Source: Andreas Schmitter
Let’s continue! After Yasin Kalem gave us a review of the beginnings and hurdles of his apprenticeship in the first part, the second part of the series now follows.
Today we take a look at the end of his apprenticeship, what awaited him there and whether he might even have a tip or two for you.
Graduation – But How?
“Hi, Yasin. Nice to continue our interview. In the first part, you talked about the last three years and what you’ve been up to. You completed your apprenticeship very well. So tell us, how did it happen?”
Phew, well, there were a lot of things that got me to my goal in the end. But the keywords here are definitely self-reflection, discipline and order. In other words, reflecting on myself and finding out where my limits are and then accepting them. Despite setbacks and the realization that things don’t always go uphill, I never lost sight of my goal and always stayed on the ball. Instead of being discouraged by mistakes, I embraced them and used them as an incentive to continuously improve. However, I also had to have a structured daily routine. In other words, a precise division of sleep, work and study time as well as planning exactly when I do which tasks. I’m not particularly good at multitasking, so I always did one thing at a time and never tried to do several tasks simultaneously. Then I also had to find out which learning methods work for me and get me to my goal. I tried out a lot and then learned that I can concentrate better in the library, so I shifted all my study time to the library.
I also used more mnemonic devices for learning and tried to integrate them into my everyday life so that I could memorize them better – with success. In addition to all of this, I also had plenty of caffeine and a well-deserved kebab platter during my study breaks.
Not to mention the emotional support I received from my trainee mentors, as Miriam Petry, my supervisor Ms. Grzemski and my (trainee) friend Daniel Malenkovic, who often gave me new courage. And all of this stayed with me until the end of my apprenticeship.
RWTH Certificate Award Ceremony
Source: Own illustration
The day of days has finally come – the certificate ceremony.
The sunny July 11, 2024 was reflected in the minds of the former RWTH apprentices. 54 young people were given a ceremonial send-off after successfully completing their apprenticeship. Among them was our dialog marketing specialist: Yasin Kalem. In the magnificent Königshügel guest house, the graduates were greeted with sparkling wine and orange juice and were able to see each other for the first time. This highlighted the status of the largest training company in the Aachen region. This was followed by congratulations and speeches from various people responsible for the apprenticeships. Representatives of the training department, the staff council, the JAV of the IHK and the HR department addressed words of encouragement not only to the former apprentices, but also to their families, friends and trainers.
After the congratulations, the graduates were called up by name to receive their certificates. The graduates with a “very good” average were honored and invited to another award ceremony for the best. They received a small souvenir with their certificate. In addition to Yasin Kalem, many other apprentices passed their final exams with above-average results. Seven apprentices graduated with the grade “very good”, with an average grade of 2.1. The day was rounded off with a delicious sandwich and a cup of coffee in the guest house, ensuring that both body and soul were well nourished.
The Beginning of the End
“Right, now your journey as an apprentice has come to an end. What’s next for you? Do you already have plans?”
Yes, actually. I thought long and hard about what to do next, but as I have a wide range of interests and want to develop further, I decided to do an additional degree in psychology. I’ll be studying in Maastricht from September, but that doesn’t mean I’m turning my back on the IT Center – quite the opposite. I still really enjoy working here, which is why I would like to continue working here as a student assistant alongside my studies. It just depends on what my lecture schedule looks like and how easy it is to do that.
“That sounds exciting! You’ve talked a lot about your training period and can look back on it with pride. But is there anything you would like to pass on to the new apprentices?”
Well, first of all: don’t worry, you’ll manage the apprenticeship! With a little discipline and enjoyment of work, it’s possible for anyone to complete their training. And: there is no single recipe for the best way to do it. I also had to try things out until I found the best way for me. But the tips can be a good support for you.
I also recommend: Take as much with you as you can! Do you have the opportunity to go abroad? Do it! Get a taste of other departments and take as much as you can with you. Opportunities like this don’t always present themselves.
There is no textbook for this. See where your strengths and weaknesses lie, what is realistically feasible for you and go your own way!
Responsible for the content of this article are Sara Erdem and Yasin Kalem.
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