AVGS received – what happens next? Once you have received an Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, the next step is to find out how to use it correctly and how to move from the voucher to an actual coaching programme.
Many people are pleased when the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit approves an AVGS, but the document itself does not mean that any coaching programme can start immediately. The coaching must match the conditions stated on the voucher, and the selected measure has to go through the required process before participation begins.
Knowing what to check, how to choose a suitable provider and what happens before the first coaching appointment can make the process much easier. This guide explains the most important steps from receiving your AVGS to starting your coaching.
What does it mean when you receive an AVGS?
An Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, or AVGS, is a funding instrument used by the Jobcenter and the Agentur für Arbeit in Germany. Depending on your individual situation, it can support measures designed to improve your employment prospects.
This may include help with applications, career orientation, preparation for the labour market, individual coaching or other forms of professional support.
I have lived in Hamburg for 36 years and know the city and its opportunities very well. I help people who are looking for work identify a suitable career direction, discover new opportunities and find the right path into employment.
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Receiving the voucher means that a certain type of support has been approved in principle. However, the AVGS normally contains specific conditions that determine what kind of measure can be used.
For this reason, it is important not to look at the AVGS simply as a general coaching voucher. The details written on the document matter when selecting your provider and programme.
Step 1: Check the details on your AVGS
The first thing you should do is read the voucher carefully. AVGS documents are not necessarily identical, because the conditions can depend on the person’s situation and the purpose of the funding.
Which details should you check?
- the objective of the measure,
- the validity period of the voucher,
- the permitted duration or scope of the measure,
- and any geographical or other conditions stated on the document.
The wording can sometimes seem complicated, especially if you have never used an AVGS before. You do not have to understand every administrative term on your own. A suitable coaching provider can normally check the voucher and explain whether a particular programme matches its requirements.
If you have not received an AVGS yet and are still at the application stage, you can read our guide How to Get an AVGS from the Jobcenter in Germany.
Step 2: Look for a suitable coaching provider
Once you understand the basic conditions of your voucher, you can start looking for a suitable provider. The goal is not simply to find any organisation that offers AVGS coaching. The programme should also make sense for your current professional situation.
Different people need different types of support. Someone who has recently arrived in Germany may need help understanding the German job market and preparing applications. Another person may already have good qualifications but struggle to receive invitations to interviews. Someone else may be returning to work after a longer period of unemployment and need a clearer professional direction.
A job coaching programme in Hamburg can address several of these areas, depending on the approved measure and your individual needs.
What should you look for in a coaching programme?
Before choosing a provider, try to understand what the programme actually includes. A first conversation can help clarify whether the coaching fits both your AVGS and your personal goals.
Useful questions may include what topics will be covered, whether the sessions are individual or group-based, how often appointments take place and how the coaching is adapted to your situation.
If you prefer personalised support, you may also want to learn more about individual coaching with AVGS.
Step 3: Let the provider check your voucher
When you have found a provider you are interested in, the provider should check whether its programme matches the conditions stated on your AVGS.
This is an important step. Even if a provider offers AVGS-funded coaching, a specific measure still has to correspond to the objective and conditions written on your voucher.
The provider may check the measure objective, permitted duration, possible start date and any other relevant restrictions.
If the programme is suitable, the provider can prepare the necessary information or documents for the next stage of the process.
It is usually helpful to contact the provider as soon as possible after receiving your AVGS. This leaves more time to clarify any questions before the voucher expires.
Step 4: Complete the approval process before starting
Finding a suitable coaching provider is not necessarily the final administrative step. The concrete measure still has to fit the conditions of the AVGS and go through the required process with the responsible Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit.
The provider will usually explain which documents are needed and what has to happen before the coaching can officially begin.
This is why you should avoid starting a programme simply because you already have the voucher in your hand. The formal steps should first be completed.
If you are unsure about the financial side of the process, see our guide How Much Does AVGS Coaching Cost? Funding Explained.
You can also read Do I Have to Pay for AVGS Coaching? for a more detailed explanation of costs and funding.
When can AVGS coaching actually start?
It is understandable to want to begin immediately, especially if you have already been looking for work for some time. However, the correct start date depends on the completion of the necessary steps.
Your provider should be able to tell you when the coaching can officially begin and whether anything else is still required before the first session.
Starting only after the process has been completed helps avoid problems with the funding of the measure.
How long does it take to start coaching after receiving an AVGS?
There is no single fixed waiting period that applies to everyone. The time between receiving the voucher and starting the coaching can depend on several factors.
For example, you first need to find a programme that matches the voucher. The provider then has to check the document and prepare the relevant information. Any remaining administrative steps also need to be completed before participation begins.
The process may therefore be quicker in some cases and take longer in others.
One practical point is especially important: check the validity period of your AVGS. If the voucher can only be used within a certain period, it is better not to leave the search for a provider until the last moment.
Can I choose my own AVGS coaching provider?
