From Trainee to Junior Financial Accountant

Besim, nice to have you here. You have completed an apprenticeship at avodaq. Please introduce yourself briefly and tell us something about your training.

Hi, I’m Besim, I’m 20 years old and was born in Germany, but I have Kosovo-Albanian roots. I completed my apprenticeship as an office management assistant at avodaq in Munich. I started in September 2021 and successfully completed it a few weeks ago. I’m very happy about that. I worked in Common Services right from the start, mainly in the finance department and at reception.

I enjoy doing sports in my free time. I played football actively in a club for eleven or twelve years and was on the football field almost every day. I’m currently thinking about starting again. I also really enjoy going to the gym.

Why were you interested in doing an apprenticeship as an office management assistant and why did you choose avodaq?

I simply found office management exciting. I was particularly interested in the finance department right from the start because it gives you a very good overview of the company. I can see directly how avodaq and the individual areas are developing. I like that.

My first job interview at avodaq was very funny. I had just had a wisdom tooth surgery and was sitting in the video conference with big cheeks. But apparently I was still convincing. Why avodaq? It was a perfect fit right from the start, there was an immediate sympathy.

What did you expect from your apprenticeship and have your wishes been fulfilled?

I didn’t have any really big or specific expectations at the time. I just wanted to know how the financial sector works and find out about everything that goes into it. I learnt about all of that and much more. I am very happy with my decision to do an apprenticeship at avodaq.

Which projects did you most enjoy during your training?

One of my first tasks was checking driving licences at the company. I had just joined the company and was allowed to call half the people at avodaq and ask them to hold their driving licence up to the camera. Besim laughs. But the colleagues were all really nice, they even introduced themselves and we had a lot of fun together. I quickly made my first contacts at avodaq, even beyond the Munich location.

I also thought the expense reports were great because you have a lot of contact with colleagues and quickly get to know everyone across departments and locations. I particularly liked that. But I actually enjoyed doing all the tasks. Especially when I understood what the purpose of them was.

What do you like about avodaq as an employer?

I like a lot of things here. It starts with the people who work here. Everyone is friendly, helpful and respectful – those are some of the most important things for me. We trust each other and have a lot of freedom at work. That makes avodaq a very attractive employer for me.

I also really like the fact that we occasionally do something private at the Munich location, for example going out for a meal together after work. But I also keep in touch with colleagues from other locations, especially the students and trainees. I got to know them personally at an event, and that brings us closer together.

What experiences at avodaq do you particularly remember?

The all avodaq Day in Turkey was unique! I started my apprenticeship in September and a month later I received an invitation to this special anniversary event for all employees. It’s very rare for a company to do something like this. But the offsite with the other trainees and dual students at the Wannenkopfhütte was also great.

What tips do you have for anyone who is also interested in an apprenticeship here?

My tip: Just do it! You won’t regret it. Just approach things in an open and friendly way. On my first day, I went to work in suit trousers and a formal shirt and then everyone was dressed normally, i in jeans and suchlike. I didn’t know if there was a dress code.

What’s next for you now that you’ve completed your training?

I would definitely like to gain more work experience first. After that, I could imagine specialising further in financial accounting. But one thing at a time. For now, I’m travelling to my family in Kosovo for three weeks and I’m really looking forward to it.

Thank you very much for the interview, Besim. And congratulations again on passing your apprenticeship. It’s great that you’re staying with us. We wish you a lovely time with your family.