A large number of visitors, intensive discussions and a clearly noticeable need for individual support characterised the latest activation fairs held by the Salzlandkreis job centre in Stassfurt. Numerous customers took the opportunity on 20 May to talk directly to the experts from the local training providers and develop new perspectives for their future personal and professional path.
Mirko Härtner and Michael Woizik were available at the information table of the Überlingen Academy to provide detailed advice to interested parties. The topic of coaching, taking psychological aspects into account, was a particularly frequent focus. Many customers reported difficult professional biographies - it is not uncommon for those affected not to have worked in their original profession for years. Although demand in the respective sectors is high and employees are urgently needed, a return to employment often fails due to a lack of professional experience. What's more, many long-term unemployed people are barely able to cope with today's demands and high levels of stress in the workplace.
The educational organisation GSM Training & Integration GmbH and the VHS-Bildungswerk also registered a great deal of interest. A recurring theme of many discussions was physical limitations and psychological stress, as well as coping with everyday life. Many people need support, for example with applications, finding a specialist or contacting further advice centres.
Jens Voigt, coach at Job.Fink GmbH, explains that the primary aim is to "bring out the strengths of the individual" by means of specially tailored programmes. Often, the first step is not into the labour market, but out of debt, out of family problems, out of personal slumps and anxiety disorders or even out of drug addiction. Uwe Tietböhl, a social worker at Grone-Bildungszentren Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH, reports something similar. He says: "Everyone carries their own package around with them.
Many training providers now offer outreach and digital one-to-one coaching programmes. Modular components can also be used to create a programme tailored to the respective needs of the customer. In addition, the programmes often include practical elements so that participants are gradually reintroduced to work processes and gain new confidence in their day-to-day work.
The discussions at the trade fair stands made it clear that standardised solutions are often not enough. What is needed are individual approaches that focus on both the professional qualification and personal stabilisation of jobseekers. This is precisely the aim of the job centre's activation fair: long-term unemployed people should be given uncomplicated and competent advice on tailor-made coaching offers that take their respective personal situation into account.
A total of 26 job seekers took part in the Job Centre's activation fair in Staßfurt. 20 activation vouchers were issued and some of them were redeemed directly with one of the training providers present.
At the same time, another fair was held at the Aschersleben job centre. In addition to the Überlingen Academy, GSM Training & Integration, Job.Fink, the Grone training centres and the VHS-Bildungswerk, Sinnhaft GmbH and pem GmbH were also represented here. In Aschersleben, as many as 46 visitors were registered and a total of 26 activation vouchers were handed out. Here, too, several jobseekers decided in favour of one of the numerous training programmes on site.
The job centre will soon be organising two more activation fairs: On 3 June 2026 at the Schönebeck location and on 17 June 2026 at the Bernburg location, both from 09:00 to 15:00.