Salespeople advise customers, process inquiries, write offers and purchase contracts and handle the correspondence. Communication with customers takes place in the mother tongue and in foreign languages. They take minutes of meetings with customers or authorities. They read dossiers and documents, prepare documents and statistics, forward information to the specialist departments involved or obtain information if necessary. Merchants also organize customer events and business trips. Finance and accounting are other areas of expertise for businesspeople. They invoice and send invoices for the services provided to customers, book business transactions and calculate VAT.

The apprenticeship as a merchant opens many doors. It conveys important knowledge and forms the basis for numerous advanced training courses.

What you bring

• Secondary school
• Interest in commercial work
• Oral and written fluency
• Good grasp
• reliability
• Organizational skills
• Flair for numbers
• Enjoyment of computer work
• independence
• Sociability
• Good manners

Training in the company

The apprenticeship lasts 3 years. In practical assignments in 9 different departments, you will get to know the versatility of a modern, internationally active production and trading company. You handle incoming and outgoing mail, operate the switchboard, gain insight into purchasing, scheduling, the ordering office, sales administration, customer service and export as well as finance and accounting. The assignments specifically promote teamwork and holistic thinking in processes. Our learners can quickly act independently.

Technical teaching at the vocational school

Classes at the vocational school in Burgdorf or Langnau are 2 days a week during the first two years of the apprenticeship and 1 day in the third year of apprenticeship. With a vocational school leaving certificate, you will attend 2 school days during the entire apprenticeship period.

Career prospects

After the apprenticeship, you can choose from a variety of different further training courses. In addition to the vocational baccalaureate and attending language schools or further training in IT, business people can develop in the areas of marketing, sales, human resources as well as finance and accounting, for example. Courses in business administration and business informatics are possible at higher technical colleges HF as well as at technical colleges FH (Bachelor).

Trial apprenticeship

You would like to get to know the profession or the company. Then ask for a trial apprenticeship.