Training, studying or going abroad first? Sophie and Samantha were faced with this question some time ago. Sophie decided in favour of a carpentry apprenticeship at Knoblauch, while Samantha opted for a commercial apprenticeship followed by a degree course. Although all of our apprenticeship positions for 2024 have long since been filled, the application phase is now starting for the 2025 apprenticeship year. What makes an apprenticeship at Knoblauch special? And what opportunities and possibilities are there afterwards?
Sophie (20 years old) has a coronavirus school-leaving certificate. ‘After two years of online lessons, I’d really had enough, I finally wanted to do something practical,’ she recalls. Something practical – that’s what a carpentry apprenticeship is without a doubt. Designing, planning, sawing, sanding, milling, gluing – over the past three years, she has learnt everything she needs to know about working with wood.
And more than that: ‘This time gave me a great insight into life and really broadened my horizons,’ she says. While her school friends moved to the big cities to study, she went to Markdorf to the manufactory to work with her hands. ‘It required completely different knowledge to what you learn at grammar school,’ she says.
At school, for example, she learnt the CAD and CNC milling programmes. ‘I really underestimated how demanding it is,’ says Sophie. The 20-year-old has already planned her journeyman’s piece: a minimalist baby cradle. What will happen next? Sophie doesn’t know exactly yet, but for now she will continue working as a journeywoman – and then perhaps go back to university.
‘A craft apprenticeship forms the perfect basis for a variety of careers,’ explains Marc, head of the manufactory. He himself is the perfect example: After a carpentry apprenticeship, he was drawn to project management and later became a manager. ‘Especially with a carpentry apprenticeship, you can reorient yourself in different areas – for example, study wood technology or interior design,’ he explains. A passion for wood as a living material is important – as is a certain affinity for design. ‘At Knoblauch, no two projects are the same, which simply makes it very exciting,’ reports Marc.
An affinity for design and enjoyment of inspiring spaces – this is also required in other apprenticeships at Knoblauch. Whether as a carpenter, draughtsman, technical product designer, office management assistant or metalworker – creativity is always important when it comes to interior design. For Samantha (22), this was even the reason why she applied to become an office management assistant. ‘I didn’t want to go straight into the lecture theatre after graduating, I wanted to work and earn money,’ she explains.
At the same time, Samantha wanted the job to fulfil her and she wanted to identify with the employer. ‘That’s exactly what I found here, a nice working atmosphere and environment, but also exciting tasks,’ says Samantha. During the three-year apprenticeship, she realised that she would still like to study. Studying business administration with a focus on retail at the Cooperative State University was the solution, as the 22-year-old was able to remain a Knobi through the practical semesters – and still study. ‘Everyone here is open if someone wants to take a new path and just because you do an apprenticeship first doesn’t mean you’ll always stay in the same job,’ she says.
Das sieht auch HR-Expertin Annette so, die das Thema Ausbildung bei Knoblauch betreut. „Wir haben mittlerweile so viele tolle Bewerbungen, auch von Abiturientinnen und Abiturienten,“ sagt sie. Da sei klar, dass sich junge Menschen auch weiterentwickeln möchten und Knoblauch so wie es geht individuelle Chancen und Möglichkeiten biete. „Das kann vom eintägigen Workshop über die mehrwöchige Weiterbildung bis zum mehrjährigen Studium alles sein“, erklärt Annette. Denn lebenslanges Lernen stecke einfach in der Knoblauch-DNA.
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