Summary of the first year of training at INRO

Short interview with Elias Wagner

Questions for a trainee at INRO.

An apprenticeship is the start of your professional life and sets the course for your future career. We asked our apprentice Elias Wagner for an interim assessment after his first year of training:

Question: Why did you decide to train as an IT specialist for system integration at INRO?

Answer: Before I started my apprenticeship at INRO, I began a dual study programme with a focus on business administration. During this time, I realised how much I missed the hobby work on my home network, which was still manageable at the time, due to the tight schedule of lectures. INRO then got me interested in training as an IT specialist for system integration during a trial working day. It wasn't just the areas of work that I was introduced to that excited me, but also the openness and the way in which knowledge was imparted to me on that day. That's why I was even happier afterwards when INRO offered me the apprenticeship and I finally accepted it.

Question: How did the onboarding process at INRO go?

Answer: I found the induction to be well organised. On the very first day, we got to know the other new trainees and were given a tour of the company. The first week was packed with appointments, as there were lots of organisational topics to work through and workshops on working methods at INRO to help us find the right workflow for us. I still look forward to going to work every day, as there are always new and varied projects on the agenda.

Question: What does your day-to-day work look like? What tasks do you take on as a 1st year apprentice?

Answer: My working day is very varied. In the morning, the system integrators start with a daily meeting to discuss the distribution of tasks and any problems that arise. I then use the ticket system to plan my daily routine and work on various projects. At the moment, I'm working a lot on network administration. I have my own training environment, a server environment separate from the INRO network, where I can let off steam. I'm also involved in onboarding and offboarding and setting up workstations for new employees.

Question: Are there any particular challenges that you have faced so far?

Answer: In the beginning, it was a challenge to find my way around the many new systems and programmes for administering the IT infrastructure. I also had to familiarise myself with the numerous new technical terms that were added every day. However, thanks to the support of my mentor Sebastian and my trainer Christian, who were on hand to help me in training discussions or with questions about operational activities, I was able to familiarise myself well with the subject matter.

Question: How would you describe the working atmosphere at INRO?

Answer: I find the working atmosphere very pleasant. In addition, the informal atmosphere at INRO means that you are quickly offered a first-name basis, which creates a pleasant and productive working environment on an equal footing. If you have the necessary motivation and ambition at INRO, you will be encouraged accordingly.

Question: What are your goals for the rest of your apprenticeship?

Answer: Of course, I would like to learn as much as possible and develop further. In addition to my IT activities, I would like to get to know as many INRO departments as possible in order to better understand interlinked work processes and to sound out future directions for further training.