Continuing education as an individual process
When people hear the term “continuing education,” they automatically think of Chamber of Commerce courses or distance learning. But the possibilities are much broader than one might initially think. When hiring new employees, we assess which skills they have that may even extend beyond their future role. Any training needs relevant to the new position are also identified and addressed during the recruitment process. We use personality profiles, which are still relatively uncommon, especially in small and medium-sized companies.
Personality profiles are a relatively new tool for our recruiters Julia and Stephanie, but they have already proven their worth. In a special training course, the two were taught how to use the tool to create profiles during job interviews based on specific questions and observable behaviour patterns, which are designed to help them better assess and develop both potential and existing colleagues. The key is to listen to employees' wishes and ideas and work together to determine the best ways to meet those wishes. Online training courses can be particularly helpful here, especially during the induction phase, in order to build up knowledge quickly and reliably.
Regular annual reviews provide an opportunity for open discussion about employees' training wishes and needs. In addition, our managers are trained to recognize development potential in their teams and thus offer targeted support. Personality profiles enable this to be done individually and precisely.
At Cybertrading, we focus on practical training. Joint workshops, soft skills training, and subject-specific training courses are particularly popular. However, a wide range of online training courses is also available to our employees. We also attach great importance to high-quality and intensive management training. We offer targeted leadership training to talented individuals who have proven within their teams that they can take on responsibilities and are keen to grow with us.
As a highlight in our colourful bouquet of training opportunities, we also focus on corporate health management. Keeping employees healthy is becoming increasingly important, and what could be better than linking external expertise with internal expertise? The starting point for our corporate health management was the part-time training of our former employee Sandra as a health and nutrition educator. Since then, a lot has happened in the area of health management, and the range of services on offer is constantly evolving.
The story of a successful talent factory
Caroline: Thanks to individual support, she is now a technician who enjoys her job!
IT technician Caroline is proof that not everyone's path in life leads straight from their career aspirations to their dream job. The search for the right training and your dream job is often a rocky road. This was also the case for Caroline. After several different career moves, she decided to retrain as an IT specialist for system integration.
The path to this led her via an internship to a permanent position at Cybertrading, so that she could work practically alongside her retraining and put the theory she had learned at school into practice. Two years have now passed since she started her retraining, but when it came to the exam, she failed both attempts due to the theory. Giving up was not an option for Caroline or for us as her employer.
Together with Caroline, our HR and management team worked out a way to still get a positive outcome from this educational period. The plan? An internal exam tailored to Caroline's job that highlights her strengths and talent for network technology. How did they do it? Continuous coaching within the team in so-called tech flashes and intensive support from the team lead and department head. The result? A confident, proud IT technician who also acts as a mentor for newer colleagues, is always approachable, and is an absolute asset to us with her positive attitude.
The conclusion? It doesn't always have to be the straight, classic path to the goal! What's important is: willpower, motivation, individual problem-solving, an understanding, helpful environment, and an eye for talent. For us, Caroline's path to becoming a technician is an absolutely inspiring story and shows that even as a career changer, with the right support and belief on both sides, a great career path is possible.
Recipe for success: Internal training
As mentioned at the beginning, most employees immediately think of long-term IHK courses or even degree programs when it comes to further training. But it is often worthwhile to look in-house to see what skills are distributed among the teams and how you can get other colleagues to participate. One approach that has proven to be an absolute guarantee of success for us is to hold internal training sessions. Depending on the topic, these can be compact appointments or even entire courses. Here is an example that shows that there may be real coaches lurking among your employees!
Technology course with Micha
The world of network technology is diverse and can be overwhelming, especially for new colleagues who come to us as career changers. Not every department works directly on the product, but a certain amount of basic knowledge is definitely helpful. To make it easier for newcomers or even old hands who want a little refresher to get started with IT hardware, our colleague Micha has developed a Moodle course in collaboration with HR. The training process is simple but effective. In short, well-portioned theory sessions, the topics are explained according to the respective category and then summarized with a short video. The reading time per topic block? Between 10 and 20 minutes, so perfectly “snackable” to fit knowledge sessions into a stressful workday. At the end of each major topic block, there is a knowledge test that gives colleagues insight into their individual level of knowledge and shows which topics still need a little deep dive.
