The doctoral thesis entitled "Vocational orientation and choice in Saxony – an empirical analysis at the Technical University Dresden" investigated the various offers for vocational orientation in Germany and the Free State of Saxony in particular. An online survey of students at the Technical University of Dresden obtained data from 1 568 participants, comprising 4 percent of the student body accessible via email. Details concerning the main conditions and history of the job market, its development and the need for targeted research in this area as well as well-known career choice models and independent influencing factors were shown. The analysis of the survey answers revealed the internet as the most frequently used and best-rated source of information. A still rather moderate estimated level of knowledge concerning possibilities of orientation leaves room for future research investigating the content and form of the provided information to obtain better insights into these aspects. The results also showed that, to this day, parents exert great influence on their children. They could, therefore, be provided with more content and more structured information concerning options offered through the internet or schools. In addition, university offers were evaluated as a positive resource. These resources are e.g. advice from professors, program advising, study taster/open day and websites – even though the presentation of information showed deficits. Internships also received positive reviews. Practical experience in general could be a way to support personal growth, promote independence, as well as strengthen beliefs and abilities. Alternative choices after school, like a yea1r abroad, Federal Voluntary Service etc., were rated predominantly positively. They should thus not be dismissed from the outset and perhaps even be integrated into the information on vocational opportunities. The ratings for the school as contributor were not as good as those for alternative choices. It seems that it should function as an information hub, e.g. for students, parents or enterprises, rather than giving direct choice impulses. Therefore, presenting contexts and improving the skills concerning the use and analysis of multimedia information would be more beneficial. The data indicated that the benefits of many media and smaller scale projects should be examined more thoroughly, since ratings were mostly negative. Additionally, the results show no indication of a shift of female occupational orientation towards non-traditional degrees – at least not beyond individual cases. However, there was a high level of satisfaction with the study program in general and developable data concerning thoughts of change and termination of the current study program. The reason highlighted by respondents had to do with the organization of studies and with aspects of vocational orientation, which illustrated the importance of ongoing advising. Considering their interests and abilities is also important to the participants in this survey, as reflected in their ratings of personal values like reconciliation of work and family life, career opportunities, fulfilment of the duties or social commitment etc. Nevertheless, regarding personal characteristics, it was discussed to what extent types or profiles are sufficient or productive, in terms of prediction. Inaccuracy comparing results of interest measurement with the possible study programs could be contained by a more detailed inclusion of concrete study contents. For example, the acquisition of relevant abilities and skills could be optimized through targeted training or obtaining career as well as degree related certificates. More detailed scientific insights can be gathered with long-term studies that would also investigate individual occupational careers. To this day, a comprehensive, comparative analysis of the numerous studies investigating offers for vocational orientation is still lacking. Although it could help bundle the most important elements, reduce the number of existing activities and projects, and thus improve and simplify vocational orientation.

The doctoral thesis entitled "Vocational orientation and choice in Saxony – an empirical analysis at the Technical University Dresden" investigated the various offers for vocational orientation in Germany and the Free State of Saxony in particular. An online survey of students at the Technical University of Dresden obtained data from 1 568 participants, comprising 4 percent of the student body accessible via email. Details concerning the main conditions and history of the job market, its development and the need for targeted research in this area as well as well-known career choice models and independent influencing factors were shown. The analysis of the survey answers revealed the internet as the most frequently used and best-rated source of information. A still rather moderate estimated level of knowledge concerning possibilities of orientation leaves room for future research investigating the content and form of the provided information to obtain better insights into these aspects. The results also showed that, to this day, parents exert great influence on their children. They could, therefore, be provided with more content and more structured information concerning options offered through the internet or schools. In addition, university offers were evaluated as a positive resource. These resources are e.g. advice from professors, program advising, study taster/open day and websites – even though the presentation of information showed deficits. Internships also received positive reviews. Practical experience in general could be a way to support personal growth, promote independence, as well as strengthen beliefs and abilities. Alternative choices after school, like a yea1r abroad, Federal Voluntary Service etc., were rated predominantly positively. They should thus not be dismissed from the outset and perhaps even be integrated into the information on vocational opportunities. The ratings for the school as contributor were not as good as those for alternative choices. It seems that it should function as an information hub, e.g. for students, parents or enterprises, rather than giving direct choice impulses. Therefore, presenting contexts and improving the skills concerning the use and analysis of multimedia information would be more beneficial. The data indicated that the benefits of many media and smaller scale projects should be examined more thoroughly, since ratings were mostly negative. Additionally, the results show no indication of a shift of female occupational orientation towards non-traditional degrees – at least not beyond individual cases. However, there was a high level of satisfaction with the study program in general and developable data concerning thoughts of change and termination of the current study program. The reason highlighted by respondents had to do with the organization of studies and with aspects of vocational orientation, which illustrated the importance of ongoing advising. Considering their interests and abilities is also important to the participants in this survey, as reflected in their ratings of personal values like reconciliation of work and family life, career opportunities, fulfilment of the duties or social commitment etc. Nevertheless, regarding personal characteristics, it was discussed to what extent types or profiles are sufficient or productive, in terms of prediction. Inaccuracy comparing results of interest measurement with the possible study programs could be contained by a more detailed inclusion of concrete study contents. For example, the acquisition of relevant abilities and skills could be optimized through targeted training or obtaining career as well as degree related certificates. More detailed scientific insights can be gathered with long-term studies that would also investigate individual occupational careers. To this day, a comprehensive, comparative analysis of the numerous studies investigating offers for vocational orientation is still lacking. Although it could help bundle the most important elements, reduce the number of existing activities and projects, and thus improve and simplify vocational orientation.

