Successful experiences in working life bolster integration and human agency. In work-based basic education (TEPPO), career-focused school counseling is the City of Vantaa’s new directive operating model that has not consciously been targeted at young people with immigrant backgrounds, but has in a short time given good signals as regards promotion of integration. In TEPPO activities, career-focused school counseling is viewed as a recurrent learning environment, beneficial for the young. Young people ages 14-16 can perform 5-7 learning-at-work weeks as part of the school year’s learning and counseling process. Working-life knowledge, learning working-life skills, and development of career-planning competences act as support forms and promote integration (vantaa.fi). Thus, the adult workplace communities are important actors in guiding the young. They can provide a directive environment for carrying out goal-oriented processes.
In work-based basic education, career-focused school counseling is naturally placed on the surface of career counseling and study counseling where also the life-long guidance time span is prevalent. Patton and McMahon (2006) describe the building of career choices while at school with the help of a systemic model. In addition to perceiving the field of self-knowledge and possibilities, especially the transfer-stage decision-making skills are boosted. The possibilities of obtaining education and employment are the higher, the better facilities an individual has for handling changes in life course.
Many highly educated immigrants striving for the labor market remain unemployed, underemployed or work in jobs that do not correspond with their education (vantaa.fi). Basic-education actors shall ensure that the new generation of immigrants will not be left on the sidetrack of education and working life. TEPPO activities’ career-focused school counseling builds new competences also for academic careers.
The effectiveness of counseling will improve when the goals and methods are consistent with one’s own life experience and cultural values. The benefits from working-life connections can often turn the problem-oriented integration discussion into a more solution-focused direction. Instead of listing mere challenges and restrictions, attention is focused on potentials.