The theoretical part is concluded with a practical session spread over two dates, in which participants can experience network technology firsthand and learn exciting information directly from Micha.
We have already successfully completed two rounds of these sessions, and the positive feedback speaks for itself. So, it doesn't always have to be off-site training to convey knowledge in a compact and sustainable way.
Corporate health management and training: A successful combination
For several years now, we as a company have been placing greater emphasis on corporate health management. It is important to us that our employees feel comfortable but also receive support in keeping fit and healthy in a way that is appropriate for their field of work. In addition to regular medical screenings, such as the recent skin screening and back check, we also offer healthy snacks and joint running training among colleagues in preparation for events such as the Magdeburg company relay race.
Most recently, there was a real highlight on World Health Day: employees who are personally interested in nutrition, training, and outdoor sports offered courses to share their tips and tricks with their colleagues—with great enthusiasm and impressive participation numbers.
We also offer relevant training courses on request. For example, a former colleague successfully completed a part-time degree to become a health and nutrition educator. With the ever-increasing focus on long-term health maintenance, we want to continue along this path and actively support our employees in this endeavour.
It's easier to get started with a mentor by your side!
Starting a new job is an exciting process for both the company and the new employee. Especially in the early days at the company, a wide variety of questions can arise: How does the break room work again? Where can I find an overview of all contact persons? Where can I get my morning coffee? The tour with HR was detailed and exciting, but in all the excitement, one or two details can get lost.
To make the transition easier, we assign mentors to new colleagues to help them find their feet at Cybertrading. Thanks to empathetic support and plenty of time spent together, no one is left out in the cold. Thanks to these mentors, it is easier to connect with break groups, find your way around the storage rooms and administrative areas, and ask questions that you forgot to ask during onboarding. Our mentors also accompany you during your training in your respective area and are available to offer advice and support.
Employee profile – connection, mentors, veterans
Two of our veterans are Stefan and Fabian. While Fabian has been with the company for 13 years and is largely responsible for building and ensuring the success of our purchasing team, Stefan, Head of Sales, has been at the heart of Cybertrading for 15 years.
What makes these two stand out? In their roles as department heads and senior employees, they not only represent leadership on an equal footing, but also serve as mentors. What are the challenges in their large teams? In both purchasing and sales, the areas of responsibility are wide-ranging and complex. It is therefore convenient that the two can rely on their sparring partners at the team leader level. But this only works thanks to close mentoring and a great deal of trust.
As a department head, I lead four small teams, which I support in their day-to-day business, and I try to keep them motivated and in good spirits. I also find it fulfilling to be a mediator between management and employees and to drive processes forward. – Fabian Kaufmann
In order to gain a foothold in complex areas of work as a newcomer, patience and motivation are required, but above all, a guiding hand that is there to help with questions, concerns, or problems. Fabian and Stefan embody exactly this persona and exemplify this mindset in their teams. This makes them role models for team members and managers within the departments.
I think what I enjoy most is working with people and helping to develop the company, being a cog in the wheel. I was able to accompany the growth from 3 to 100 employees and contribute to it. – Stefan Grünheid
At Cybertrading, we strengthen cohesion and team spirit not only through mentoring and training, but also through regular team events. There are no limits to creativity. From whitewater rafting to barbecue courses to mini golf, anything that helps team building is possible.
Getting better together
A company can only be successful if its employees are satisfied and give their best. In order to live up to this principle, we as a company also want to give our all. After all, well-trained specialists are hard to find. To counteract this, it is essential to provide your skilled personnel with the support they need and deserve. Thanks to individual ideas and targeted, regular employee appraisals, we have created a foundation for this. Our goal is to continue working on this basis to be the employer where employees feel completely comfortable and valued.
If you would like to see more of our team spirit, team activities, or company events, we recommend checking out our social media channels. Whether on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, we report on everything that happens “on and off the field.”