Training & Study Reports - AMCON Software GmbH

My dual study program at the IT & Business School (IBS) in Oldenburg

verenadrees — Tue, 20 May 2025 09:15:45 +0000

The most important facts in brief:

In this blog article, Kristian shares his personal experiences as a dual student of Business Informatics at the IBS Oldenburg. He talks about how the program combines theory and practice and describes how he applies the knowledge he gains during his practical training at AMCON. The article highlights the roles he has taken on, the challenges he has faced, and the advantages of a dual study program. He concludes by reflecting on his journey so far and giving an outlook on his future plans.

Introduction: Why Choose a Dual Study Program?

My decision to pursue a dual study program at the IT & Business School Oldenburg was strongly influenced by my interest in Business Informatics. The combination of IT skills and business knowledge appealed to me right away. From the very beginning of my studies, I was impressed by the modern facilities and the practical approach of the IBS. The lectures are usually interactive and aim to incorporate current developments and technologies from the IT world.

The Theory-Practice Mix: A Valuable Asset for the Future

A key advantage of the dual study program is the ideal combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application. At IBS Oldenburg, I receive a solid theoretical foundation in subjects like programming, databases, and business topics such as corporate management. I can directly apply this knowledge during my practical phases at AMCON. For example, I have learned how to develop software and database solutions and implement them into ongoing projects. This direct transfer of knowledge deepens what I’ve learned and fosters a greater understanding of how IT and business processes interact.

Practical Training at AMCON: Learning by Doing

My practical training at AMCON in Cloppenburg is both exciting and enriching. Here, I am part of a team that develops software solutions for public transport. One of my tasks is to create and further develop modules that are integrated into existing systems. Especially interesting is working on a module like customer management and billing, which is very comprehensive and shows fundamental differences compared to projects we tackle in the theoretical phases. This practical application of my knowledge allows me to test and enhance the theory “on a real-life object” in a way that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

A dual study program requires a certain degree of organization and self-management. The constant switch between academic and practical phases can be challenging. However, it’s definitely worth it, as you develop strategies to overcome these challenges and improve your time management – even in your personal life. Digital tools can be particularly helpful for organizing tasks. Additionally, it’s important to continuously develop yourself and stay open to feedback in various areas.

Benefits of a Dual Study Program

The benefits of a dual study program are manifold. In addition to gaining professional expertise, it offers excellent networking opportunities. Constant interaction with colleagues and fellow students leads to valuable professional relationships, both within and outside the company. Moreover, the practical experience gained opens up excellent career prospects after graduation.

Oh – and unlike a traditional university program, you already earn money during your studies.

Conclusion and Outlook

My dual study program at IBS Oldenburg, in combination with my practical training at AMCON, has proven to be an excellent platform for both my professional and personal development. I’m learning to effectively combine theory and practice and I’m looking to the future with optimism. I’m excited about upcoming projects at AMCON and the final stretch of my studies. Things remain exciting, and I’m confident that I’m being well-prepared for my future career.

Der Beitrag My dual study program at the IT & Business School (IBS) in Oldenburg erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

My department change to Marketing and Sales

verenadrees — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:38:16 +0000

The change of department is a great opportunity for us third-year apprentices to gain new experiences. For me, this meant leaving the technical routine of software development and entering the creative world of marketing. An exciting change of scenery that allowed me to gain a completely new perspective on the company for a month.

It’s not just marketing that you can choose from. Departments such as project management, product management or sales can also be explored during the change. However, it quickly became clear to me that I wanted to immerse myself in the marketing and sales department – an area that I had hardly had any contact with before. That’s exactly why I wanted to get to know it better and understand how people work here.

A leap into the unknown: My start in marketing

Switching to marketing was a completely new experience for me. Instead of working on lines of code as usual, everything suddenly revolved around creative content and AMCON’s public image. I was allowed to design posts for social media, work on videos and prepare image material – tasks that not only brought variety, but were also a lot of fun.
It was particularly exciting that I was able to contribute and implement my own ideas – from Instagram posts to video editing. I learned how much strategy and intuition is behind good marketing.

