Many people first think about the occupation – they should first think about themselves.
Lea, many students ask: “Which occupation is right for me?” Why should they first deal with their own strengths and weaknesses?
Lea: I believe that’s precisely the most important first step. Many want to know as quickly as possible which occupation they will practice later in life. It’s worth first finding out: what interests me? What am I good at? What do I enjoy?
People who know themselves well can better assess which tasks bring joy and which working methods suit them. It’s not about having all the answers already or being perfect. What matters more is knowing your interests, strengths, and areas for development. This helps to choose a training occupation that matches your abilities and interests – and in which you will enjoy your work long-term.
We also focus precisely on these questions during job interviews. So it’s doubly worthwhile to take a good look at your own strengths beforehand.
Do you know your strengths?
Before you think about career choice or decide on a training occupation, take a moment and ask yourself these questions:
- Which tasks do I particularly enjoy?
- What do I frequently receive praise for?
- Which tasks do I voluntarily do?
- Do I prefer to work with people, data, or technology?
- What do I definitely want to learn in the next few years?
- Which experiences from leisure activities, sports, or volunteering show what I am good at?
If you find it difficult to answer these questions yourself, ask parents, friends, or teachers. The better you know or get to know yourself, the easier it is to find a training occupation that really suits you.
Which qualities are important to you in applicants?
Lea: Qualities such as curiosity, communication skills, willingness to work hard, and initiative are very important to us. A desire for continuous development also definitely belongs among them.
- Curiosity, for example, helps you truly understand processes instead of sticking with the first answer. You then ask: why does this run like this? Where might there be a snag? And how could it be improved?
- Communication skills matter because you will work closely with clients and colleagues. You must be able to listen well, ask the right questions, and also explain complex relationships understandably. Often, it’s about understanding requirements correctly and finding a good solution together.
- You need initiative and a willingness to work hard because, during your training, you will take on more responsibility. If information is missing in a project, you should not simply wait but ask, research, or seek support.
How about technical interest and AI when considering the training as an IT specialist for data and process analysis?
Lea: Technical interest is very important to us. You don’t have to be an IT professional, but you should want to understand how digital technologies work and how they can help improve processes in companies. It’s also helpful if you have already dealt with technical topics and gained some initial experience.
This naturally includes artificial intelligence today. AI is now an integral part of our working day and will continue to change the way we work. Therefore, it’s a strength if you are open to new technologies, try them out, and at the same time are ready to question their results critically.
Many consider their weaknesses as a disadvantage. How do you see that as a trainer?
Lea: No one starts perfectly in a training occupation – and we don’t expect that.
After all, training is meant for learning new things and developing further. Therefore, we give our trainees the space to gain experience and find their own way. Everyone develops at a different pace. What matters most is being willing to be open to new things and work on yourself.
Could it turn out during the training that your strengths lie elsewhere than you thought?
Lea: That can certainly happen. The basic principle for career choice is to be able to classify one’s own strengths well. During training, it often turns out that there are other strengths and characteristics that warrant further work.
That’s precisely why we impart a broad foundation of knowledge in the first year of training. Our trainees learn about different tasks and roles and gain practical experience on real projects.
Some discover that consulting particularly suits them. Others become more interested in technical topics, project management, or designing business processes. Those who explore different areas find it much easier to learn which tasks match their interests and abilities.
How do you support your trainees in developing their strengths further or perhaps even gaining new ones?
Lea: At Arineo, trainees take on responsibility early on and work on projects. At the same time, experienced colleagues and trainees from higher training years support them.
It is particularly important to us that no one is left alone. We support each other, give feedback, and create an environment where you can try things out. This creates not only professional skills but also personal self-confidence.
Our training deliberately imparts a broad foundation. As a result, trainees get to know different tasks and roles and develop their personal strengths. Over time, it often becomes clear whether someone particularly likes consulting, is enthusiastic about technical developments, or wants to manage projects or design business processes. So our trainees not only find out what they are good at but also which tasks will really make them happy in their future professional lives.
Dare to go your own way
What advice would you give to pupils who are currently dealing with their career choice?
Lea: Don’t pressure yourself to know all the answers today.
Try things out, gain experience – for example, in an internship, club, or volunteering – and stay curious. With each experience, you get to know yourself a little better.
If you know what brings you joy, where your strengths lie, and what you still want to work on, you will often make better decisions. Because the right training occupation is not one in which you can do everything from the beginning – but one in which you want to develop with enjoyment.
Strengthening strengths belongs to our core values
At Arineo, we believe that every person has individual strengths. Therefore, “strengthening strengths” belongs to our core values. We don’t want to push our trainees in a specific direction, but support them in discovering and developing their talents. Because those who know their strengths and develop them purposefully find their own way more easily – in training and beyond.
Learn more about our values here.
Are you thinking about a data and process analysis IT specialist training with us?
The following qualities help you during the training and also later in your profession:
- You like to approach people and communicate openly.
- You are interested in digital technologies and want to understand how companies work.
- You think analytically and enjoy recognizing contexts.
- You prefer to work in a team and develop solutions together.
- You are curious and want to continuously learn.
- You take initiative and try new things.
- You are interested in artificial intelligence and want to learn how to use it meaningfully in everyday work.
You don’t have to be perfect to train with us. What matters more is your willingness to keep developing and bring your own strengths. Because that’s exactly what we support you with during your training at Arineo.
Do you have questions?
If you have questions about our training, feel free to visit our training page or contact our training manager, Maike Thöle.
