By 2030 about half a billion of equipment devices and machinery will be connected via the internet. The dimensions are barely imaginable; digital transformation is happening in the economy, our society, and the working world, confronting people with new challenges.
During their vocational training, young people require digital competencies; concerning their daily work in the company as well as during their time spent at vocational school. Those who are open to innovations get many opportunities to contribute to their training by exercising their digital, individual, and social skills. The professional world also reacts innovatively and adapts to the ever-changing working world and its new technological developments and digitization by constantly modernizing and newly creating apprenticeship occupations.
Working in e-business
Is the young person adept using PC and tablet and would like to work for online shops? Since 2018, when a new apprenticeship course was created, e-commerce traders are selling products and services online to meet the booming demands of the internet. You should be communicative and be interested in marketing and sales, for example.
Technical understanding
Frequently, today in trade and industry products and its processes are already running automated. Professions like Plant or Industry Mechanic require technical understanding and the willingness to work with programs to operate and oversee under guidance machinery, that performs processes like controlling, automating, and producing. For example, operating CNC machines play a significant role in the construction of machinery, plants, or piping systems. Paying with your smartphone, searching the internet for information, and chatting with friends in faraway countries – in many areas, the use of digital technologies is a natural everyday activity.
Electronics must be functional
Ideally, globally interconnected IT and communication systems should function smoothly. Therefore, IT System Electronic Technicians are sought-after experts who install IT systems, advise customers, and analyze network error messages. Anyone interested in this profession should understand technical drawings and enjoy working with instruments and tools.
Digitally connected
In case of any electrical disturbances of the power supply, Electronic Technicians for Industrial Engineering or Specialists in Energy and Building Services Technology are at hand. They take care of electrical systems and all their installations – ranging from a power socket to a solar system. Besides, they are increasingly transforming people’s houses into smart homes: homes that are intelligently connected to the internet and controlled via apps. For this, planning expertise and graphical drawing talent, as well as an interest in technical innovations, are required.
Robots & Co. in nursing
Wireless sensors, for instance, are sending information via radio to Geriatric Nurses to alarm them in case a patient has fallen or even worse is trying to leave the nursing home without permission. Thanks to the latest technical innovations, professional healthcare personnel can then swiftly act and help. Furthermore, telemedicine supports patients and specialist staff alike. In outpatient care, service personnel can talk via video conference to doctors consulting them about treatments and thus save the patient the long journey into a GP practice or hospital. Research in care homes shows that older people respond well to little talking robots motivating them to stay active and move around. Young people in education should be open to future developments.
Enthusiasm for continuous learning
Even in times with advanced technology, in addition to specialist know-how, excellent manners and people skills are still in high demand in almost all working fields. In many professions, today, trainees should readily communicate and be capable of thoroughly documenting specifications because they often participate in conversations with customers who ask targeted questions about particular application issues or similar and demand quite specific modifications. In the future, the ability to work in a team will become increasingly important, as cooperation and agreement with colleagues across completely different working fields are necessary. Furthermore, the willingness to continue to learn in the job independently is an absolute must.
Published on 05 Oktober 2018 in OVB-Heimatzeitungen