A technical look at marketing: website & SEO

My technical background also came into play in marketing – especially when it came to the website. Together with the team, we simplified the navigation and optimized the presentation to make the site more user-friendly and appealing.

Special attention was paid to SEO optimization: we revised meta data, integrated keywords in a targeted manner and thus significantly improved visibility in search engines. For me, this was an exciting combination of technology and marketing that showed how closely the two can be linked.

The diversity of marketing

During my time in marketing, I not only worked on content, but also saw how much planning goes into events. One example: the organization of our Boßeltour. It’s not just about good ideas – structure, planning and an eye for detail are also required.
I have learned how important it is to remain flexible and adapt quickly to new requirements. Marketing is more complex than I would have thought – behind every successful campaign is a well thought-out concept and a lot of teamwork.

Next stop: Sales

After two weeks in Marketing, I moved on to Sales – an area that I could hardly have imagined before. First of all, I got an overview of the differences between internal sales and external sales, which I hadn’t really been aware of before.
In internal sales, I learned how quotations are prepared, orders processed and inventories carried out. What surprised me was that there was very little direct customer contact here – in stark contrast to field sales.

On the road

In the second week, I was able to accompany the sales team – and it was really exciting! I attended customer meetings in Kassel and Mainz and was able to experience how our solutions are presented and explained directly on site.
It was particularly interesting that these were potential new customers. This gave me an impression of how the first contact is established, how discussions take place and how much tact is required. For me as a developer, it was very valuable to see how much effort and planning goes into a successful project launch.

My conclusion

The change of department was a valuable and enriching experience for me. In Marketing, I was able to develop my creative side and contribute my technical knowledge at the same time. In Sales, I gained insights into customer communication and the processes behind the scenes.

I can only recommend every trainee to take advantage of this opportunity. Thinking outside the box not only broadens your horizons, but also shows you how many exciting facets our company has to offer.

Der Beitrag My department change to Marketing and Sales erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

Education with prospects: Start your career in IT!

verenadrees — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:20:50 +0000

“MINT is a global enabler of innovation and growth” – this is how the German Economic Institute (Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft, IDW) describes it in the MINT Autumn Report 2024. The report highlights that more than 1.8 million people are already employed in these sectors in Germany, with a consistent annual growth rate of 3% on average. Additionally, 34.6% of companies expect an increasing demand for IT professionals, while 27.6% foresee a rising need for engineers. These fields make a significant contribution to economic stability and offer diverse career opportunities.

From an economic perspective, that all sounds pretty impressive — but right after finishing school, you’re probably only mildly interested in solving major economic problems. What you really want is to kick off an exciting study program or start an interesting apprenticeship, right?

Great — then you’re in the right place with us! Because at AMCON, you’ll find plenty of “innovation and personal growth” too. It’s no surprise that we’ve been recognized as a “Top Training Company” by the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce and named a “Beacon of Vocational Training” by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education.

But enough bragging — after all, those awards don’t really tell you what to expect from us. So let me show you what your apprenticeship at AMCON will actually look like.

Quick side note: MINT stands for Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Technology — all essential fields that drive innovation and progress. At AMCON, we focus on the “I” — Informatics.

Your Apprenticeship at AMCON

Our apprenticeships and dual study programs begin every year on August 1st with a one-week bootcamp at our AMCON.Academy. During this week, you’ll get to know our company processes (like data protection, time tracking, etc.) and meet your new team in casual introductory sessions. Right after bootcamp, you’ll jump straight into coding!

In your first year, you’ll spend most of your time at the AMCON.Academy. You’ll start with smaller exercises and take part in training sessions (on things like Git or object-oriented programming) to get everyone up to speed. Before long, you’ll already be working on real projects! In small teams, you’ll tackle tasks (we call them “tickets”) that are used directly at AMCON. Some examples include:

Evaluation tools for food orders
A tool for lending out books
Projects with the IHK Energy Scouts
The Digiscouts initiative from the RKW (Germany’s Rationalization and Innovation Center for Business)

You’ll get to work with various programming languages — while C# is our favorite, you’ll also gain some early experience with web development using JavaScript. And don’t worry: you won’t be left on your own — our training team is always there to answer your questions.