Im Lebenslauf ist die Berufswahl eine zentrale Entwicklungsaufgabe. Durch die Institutionalisierung des Lebenslaufes in modernen Gesellschaften wird der Prozess auch institutionell begleitet. Schule organisiert in Kooperation mit der Bundesagentur für Arbeit dazu berufsorientierende Angebote, die u.a. die Entwicklung der Berufswahlreife unterstützen sollen. So werden neben den Eltern auch die Schule und Berufsberatung zu zentralen Vermittlern (Gatekeepern) beim Übergang von der Schule in die Ausbildung. Im Rahmen der Analyse des Berufswahlprozesses ist es wichtig, die Interaktion zwischen „Umwelt und Person“ zu betrachten: Wie gelingt es Jugendlichen, diese Entwicklungsaufgabe anhand personaler und sozialer Ressourcen, sowie im Rahmen gesellschaftlicher Strukturen, zu bewältigen? Diese Fragestellung ist grundsätzlich nicht neu, gewinnt jedoch unter den aktuellen gesellschaftlichen und ökonomischen Übergangsbedingungen eine große Bedeutung. Schulen haben in den letzten Jahren verstärkt begonnen, ihre Berufsorientierung systematisch zu organisieren und weiterzuentwickeln. Die Fülle der neu entwickelten Konzepte und Programme zur Verbesserung der Berufsorientierung steht jedoch in keinem Verhältnis zum Stand der empirischen Forschung. Daher ist die vorliegende Forschungsarbeit von der zentralen Zielstellung geleitet, die empirische Evidenz zur Wirkung schulischer Berufsorientierungsangebote zu erweitern. Im Mittelpunkt der Studie steht die Fragestellung, wie sich der schulische Berufsorientierungsprozess für Schülerinnen und Schüler aller Bildungsgänge für einen verbesserten Übergang in weiterführende Bildungs- und Ausbildungssysteme optimieren lässt. Von Interesse ist dabei, ob und inwieweit schulische Angebote die Entwicklung der Berufswahlreife der Schülerinnen und Schüler beeinflussen, welche Angebote als besonders unterstützend oder weniger sinnvoll beurteilt werden müssen. Diese Fragestellungen wurden auf Basis von schriftlichen Befragungen im Zeitraum von 2008 bis 2010 von Oberschülerinnen und Oberschülern im Landes Brandenburg bearbeitet. Anhand von Querschnitts- und Panelanalysen werden Aussagen über die Wahrnehmung und den Einfluss der verschiedenen schulischen Angebote sowohl für einzelne Jahrgangsstufen als auch im Vergleich zwischen den Jahrgangsstufen getroffen. / The study focussed on the question of how career orientation programs for students in middle schools transitioning into advanced educational and vocational levels could be optimized. Particularly of interest was the degree of influence school programs had on the career choices of students and which programs were supportive and which were deemed as not having value. The answers to these questions should help to critically analyze, further develop and adapt current career orientation programs in schools. The accompanying article should be seen as a guidance for teachers who want to use results in current educational research to further develop the career orientation profiles of their schools. The document is an extract of results from the research „My school, my parents and I in the career orientation process – The career choices of students at the end of middle school between career orientation programs in schools and parental influence“ (SEIB).