by Victoria Ammann, dafür
Young people often have unclear ideas about professions and companies and are unsure about choosing a profession. The most common questions are:
- What can I expect during my apprenticeship?
- How will everyday working life be like?
- What opportunities does the profession offer?
- How will my working environment be like?
One approach to solving this problem is virtual reality. Virtual reality is an artificially created environment with images, videos, sound and animations. With the help of virtual reality (VR) glasses or a smartphone, interested young people can watch videos and interact in games and apps. In doing so, they experience it as if they were right there in the action. The basis for virtual reality (VR) are 360-degree videos. Corresponding cameras film in every angle all around. Therefore, it is possible to experience what is happening in front of the camera, but also to the side and behind you.
This technology is used in various areas:
- Virtual career orientation for young people (e.g. at trade fairs as well as in counselling interviews)
- Presentation of companies and jobs
- Virtual reality from the perspective of a person with a disability (e.g. everyday working life from the perspective of a wheelchair user)
Since the trial apprenticeship is one of the most important stages in career orientation, the virtual company tours offer a digital opportunity to get to know real apprentices, including job description and tasks.
VR can therefore offer the possibility to get a first direct insight into a future workplace by presenting apprenticeship professions and the environment accordingly.
At dafür, a social service provider for persons with a disability in Austria, the virtual reality glasses “Oculus Go” are used within the “Virtual Career Orientation” app. This app was programmed for apprenticeship fairs using this new innovative tool to get young people excited about apprenticeships. Currently, 80 job profiles are available with information, 21 of which feature state-of-the-art 3D VR surround technology and surround sound.
Employees are trained regularly in the use of the VR glasses and the «Virtual Career Orientation» app for apprenticeships. It is particularly important for the job coaches to implement this innovative tool in their everyday work.
In this way, the app also offers the opportunity to make lesser-known apprenticeships accessible to a wider audience in an innovative way. The goal would be for career guidance teachers to also use the app in the classroom.
