My path as xappido’s first apprentice – an exciting journey into the world of IT

While I was still at school I had to decide which profession I wanted to train in. Technology has always fascinated me, computers and the internet in particular. How do websites work? How are they programmed? Those questions stayed with me, and it became clear to me early on that my goal would be an apprenticeship as a software application developer. My path eventually led me to xappido, and with it began an exciting journey into the world of IT.

The path to an apprenticeship at xappido

Looking for a suitable apprenticeship, I came across xappido ag and applied for a taster day, to get to know the profession and the company better. After further taster days at other companies it was finally clear: application development is the profession I want to learn.

But why xappido?

The taster day stayed with me as something particularly positive: the friendly people, the interesting surroundings and the pleasant atmosphere convinced me. So I applied for the apprenticeship. As I was not the only one interested, I was invited to a second taster day along with another applicant. Then came the anxious wait for an answer. I checked my inbox every day, until at last the call came that ended the suspense: I had got the place. I said yes without hesitating, and was officially xappido’s first apprentice.

My first week as an IT apprentice

My first week at xappido was exciting, and there was a great deal to take in. At first I was nervous; everything was new to me. But the team welcomed me openly and warmly, so I felt at ease straight away. After a short introduction I was given my first task: to build a portfolio with HTML and CSS. First I was allowed to work through the theory to understand the basics of programming. Then I started building — my first programming project of my own. I experimented with what HTML and CSS can do and was fascinated by how much could be achieved with them. By the end of the week I was exhausted, but proud of what I had already learned.

The foundation year: a solid base

During my first semester I attended the foundation year, a full-time course for apprentices where I acquired a great deal of basic IT knowledge. I spent a whole semester there, away from the company, working intensively through the material. The foundation year began with what is called a “jump-in”, a chance to get to know the other apprentices and grow together as a group. After that the lessons started and I began to engage more deeply with the subjects of IT. Working with my fellow apprentices was particularly valuable to me. We could support one another, learn from one another and work out solutions together. Alongside the lessons, the first inter-company courses began — training that apprentices from different companies attend together, away from their own firms. They covered practical topics, and there were graded exams. Those experiences were demanding but also extremely instructive. All in all the foundation year was very interesting and varied. Thanks to the close collaboration with my fellow apprentices and the practical way the material was taught, I took a great deal from it that will serve me well both during and after my apprenticeship.

Vocational school: rising to the challenge

Before I started at vocational school I had real misgivings. I was afraid the lessons might be extremely demanding and that I would not keep up. But my worries were unfounded. Of course school was demanding, but with diligence and a little willingness to give up some free time it was perfectly manageable. I had lessons on Mondays and Tuesdays and was very happy with that arrangement. At school I learned not only subject-specific content for IT, but also plenty of things that are useful in everyday life. Naturally there were subjects that interested me more than others, but in every one of them I gained something worthwhile, whether for my profession or for life in general.

My conclusion: an instructive and interesting time

In my time at xappido so far I have learned an enormous amount. With the team’s support I have been able to develop both professionally and personally. At the beginning I was able to try out what I had learned on projects of my own; by now I am already working on tasks for real client projects. I am particularly pleased that I can now also support xappido in the search for new apprentices. My path as xappido’s first apprentice has been an incredibly interesting journey so far, and I am curious to see what the future holds.