Is your university really preparing you to be career-ready?
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Updated on: Jan 2025
TL;DR: The Dual Vocational Training (DVT) Program helps you get ready for your career right after high school. It’s a German education model that mixes real job experience with classroom learning. The program focuses on hands-on training and solving real-world problems.
Graduating and Stepping into the Job Market
When you toss your cap in the air and hold your graduation scroll, you might feel ready to start your career. But, are you really prepared for the workplace?
Does your university education actually set you up for the job you want? How much of what you learned at the university will be useful in your daily work? Many people say that what they studied in class doesn’t match what they do on the job. A survey by Milkround, a job search platform for graduates in the UK, found that only 13% of graduates think their education prepared them for the specific tasks they do at work. Even though you’ve spent years learning theories, solving problems on paper, and doing calculations, these skills often don’t fully prepare you for the job market. So, the big question is: Are university graduates truly career-ready?
What are companies looking for?
Industry-Relevant Skills
If you’re a new graduate, you’ll probably have to go through some training at your first job to learn about the company and the industry. It might take months—or even years—before you understand the company’s full operations and master the skills needed for the job. For example, earning an engineering degree gives you general technical knowledge, but the skills you need to work in telecommunications may be different from what you need in the automotive industry. While you might know the theory, you might not know how to operate machines or fix problems on the job. This is why many companies prefer candidates with prior experience: it makes training easier, faster, and cheaper.
Strong Soft Skills
Having the right technical skills isn’t enough. Employers also look at your soft skills—things like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. These skills are important in every workplace. While you might have learned some of them in school, applying them in a professional setting is a whole different challenge. Learning to balance work ethic, meet deadlines, and build good relationships with colleagues takes time. Unfortunately, without real job experience, many fresh graduates struggle with these soft skills.
Dual Vocational Training (DVT): A Better Way to Prepare for Your Career?
By now, it’s clear that getting early exposure to the workplace and hands-on training can help you develop the skills employers are looking for. That’s exactly what the Dual Vocational Training (DVT) Programme offers.
DVT is a German education model where students start gaining job experience right after high school. Instead of choosing between working or studying, DVT offers a balanced approach: 75% on-the-job training with a company and 25% classroom learning at a vocational school. This program gives you the skills that are directly relevant to the job and the industry you want to work in.
The programme focuses on solving real-world problems—something universities can’t always provide. By working with a company, you’ll stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies. This lets you apply what you learn right away, instead of just memorizing theories and dealing with hypothetical situations.
The DVT curriculum is standardized and recognized across Germany and many other EU countries. Once you finish the programme, you can either stay with the company where you trained or look for another job. Not only will you have hands-on work experience and a qualification, but you’ll also receive a salary while you train. That’s why about 50% of German students choose the DVT route over a traditional university education. The DVT model is becoming more popular worldwide, with many countries offering similar programmes in fields like engineering, software development, and nursing.
Finding the Right Path for You
Does this mean universities are no longer relevant? Not at all. University education still offers many benefits. University life helps you build confidence, manage your time with deadlines, work on team projects, and develop research skills, among other things. While university may not always prepare you for the exact tasks in a job, it’s still valuable in many ways.
In fact, many universities are starting to include more hands-on learning opportunities, like mandatory internships. These programmes help students get exposure to the workforce before they graduate. The key is to figure out which path works best for your career goals and learning style—whether it’s the traditional university route or the Dual Vocational Training programme.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Embrace whichever path you choose and make the most of it!
3 Easy Steps to Discover What Works For You
Here’s an overview of the different further education options offered in Germany and how you can prepare for them. Feel free to contact us, we’ll be happy to assist you.