After your first year at the AMCON.Academy, you’ll choose a development team to continue working with. These teams usually focus on specific standard products, like our webshop or our solutions for the public transport sector. Over the next two years, you’ll deepen your technical expertise and build on the skills you learned in the Academy.

You’ll also have the chance to spend about four weeks exploring other departments, like Marketing and Sales or Product and Project Management. This gives you broader insight into the company and helps you discover other exciting areas of work.

Der Beitrag Education with prospects: Start your career in IT! erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

Everyday life as a trainee at AMCON

verenadrees — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 08:58:40 +0000

With this article, we invite our curious readers to take a glimpse into the everyday life of a trainee at AMCON. You’ll uncover some surprising truths—and maybe even get a good laugh—because a day at AMCON is anything but “normal.” But let’s not beat around the bush. Let’s dive right in.

Early Morning

The clock strikes 7:00 a.m., and the trainee office on Siemensstraße slowly comes to life. One by one, the first trainees trickle in—some more groggy than others. Cheerful yet sleepy glances fill the room. Even the trainees who arrive at 9:00 a.m. still feel the strong pull of their cozy beds. But no matter how tired, everyone throws themselves into their work with fresh determination, ready to heroically conquer the previous day’s tasks.

The First Meeting – Warming Up for the Day

Shortly after arriving, it’s time for the first meeting of the day. While some still cling to their coffee cups like lifelines, others are already wide awake and firing off ideas. This daily morning huddle serves as a gentle nudge into productivity—a warm-up lap before the real race begins.

Lunchtime – Culinary Highlights

When stomachs begin to rumble, it’s time for lunch. The trainee crew splits into two camps: one group orders food or walks to the nearby McDonald’s to indulge in fast food delights. The other group stays put and enjoys lovingly prepared sandwiches from home. A hearty slice of salami bread or a fine Gouda snack—now that’s true luxury!

But just eating together isn’t exciting enough. Soon, the Nintendo Switch comes out, and the break transforms into a fierce competition. With teamwork, shouting, and chaotic button-mashing, Mario Kart becomes the midday battleground. It’s a true test of nerves—or just superior gaming skills.

Final Sprint – The Sweet Taste of Victory

After much debate over who actually won the Switch battle, it’s back to work—recharged and in high spirits. And when motivation starts to dip, Henrike is never far away. With a single button press, the office turns into a private dance floor. From her Soundcore speaker flows a gentle stream of hardstyle, unlocking hidden reserves of energy.

At this point, celebratory cheering can often be heard. When Petra’s voice triumphs over the music, everyone knows: Mission accomplished! The day is saved once again, thanks to our hero Jenne, who’s led the team to victory.

Departure – The Long Journey to Dreamland

Eventually, the end of the day approaches, and the trainees start packing up their things. Tired but proud expressions rest on their faces. The mission is complete, and the day is won. With a satisfied “See you tomorrow,” they head home, ready to dive into some well-deserved rest in the land of dreams.

Tomorrow, the adventure starts all over again—back at the Siemensstraße office, where sleepy and cheerful faces will once again bravely face the daily grind of code and coffee mugs.

Der Beitrag Everyday life as a trainee at AMCON erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

Full speed into professional life

verenadrees — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 09:01:36 +0000

Dual study program in Business Informatics promises excellent career prospects.

Kevin Kiefer from Wardenburg is currently in his third semester studying Business Informatics as a career changer in a dual study program at the IT & Business School (IBS) Oldenburg. The 21-year-old completes his practical phases at AMCON in Cloppenburg.

Choosing the right field of study isn’t always easy. Even after settling on a subject, many students find that their studies turn out differently than expected. This was also the case for Kevin Kiefer, who discovered a professional field he truly enjoys as a career changer in software development. The aspiring business informatics specialist initially studied mechatronics for six semesters in Bremen after finishing high school. Over time, he realized that although he enjoyed the computer science aspects of the program, the electrical engineering content didn’t match his expectations.

“I’ve been programming since the eighth grade and mostly taught myself. At first, it was just a hobby, but during my first degree program, I realized I wanted to turn it into a career,” Kevin explains.

