I am Jacqueline Löffler, 25 years old, and successfully completed my dual study program in spring 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Insurance Management. I finished my vocational training in January 2021.
How did you come up with the idea of doing your apprenticeship at LEUE & NILL?
I was interested in a dual degree program in the insurance sector and, while researching on the internet, I discovered the LuNA website and, through it, the insurance broker LEUE & NILL. I found the website very appealing and personal, which was confirmed once again later in our in-person conversation.
How did your work week go?
On Mondays and Tuesdays I was at the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts – except during semester breaks and the lecture-free period.
At the beginning of the apprenticeship, BWV classes took place very frequently. Over time, however, this was reduced. After that, BWV classes took place about once a month from Wednesday to Friday. An exam followed on the Friday of the following week.
Both at the university of applied sciences and at the BWV, we were a small group of 19 people. This was very pleasant because we quickly grew together.
I spent the remaining time in the respective department of the company where I was deployed at the time, and worked both on the department's tasks and on current LuNA projects.
Overall, I have rotated through the Pension, VIP, Engineering Insurance, Marine, and Claims departments, as well as completed an assignment at an AXA agency. Most recently, I chose the Engineering Insurance department (machinery, electronics, and business interruption insurance) and am still very satisfied with my choice today.
Do you like looking back on your training at LEUE & NILL?
Of course, the dual study program held challenges for me here and there. Especially at the beginning, the double burden of working and studying was new to me and I first had to settle in. After that, it was really a lot of fun.
I like to look back on my apprenticeship and think that it is very well organized in our company. We went on a lot of trips – both as apprentices and with the departments. The Covid-19 pandemic made this a bit more difficult, of course, but our training managers Marco and Simon still made a great effort to foster a strong sense of community. We also have a good relationship with our training managers in general. Whenever there were any discrepancies, we could always turn to the two of them with confidence. We could always count on their support – especially with regard to the final exams, which was a real relief.
What caused you the most problems at the beginning of your training?
The dual burden of studying and working was initially quite unusual and I was often exhausted. However, this passed relatively quickly. Making phone calls was also unfamiliar at first, but I got a lot of practice doing this during my assignment at the agency.
In addition, in the first department I first received an introduction to the procedures and the system. Once I was able to work with this, I was able to engage even better with the content of the department.
A highlight moment in the training
My highlight was the visit to the stadium in November 2018. I had just started my apprenticeship at LEUE & NILL and had never been to the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund before. We got something to eat and drink, watched the game, and spent a great day.
Funniest moment during my apprenticeship
There were too many to choose just one. Every time we did something as a group, everyone had a lot of fun. Whether it was visiting the stadium, attending the DKM trade fair, the Christmas parties, or simply the weekly trainee meetings.
Do you still have contact with your former fellow trainees? What was your relationship with the other trainees like in general?
There was a pleasant atmosphere among us trainees.
I had more contact with the other dual-study students than with the trainees, but I think that was because the school schedules were quite different and therefore you had more in common with each other. We exchanged experiences and study materials with each other and spent our breaks together.
How do you like the atmosphere in our company?
I felt and still feel the atmosphere is very positive. Of course, there were a few differences of opinion that you notice as an apprentice. By and large, however, I found everyone to be very welcoming, and I am currently very satisfied in my department and happy to have such nice and reliable colleagues around me.
