Who is AVGS job coaching for?

Looking for professional support during your job search? I offer AVGS job coaching for professionals in Berlin and across Germany—fully funded by the German Jobcenter through the AVGS voucher (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein). If you’re eligible for ALG1 support, you’re most likely eligible to received free coaching, too.

If you’ve ever thought:

• “I don’t know what I want, but I know it’s not this.”
• “I’ve applied to dozens of jobs, but nothing clicks.”
• “If I don’t find a job now, I might have to leave the country!”
• “I feel like I have too many options and zero direction.”
• “Navigating the Arbeitsamt system gives me Arbeitsangst*.”

…then this coaching may be for you.

*Arbeitsangst (noun): The highly specific, sweat-inducing dread experienced by otherwise perfectly smart and motivated expats when navigating the intimidating maze of German bureaucracy, particularly while unemployed.
It is the paralyzing fear that dealing with the employment office will trap you in a never-ending loop of paperwork, causing you to hesitate to ask for the exact support—like free AVGS job coaching or Weiterbildung (upskilling) vouchers—that you have literally already paid for through your own taxes.
In short: It’s the overwhelming feeling of operating in a structural reality you don’t fully understand, making you temporarily forget that you actually have the right to ask the system for help.

I’d like to support you. Through AVGS coaching, I can help you:

• Clarify your career goals.
• Build (or rebuild) confidence in your job search or career change.
• Develop a clear strategy for your next steps.
• Prepare for job interviews, applications, or self-employment.

Whether you’re changing industries, restarting after unemployment, or navigating work as an expat in Germany, coaching can support you to find clarity and move forward.

Not a job seeker in Germany looking for fully-funded coaching?
See how else I can support your career or leadership journey.

What Is AVGS Coaching?

AVGS coaching is funded by the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit in Germany through a voucher system. If you qualify, your coaching is fully covered—no cost to you.

As an AVGS and ICF-certified (ACC) coach, I work with individuals who are:

• Unemployed or job-seeking.
• Exploring new career options.
• Facing personal or professional transitions.
• Experiencing the challenges of speaking English in a foreign/German system.

I get it.

I’m personally familiar with the challenges of navigating ALG1 as an expat, and I can help you navigate it, too. 80% of my coaching clients are navigating job-related topics, and about two-thirds are expats or foreigners living outside their home country.

What other coaching clients have reflected

Michela Sammarone

Google Review

I first met Stephen during an online course on Leadership/Team Management and I then had the pleasure to have a private coaching session about career change and struggles. I think he has a superior ability to ask questions in the right way. I felt supported, seen and validated and this doesn’t happen often honestly. With other coaches or professionals, I’ve somehow felt they wanted to provide a solution to the struggle, and often felt I had to justify myself or provide evidence that I was actually already doing things to find a job, but this was not the case with Stephen. I really felt his presence and his willingness to go deeper.

Confidential

6-Session Client

Stephen took his time to understand myself and goals better, and helped me see a bigger picture ahead in terms of career paths.

Valerio S

6-Session Client

I had a very useful and enjoyable coaching cycle with Stephen. His engineering background combined with his coaching skills makes a great mix! Definitely recommend Stephen, even more so if you have a STEM background.

DW

8 Session-Client

“This was my first professional coaching experience (via FiredUpSpace) and I found it really helpful in trying to figure out the next steps after such a long working break. In particular, Stephen’s style of coaching combines empathy, active listening, and being solution-oriented. He’s able to see right away the underlying story or tones in issues and ask questions that help you move in the right direction. I also liked how the sessions were structured and how the overarching timeline of the coaching was always kept in mind to make sure we stayed on track to reach my goals. I feel more calm and grounded when approaching conflict and difficult situations.”

Sarah L

3-Session Client

Stephen’s energy and brain are magic. I really appreciated his grounded approach, and the way he offers deep questions and insights that not many people I know can provide. His presence created a space where I felt safe to be vulnerable, and I often left with a ton of aligned ideas/questions to move forward with, things I could activate, explore, and expand in my daily life.

