Future Careers
At Olympus, we believe that the experience and know-how of our employees gained within their professional life can empower young adults – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds – on their future path. To help the next generation thrive, we share our knowledge in the most appropriate way – on a local level. Since not everyone has the same opportunities to participate in education and work, our local CSR activities focus on supporting young adults to successfully enter professional life. Read how Olympus employees act as mentors for young people during this time of transition.
Smoothing the way into the labor market
Joblinge
The transition between school and the labor market can be a struggle for young people. The JOBLINGE initiative aims to support young people in Hamburg – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds – to get their careers off the ground.
Supporting young people in Hamburg on their way into the labor market
During a six-month program, JOBLINGE participants (aged 18 to 25) undertake various internships and training sessions that support them in gaining access to the working world. Moreover, they regularly meet with a mentor (an adult with an established career) who is ready to lend an ear and offers hands-on advice.
Olympus is a shareholder and founding partner to JOBLINGE gAG since September 2014 and commenced as a mentoring partner in 2016. We encourage our employees to act as a mentor at JOBLINGE to share their experience and knowledge with young adults and simultaneously develop their own skills in the role as a mentor. To enhance this skill building aspect, we offer a special training program for mentors – who can be our employees as well as other volunteers. The program takes place at the Olympus Europe site in Hamburg. A number of Olympus employees have already successfully taken the role as a mentor and will continue to do so.
It works out!
Every participant in the JOBLINGE program has a clear goal in sight: he or she wants to get an apprenticeship. With great personal commitment and investment on all sides, approximately 80 per cent of all participants successfully enter the world of work. For this impressive track record, JOBLINGE received the PHINEO label in 2016 that recognizes effective projects and high-performing organizations.
But it’s not only the JOBLINGE participants that benefit from the program. By supporting young people, many mentors have been able to expand their own networks, gain new perspectives, improve their conversational or coaching skills while also learning more about themselves.
“Mentoring shows you a different perspective and you also learn to be grateful for what you have and where you come from.”Website of JOBLINGE