Apprenticeship at LEONHARD WEISS

“Road construction, track construction or rather an office job?“

Twice a year the so-called education fairs, which are mainly organised by our apprentices, take place at LEONHARD WEISS at the sites Göppingen and Satteldorf.
Maybe you have already been here? If you haven’t, here is a short description of what we offer you, your family and your friends on these days: our fair is meant to show you, what is taught in the individual occupational profiles during an apprenticeship.
You can, for example, experience the profession of a machine operator in construction very closely, by operating a skid loader under supervision. Or you can observe how our apprentices in track construction lay rails. We show you, which work equipment we use for building roads and sewers. By doing this we would like to wake your enthusiasm for one of the professions and motivate you to apply with LEONHARD WEISS.
Even if you haven’t found the profession of your dreams, visit us to receive information. We try to give you a realistic impression of our apprenticing professions and to help you choose the right profession for you. And don’t forget: the right apprenticing profession is the one that you enjoy!

“No reason to be nervous!“

Andreas Döring, apprentice for the profession of qualified IT specialist:
""When I arrived for the job interview at LEONHARD WEISS, I was very nervous. I had no idea what would be coming. After giving my name at the reception desk, someone came to pick me up after a short while and accompanied me to a meeting room, in which the interview took place.
When I entered the room, my nervousness was almost unbearable; nevertheless I tried to behave normally, self-assured and relaxed. What will they ask me? Did I forget anything? I will manage somehow! Those were the only thoughts going through my head at that moment. At the beginning the three people sitting opposite me introduced themselves and gave some information about themselves. Then the interview started and they asked me questions.
The longer the interview lasted, the more my nervousness left me. The interview proceeded in a rather relaxed manner, almost like a normal conversation or a presentation, without much pressure or formalities which one may know from other job interviews.
Already after a short while a clear structure emerged. First the personal topics, then the general points about the company and finally the information concerning the apprenticing profession. After the interview I was bid farewell in a friendly manner. After that I passed about three weeks in suspension, until I received the expected telephone call confirming that I could start my apprenticeship."

Saturday to make acquaintance and introduction week at LEONHARD WEISS

Samira-Paulin Rück, apprentice for the profession of industrial management assistant:
"Just before the beginning of the apprenticeship all new apprentices were invited to Satteldorf with their parents for a day to get acquainted and were welcomed by the managing directors. After a presentation of the company we apprentices took our turns in introducing ourselves.
Early on Monday we started our journey to Göppingen, in order to visit this location. Afterwards we travelled to Heidenheim by coach and checked into a youth hostel, where we had the opportunity to get to know each other during the following days. Once we had arrived in Heidenheim we made up our “Golden Rules“, which all of us also signed and which we had to adhere to. During supper and the following free time, we had good conversations to make each other’s acquaintance. On Tuesday we put our focus on teambuilding. We were divided up into five smaller groups and had to accomplish tasks together, which could only be accomplished in a team. This teambuilding event definitely was the highlight of the week for us apprentices. On Wednesday we received a lot of valuable information by means of presentations concerning the topic safety. At LEONHARD WEISS safety is important for everybody and this topic is valued very highly. In the evening we left the youth hostel to go out for supper together with our godfathers and godmothers. On Thursday morning, back at the site in Satteldorf, other topics were introduced, which had been developed during the previous day. Afterwards we could have a meal at the company restaurant. In the afternoon we met to exchange feedback, discussing positive points, but also the negative ones.
In summary we passed four great days, during which we could get to know each other and prepare for our first day at work."

Safe on the road

Every year LEONHARD WEISS organises a driver safety training for our apprentices at the ADAC training premises in Leonberg.
In different exercises our apprentices learn to handle dangerous situations in everyday traffic. Already during their apprenticeship they drive to the construction sites, to trainings and also to other LEONHARD WEISS sites in groups using company cars and thus take responsibility every day by driving their colleagues.
First of all, before starting the practical part, the trainer explains the correct seating position to the participants, as well as the correct manner to hold the steering wheel and the correct position of the rear-view mirrors. Using different characters, like the “dishwasher“ and the “impressive guy“ as examples, he makes clear, why this wrong behaviour at the wheel of a car can be so dangerous. During the practical part our apprentices may finally start the action.
On an artificial ice patch the participants take several turns practising safe braking and avoiding obstacles which appear suddenly. The distance necessary to stop a car is also examined more closely. The trainer sets a speed at which every participant must arrive at a pre-defined point and then brake the car to a stop at another pre-defined point. The finial exercise of the day usually is the so-called moose accident test – at this point everybody will know that it is not so easy to correctly appreciate one’s car and use it respectively.

