“Two years ago I started my apprenticeship as a forwarding agent at Gefco Austria with great interest. However, before that I had no clear idea what everything is about in logistics and how extensive the topic is. In the meantime, I have got a lot of insight into the subject, and I am looking forward to further challenges after completing my apprenticeship,” said Philipp Modliba, 22 years old and in his third year with the logistics service provider.
Gefco Austria offers the opportunity to complete a three-year apprenticeship as a forwarding clerk or trainer in an exciting work environment. After successful completion of the apprenticeship, the trainees can add a training year and become a logistics or forwarding specialist. Currently, Gefco Austria employs five apprentices – two women and three men – who are being trained at the Vienna and St. Valentin locations.
After successful completion of apprenticeship, the trainee candidates have very good job prospects – skilled personnel are in great demand in the industry. All highly qualified logistics specialists who move abroad after their apprenticeship can apply internationally within the Gefco Group.
The future apprentices should have completed compulsory education or a 9th school year. Good geographic knowledge, logical understanding, accuracy, reliability and good manners are also beneficial. It is also desirable to enjoy dealing with people and working with computers. There is no age limit for entering an apprenticeship at Gefco Austria, anyone can apply. The average age of apprentices is 18 years.
The apprentices get to know different areas of the company during their training and change to a different department every six months. So they can find out together, which area fits best to them. The apprentices spend the last months of their apprenticeship in their favorite department.
In addition, the trainees are also supported in apprenticeship with Matura. In addition to vocational training, Gefco Austria promotes the personal development of apprentices with appropriate training. In addition, particularly good performance during the apprenticeship is rewarded. Other benefits include meal vouchers, health check-ups or employee events.
“We involve our apprentices in operative activities as quickly as possible, giving them the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and discover new things. Motivation and continuous development are guaranteed by the rotation through all business areas and tasks,” explains Peter Vanek, Managing Director Gefco Austria and Switzerland.
In the first year of apprenticeship, the Viennese apprentices visit the vocational school twice a week. From the second year of apprenticeship the visit to the vocational school is reduced to once a week, which increases the practical part of the apprenticeship. In the training center St. Valentin, the lessons in the vocational school take place during the entire apprenticeship in 3-month blocks in a boarding school. The rest of the vocational training is practical.
The Gefco Group, with 13,000 employees worldwide and EUR 4.4 billion in annual sales, is a European leader in automotive logistics and a global supplier of industrial supply chain services. The Austrian branch has been in Vienna since 2004 and currently employs around 50 people at four locations.