While searching for alternative study programs, he came across the website of IBS Oldenburg, where he found a dual study program in Business Informatics. The theoretical part of the program is taught in class-like structures with up to 30 students. The practical component takes place at one of several partner companies in the region — including his current employer, AMCON. The software company has offered this program in collaboration with IBS for several years, and since this summer semester, also in partnership with Hochschule Weserbergland in Hameln.

Best decision for the future career

Kevin initially applied to AMCON and completed an internship to get a feel for the daily operations of the software company in Cloppenburg and to understand what a software developer does on a day-to-day basis. He enjoyed the work, which led him to start the dual study program in cooperation with IBS Oldenburg in the summer of 2018. Now in his third semester, he is able to draw a first conclusion: “Switching my degree program was the right decision for me. The biggest advantage of a dual study program is the practical relevance. The connection between theory and its application in the company is immediately clear. Plus, I can gain work experience while still studying,” he says. He adds, “Another big advantage of the dual program is that I earn money and don’t need to take on side jobs to finance my studies.” Another benefit, he points out, is the close relationship with both his colleagues at the company and his fellow students at the university. “If I have questions, there’s always someone I can talk to,” Kevin explains.

With a bachelor’s degree in Business Informatics, graduates can pursue a wide range of career paths—whether in project management, sales, or software development. “Since I really enjoy software development, that’s where I currently see my professional future. But that could still change, as I still have four semesters to go and am excited to see what’s ahead,” Kevin concludes.

STEM graduates are in higher demand than ever. You can read more on this topic on our blog.

Der Beitrag Full speed into professional life erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

Studying in times of Corona

verenadrees — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 11:15:23 +0000

Conclusion after the first semester at Weserbergland University of Applied Sciences

This blog post is intended to give a brief insight into the first phase of studying at the Weserbergland University of Applied Sciences (HSW). Due to COVID, the start of our studies was different than expected — but hopefully things will return to normal in the coming semesters so we can enjoy some of that “student life” experience.

The essentials at a glance:

We, the dual students Nico Lammers, Jamil Raai, Fabian Hömmen, and Hendrik Tepe from the 2020 class, had imagined our first semester quite differently. We were supposed to begin our dual studies in Business Informatics at the Hochschule Weserbergland in Hameln, live in the AMCON student flat, and enjoy student parties. But studying during the pandemic mainly meant homeschooling. What was still cool and what we did during the few in-person days — you can find out in this blog post.

A typical study day

Unfortunately, we had to start the semester mostly from home in front of our computers. “We” are Nico Lammers, Jamil Raai, Fabian Hömmen, and Hendrik Tepe, the dual students of the 2020 cohort.

After spending two days in Hameln during orientation week, the “real” studies began from home. We got to know our professors and fellow students and then quickly moved into the lectures. A typical study day looked something like this:

09:45 – 11:15 Fundamentals of Programming
11:30 – 13:00 Fundamentals of Programming
14:00 – 15:30 Fundamentals of Technical Informatics
15:45 – 17:15 Fundamentals of Technical Informatics

So, usually, there was one block in the morning and one in the afternoon. One of the biggest challenges was staying focused since it’s much easier to get distracted at home. It helped that most of the modules weren’t just straight lectures. We students were actively involved, and thanks to lots of group work, we still got to know our classmates quite well.

Game-based learning through “beCeo!” provides insight into market economics

One of the most interesting tasks was the simulation game “beCeo!”. In this game, we formed groups of five and took on the role of managing a company competing in a market environment. Working in teams and competing against other groups was especially exciting. There were multiple game rounds where we had to adjust our strategies to current market conditions. The idea was to learn how markets fundamentally work and how our decisions affect the simulation. The professors could also tweak parameters in the simulation to reflect real-world changes in market situations.

Fundamentals of Programming and writing theory papers

Besides that, we mainly focused on the basics of various subject areas. In the Fundamentals of Programming course, for instance, we learned the first steps in Java programming. Alongside theoretical lessons, we created small console programs, such as Tic-Tac-Toe or a contact management tool. Thanks to our experience at AMCON, we already had a good foundation in programming.

