My name is Leon Bauerdick, I'm 20 years old and I completed my training as an insurance and finance clerk in June 2024. I have been working in the Motor Fleet department since April, where I was allowed to stay after my training.
How did you come up with the idea of doing the apprenticeship at Leue?
I came across the apprenticeship because my father also works at LEUE & NILL and I had already completed a one-day internship in our company in previous years.
How did your working week go?
As I had 1 ½ days of vocational school during my training, I was in the office all day on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, Tuesday was my half day of vocational school, so I was in the office from midday and on Wednesdays I had a full day of school.
Do you have fond memories of your training at LEUE & NILL?
Yes, I like to think back to the time of my apprenticeship because I was able to get to know many different departments in our company during this time. In addition, the projects we did were always exciting, so I saw that insurance is much more multifaceted than I thought before the apprenticeship.
What caused you the most problems at the beginning of your apprenticeship?
As I never had to make business calls before the apprenticeship, it was very challenging at first, but this changed quickly over time as we had telephone training and making calls also plays a big role in field service, which means you quickly forget the initial difficulties.
I also found it difficult at the beginning that I was out of the office for 1 ½ days due to school and I didn't know exactly how best to focus on school and the job.
A highlight moment in training
The excursions with the trainees were always a particular highlight, as we always had good team spirit as a group, even if we hadn't known each other for long, everyone was always up for a bit of fun.
Funniest moment in training
I can't think of a particularly funny moment, as all the excursions and meetings with the trainees were fun and we laughed a lot together.
How did things go for you after your apprenticeship?
As I have just completed my training this summer, I will be looking for a challenge in the department for the time being.
Whether or how I will continue my education in the future is something I'm leaving open for now.
Were your expectations met during the training? Or what did you hope for before the apprenticeship?
My expectations of the apprenticeship were met because I was taught the theoretical and practical knowledge that is important for the job over the three years. In addition, I was always supported by the trainers and colleagues with questions and problems. In addition, communication was always open and transparent. There was also regular feedback and constructive criticism to promote further development.
Are you still in contact with your former trainee colleagues? How was your relationship with the other trainees in general?
In relation to the current apprenticeship, contact with the other apprentices is waning as you no longer see each other once a week in the apprentice group, at school or in the project teams. But when you meet in the corridor or talk to each other on the phone, the relationship is just as good as it was during the apprenticeship.
What was your relationship like with your training supervisors?
The relationship with the training managers was always good, you always felt that you were in good hands and you could always talk to them if you had any problems.
Marco and Simon were always up for a bit of fun, so you could always come into their office for a chat and a laugh.
I particularly liked the time before my final exam, where every trainee was prepared for the exam in the best possible way, so that you could go into the exam with a good feeling.
How do you like the atmosphere in our company?
I think the atmosphere at LEUE & NILL is good because it's relaxed and informal and everyone is respected. If you've done something well, it's appreciated and recognized.
In addition, team spirit is always at the forefront.
Did you find the training stressful or did you feel stressed during your training?
The training was also stressful at times, as you had to do homework alongside work and after school and you also had to study before exams. After a long day at work, motivation was often limited. As a result, we only studied or did our homework just before the deadline, which led to stress. But over time, I got better and better organized and was also better able to fit study time into my everyday life.
