26. July 2024
5 Minutes
Adrian und Cornelius

Have courage, take on challenges, and show commitment

Cornelius and Adrian are newly qualified IT application development specialists. It was reason enough to ask them how they felt about their apprenticeship with us, what tips they could give students who are interested in an apprenticeship, and what projects they would be involved with next.

Which programming languages, technologies, or specialist skills do the trainees learn during their training?

Adrian: At Arineo, various areas involve software development. I will only report on the CXS (Customer Experience Solutions) department, which mainly deals with web development. We primarily work with Java, Spring Boot, and SAP Commerce in the back-end area. These technologies enable us to develop web servers. Additionally, we acquire in-depth knowledge of SQL, which is essential for managing and querying databases. Understanding software architecture is another important aspect in the back-end area, as it helps us structure and design complex systems. For the front end, i.e., the visible and interactive part of an application, we use a mix of HTML, CSS, TypeScript, Angular, and the Composable Storefront. They are crucial for developing dynamic websites and online stores. We also learn how vital user interface and user experience design are in creating user-friendly and appealing interfaces.

What role do soft skills such as teamwork and communication play in the training process?

Adrian: Soft skills such as teamwork and communication are fundamental in our training. The ability to work in a team is vital, as many projects are carried out in close cooperation with other developers. Communication also plays a key role in allocating tasks, clarifying requirements, discussing problems, and developing solutions together. Time management is also crucial to meeting deadlines and successfully completing projects. These skills are fostered during training through regular meetings and code reviews, where we receive feedback and learn from each other. For example, we have a weekly trainee meeting to discuss what we did in the past week and our current goals. This is an excellent way to practice sticking to self-set goals.

What were the most exciting projects you worked on, and how was the practical implementation carried out?

Cornelius: In the third year of my apprenticeship, I had the exciting task of helping transition from the SAP Commerce Accelerator to the SAP Composable Storefront at a large banking service provider. This allowed me to do what I enjoy most in development: front-end work with all the associated technologies.

Participating in customer workshops as a UI/UX design consultant was particularly interesting. These workshops enabled me to deepen my knowledge of user experience and develop customized solutions directly with the customer.

Another highlight was my involvement in acquisitions and concepts. These experiences gave me valuable insights into acquiring new customers and partners, and I particularly enjoyed them during my training.

What does the collaboration between trainees and experienced developers in the company look like?

Adrian: In the first year of training, apprentices primarily work alone or with other trainees. It is only in the second year, with the start of customer projects, that they work more closely with experienced developers. These experienced developers take on a mentoring role, assisting with complex tasks, and are available for questions. Through this collaboration, we learn technical skills and how to work in a team and implement customer requirements. We also have regular discussions to get feedback on our skills from our trainers and the other developers in the team.

What’s next for you after the exams?

Cornelius: : I would like to continue my personal development in customer projects, focusing on front-end work and customization of the SAP Composable Storefront. I would also like to continue being a point of contact for clients and colleagues on UI and UX topics. Additionally, I have the opportunity to drive internal initiatives. These include introductory training sessions and the implementation of workshops, where I have already gained some initial experience. This dual focus between customer projects and internal tasks offers a varied and exciting perspective for my future career.

What tips do you have for future trainees who are interested in application development?

Cornelius: What I particularly appreciate about this apprenticeship is the variety that results from daily work. You don’t just spend eight hours a day programming; you also get to know many other areas, such as sales, consulting, and project management. This variety makes the work interesting and ensures you gain a broad range of skills and experience.

Have courage, take on challenges, and show commitment. Courage and commitment open doors and provide opportunities that you might not have otherwise imagined. These qualities are always rewarded and can help you achieve almost any dream.

P.S. If you are confused by the technical terms, here are some explanations for you:

Frontend: The part of an application visible to users, developed with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Backend: The server part of an application manages data and business logic and is developed with technologies such as Java and Spring Boot.

User Interface (UI): Graphical user interface (GUI) of an application with interactive elements such as buttons and menus.

User Experience (UX) Design: Optimization of the user experience and interaction with the application.

Code Review: Review of source code by other developers for quality assurance and improvement of code quality.

SAP Commerce Accelerator: Pre-configured platform for rapid development of e-commerce solutions.

SAP Composable Storefront: Modular, customizable solution for flexible and scalable e-commerce websites.

UI/UX Design: Combination of an application’s visual design (UI) and user experience (UX).

Are you interested in an apprenticeship at Arineo?