RAV German Course

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hello,

I was in my maternity leave, and now it's finished. I am seaching job at 80%, my RAV advisor wants that I start a course, called "ateliers für Frauen", I asked her why not a german course, as I just have Level A1. I find this course useless for me, I have studies, I have a University Course made in Portugal, So I think it was better to make a german course because it can open more jobs possibilities, and when I ask her why not a german course? she told me "You will do what I said!" So...In the maternity leave she obligated me to went at 3 appointments with her, and now this, My baby it ́s 3 months old, If I don't learn german and waist my time doing nothing for develop my language skills, what future can I assure for her? even if I study at home It's not the same, because I don't know people who speaks german and leran with them. I'm just in RAV because I really need the money...It's there any possibility to speak with someone that can send me to a german course? instead this RAV Advisor? or can I change RAV advisor? Everytime I go there she tells me something diferent, at first she told me that I should make a test if I can stand the 80%, than she told this test will be 3 days, in the next told me it will be 5 days, and now she sended me to this "occupation" for 6 months instead of 5 days test, I really don't understand why, shouldn't they send me to a german course as priority?

I'm in RAV since November, and my baby born in end of November, so i'm not that ones that don't do nothing for so long...

thank you all

2
Welcome Darkira,

First rule, don't let the RAV get you down.

Second rule, do pretty much what they say and don't forget you'll get a new adviser after 7 months.

I am sure it's no consolation, but I speak reasonable German and they are insisting I spend the next 8 weeks on a beginners German course! All day Wednesday and half day Friday (what kind of example is that to set to the unemployed? Not working a full day Friday huh?)

No choice, I just have to show up.

Keep the chin up.

3
Darkira,

I'm sorry you're going through this, and agree that you shouldn't let the RAV get you down.

One thing-since the RAV wants you to get a job first and foremost, can you ask for reasons that you were rejected from a position? If you have evidence that your German skills are an issue, maybe that will help change your advisor's mind.

Also, what is your field of work?

4
I get the impression from the strories that I read that RAV workers either really don't like their jobs, or really don't like Auslanders. Or both.

5
You should listen to the RAV advisers, they have enormous power over you and usually win any argument: go with the flow....

So your German is poor, and you are going on a training course, using the German language. What is better than "Total Immersion" ? In my opinion you will learn far more German on this course, and it will be very relevant.

Have you ever been on a basic German course and spent the evening looking for the meaning of the word "Tortoise"? I now know that turtle and tortoise are the same name in German, but it didn't forward my career one bit.

6
It's true that the RAV advisors have power, but, more importantly, they can be really helpful if you give them the impression that you are serious about finding work (and are therefore worth investing in).

Be organized, on time, and polite. Take notes, ask questions. Work on establishing contacts and setting goals (such as: I want to have two interviews in the next month). These will serve you very well, both for your interviews, and for your future. Also, if you are motivated and interested, your advisor will be more willing to work with you rather than just having you follow some rules.

But also, chin up. It can feel very lonely to be unemployed. Stay strong.

7
Exactly. "ateliers für Frauen" sounds like it'll be a sort of workshop together with other women where, hopefully, you'll all be speaking German together.

8
Either that or they will be getting some free English & Portuguese lessons!

9
My field it's multimedia and computer science, but I know that I forgeted a lot of things, because de last 2 years I worked as a housekeeping in a Hotel, I know that it will not be easy to find a good job, or reasonable job, and also my advisor told me that in the coming months she will just count job applications in cleaning or housekeeping, I know they want me to find a job, and they don't care about my expectations or dreams, they just want that I don't use the money, but I feel that I'm loosing time, she doesn't help me to find a job in my field, she just wants that I find a job in cleaning, and I'm tired of that kind of job, I don't like it, it's not what I fought to, some people enjoy to do it but I don't, at home it's ok but I can't imagine doing that for all my life...

My german it's poor, level A1 made one year ago, and I really enjoyed the classes, but had no money to go further, and I don't have right now, so I thought RAV was a good opportunity. I got ungry because I know a girl that is in my situation, and her advisor told her..."Ok you're searching job at 80%, when your maternity leave finishes you will make a german course"...so why not everybody have the same right? everybody should be treat equal, and I am mad also, because I think that the correct thing to do, it's me and the advisor try to find a solutions and not "you will do this because I say!"...it's also the way that things are said...like ""you piece of sheet, you will do what I want, because I'm the boss in here"...where's humanity? Maybe this experience can bring me something new, but I heard everybody saying that this "atelier" it's for woman who can fit in any place, or with psycological problems, or womans with 50/60 years old, I think it's not the kind of thing that I nedd for now...and if I will be at 100% doing this course how can I search job? I have a privat life also...she didn't wait not even a month...when are people that don't make anything for months...

10
Darkira, don't compare your situation with someone else at the RAV. Nothing is going to improve just because you know of someone who has a better advisor than you do. You're going to have to make do until the situation changes. Ask yourself instead what you can do to make this situation better. Sounds like you have dismissed this Atelier thing before you've really given it a chance. Surely there is something, anything, there that can be useful for you?

Don't forget also that the RAV advisors have a ton of clients. It makes it easier for them and it's quicker for them to put people into categories. When your advisor looks at you he/she may well be seeing you only in the light of your previous work experience, i.e. working in housekeeping at a hotel. Is there any way that you could influence his or her impression of you for the better? Trying to argue with them won't change much, imo. The nicer you can be to them, the better for you in the long run.

11
Computer science is a pretty broad field, what level of education do you have?

12
I think you need to understand a few things:

a) who you are

b) who you want to be

"who" can translate to individual or employed person alike.

Reading your postings in this topic, I get the impression that you are a young woman, congrats to your little child, father well, too, I hope, some education in multimedia and programming, only ever earned money in low-level temporary jobs outside of your field of education.

That is, sorry to say so, a problem - even for a local Swiss person.

You live in Kanton Luzern, which is predominantly inhabited by German-speaking, traditional Swiss. You do not speak German.

And that is, sorry again to say so, a problem. Because now you are at a massive disadvantage to that above average local Swiss person who already is in a precarious situation.

So what do you have to offer that makes you stand out from the Rest of the Pack in a positive fashion? German it will not be. (And neither the atelier, granted)

Perhaps you could review whether, after your maternity leave, you could return to your previous employer(s)? It would seem that continuing housekeeping at a hotel would be the most logical - although possibly not the most likable - continuation of your career.

Obviously, the RAV has much better insight into what your unique value propositions are - possibly that's the reason why they seem to not know what could be best for you.

These are challenging times here in Switzerland - try to focus your energy on making positive progress and be glad that the social system pays you oodles of money while you do.