Experiences of Young Apprentices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The social precariousness of work for adolescents in the midst of a pandemic heralded new social modulations and challenges for the practices of reconciling work and professional study. That said, this study sought to understand the experiences of young apprentices in the process of facing study and work in the pandemic scenario that started in 2020. It is a qualitative study with the participation of 15 young apprentices. Individual interviews were used as an instrument, which took place remotely and were analyzed with the theoretical help of Psychodynamics at Work. The results show that the main difficulties encountered in the adaptation process include lack of support for handling digital platforms, routine unpredictability, overload, insecurity, and fear. These challenges can be mitigated when there is a relationship of closeness, understanding, and flexibility between the leadership linked to good coexistence between work peers. The study provides a situational diagnosis that reveals the power of relationships in the work experience to overcome moments of difficulty.

Keywords

• vocational education
• young people
• pandemic
• job