“apprenticeship must be fun and motivating”
Jan-Niklas is head of training at SPITZKE and knows what’s important, as he was once an apprentice himself. Here he talks about his early days, the transition into the job and what makes a good apprenticeship.
Jan-Niklas, please complete the sentence: Training is…
…passion, challenge and trend. By this I don’t just mean that training is very much in vogue and that school students are once again more interested in vocational training. Training must also always be attractive.
You yourself started at SPITZKE as an apprentice, how do you think back to that time?
That is true. I started training as a mechatronics engineer here a good ten years ago. I remember that time as very enjoyable and varied, but also demanding and sometimes exhausting. The demands placed on young people during an apprenticeship are not insignificant.
How did you yourself experience the transition from school to vocational training?
It was a little different for me than for most school leavers. I didn’t start my apprenticeship straight after school, but first joined the German Armed Forces for a few years. But I know that starting a career can be a challenge. That’s why we at SPITZKE have made it our mission to provide our trainees with the best possible support. We see ourselves not only as knowledge brokers, but literally as training guides.
You say that training has to move with the times. What exactly do you mean by that?
Many professions have changed in recent years. Today we are talking about the use of AI, robotics and digital systems. And this affects many areas of our working world. As a result, not only the content that apprentices are taught during their training is changing, but also the way in which it is taught. It is particularly important to find the methods with the best learning success – regardless of whether these are workshops, independent learning or VR applications. However, it is more important than ever to inspire young people and offer them the best possible preparation for their professional life at SPITZKE.
How did you find out what the right job was for you back then?
I didn’t, otherwise I would still be working in it. Back then, I was very interested in technology and railroad infrastructure and training as a mechatronics engineer (m/f/d) at SPITZKE combines both. Fortunately. Because my current job as training manager is based on this. But that’s the crux of the matter. When we choose a profession, it doesn’t mean that we have to do this job for the rest of our lives. In the best case scenario, we find a company where we can continue to develop and feel at home for the rest of our professional lives. For this reason, we at SPITZKE offer our trainees many different ways of moving on after their training.
What advice do you have for young people who are thinking about their time after school?
Don’t be afraid of the challenge and let your interests guide you. If you don’t know your interests very well yet, start by looking at what you don’t enjoy and put the cart before the horse. That way, you’ll quickly find out what you enjoy and what suits you.
What attracted you to getting involved in training others?
My motivation has always been to share my knowledge with others – so why not make it my profession? Sharing knowledge and getting better together: That’s what I enjoy.
You are now Head of Apprenticeship at SPITZKE. Can you briefly describe your tasks?
As Head of Training, I am primarily responsible for the direction of our training. We always make sure that our trainees are taught exactly the skills and knowledge required for SPITZKE’s projects in addition to the content anchored in the curriculum. That’s why I’m in constant contact with the departments in the company, so that we can gear our training as closely as possible to practical experience. We always have to be up to date in order to inspire people. The rail infrastructure sector is one of the most important and future-oriented industries. There is always a lot going on.
In your opinion, and with your experience as a former apprentice, what makes a good apprenticeship?
A good apprenticeship must be technically excellent and related to the work being carried out. But of course it also has to be fun and motivate people to stay on the ball. When I talk to our trainees, what is most important to them is team spirit and the feeling that they are contributing to our joint success with their performance.
Jan-Niklas himself trained as a mechatronics engineer (m/f/d) at SPITZKE and then completed his industrial master craftsman’s certificate. He then worked as a training manager for track-laying machines. Today, the 29-year-old is in charge of the entire apprenticeship department at SPITZKE.
