🧭 Career reorientation and retraining
In brief
If you want to make a fresh start in your career, you do not have to be unemployed: the career counselling for working people (Berufsberatung im Erwerbsleben) of the Agentur für Arbeit (employment agency) is also free of charge for employees and, on request, includes an assessment of aptitude and interests by the Berufspsychologischer Service (occupational psychology service). An education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) may be an option for eligible retraining or further training under certain conditions; the Agentur für Arbeit checks the specific conditions in each individual case.
Step by step
- Arrange a counselling appointmentArrange an appointment with the career counselling for working people at the Agentur für Arbeit – by phone, online or in person.
- Have your aptitude and interests assessedIf needed, involve the Berufspsychologischer Service for a free analysis of your potential and interests.
- Check funding optionsWork out together with the counsellor whether an education voucher, Aufstiegs-BAföG (upgrading training grant) or other funding fits – conditions depend on the individual case.
- Look critically at private offersCareer coaching from private providers costs money and, like "life counsellor", is not a protected title – ask about qualifications in advance.
Deadlines
- The assumption that career counselling is open only to the unemployed is wrong – it is in principle open to everyone who wants to find career direction.
- An education voucher is not granted automatically; the Agentur für Arbeit checks the conditions (including labour-market necessity) case by case.
- Private career coaches are not uniformly regulated in professional terms; costs and proof of qualifications should be clear in advance.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Legal basis
Career counselling is regulated in §§ 29 ff. SGB III and is aimed at those interested in training and studies as well as people already in work. For funding of further vocational training for employees, §§ 81 ff. SGB III, among others, may come into consideration depending on the case.
Qualification allowance (Qualifizierungsgeld)
With the Gesetz zur Stärkung der Aus- und Weiterbildungsförderung, the so-called Qualifizierungsgeld was introduced from 2024 (§ 82a SGB III): it supports employees whose jobs are at risk from structural change during further training supported by the employer. The instrument requires an agreement with the employer and a documented link to structural change; it is therefore not a general funding instrument for a personally motivated crisis of meaning, but may be relevant in an individual case. Details on the amount and exact conditions should be requested directly from the Agentur für Arbeit, as administrative practice is still developing here.
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.