Apprenticeship kick-off with an entertaining onboarding day
With an unusual onboarding format, the Merching-based FORUM MEDIA GROUP made it easier for its new trainees to start this new phase of their lives: by planning a culinary event together for lunch break, new and returning apprentices quickly grew together as a team.
Starting an apprenticeship is a significant step for young people – both personally and professionally. To make this transition a conscious and rewarding experience, FORUM MEDIA GROUP organized an onboarding day that went far beyond the traditional welcome. The aim was to give the media group’s four new apprentices a sense of orientation, belonging, and a genuine feeling of community right from the start.
The day kicked off with a personal address by Katrin Krauß-Herkert, CFO/COO of the international media group, who won over the new recruits with her openness. “Training is more than just specialist knowledge – it’s about growing together,” she said in her speech. Marcus Edholzer, General Manager of FORUM VERLAG HERKERT GMBH, also welcomed the new trainees with motivating words – not least because he himself once started his career as a trainee at FORUM.
A creative icebreaker involving nature and animal pictures helped to overcome initial inhibitions and get the conversation going. All participants – new and current apprentices and students, as well as the training supervisors – chose nature and animal pictures that spontaneously reminded them of themselves or an experience, and briefly explained why.
Creative game to get to know each other
Surprise culinary challenge
One highlight was the unexpected task prepared by training manager Daniela Krauss: the group of apprentices was given the task of planning a complete three-course meal within three hours, shopping for the ingredients, cooking, and serving it in an appropriate setting. In four self-organized teams – from shopping to event planning – they not only created culinary highlights under the motto “Dolce Vita in Sicily”, but also enjoyed their first taste of success as a team.
At the end of the day, it was clear that the individuals had become a team. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive – both from the new trainees and from the training supervisors. The onboarding process impressively demonstrated how modern apprenticeship support can be successful: those who feel involved from day one develop motivation, a sense of responsibility, and teamwork skills – competencies that have an impact far beyond the apprenticeship.
The FORUM MEDIA GROUP and its subsidiaries in Merching offer various apprenticeships in areas such as IT, media management, marketing, and e-commerce. It is also possible to start your career as part of a dual study program. FORUM MEDIA GROUP is an international media group with locations in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia and a total of more than 1,000 employees. Founded in 1988, the group focuses on the business areas of information, education, and solutions.
Cover photo: CFO/COO Katrin Krauß-Herkert welcomes the new apprentices at the start of their training.