Another important part of the first semester was writing our first academic theory paper. This is meant to help us learn how to write academically so that we’re prepared for future assignments and, ultimately, the bachelor’s thesis. It’s advisable to look for a supervisor early on, since some professors are very popular and get booked quickly.

Exam period and first shared flat experience in Hameln

During the study phase, two short in-person sessions were originally planned, which would have brought us back to Hameln for two more days. The first session took place as planned and was immediately used for a short math test. However, the second session had to be canceled again due to stricter COVID-19 regulations.

At the end of the semester, it was time for the exams. While the oral exams still took place online, we had to travel to Hameln for the written ones to take them in person. That gave us the chance to finally settle into the AMCON shared flat for at least a full week. Alongside studying, we were able to explore a bit more of Hameln — although, of course, options were still quite limited due to the pandemic.

After that, it was finally time for the Christmas break, and we headed back to AMCON for the next practical phase!

We’re definitely looking forward to the upcoming study phases and hope to experience more of student life in Hameln and on the HSW campus.

Der Beitrag Studying in times of Corona erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

Inspire young people for IT careers

verenadrees — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 12:17:47 +0000

After completing his dual studies, David joined the training team.

David completed his dual studies in Business Informatics at the IT & Business School (IBS) in Oldenburg and will now pass on his knowledge and enthusiasm for software development as a trainer to the next generation.

Key points at a glance:

After completing their dual studies in Business Informatics, our bachelor graduates have many career opportunities ahead of them. We typically hire our apprentices and dual students permanently, offering various professional paths depending on the department and company needs. Whether in software development, project management, sales, or the training team — we always try to accommodate the wishes of our apprentices. In this blog post, we introduce you to our colleague David, share how his career continues after his dual studies, explain why he is joining the training team, and reveal who sparked his passion for programming.

David owes his enthusiasm for programming to Mr. Lohmann – his former math teacher at Liebfrauenschule in Cloppenburg. “We used to write small programs on our calculators during math class, and that really stuck with me,” says the freshly graduated Bachelor of Science. From that point on, he programmed at home and taught himself the subject independently. It quickly became clear to him that his professional future would lie in IT. After completing the 10th grade at a general secondary school, he switched to BBS Haarentor in Oldenburg to complete his technical high school diploma (Fachabitur) in business with a focus on computer science. This included a year-long internship in the software department of a company, which David completed with us. After the internship, he continued working there alongside school and decided to pursue a dual degree in business informatics at IBS. “Looking back, switching to BBS Haarentor and specializing early was the best decision for me. I learned many fundamentals there that really helped me in my studies,” David summarizes.

He would choose a dual study program again without hesitation. “The dual study program has many advantages for me. You earn your own money and can apply what you learn directly in the company,” he explains. Graduates in business informatics have good job prospects and can work in software development, project management, or sales. Whether in retail, healthcare, or science and research – software developers and business informatics specialists are in high demand across nearly all industries. Due to the imbalance between supply and demand, many employees have the luxury of choice and can pick their employers. Companies have recognized this and compete for skilled workers with numerous benefits or by training their own talent.

Passing on knowledge and inspiring young people for IT

Although David has always enjoyed teaching courses and training new lifeguards as a lifeguard and course instructor at the DLRG Garrel, he did not initially consider a career as a trainer at the start of his studies. “My primary goal was to improve my programming skills and develop software. At first, I thought more about a career in software development,” he says. That changed about two years ago when he helped organize Future Days and open house events to introduce children and young people from the region to IT careers. “I really enjoyed that, and from then on it was clear to me that after graduation, I wanted to train young people and inspire them for IT. As a trainer, I can still program but also pass on my knowledge to future generations,” David Ferneding shares about his career plans. In the future, he will inspire young people about IT topics – much like his former math teacher, Mr. Lohmann.

Der Beitrag Inspire young people for IT careers erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

An intern with industry knowledge

verenadrees — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 12:26:02 +0000

Own internship program for Sebastian Knopf from Pforzheim

Sebastian Knopf met us at IT-TRANS 2018 and engaged our Head of Development, Sebastian Schnieder, in a technical discussion. At the end of the conversation, the topic of an internship with us came up.

