Hello, I'm Finn and 20 years old. In August 2023, I started my apprenticeship as an industrial management assistant at cunova GmbH. Here you can read about the insights I gained, the challenges I faced and other interesting things that happened!
My decision for cunova
First of all, I thought about the area in which I would like to complete an apprenticeship. I chose the copper industry. On the
one hand, I was attracted by the strong union activity of IG Metall, which impressively advocates for the concerns of employees. On the other hand, I am fascinated by copper as a material and its processing into various products. The field of work was clear to me: something commercial. I had also already decided whether to study or do an apprenticeship: first do an apprenticeship to create the basis for a professional career. After I had defined these important conditions for myself,
I started looking for a suitable company that would best meet my expectations of an apprenticeship. During my research, cunova GmbH came to my attention. This is because it is one of the very few companies in the region that offers a basic course in copper processing – not only for industrial apprentices, but also for commercial apprentices. Such an offer exceeded my expectations of an apprenticeship. I was keen to gain insights into commercial and operational processes. I also wanted to develop and expand my knowledge. This includes working with numbers and data, but I also really wanted to learn and
improve how to deal with customers. The fact that I also have the opportunity to learn more about copper processing has greatly enhanced my apprenticeship experience.
My typical workday: a look behind the scenes
My day-to-day work began with a basic metals course, where we spent the first few weeks learning how to work with copper. We learned how to scribe, file and saw. We also looked at the basic properties of copper. For example, we were taught how it behaves under different influences and what its properties are (e.g. that bacteria die on bare copper). To better understand these properties, we manufactured various workpieces. We were also introduced to the techniques of drilling and bending copper sheets. Later on, we received instruction on how to use various machines, including the drill press and the KASTO bandsaw. At the end of the basic course, we created a 360° virtual tour of various production halls.
As part of this, we were given a tour of the premises by the respective person in charge, so that we could document this route accordingly. After that, I was assigned to the company's financial accounting department. At the beginning, my colleagues explained to me the process that an incoming invoice goes through. After a while, I was allowed to do part of this process independently, i.e. validating these invoices, i.e. comparing the incoming invoice with the order: checking data such as the supplier, invoice recipient or invoice amount. The regular tasks in my area of responsibility included posting travel expenses in our SAP system. As part of my work in financial accounting, the fiscal year change took place, so that it was necessary to draw up a new balance sheet. In the course of this, I had the opportunity to help prepare the data and thus gain insight into the underlying processes. I had contact with customers for the first time in the sales department of our Industrial Applications division. There, my colleagues trusted me to work independently after only a short time. At the beginning, I familiarized myself with the division's product range in order to gain a better understanding of the products to be sold. I learned how to create an offer and how to develop an order for production from an existing offer. Furthermore, I was allowed to create delivery notes and invoices for the orders created. In addition, my colleagues introduced me to the world of calculating sales prices. What may sound boring to many people fascinates me. After all, I feel comfortable dealing with numbers – especially when it comes to calculating margins as efficiently as possible. I would also like to briefly explain the school-based aspect of my apprenticeship : unlike many companies, cunova relies on a block system. We spend our entire time at vocational school in one go. This has the advantage that there is a clear distinction between school and work. I am convinced that this makes it easier to focus intensively and in-depth on the respective content – both at work and at school. However, block teaching also has disadvantages. For one thing, it can be difficult to pick up where you left off in class if you haven't been to school for weeks or even months. For another, the amount of information to be processed at the same time is significantly greater than in the conventional model.
Overcoming challenges: My experiences in different departments
In my opinion, the biggest challenge in apprenticeship is to constantly adapt to and find your way around the new processes and structures. You also have to re-acquire the necessary basic knowledge. Since the range of tasks differs from department to department, the necessary skills also vary. While my numerical skills are required in financial accounting, the marketing department tends to focus more on sales-supporting creativity and effective communication. However, overcoming this challenge is also extremely rewarding, as it offers the opportunity to gain insight into a wide range of different departments, which a smaller company might not have at all or to a lesser extent.
Team spirit and support: respectful communication
cunova GmbH places a high value on respectful cooperation, especially during apprenticeship . Communication is open, problems are addressed directly and solutions are sought together. The trainers always take time to answer questions, which are seen as an interest in the work. The working atmosphere in the entire company is always pleasant. The staff enthusiastically integrate new colleagues into their daily work. As a trainee at cunova, I felt like I was part of the team from the very beginning and not just the “new guy” for six weeks (due to the apprenticeship-related move to the next department).
My perspectives at cunova
I will still pass through several departments that I have not yet seen. I am particularly interested in the logistics department.
I am interested in the structure of our supply chains: How do we deliver our products? Which means of transport are used?
How do we get our raw materials to the factory for production? What special challenges does international logistics face?
Controlling is another interesting part of my apprenticeship . How do you evaluate the data you collect and how do you even get this data? I hope to be able to answer these and other controlling questions during my brief visit to this department.
Once I have successfully completed these departments, I have to ask myself what to do next. One thing is certain: after completing my apprenticeship , I am aiming for a further qualification. I am interested in both a course of study and specialized further training. Ideally, this should be part-time and, in the best case, with my preferred employer: cunova GmbH.
Why I can recommend an apprenticeship at cunova
You have now received a brief overview of my (individual) apprenticeship, which I hope also gave you a first impression of how trainees are treated within the company. Based on my experiences, I can highly recommend an apprenticeship at cunova GmbH. cunova offers you nice and experienced trainers, as well as a basic metal course, which is also an enriching experience for commercial trainees, as it provides a much better understanding of the company and its products.
If you are currently looking for an apprenticeship and this brief insight into my experiences has sparked your interest, then take a look at our Young Talents section here on our website! There you will find more information about our apprenticeships and you can also apply directly.