says. "Practically oriented degree programs show this less."
Discuss the switch with your environment
However, he also says: "It makes a difference whether someone wants to solve a problem by leaving the academic activity area or whether the motivation is really to go into crafts." Only if the latter is the case, he advises a switch.
For this, however, one would also have to bring certain competencies and prerequisites. In addition to technical understanding, spatial imagination, manual dexterity, and good hand-eye coordination, physical stamina is a prerequisite for a crafts profession, according to Craney. Those who are unsure can explore their personal suitability, for example, through competence assessment procedures at the employment agency.
Craney advises discussing the desire to switch to crafts with your environment and considering whether you can live with potentially critical views regarding image loss. You should also know: "In crafts, there are flat hierarchies and regular promotions are not as common as in academic careers," says Craney. "On the other hand, you can quickly become a boss or often open your own business with low start-up capital."
Shortened apprenticeship possible
Volker Born from the Central Association of German Crafts mentions another advantage for academics who want to start an apprenticeship: a shortened apprenticeship duration. A reduction of up to 12 months is possible if you bring a general higher education entrance qualification or a technical college entrance qualification - and the training company agrees.
Another option for academics: dual and trial study programs that combine training and a degree or master's qualification. "For this target group, there are many opportunities for further training that can open up a professional career up to management level," says Born.
As a possible hurdle in training, he sees a false idea about the crafts profession: "Someone who enjoys planning at a desk or likes correspondence would probably not be happy in crafts."
And how do you proceed if you want to apply for an apprenticeship in crafts after your degree?
Volker Born advises academics to clearly show in their application that crafts is not plan B. The insights gained during the degree and the orientation towards practical work can serve as arguments here. Those who explain what excites them about crafts and, for example, indicate in the application that they would like to see the results of their work at the end of the day, will immediately reveal their motivation.
A tip from Olaf Craney: instead of applying in writing, pay a personal visit to the company. "The first impression is more important than the application documents," says the expert.
To gain practical experience and potentially leave the abstract nature of academic professions, one might consider an apprenticeship in crafts and trades. This transition requires certain competencies, such as technical understanding, spatial imagination, manual dexterity, good hand-eye coordination, and physical stamina.
For academic graduates looking to start an apprenticeship in crafts, a reduction in training duration may be possible if they possess a general higher education entrance qualification or a technical college entrance qualification, and if the training company agrees to it.