Sebastian Knopf is studying Traffic Systems Management with a focus on Computer Science at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. He is nearing the completion of his studies, with the submission of his bachelor’s thesis — focusing on the UI design (User Interface) of a mobile application for train conductors — coming up soon. Nevertheless, now is the perfect time for him to complete an internship at a software company before entering the workforce. Besides his studies, Sebastian works at a transportation company and even holds a train driver’s license.

The essentials at a glance:

Of course, all our interns are great, motivated, and unique. But one stands out: Our intern Sebastian Knopf studies Traffic Systems Management with a focus on Computer Science in Karlsruhe and met us in 2018 at IT-TRANS. Now, nearing the end of his studies, he completed an internship with us to see if working in a software company within the public transport sector could be enjoyable for him. So far, he has gained professional experience mainly in the public service and even holds a train driver’s license.

Internship Program with a Twist

Usually, our interns go through a program where they gain their first experiences in software development because they are generally interested in what a software developer does. Sebastian, however, came with more prior knowledge through his studies than a typical student intern. Accordingly, our training manager Rolf tailored the program to his skills in advance. “I’m already familiar with working in the public sector from my previous jobs, but before finishing my studies, I wanted to find out if this really suits me, or if I would also enjoy software development in the mobility sector,” Sebastian summarizes his expectations. To address Sebastian’s wishes and interests, Rolf collaborated with colleagues from sales, project management, and product management to develop a personalized program for Sebastian so that he could get to know as much as possible and gain valuable experience during his two weeks.

Future Public Transport Expert Meets AMCON Specialists

During the first days, Sebastian had many technical discussions, among others with our internal sales colleague Alexander, our product manager for bus solutions Alex, and our tariff expert Fabian. “A particular highlight for me was the UI development. I had never worked so intensively on desktop UI before, and it was very interesting to learn more about this topic and try things out myself,” Sebastian says. After spending the first week exchanging ideas with our CEO Olaf about HUSST, he then focused on working on a HUSST test program. HUSST is the manufacturer-independent standard interface that AMCON developed together with some competitors in the public transport sector to simplify data exchange between devices from different manufacturers. Since Sebastian had both the technical know-how and interest, he laid the foundation during the second week for validity tests, with which tariff validity rules and parameters can be checked using the HUSST test program.

Summary After Two Weeks at AMCON in Cloppenburg

“That was truly an interesting experience, and now I can very well imagine working in this field. It rather confirmed for me that both working for a transport company and working for a software provider in the public transport sector could be exactly right for me,” Sebastian sums up his two weeks in Cloppenburg. Thus, the aspiring bachelor graduate has all career options open—and we wouldn’t mind if he decided to move to Cloppenburg and officially join our team. On top of that, he quickly familiarized himself with the transportation system in our district and even visited some neighboring towns. “Sebastian was a very engaged intern, and I thought it was great that we could exchange ideas on such a technical level. He provided impulses and gained insights that will hopefully support him in choosing his career path,” summarizes Olaf Clausen about the collaboration with Sebastian.

If you’re interested in an internship at AMCON, feel free to get in touch! Send an email to bewerbung@amcon.de or call us at 04471 91420. We are happy to tailor the experience to your individual wishes, whether you’re interested in special areas of software development (UI development, Java, C#, and much more) or in the public transport and mobility sector.

Three Questions for Training Manager Rolf:

How did you adapt the internship program to cover as many of Sebastian’s interests as possible?

Rolf: Since Sebastian is interested in both computer science and mobility and already brings a lot of expertise with him, we designed these two weeks to be as agile as possible. The first week was for orientation, and in the second week we deepened the topics that interested him the most.

What did that look like concretely?

Rolf: In the first few days, Sebastian had technical discussions with our project managers and product owners about topics such as bus solutions and tariffs, and he had an extensive discussion with Olaf about HUSST and challenges in public transport. Since he was especially interested in HUSST, we identified a concrete problem from the HUSST environment that he could implement independently.

Do all interns at our company get individual internship programs?

