Our apprenticeship program in Germany, built around strategic partnerships with other industry giants, offers immersive and hands-on training to our apprentices, preparing them for success in the industrial world.
When Christoph Rathke made the decision, at the age of 24, to step off the beaten path of traditional academia and venture into the world of vocational education, little did he know the profound impact it would have on his future.
After completing his studies in mechanical engineering, Christoph yearned for hands-on experience. "I wanted to do something more practical. That’s when I started to look into apprenticeships and decided that I wanted to become a mechatronics engineer."
His research led him to Schindler Germany, where he found not just an apprenticeship program, but an opportunity to carve out his career in ways he never imagined.
Christoph is one of the hundreds of apprentices who have joined the Schindler Germany apprenticeship program over the years. "Our aim is to recruit 100 apprentices every year, with 70 as technicians and 30 in the business line," explains Rebecca Bülow, who oversees the program.
Apprentices accepted into our program choose between five distinct career paths: finance, customer service, marketing & office management, electrical & mechanical engineering, and technical planning.
Through partnerships with industry leaders like Siemens, Deutsche Bahn, and Düsseldorf Airport, our program offers apprentices unparalleled access to real-world experiences and cutting-edge technologies. These partnerships don’t just enrich the apprentices' learning experiences – they also ensure they’re equipped with the skills needed to thrive in Germany's competitive manufacturing sector.
One notable partnership is with Düsseldorf Airport, where over 100 apprentices receive comprehensive training across various professions. Fully immersed in the airport environment, our apprentices have access to an extensive array of machines, materials, and workstations to support their learning.
After approximately eight months working at the airport, apprentices have developed enough basic knowledge to work on their first construction sites within Schindler. Over the following years, their education becomes more specialized as they prepare for their intermediate and final apprentice examinations.
Shortly after finishing his apprenticeship nearly five years ago, Christoph started out building elevators, a task usually reserved for experienced subcontractors. "My supervisors wanted me to learn about every part of the elevator. They really pushed me in a healthy way," he says.
These days, he still works in new installations, but more as a trouble-shooter than a fitter. He’s also recently become deputy team leader and attends evening school, his hunger for vocational learning still strong.
While Christoph was older than most apprentices when first applying, he certainly wasn’t the only prospective apprentice realizing the value of vocational training after initially taking a different path. According to Rebecca, it’s not unusual for apprentices in their late 20s to join the program. "Some might have joined the workforce straight out of school but soon find their career prospects limited, given the importance that German society places on education," she says.
Our apprenticeship program in Germany is just one of many similar programs we run in different parts of the world. Switzerland, China, the UK, Mexico, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia – all offer apprenticeship programs covering a variety of professions.
While programs differ from one country to the next, all offer our youth an opportunity to enter the workforce and develop the skills they need to thrive in today’s and tomorrow’s workplace.
Richard Steih wanted to do a marketing apprenticeship within a large company when he successfully applied to join Schindler Germany back in 2018. He felt fully supported right from the start. "I wasn’t a confident English speaker, so Schindler arranged for me to access a website to learn the language," he says.
Having initially chosen the marketing and office management path, Richard is now a process specialist within existing installations. "The visits we did during the apprentice program really helped me understand the vast scale of Schindler," he says. "But even so, I felt fully supported every step, and was always treated as an equal team member, wherever I was working."
After two years as an apprentice, Richard had the opportunity to mentor new apprentices, a period he describes as a real highlight of his early Schindler experience. "Having received so much support myself, I was happy to give back," he says.
Maja Taleporou had only been in Germany for a year when she joined Schindler Germany’s apprentice program in 2020. Raised in Greece by one Greek and one German parent, she found the early days of fitting into a new culture challenging.
"I spoke German but wasn’t so fast with written tests. I was happy to have Schindler look beyond test results and look at who I was as a person," Maja says. "This really convinced me that Schindler would be a great company to join."
Today, Maja has a permanent role within the Guarantees department, where she also gets to support each new wave of Schindler apprentices. "I think it really helps that I was an apprentice too. I understand their fears, and I know how their program works."
For Christoph, Richard, and Maja, before joining as apprentices, Schindler was a well-kept secret – none of them were aware of the company or its apprentice program.
"We’re working hard to make sure our apprentice program is widely known and ensure it appeals to young people who then want to stay with us afterwards," says Rebecca.
This means making sure there’s a strong focus on sustainability, as it’s important to young people, along with authenticity through open, honest, and clear communication. "Apprentices want to picture a future that allows for personal growth and development. That’s what we want to ensure we bring across in our program," she adds.
Richard has been won over. "Schindler is a great place with great buildings and great people who are willing to help me whenever I have questions," he says. "I love that it’s not just about your school grades here, but also who you are and where you want to go."