Of freedom and responsibility: starting a career at Ergon

Currently there are 34 interns and 17 apprentices working at Ergon. The desire to prepare young people as well as possible for the world of work is deeply rooted in Ergon’s culture – reflected, for example, in the fact that trainees receive one-to-one mentoring.  It’s intensive, costly and a real investment. But let’s have the interns and apprentices themselves describe how this affects their experience of work.

“Who knows the book Clean Code? You should make it your bedtime reading.” This came not from an IT lecturer, but from an intern who joined Ergon only a short time ago. Who was his advice aimed at? The other interns and working students who are also gaining their first work experience at Ergon. On a tour of the three Ergon sites, they show each other their workplaces and talk about their work. And as always with Ergon, when it comes to events for apprentices or interns, the organisation’s entirely up to them. 

Success, tech and apples

It’s about lessons learned and successes, for example managing to program a feature in two days that used to take you two weeks.  Tech talk is a must, whether it’s about hardware, operating systems or quite simply “how is your department using the IoT?”  The heavily used table football table, games of Mario Kart during coffee breaks and the constantly changing apple varieties in the fruit bowls are also a source of conversation.

In the words of an intern

One of those on the tour is Tara. Aged 28, she studied business IT and is doing an internship as a software developer. The casual atmosphere came as a surprise: “Even though the work at Ergon is really demanding, people take a very relaxed approach. Nobody thinks in hierarchies. And something especially important for me is that I don’t have to have any inhibitions about asking questions. People help each other as a matter of course,” she says. Tara also values the opportunity to immerse herself in different topics, which is helping her find out what area of software development suits her best.

Interviews with apprentices and their trainers

Joel, what excites you about IT?
I write code, and it does something for me. That’s cool, don't you think?

What’s the best thing your code’s done for you so far?
Definitely the World Cup tip game which Ergon apprentices developed for use in house. We created something that was used by our co-workers.  That’s a cool feeling.

What makes your apprenticeship special?
Loris, my trainer, is only responsible for me. I enjoy his full attention and can always count on his support. I’m aware that as an apprentice you rarely get so much one-on-one time with your trainer. 

Loris, your actual job is software development. As a trainer you also invest a lot of time in working with apprentices. Why do you do that?
I like working with young people and passing on my knowledge to them. I also learn a lot from them in return. Joel helps me understand what makes young people tick nowadays. 

What makes apprenticeships at Ergon special?
The environment is ideal for young people with a thirst for knowledge who want to tinker and try stuff out. Not only that, but the people who work for Ergon are very competent. They take a lot of time to look after the apprentices. Joel, for example, has two supervisors, my colleague Jonas and me. Another important factor is that despite the intensive supervision, apprentices are given a lot of freedom.

Freedom as an apprentice. What does that mean precisely?
Our IT apprentices don’t work on customer projects until the third year of their apprenticeship. In the first two years they learn the basics of programming and have the chance to develop. The idea is that they should have the opportunity to combine their profession with personal interests. This can even lead to a project in which they program something for their hobby.

Kevin, you’re 28 and were firmly established as a carpenter. Now you’re doing an apprenticeship as an IT technician. What prompted the change of direction?
Again and again I’d encounter IT people, for example when it came to fitting solar panels. I always found talking to them enriching. I like to immerse myself in things and understand how they work, for example how does a button on a website actually function.

Has the move been worth it so far?
Absolutely. There’s a lot that excites me in my apprenticeship. The way people interact here is very pleasant and human. I have the opportunity to try out a lot, but I never feel left on my own. It’s great the way my trainer Noah supports and challenges me individually. That makes finding simple solutions to complex problems even more fun. 

Three words to describe your apprenticeship?
Intense, human, competent.

Noah, you’re currently supervising an apprentice who already has experience in a trade. How is that for you?
I’m impressed that Kevin has dared to change path. I’m also impressed by the determination he’s shown from his very first day at work.

What’s special about apprenticeships at Ergon?
To be able to teach someone you need competent people – something we have more than our fair share of at Ergon. Although we’re now a large company, we still give our apprentices individual mentoring and support. That’s very time and cost-intensive. But it’s also the best investment. 

Niculin, why did you decide to do an IT apprenticeship at Ergon?
I’m someone who likes to go into depth to find a solution. So IT was an obvious choice of career. When I got to try out working at Ergon I really liked the positive atmosphere. It was clear to me that I wanted to stay here.

Now you’re in the second year of your apprenticeship. What’s the verdict so far?
Naturally it’s positive. On the one hand I get to improve my programming skills on a day-to-day basis. I also have plenty of exciting work and freedom that makes my daily routine fascinating. 

For example?
We apprentices get to organise open house days ourselves, and things like the annual excursion for apprentices, from A to Z. I also like the one-on-one support. It gives me security in everything I do and helps me progress quickly.

Pascal, you are involved in promoting young talent. Why is this important to you?
Ergon attaches great importance to apprenticeships. I think that’s the right way to go. It’s the foundation of our education system. That’s why I like to pass on my knowledge and accompany young people on their career path. Teaching is close to my heart in any case. I also lecture at a higher technical college for IT. 

Do you also learn anything from Niculin?
Absolutely. A good example is patience. When I’m mentoring a young person I have to change the way I think. Often I’ll have a concept in my head but have to stop myself. I want Niculin to follow his own train of thought. That takes time and patience.

What’s special about apprenticeships at Ergon?
It's really down to the intensive supervision, which is something you rarely see. Ergon deliberately deviates from the norm, and again and again this proves to work. Young people are encouraged to think deeply for themselves. If you can do that, IT gets really exciting. 

Kristina, why did you decide to do a commercial apprenticeship at Ergon?
I already sensed the positive atmosphere during the job interview. The feeling has remained. My working day is cheerful, varied and motivating.

How would you describe your apprenticeship?
It’s definitely very varied. There are events that I help organise, I get to take part in meetings, I change departments, and my opinion is welcomed. 

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your trainer?
To stay calm, even if the situation's hectic. I’ve learned that I can get things done if I keep a cool head. 

Marina, why are you a trainer?
I get to help young people get on the right path. That’s wonderful. It’s also exciting to work so closely with apprentices. Thanks to them I repeatedly see that you’re never finished learning, even as an old lag. 

What has Kristina taught you?
I’ve been doing certain things a certain way for a long time. Then Kristina comes along and questions them. More than once I’ve been amazed and, thanks to Kristina, realised how things can be done differently and better.