Rolf: That, of course, depends on the interests and prior knowledge of the interns. Usually, we have school interns who are primarily interested in software development and bring less prior knowledge. But if someone is specifically interested in a topic like web development, mobile app development, or wants to learn specific programming languages (Java, C#, etc.), we are happy to accommodate individual wishes.

Der Beitrag An intern with industry knowledge erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

The first year of training at AMCON

verenadrees — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 12:48:02 +0000

Lars, Oliver and Florian talk about what they experience in their day-to-day work

Introductory weeks at university, first projects at the company, the Christmas party, a game of Boßeln — and then Corona came with homeschooling, internal site separations, working from home, and no more social employee gatherings. The first year of training for our dual students Lars Kölker (Hochschule Weserbergland), Oliver Renze (IT & Business School), and our apprentice Florian von Garrel (BBS Haarentor) was turbulent and maybe a bit unexpected. In an interview with our colleague Diana, the three share their experiences from their first year at AMCON.

The essentials at a glance:

Although no one expected that a third of their first training year would be overshadowed by Corona, our apprentices are very happy with their choice to train as IT specialists in application development and to pursue a dual degree in business informatics. Florian finds the camaraderie better than expected, especially appreciating the great relationships with colleagues. Oliver is enthusiastic about his dual studies at IBS. He enjoys the variety between practical and theoretical phases and the flexible working hours, which even allow him to go swimming before work. Lars likes the student life at HSW in Hameln because there is always a lot going on. Life in the AMCON shared apartment runs smoothly, especially when his roommates Stefan and Lukas cook for him. Then Yannick (team leader for web) joined the conversation and wanted to chip in on the most important topic: “food at employee get-togethers”

How was your first day at university/vocational school? Do you remember how it went?

Oliver: The introductory day at IBS was really special. We were in the lecture hall, and the academy heads and professors introduced themselves. Afterwards, there was a casual get-together with sparkling wine and an opportunity to get to know the other students.

Lars: At HSW, we had an entire orientation week with a city rally, ice-breaker games, a night hike, Flunkyball, and from the start, we could move into our AMCON shared apartment.

Florian: We are the first year where classes are almost entirely digital. We work on laptops or tablets and don’t use paper. The topic of “digital school” plays a big role at BBS Haarentor in Oldenburg. Currently, I go there twice a week and from next school year only once a week.

Are you happy with your career choice? After the first year, do you think you made the right decision?

Oliver: I really like it and find the mix between theory and practice great. You regularly break the routine, and it’s less stressful than I thought. That’s probably due to the many freedoms we have at the company. I like using the flexible hours to go swimming before work or just sleep in. So far, studying has gone well — I expected information overload but that hasn’t happened.

Florian: I’m very happy with the training. I wanted to be in a company where people know each other and address each other by first names. My expectations were exceeded because everyone here is very relaxed and I enjoy coming to work. Plus, they do a lot to make us feel comfortable and the employee events are legendary.

Lars: I don’t have much to add because I also really like it and would make the same choice again. Studying at HSW is a lot of fun too.

What projects are you currently working on at AMCON?

Lars: I switched teams two weeks ago and moved from the Sevelter Straße location to the Mühlenstraße site. I already like the Web team a lot. Before that, I worked on the test tool for the ticket manager. Currently, I handle the displays on the info screens at all locations.

Florian: At first, we did smaller exercises like TicTacToe with an unbeatable AI. Now, I’m working on a new module for the background system that aims to simplify accounting and ticketing for discount promotions.

Oliver: I’m in the pre-sales team and started out working on the interfaces for the sales terminals because I needed to learn the programming languages first. After some time, I worked on tickets for productive systems and fixed minor bugs. It was great when we started the BVG project and got to work with Pyramid’s customer terminals. Since I share an office with Konstantin (team lead), I’ve been involved in this project from the start.

How has your daily work/school routine changed since Corona?

Florian: It took a while to get homeschooling started. In early May, we received tasks to complete and send back, but we didn’t have online classes. That’s why I was mostly in the office and only did home office two days a week. Since June 1st, we’ve been alternating weekly attendance until the holidays. It’s a pity that we didn’t see the apprentices at other locations for a long time and that our apprentice weekly meetings could only happen online.

