How did you hear about the apprenticeship at ERICH JAEGER and why did you choose ERICH JAEGER?

I started writing applications before I finished secondary school, in the spring. A colleague at ERICH JAEGER also made me aware of this vacancy. I was invited to an interview at the end of June and then everything actually went pretty quickly. A few days later I was able to complete a trial day. I really liked it and so I decided in favour of ERICH JAEGER.

Describe your first days at ERICH JAEGER. How were you received and familiarised by your colleagues?

The first few days in particular were very interesting. I was allowed to watch and help a lot in the garage to get a better impression of the company's products. I found that very exciting and helpful! In general, I received a very friendly welcome from my colleagues and was directly involved in the department's tasks. I was shown the whole company and was also able to apply my previous knowledge myself in many areas. I also received information relatively quickly on areas of application in which I had no previous experience.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

I don't really have a "typical" working day, as the tasks always vary (laughs).

My working day usually starts between 07:30 and 08:00. I always start by checking my e-mail inbox and our department's collective mailbox to deal with any urgent matters. After that, the daily routine comes to an end, as the various matters that need to be dealt with determine the rest of the day. Unexpected problems can always arise in between, some of which are urgent and need to be resolved quickly. At regular intervals, there are also more time-consuming projects, such as internal audits, which have to be carried out and which determine our daily work routine during this time. 

A bit of routine actually returns at the end of the working day around 4.00 pm. Our data has to be backed up every day, so the storage discs have to be replaced.

What skills should you have for this career? Who is the job (particularly) suitable for?

As it often involves very specific activities, it is not really possible (or necessary) to have much previous experience unless you have already worked in the IT sector. You are taught a lot both at vocational school and in the company. Of course, you should have a certain enthusiasm for working with PCs. I had already worked a lot with PCs and the corresponding programmes before my apprenticeship and therefore have a great affinity for this area. Working with PCs also means unscrewing them and changing parts of the hardware. You should also have the will to deal with possible solutions to problems over a longer period of time - they don't always work immediately and you need the necessary stamina (laughs).

What (new) challenges/tasks will the IT sector face in the coming years?

In my opinion, AI, such as ChatGPT, will have the greatest impact on the IT sector in the future. However, I don't think that this will lead to job cuts in this area, but rather that the change will offer opportunities for new jobs. A good example is robots, which are intended to replace people in some areas. However, they have to be set up and controlled by people. The industry is constantly changing, and as far as training is concerned - you never stop learning!

What are the advantages of a local apprenticeship?

I think it's nice that you get to know people who live in your neighbourhood thanks to the proximity to the training company and the vocational school. This means that the close friendships I've made stay with me even after the apprenticeship. It also makes it easier to maintain contacts outside of school.

Would you recommend an apprenticeship at ERICH JAEGER?

Definitely! I can't think of anything that would be against it. (laughs) You get very intensive support and it never gets boring because there's always something to do. At ERICH JAEGER, there are many opportunities for practical work. Another plus point is definitely the colleagues - you get support in all situations and there is always someone willing to help you if you have a problem.

How would you like to continue your professional career after your apprenticeship?

I already realised during my apprenticeship that I would like to stay with the company afterwards. So I was all the more pleased when I was accepted by the company - I'm staying with ERICH JAEGER! 😊

Your advice for future trainees:

Be open and take the opportunity to work on as many projects as possible - even if they don't always involve tasks from the training programme!

Thank you very much for the interview & all the best for your future career!