An Austrian job coach and a male Syrian refugee meet for a counselling session. The migrant claims that he is a qualified nurse and states that he would like to continue to work in this profession. The job coach tries to assess the official documents that prove the existing qualification. The migrant shows a certificate, which is in Arabic. The job coach advises the migrant to have it translated into German and go to the national certification agency to have it officially recognised. Additional documents prove that the migrant has participated in continuous training to keep his skills up-to-date. Moreover, the coach suggests asking former employers for references. To improve language competence, an additional work-specific language course is also recommended.
What are your professional aims?
Excuse me. What exactly do you mean by professional aims?
I am sorry for using difficult language. I simply want to know if you have already an idea what job you are looking for here.
Oh, that’s easy to answer. I’m a nurse and want to stay in nursing. This is my profession and it’s what I always wanted to do.
That’s great! We need a lot of nurses in this country. There is a high demand for that profession in the labour market.
Then will it be easy for me to find a job, do you think?
You will have good job opportunities, but unfortunately there are quite strict requirements you have to meet if you want to work as a nurse. Most importantly, where did you learn the profession?
I went to Damascus Heath Care School for three years and passed all the exams.
Damascus Heath Care School: Is that a higher education institution or a vocational school?
It’s a vocational school. All nurses in Syria have to attend it. You have to successfully complete secondary school before you can go there.
Can you prove your qualification? Do you have a certificate?
Yes, I do, look here, my diploma, with a stamp, seal and everything. It says I am a qualified nurse.
Ok, that’s very good! It is in Arabic, isn’t it? Unfortunately, I can’t read it. It needs to be officially translated. And, even more importantly, it has to be recognised.
How can I get the recognition? Which authority do I have to go to?
There is an official recognition body for professional qualifications. I’ll give you the address. They will check if you have learned the same things in Damascus as a nursing student does here. Then, hopefully, your diploma will be recognised and you can work here as a nurse.
And if not?
Don’t worry. With your qualification, you can at least work as a nursing assistant first, and then do the further training necessary to become a fully qualified nurse in this country.
Back to school again? Well, the main thing is I can find a job in my profession…
It will not be a school, but a specialised training centre. And talking about continuous training, we will send you to a medical language course to make sure you know all relevant words and phrases for nursing. We call this lifelong learning…
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