Oliver: My study phase began exactly when the restrictions started, and IBS reacted quickly. Except for exams, all classes took place online. It’s sad we couldn’t see each other at university for so long. But the upside was no more commuting daily to Oldenburg. At the office, not much changed, except that events are missing.

Lars: Some professors quickly switched to online courses via Microsoft Teams. Others took a few days, but overall classes continued quickly under the circumstances. Since Corona, we haven’t been back to Hameln in the shared apartment but stayed home. That’s a shame because student life isn’t happening anymore — no events or parties. We miss that, and AMCON misses it too. I really hope the summer party in September can take place.

A special question for Lars: How is living together in the AMCON shared apartment? Who does the shopping? Who cooks? And who cleans?

Lars: In the first semester, we had a cleaning lady because another student insisted. In the second semester, we cleaned ourselves, though it was short and we were barely in Hameln due to Corona. Regarding cooking: Lukas and Stefan are great cooks, and I offer moral support We also order food or go out with fellow students. Otherwise, everyone has their own space since we have separate rooms. Going out in Hameln is great, and living there lets us enjoy student life properly.

What’s your favorite food after employee gatherings?

Oliver: AMCON pizza is always great, though we only get it occasionally.

Yannick (web team leader) enters the room from the balcony with a pizza in hand: “On this important topic, I have to say the kebab street was really awesome.”

Lars: “But you always had to wait because the line moved slowly.”

Yannick: “Not really. I was first at the buffet and first in the second round, so I never waited long.”

(Laughter all around — Lars clearly has some things to learn from Yannick )

If you want to start an apprenticeship or dual studies in August 2021, apply at bewerbung@amcon.de

Der Beitrag The first year of training at AMCON erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.

STEM studies

verenadrees — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 06:37:58 +0000

Students of STEM subjects more in demand than ever before

Those who choose to study a STEM subject usually know early on where and how they want to work and, according to a recent study, begin exploring career paths at an early stage.

Graduates with a STEM degree (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) have never been in such high demand on the job market as they are today. According to a study by the recruitment consultancy Königsteiner and the agency Deutsche Hochschulwerbung, which surveyed 500 students across ten German universities, 63% of STEM students begin researching potential employers within their first two semesters. For 85% of respondents, having an interesting and exciting field of work is very important. 84% value good social benefits such as flexible working hours, a good salary, and perks. A pleasant work environment and excellent training and development opportunities are also key factors for future STEM graduates. In recent years, the STEM job market has shifted into an employee-driven market. Companies are competing for graduates, and these graduates can largely choose their future employers. Essentially, STEM graduates are in a fortunate position, as the field is close to full employment, and the career prospects are very bright.

Where do students look for their future employers?

At the beginning of their decision-making phase, young talents gather information from the university’s bulletin board or notice employer posters around the campus. 78% have already attended university career fairs. In the later stages of their studies, 44% of respondents consider ratings on employer review platforms important when choosing a company. Regarding company size preferences, 34% say they prefer to work for a large corporation, while 26% would rather work for a small or medium-sized enterprise. The fewest want to become self-employed (15%) or pursue an academic career (12%).

Actively addressing the skilled labor shortage

Since we are actively seeking skilled professionals, we offer graduates and students many opportunities to get a taste of working as a software developer. We present ourselves at career fairs at nearby universities and always offer internship positions. Those who are between school and university, or who want to work alongside their studies, can start with a part-time job with us. Prior knowledge and a previous internship are required. This makes entry easier because students can get a firsthand impression of our daily work and get to know the team. We also offer master’s and bachelor’s students the opportunity to write their thesis in cooperation with us. Additionally, we post job ads on bulletin boards and campus portals at universities in the district.

Furthermore, we participate in job fairs in our region to introduce ourselves to a wider audience.

You can meet us at the Oldenburger Münsterland Job Fair on August 30 and 31, or visit us on September 13 and 14 at the job4u event in the Weser-Ems-Halle Oldenburg.

More dates for fairs and job fairs to follow.

Der Beitrag STEM studies erschien zuerst auf AMCON Software GmbH.