Many years ago many years ago, I worked for three years at Mentoring für Jugendliche, a a bi-cantonal project to find apprenticeships for young people who find it a little more difficult. It was there that I got to know the volunteer mentor mentor Nicole Bertherin. And as it happens, you run into each other from time to time even if you don't have constant points of contact.

I only became aware of I only became aware of Nicole Bertherin again through another mentor whom I I see in the Trämmli from time to time. Whenever possible, we exchange ideas while riding the Trämmli riding. And by the way, he mentioned the project that he and Nicole are working on together work together: "Impulse A job market for everyone."

Curious, I surfed the Impulse homepage. Very I like to quote keywords from the website:

• "Our vision is to promote inclusion in the world of work and in society. and society: This means inclusion, inclusion, belonging. Every person must have the opportunity to participate equally and to participate in all social processes with equal rights and responsibility."
• "Our mission is to promote equal opportunities: To this end, we support people people with disabilities and jobseekers over the age of 50 as well as employers and companies."

Impulse was founded in 2011. Since 2018, the offer for jobseekers over 50 has been expanded. Impulse is a non-profit association.

Because I was very interested in all this, I got in touch with Nicole Bertherin. She is on the board of the association. And in times of Corona, I asked her questions by email, which she answered below answered below:

Dear Nicole, you are back from Japan. Did you get home safely or was it difficult?

Both. I was able to rebook my canceled flight relatively easily to another airline and arrived safely in Zurich with only 14 (!) other passengers. arrived safely in Zurich. However, it was very difficult for me to say goodbye. I had a wonderful month with incredible encounters. Being stranded in Japan I almost secretly wished I was stranded in Japan.

How do you assess the difference between older employees in Japan and here in Switzerland? Can the situation be compared at all?

Both the Swiss and the Japanese are literally born to work. literally in the cradle. Both countries are at the forefront when it when it comes to annual working hours. Demographic change is a major challenge for both countries. challenge for both countries. For Japan, it is probably the greater one: Japanese society is is ageing and shrinking at a rapid pace. For the seventh year in a row, the population has fallen for the seventh year in a row.

Of course, this also has consequences for the labor market. Three approaches are being pursued - the longer employment of older workers the inclusion of more women in the workforce and opening up the country to more immigrants. to more immigrants. Japan is making the fastest progress in employing older people. people. It should be borne in mind that in Japan, work in old age has is traditionally given a higher priority in Japan.

In contrast to us, the policy in Japan is based on the assumption that people will not be able to support themselves in old age solely through their pension and private pensions alone, but also through work. It is therefore normal for people in Japan to still be working at the age of 68 or 70. still working. 

How long have you been on the Impulse board?

I have been a co-founder of Impulse since the beginning of 2011. since the beginning of 2011.

Is there a difference in dealing with the situation between mentoring for young people and impulses? Do young and old people approach their difficult situation differently?

Whether young or older: phases of transition can be very can be very challenging. I think we are all familiar with this. The existential fears have a different impact on older jobseekers. On top of that Not working somehow has no place in our culture. If you don't work for a long time time, there must be something wrong with them. At least that's how I often the credo. What I find particularly dangerous about this is that it in combination with the collective mood in the media can lead to a not can lead to dangerous self-stigmatization.

 In such a phase of uncertainty, it is important to recognize that the future is not is not fixed but can be shaped and that we can play a responsible and constructive constructively in shaping it. Mentoring at eye level can provide valuable support here.

Everyone is talking about rising unemployment due to corona. What do you think?

We experience a lot of light and also shadows. Mentees who have just have just lost their job due to the deteriorating economic situation. have just lost their job. Jobseekers over 60, who are finding their dream job right now. Program participants who have no jobs who can no longer find any vacancies in the areas where they think they have the best in the areas where they think they have the best chances. And still others who are now even finding more suitable job profiles than before the crisis because they have expanded their strategy during Mentoring 50+. expanded their strategy.

Can you tell us what you do when a jobseeker contacts you?

There is always a non-binding introductory meeting. We present the mentoring and find out what expectations the client has. client has. If both find it useful to participate, we start. Together we work out a roadmap for the next stage in individual meetings. Depending on Depending on the situation, we may need to revise the entire dossier or individual coaching sessions to process difficult experiences. Some people want training for job interviews or support with their social media strategy. strategy.

Together with mentors as sparring partners, the application strategy the application strategy is developed further. Our "oracle sessions" are a particularly are our "oracle sessions". Here mentors and mentees are used to develop new ideas or identify concrete contacts in specific industries. ideas or to identify concrete contacts in specific sectors.

How do jobseekers over fifty rate the program and its benefits?

In the final discussions, one of the most important aspects aspects is the long-term support. The following are perceived as unique the wide range of the network and the individual support. Or as one mentee put it: "Here I always felt like a person and not a client. a person and not a client. In the program, I was able to benefit from offers that suited that suited me and my situation."

You wrote to me in an email "Apart from that, it (Seniors@Work) is also an interesting platform for us". In what way is Seniors@Work interesting for you?

Work and seniority is our common and central point of central point of contact. Many of our clients are on the verge of are about to retire or have taken early retirement and are developing a perspective beyond their perspective beyond their retirement age. Seniors@Work is a valuable platform for accessing further opportunities and possibilities.

And who knows, maybe one or the other will consider one or two people might also consider becoming a mentor. There are many exciting mentoring programs in Switzerland that would be delighted to have additional mentoring power!

Dear Nicole, thank you for this exciting email interview! It brought interesting insights into another meaningful organization for the benefit of older older jobseekers. You are doing a great job. Congratulations! And stay healthy!