At the beginning of September, our 19 new apprentices and dual-study students started their training with an onboarding week at our headquarters in Ispringen. The exciting days, organized and conducted by Mika Polzer and Meike Schaible, Rutronik’s training managers, were characterized by a positive atmosphere, strong team spirit, and great anticipation for what lies ahead.

For the creative introduction round, each participant brought along a personal item. The conversations created a relaxed atmosphere and helped uncover shared interests within the group.

The new talents then worked in small groups to outline their expectations and wishes for the onboarding week, presenting their results afterwards. This was followed by engaging presentations, including insights into the company’s history, practical IT training on cybersecurity, and the introduction of their mentors. Further insights into the company were provided by COO Fabian Plentz, CSO Dirk Finstel, and Head of HR Development Jeremy Westphalen. Team-building activities added variety and strengthened group cohesion. A particular highlight was the tour of the logistics center in Eisingen, where participants experienced processes and operations firsthand.

 

Rally and Games as Highlights

The “Rutronik Rally” generated a great deal of enthusiasm. In a fun and interactive way, the apprentices and students got to know the different buildings and departments. The winning team was rewarded with an ice cream voucher worth €25. Four teams competed in various categories, completing tasks that required teamwork and effective communication. These included solving tricky estimation challenges, creating short social media videos, and simulating a purchasing negotiation.

The following day, the Rutronik Games offered further exciting challenges within the building. Activities included navigating a difficult stairwell course while balancing an egg backwards, reciting the alphabet backwards as a team, or wrapping a gift with a ribbon using tied hands in a collaborative effort. There was something for everyone. Points were collected during both events and added together, with the team achieving the highest score emerging as the winner.

 

Building Soapbox Cars Without Instructions

Another special highlight was the construction of “soapbox cars.” Teams were put to the test by assembling the kits without instructions. The manual could only be consulted five times during the entire process, and for no more than three minutes each time. Once all the “race cars” were ready, the group unfortunately ran out of luck with the weather, and the race had to be canceled due to continuous rain. As a result, the team-designed crests as well as the poems or songs created for each soapbox and group could neither be completed nor presented.

Despite the rain, the group gathered in a covered area in the evening for a shared pizza dinner with their mentors. Engaging conversations, fun games, and the opportunity to get to know each other better created a positive and relaxed atmosphere.

 

The Next Steps

An enjoyable and eventful week came to an end. On the final day, the group reflected on the week together and reviewed whether their expectations and wishes had been met—resulting in overwhelmingly positive feedback.

The handover of IT equipment and the closing remarks by training managers Meike Schaible and Mika Polzer provided a fitting conclusion to a successful onboarding week. The new apprentices and dual-study students now begin their training with many impressions, familiar faces, and great excitement for the journey ahead.