How do I start a presentation?

Traditionally the commercial apprentices of the 2nd and 3rd training years meet at the beginning of the year for a rethoric seminar. On both days, coached by the communication trainer Sabine Oberhardt, they learn the basics to securely manage their oral final exam.
After a round of introductions, the first day starts with a training unit in body language, during which everybody is filmed. Afterwards the strengths and weaknesses are analysed, in order to improve them with the help of Sabine Oberhardt during the following presentations. On the second day of the rethoric seminar different characters are attributed to the people in the audience. In addition to the all knowing person, there is also the hostile person, the person who wants to speak himself or the aggressive person. All of them help to put the person holding the presentation into a realistic scenario, in order to teach him or her the correct reaction to all these different situations. During this two-day seminar the basic elements of rethoric, the handling of nervousness before a presentation and situations of stress are also taught, as well as awareness exercises giving the apprentices more self-confidence and supporting them in many situations of everyday life.

There is nothing good – except you do it!

The first two years of an apprenticeship pass quickly and suddenly the first exam must be passed – the interim audit. We are then rapidly approaching the final exams with our apprentices. A good preparation – in the practical as in the theoretical field – is indispensable and very helpful in passing the exam!
What we do?
Our industrial apprentices come to our own training facility, in order to thoroughly prepare their practical exams. An experienced foreman or site manager will support them with words and deeds. For the theoretical exams we also form study groups. Together we discuss the exams of the previous years and work on them. Questions are answered and things that may be unclear are explained.
Apprentices in the commercial field pass different exams. After their written exam, they must pass an oral exam. In addition to the specialised knowledge they also need presentation techniques and rethoric training. Our persons responsible for the apprentices teach them and give them many useful tips for a good performance in front of their examinants. And because it is always better to try things personally, everybody will have the opportunity to hold their presentation in front of an audience. Our apprentices are thus well prepared for their exams and therefore more confident.

The correct behaviour on the telephone

Anna-Lena Safradin, apprentice for the profession of industrial management assistant: "During the first year of the apprenticeship, all commercial apprentices receive a telephone training. A trainer of the chamber of industry and commerce holds the training “The correct behaviour on the telephone“ in Göppingen or Satteldorf. The first contact a customer has with our company often takes place on the telephone. The “correct behaviour“ can be decisive for the question, if a co-operation can be established.
At the beginning the apprentices learn about the “importance of the first impression“, as well as the correct initial greeting on the telephone. These initial greetings are recorded by means of a recording facility and everybody receives proposals to improve their greeting afterwards, so that everybody knows how to correctly answer the telephone. Phases of active and passive telephone conversations, as well as the correct speaking behaviour on the telephone are also part of the seminar. Different topics of communication like for example “introduction into depth psychology – the communication square“ are worked on in small groups. Another important topic is the “right technique to ask questions on the telephone“, as well as the right treatment of “orders, inquiries, customer complaints and disputes“.
After having finished the seminar, all participants know that the telephone really can be regarded as the most important communication medium. It is not always easy to explain tasks on the telephone, by people will get much further using the right communication technique."

Our industrial and technical-commercial apprentices have gout one joint assignment during their second training year: a social project. This project is a fixed date in our calendar. During previous actions we created for ex. a water landscape for playing for a kindergarten in Neresheim-Elchingen together with the regional radio station, Radio 7, or a new bicycle workshop for Tutilla adventure country.
This is an enthralling assignment for our apprentices, as they have to realise this project completely by themselves (they receive expert support by our training team, of course), and at the same time this gives them the opportunity to meet again and keep up inter-divisional contacts. Road constructors, track constructors, specialists for concrete and armoured concrete, industrial management assistants and future IT specialists work hand in hand on this project.