One important feature of the AVGS system is that you can look for a suitable approved measure yourself, provided that it matches the conditions of your voucher.
This gives you the opportunity to compare providers and decide which type of coaching fits your needs best.
However, freedom of choice does not mean that every AVGS programme can automatically be used with every voucher. The measure and the AVGS still have to fit together.
When comparing providers, consider not only location and availability but also the content and format of the programme.
Some people benefit from individual sessions, while others may prefer learning and exchanging experiences in a group. Our article Individual Coaching or Group Coaching: Which Is Right for You? explains some of the differences.
What can be covered during AVGS coaching?
The exact content depends on the approved programme, but job coaching can cover a wide range of employment-related topics.
One area may be career orientation. If you are unsure which profession fits your qualifications, interests or experience, coaching can help you examine possible directions more systematically.
You can also read Career Orientation: Which Job Is Right for Me? if this is one of your main questions.
Another common area is the application process. This can include reviewing your CV, improving cover letters, searching for suitable vacancies and developing a more effective application strategy.
If your documents need improvement, see Improve Your Application Documents: CV and Cover Letter.
People who are unfamiliar with German application standards may also find our article CV for the German Job Market: What Is Important? useful.
Personal one-to-one coaching
We work individually on your professional situation, your goals and the next practical steps.
Support with your job search
We support you with job search, application documents and preparation for job interviews.
AVGS funding for your coaching
With an AVGS, individual coaching may be fully funded by the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit.
Personal support at every step
From the first consultation to your next professional steps, you have a personal contact person.
What happens during the first coaching session?
The first session is often used to understand your current professional situation in more detail. The coach may discuss your work experience, qualifications, previous applications and your goals for the coming weeks or months.
This helps create a clearer plan for the coaching.
For example, someone who already knows exactly which job they want may focus primarily on applications and interviews. Another person may need to begin with career orientation before preparing targeted applications.
If you have been unemployed for a longer period, returning to work may require additional planning. Our article Long-Term Unemployment: How to Return to Work Successfully looks at this situation in more detail.
What should you bring to the first appointment?
If available, it can be useful to bring your current CV, certificates, application documents and relevant letters from the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit.
You can also bring job advertisements that interest you or examples of applications you have already sent.
However, you do not need to arrive with everything perfectly prepared. One of the purposes of coaching is to identify what is missing and work on it step by step.
What if the AVGS does not match the coaching you want?
Sometimes the provider may find that the desired programme does not fully match the conditions of your voucher.
This does not automatically mean that you cannot receive support. It may simply mean that another measure is more suitable or that you need to clarify the situation with your Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit.
It is better to identify this before the coaching starts than to discover later that the programme cannot be funded under the existing voucher.
If your situation is different and the problem is that the AVGS itself has not been approved, read Can the Jobcenter Refuse an AVGS? Reasons and What You Can Do.
What if your AVGS is close to expiring?
If the validity period is almost over, contact a suitable provider as soon as possible. The provider can check whether the voucher can still be used for the intended measure.
If necessary, you should also contact your responsible adviser at the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit.
Do not assume that everything can be completed on the final day of validity. Starting the process earlier gives you more time to clarify questions and organise the required steps.
What if you have an AVGS but are still unsure about your career direction?
Receiving an AVGS does not mean that you must already have a perfect career plan.
Many jobseekers know that they want to return to work but are uncertain about the type of job they should target. This may be particularly common after a career break, a move to Germany, changes in personal circumstances or a long period outside the labour market.
Career orientation can therefore be an important part of coaching. The aim may be to identify realistic options based on your previous experience, strengths, qualifications and current opportunities.
Using your coaching effectively once it starts
Once the administrative process is complete and your coaching begins, it is useful to work actively with your coach.
Think about what has been difficult during your job search so far. Have you sent many applications without receiving replies? Do you often receive interview invitations but no job offers? Are you unsure which positions are realistic for you?
Different problems require different approaches.
If interviews are the main challenge, preparing and practising common situations can be useful. You can also read Job Interview in Germany: How to Prepare Successfully.
If German language skills are limiting the range of jobs you can apply for, our guides Applying for Jobs with Limited German and German for Work may also be relevant.
AVGS received: move forward step by step
Receiving an AVGS is an important milestone, but there are still several steps between getting the voucher and starting your coaching.
First, check what is written on the AVGS and pay particular attention to the measure objective and validity period. Then find a suitable provider, make sure the programme matches your voucher and complete the required process before the first coaching session.
Taking these steps in the right order can help prevent unnecessary delays and ensure that the coaching you choose is suitable for both your funding conditions and your professional goals.
If you would like a broader introduction to the topic, you can also read AVGS Coaching in Hamburg: How the Funding Works.
Would you like to know what support may be available to you?
Simply complete the form. We will contact you personally, discuss your situation and explain which coaching, AVGS or professional support options may be suitable for you.