Julia Dorner’s journey as an apprentice also began with the start of BUWOG’s apprenticeship programme in September 2021. Less than two years later, she completed her training with honours and took on the next challenge with an assistant position in commercial property management. Now, nearly six months later, she looks back on her apprenticeship at BUWOG.
Close-knit atmosphere
When I began my apprenticeship at BUWOG, I was pleasantly surprised by the close-knit atmosphere – with my colleagues as well as the trainers. Our apprentice representative, Evelyn Simetsberger, was nicknamed “apprentice mum” by us because she not only took care of everything that concerned our training but was also always concerned about our well-being.
Growing with responsibility
In my role as an apprentice, it was in my own hands to not only acquire theoretical knowledge, but also to gain practical experience, which is important both for the final apprenticeship exam and for day-to-day work. Fortunately, I was given numerous opportunities to take on responsibility in the various departments I worked in. One notable example of this was my work in commercial property management, where I was given the chance to manage properties on my own, while of course always being accompanied and supported by experienced assistants, administrators and accountants.
I also had the chance to handle apartment transfers independently. This allowed me not only to strengthen my organisational skills, but also to gain experience in direct contact with tenants. I was also able to take part in property inspections, where I gained valuable insights into the maintenance and care of properties. These practical experiences were an immense enrichment to my training at BUWOG and successfully prepared me for my professional future.
Special moments
During my apprenticeship, I had the opportunity to take part in a range of projects and trade fairs such as the 2022 Climate Youth Council, which was organised by the Federal Youth Council. I was also able to visit the BUWOG sites in Villach and Salzburg and take part in the apprentice and trainee meeting organised by Vonovia, BUWOG’s parent company, in Bochum. At the end of my apprenticeship, my colleague Florian Ludwig and I had the honour of presenting our own project – “Residential Living in the Future” – to our colleagues at the company.
The development of our apprentice family
As a first-generation apprentice at BUWOG, I also witnessed a remarkable change within the company as part of my individual training. In every department, the idea of training and promoting the next generation of employees was taken up and further developed by colleagues. Over time, our family of trainers and mentors has steadily grown.
As the saying goes, “it takes a village to create something great”, and that is exactly what I have experienced here. This community has developed over the years and it fills me with joy and pride to be part of this village. In the meantime, I’ve even taken on the responsibility of apprentice mentor and look forward to accompanying and supporting the next generation of apprentices at BUWOG on their journey.
Future prospects for BUWOG apprentices
The commitment to training and developing young talent remains a central element of our corporate culture and I am confident that our apprentice family will continue to grow and be successful. We look forward to training motivated young people and fostering their growth. The future at BUWOG is bright and we recognise the vital role our apprentices play in it.
