Five Questions for Career Starter

It's common for young people, both students and non-students alike, to feel lost at the onset of their professional life and to spend a lot of their time pondering which industry is best for them. And it’s just as common for there to be misconceptions about their supposed dream jobs, which can quickly lead to frustration. This is the point when Florian Schibber, a full-time bachelor student at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, and his team of mentors at Career Starter can offer assistance. His business gets involved at an early stage, working directly with schools and universities and helping students make decisions about their career path through their proprietary personality test. And these efforts are also intended to help businesses scouting new employees.

1. With Career Starter, you’re seeking to help young people make a solid first step in their careers. And your assistance is also intended to help companies invest less time surveying unsuitable candidates. What approach do you and your team of mentors take at Career Starter to determine which profession is right for each person?

Our approach combines individualized personality analyses with targeted consulting. We use scientifically proven methods to determine a person’s strengths, interests, and personality traits. Participants receive personalized recommendations and insights into different professions through regularly scheduled workshops and one-on-one talks with our mentors. That helps us ensure that both the young people coming to us are able to make a sound decision on the future of their careers and that today’s companies find the best applicants. 

We’ve already had one client change professions entirely after working with us. He went from investment banking—a sector where he was not fully aware of the time commitment and key factors before hand—to a marketing position in a DAX-40-listed firm. He had developed an idea of his former profession in his head that did not correspond to his personal situation or interests.

2. Today’s modern working world has complex demands. And there are so many possibilities out there for young people, some of which they may not even be aware of. How has Career Starter succeeded in reaching them at their level? And how has it managed to gain traction with schools and universities?

We see a lot of value in actively addressing them as early as we can, and our direct cooperation with schools, universities, and companies has helped spread awareness of our services. Our mentors represent many different industries, and they share their own experiences and get our clients excited about a variety of career paths. We also use social media and other digital platforms to reach a broader demographic and continually expand our network.

3. Career Starter already has quite a team of mentors. They offer their expertise in everything from nanophysics to real estate. How do you build up an expert network at schools? And how would you like to expand your consulting services in the future?

Our network is the result of years of intensive work, comprehensive networking, and enriching experiences. Our mentors have been able to make valuable connections through their participation in initiatives, internships, and their own professional activities in a variety of industries. Those connections extend across numerous universities and involve people with diverse professional backgrounds. That has allowed our network to reach far and wide and have extraordinary depth.

We focus on regularly offering workshops and events where our mentors can impart their knowledge and relay their experiences. And that does not only result in a comprehensive network of experts. It also promotes an exchange between high school students, university students, and those just starting in their careers. In the future, we are planning to further expand our network and our consulting services. 

Their connection with their mentors and attendance at presentations will lead to them establishing invaluable professional and interpersonal relationships. And they benefit from innovative study methods and communication workshops. I say all this to say that they are discovering their professional scope, which will help them determine what they are really passionate about. We offer support to help them find the best university, job, or internship. And lastly, we prepare them to take the next step, whether that be joining the working world or continuing their education.

In using digital platforms, we would like to ensure that our offerings are available to practically all high school and university students. To that end, we’re working to establish long-term partnerships with academic institutions and companies so that our initiative can have long-lasting effects.

4. Thanks in part to its corporate connections, Career Starter is able to offer its consultation services to students free of charge. How does this help companies with their organizational development?

Companies that partner with us gain direct access to a pool of young talent and university graduates who bring their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. On the corporate side, they can design new education and training programs that match their own needs with the strengths of the candidates. 

Working with us also allows companies to boost their reputation for being progressive and attractive employers, something of particular importance to their brands. Companies have the chance to retain potential employees at an early stage and integrate them seamlessly into their business environment. That leads to long-term employee retention. 

And that same partnership will help keep the company clued in to current research and the latest developments in technology. With fresh ideas from younger experts, the company becomes more agile. 

5. Starting a company while completing a full-time bachelor program must take up much of your time. How have you managed to juggle everything you have going on? And what initially inspired you to found Career Starter?

I’ve only managed to start my company with consistent time management and by prioritizing my tasks. Mentor support and the support of a strong network help me maintain a balance.

What inspired me to found Career Starter were my initial experiences as a first-generation student. After training and later working in wholesale and international exporting, I graduated from high school and started studying. And that was when I realized the importance of coupling theory with practice.

Career Starter was born out of a belief that education is the key to unlocking success. Our vision is to build a network that connects high school and university students. We want to help people on their academic and professional journeys and offer them both the theoretical knowledge and opportunities where they can put that theory into practice. We help them realize their true calling and find their dream job.