Alexandra Hofer BA, MA
The main thing I took with me from my studies at FH JOANNEUM is the fact that working with people is in no way static or predictable – and there are various individual possibilities.
Key data
Job description: Foster family support worker
Company: a:pfl gmbh
I work in: Graz, Austria
I’ve worked here since: 2015
My contact
What I do:
In short, I offer foster parents reflection and advice, giving them the opportunity to address and discuss issues from everyday life. The aim of the support provided is to arrange regular meetings with the foster families independently of any defined ‘problems’ so as to identify and intercept any potential crisis developments as early as possible.
Why I love my job:
The best thing about my job is the diversity. No two consultations are the same. I really like the variety. And the independence you have in this profession is also a good quality.
Important skills in my job:
- Flexibility
- Empathy
- Resilience
My biggest accomplishment so far:
I am particularly proud of the fact that I had the opportunity to present my Master’s thesis entitled ‘Migrants in Geriatric Care’ during a conference at the University of Graz. I particularly enjoyed networking with renowned experts in the field of aging research.
How I found my current job:
A friend already working at the company told me that the management were looking for new employees. So I sent a speculative application to the management and was invited to an interview. It was certainly beneficial that I had already worked as a social learning assistant for the same company.
What I learned for this job during my studies:
The main thing I took with me from my course at FH JOANNEUM is the fact that working with people is in no way static or predictable. For this reason, it requires instinct, empathy and the ability to make good judgements so as to correctly assess situations and interactions. I think that the ‘Social Work’ course is very good at communicating how to correctly assess situations and react accordingly.
Job prospects in my field:
I have learned from experience that undertaking an internship at a social enterprise is very worthwhile, especially for those starting out in their career. I think it is particularly important to show interest in your potential future professional environment while still studying. With these pre-requisites, I think it is fairly simple to find a job like mine. It is also important that the training is of the right kind. Only those with psycho-social training (social work, social education or psychology) can be employed as foster family support workers, for example.
I am:
- determined
- persistent
- flexible
About my job:
My job is hugely enriching for me because it provides me with the necessary practical experience to accompany the theoretical training I received during my studies. I think it’s exciting to meet different people in different situations in life and work with them to achieve goals.
I am currently studying:
In addition to my course in ‘Social Work’, I also have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Graz. I am currently working towards my PhD at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at the University of Graz.
I am continuing my studies because:
...I am personally very interested in research and want to pursue scientific work in the near future in addition to my current ‘practical’ work as a foster family support worker.
How I make studying compatible with my job:
To be honest, it is not easy to combine full-time studies with full-time employment. There is very little time for leisure activities. The most important thing is good time management. But I make sure I take breaks. So I keep one day a week free to catch my breath. One big advantage of having such time constraints is the effective work because there is no time for dawdling.