Chris C

10-Session Client

To keep up with the theme – it was a joy. Stephen has a very calming demeanor – something I very much appreciated having during a quite stressful unemployment period. As an experienced professional in a very niche field, I very much appreciated talking to, and relating to, another professional. What I liked the most is that Stephen not only supported me, but he also challenged me, always backing it up with very constructive ideas. I also feel like Stephen was genuinely invested in me and my career transition – this wasn’t “just a job” to him, but he genuinely does have a caring and thoughtful character which is very evident in all our conversations. I was quite skeptical about career coaching before starting; Stephen definitely removed all doubt about undertaking further career coaching in the future.

Brian Reiter

3-Session Client

“I feel like a new person. I was carrying a lot of guilt and worry around my career, but Stephen took some of the weight of those worries away. He helped me to be an impartial person who I could feel vulnerable with. I think someone who is guarded in their feelings would thrive with his soft but firm approach. I didn’t change my career, and I feel really good about that. It wasn’t the outcome I expected, but it’s the one I needed.”

Giorgia S

8-Session Client

It has been a truly meaningful experience. Stephen has been always challenging me with kindness and what I really appreciate is that there was always space for spirituality in our sessions, which helped me connect more deeply with myself and my intentions. His calm presence is incredibly inspiring. Rather than pushing for constant speed or productivity, he created an environment where I could slow down, become grounded, and really listen to what was happening within me. That sense of calm made it easier to reflect honestly and make more thoughtful changes. I’m very grateful for the guidance and the supportive space he created for me.

Todor H.

6-Session Client

I found Stephen to be a very calming presence during our sessions who mindfully guided me through the situations we were dealing with, helping me in the process to reach valuable conclusions. Stephen demonstrated strong knowledge in business and behavior psychology, referencing and recommending to check several frameworks which were very helpful for sharpening my existing skills and acquiring new ones.

Paulo Teixeira

4-Session Client

Stephen was clear, calm, and supportive from day one. He helped me build the consistency and momentum I was missing, while also challenging my beliefs and encouraging me to explore new paths. I would highly recommend working with Stephen to anyone lacking clarity or a clear career plan.

E. Schumy

12-Session Client

Stephen is a very attentive personality, which made the whole process attuned to to my needs. Though it was a lot of emotional change during the work, since I had a lot of frustration built up from previously facing no change in my career, I felt that we always found a way to turn the frustration into something what actually helped. I can use this technique on my own in the future.

Chris Huber

4-Session Client

I really enjoyed my sessions with Stephen. His thoughtful approach helped me to see myself better and to understand my career journey better. I feel better equipped to go out and engage with the job market in a productive manner.

Benjamin

8-Session Client

Stephen proved to be an adept coach, sounding board, and facilitator of genuine reflection and insights during my time working with him. I think we covered a lot of ground over the course of our sessions and the focus areas I brought in evolved over time, but Stephen always found a way to draw out useful insights, themes, and takeaways. It is clear he has devoted himself to building up depth and breadth as a coach, and he always seemed to have a tool, framework, or method handy to fit with the questions, goals, and issues I raised.

Mariah L.

4-Session Client

Stephen provides a safe, thought-proving environment for his clients that allow them the freedom to talk through and explore ideas and challenges. He allows the client to fully control the session and provide intentions for the session but provides gentle guidance to assist in achieving such aims. I highly recommend his coaching services to folks that have a professional goal they may need support working through professional and personal challenges to achieve.

Mary, Portugal

6-Session Client

Stephen created an empathetic and supportive environment where I felt comfortable sharing my thoughts. He is a great listener who capably captured and reflected my words back to me so that I gained a deeper insight into myself. Stephen helped me to see the connection between current situations and deeper issues that I had shared with him, and that is what transformation coaching should be about.

Anonymous

4-Session Client

I gained a deeper understanding of how to communicate effectively with my team and embrace feedback as a tool for growth. The process helped me build more confidence in my leadership abilities, refine my approach to giving and receiving feedback, and make meaningful improvements in both my personal and professional development.

ST

4-Session Client

Stephen’s calm and welcoming demeanor allowed me to be open and introspective without fear of judgement. He helped expand my way of thinking and approach problems and thoughts from a different angle.

