The aim of the project “Job Orientation – Better Fit!” was to improve the alignment between the requirements of companies and the competencies of potential trainees as well as new employees, thereby reducing the rate of training dropouts and early staff turnover. At the same time, the project sought to address the existing “skills mismatch” and to identify approaches and support measures that can contribute to a successful recruitment and onboarding process, particularly tailored for use in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The focus was on presenting practical tools that help companies select suitable applicants and sustainably integrate new employees.
The application for the Erasmus+ project “Job Orientation – Better Fit!” was submitted against the backdrop of a growing shortage of skilled workers in the European construction sector. At the same time, a high rate of premature terminations of training and employment relationships can be observed, which are often attributable to motivational problems resulting from an insufficient match between operational requirements and the applicants’ interests and competencies. The project therefore addressed both the recruitment and the long-term retention of trainees and employees. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular require practical, hands-on approaches to improve their selection processes while simultaneously promoting sustainable employment relationships. A special focus was placed on the design of structured onboarding processes that support successful integration and reduce dropouts. Through transnational cooperation, diverse perspectives and experiences were brought together, and joint approaches, innovative methods, and practice-oriented tools were developed to improve job matching and strengthen the long-term stability of employment relationships in the construction industry.