Lifelong career guidance is much more than just “help with choosing a major.” It is a system designed to support a person from school, through their first job, all the way to retirement. And when change comes, it helps you adapt to it.
No matter if you are an 18-year-old considering your choice of studies, a 40-year-old wanting to leave retail and start a career in IT, or a 60-year-old retiree seeking additional income and social interaction, in Greater Poland you can benefit from various forms of career counseling.
Lifelong career counseling – what does it mean?
In life, it’s good to have a friend; at work, an advisor. An advisor can help you make decisions (which profession to choose, whether it pays off to change jobs), find employment (how to write a CV, prepare for an interview, negotiate terms), improve your skills (which training or course to choose), and recover from a crisis (being laid off, professional burnout, illness, unemployment).
A conversation with a career counselor also means support in dealing with emotions: fear of change, low self-esteem, or worries about not being able to succeed. These emotions are justified when jobs disappear and new ones appear in their place. Automation in production, AI, or the green transformation require learning new things for existing positions, and probably no one knows for sure what tomorrow will bring. That’s why the European Union and the Council of Europe recognize lifelong career counseling as one of the strategic pillars of socio-economic policy and a tool for supporting workers in lifelong learning (LLL), meaning “learning throughout life.”
In Poland, the idea of lifelong career counseling is supported by, among others, the “Integrated Skills Strategy 2030” and the “Human Capital Development Strategy 2030.” These are two nationwide programs, consistent with European guidelines, created to support career counseling for people of all ages and in every life circumstance.
Where can you access career counseling in Greater Poland?
The residents of Greater Poland can count on specific help tailored to the real needs of the region.
You can talk to a career counselor – free of charge – at the District Labor Office (PUP) or at the Career Information and Planning Center, which operates within the framework of the Regional Labor Office in Poznań and its regional branches in Piła, Konin, Kalisz, and Leszno. The offer is available to adults registered as unemployed, those not registered (including the economically inactive), and employers.
Young people from Poznań, students of primary and secondary schools, can meet with an advisor at the Youth Career Guidance Center in Poznań. Appointments are made via the form on the website. Young people from Greater Poland who are about to choose their further educational path can contact the Center for Crafts, Dual, and Vocational Training relevant for their home district; such centers operate in all sub-regions of the province. Support in this area is also offered by psychological and pedagogical counseling centers and school career counselors.
Students shaping their careers are supported by Academic Career Offices. There are 28 such offices in Greater Poland, offering young people job and internship placement services, career counseling, and training.
Career counseling is also a part of many projects related to professional activation in Greater Poland. Information about current initiatives can be found on the European Funds for Greater Poland website.
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