Anonymous

Speed-Coaching Client

I had a great first-ever coaching experience with Stephen. He helped come up with a framework for an important decision in life that we could walk through together during the session. He was well-prepared, supportive, and thorough – just what I needed.

Anonymous

Speed-Coaching Client

If you’re looking for a coach that “screams” at you all the answers to your problems, please find another coach. On the other hand, Stephen is the perfect coach if you’re looking for someone to guide you while using the right tools for different situations, that eventually will help you to find solutions to different scenarios.

Julian D

Speed-Coaching Client

Stephen has a calm aura and truly cares about the success of his clients!

Amy

6-Session Client

I had a great experience being coached by Stephen and experienced real progress with all my goals, which covered different areas of my life. I really appreciated Stephen’s effective questioning which opened up new thinking for me and also a playfulness which brought fun into the sessions.

M.C.

6-Session Client

Stephen was an objective coach for a pivotal point in my career development. He helped me to identify the root of my issues then plan out small steps to reach my larger goals.

Mengke

6-Session Client

All 6 coaching sessions I had with Stephen were well structured. I felt taken care of and at ease during each session. Stephen provided a friendly and non-judgemental space so I could comfortably speak my mind. As a result, I learned to be more aware of myself.

Anonymous

Speed-Coaching Client

I cannot recommend him highly enough. From our very first session, it was clear that Stephen is knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about helping others achieve their goals. I particularly benefited from his coaching on management and striking up a balance of ethics and productivity. Stephen’s approach is both compassionate and insightful. He is very present and sanguine and listens attentively asking the right questions, which served to help me gain clarity on challenges and aspirations. His practical strategies and actionable advice have been instrumental in my personal and professional growth in the short time we had together.

Jake K

8-Session Client

In the last 4 months working with Stephen, I have a newfound clarity in the direction of my life. I feel more at-ease with who I am and have clarity in how I want to show up. Stephen is a caretaker– I felt guided and led through a challenging transition and he made me feel more confident and clear in where I am going. What a joy it is to work with him.

Nikos

16-Session Client

Stephen will not solve this situation for you. He will do something better. With his calming presence and aura of steadiness he will gently guide you into solving your own problems, an act that will truly make you feel empowered and in control.

Anonymous

4-Session Client

Stephen is a rare coach! Deeply insightful and asks really good questions to help you get to bottom of what is really going on. We worked for a few sessions and I have experienced a few amazing changes, so grateful for working with him.

Claudia

7-Session Client

It was a joy to take this 4-session coaching journey. Stephen is a caring and patient coach, and even though we just had 4 sessions, thanks to him I was able to discover so much more about myself, from my top skills, to what energizes me in the toughest moment.

Svetlana

Peer Coaching Client

It is quite a challenging avenue to coach a coach ‘cause we know all the tricks of our subconscious minds, so when you find one that enables you to dive really deep – it is the most exciting thing. Stephen’s coaching is as gentle as it is effective. It’s like having a wiseman walking with you, silently pointing you in the right direction, and compassionately holding you accountable. He is talking the talk and walking the walk and that’s exactly what you should be looking for in a coach!

Geert K

Speed Coaching Client

The coaching with Stephen is one to remember. I experienced his peaceful appearance, sincere curiosity for my growth, and calm listening as a safe context to learn. At the same time I feel the partnership in my path, yet full responsibility for my own commitments.

Why work with me?

I know what it’s like to operate in fast-paced, foreign, and uncertain environments … and also what it’s like to run out of motivation. I specialize in coaching people who feel stuck, uncertain, or maybe overwhelmed, especially during career and life transitions, by helping them regain calm, clarity, and confidence.

As an ICF-certified ACC coach with 12+ years in tech start-ups in Germany and the US, I understand what it’s like to navigate change and rebuild your confidence after setbacks, layoffs, or relocation.

Many of my clients are:

• Expats living in Germany or other countries, navigating foreign systems in English.
• Professionals returning to work after a break, weighing various options and possibilities.
• Jobseekers who feel burned out by traditional job search advice.

Don’t navigate unemployment alone.
I’ll gladly support you along the way.

Together, we’ll focus on creating clarity, confidence, and a job search approach that feels right for you.

LEARN MORE ABOUT STEPHEN, YOUR COACH

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