| BeLux,
27
June
2019
|
11:00
Europe/Berlin

From analysing stocks to optimising stock management: Brecht’s step into the world of logistics

After 4 years of finance studies, Brecht started an internship in an investment bank, analysing stocks every day. Despite his analytical mindset and fascination for the stock market, he felt like time was ticking away slowly as he waited for the days to end. “The finance sector is not tangible”, Brecht explains. ”You’re dealing with numbers that represent money which only exists on paper. I realised at the time that this wasn’t something I wanted to make my career of.” To escape a job focused on office work and numbers, Brecht applied for a traineeship at Kuehne + Nagel.

So far, he is very pleased with his quite atypical career path. “Honestly, I never expected to end up in a warehouse environment”, he admits. “Most fellow graduates work in a Big Four company or at a bank. Few economic students even consider a career in logistics, although I’d strongly recommend it”, he says. Today, Brecht can’t imagine himself anywhere else than in the fast-paced environment of our contract logistics sites. “I’m too hands-on for a job at a bank. Solving problems on the floor and the contact with my colleagues, that’s what really motivates me.”

A management traineeship allows one to discover different aspects and positions in the world of logistics. Brecht’s traineeship began in the warehouse where he contributed to a customer transition and integration project. Today, he leads his own "yellow belt" project with the goal of optimising the stock management for one of our customers. “The advantage of being a trainee is that you get to try different things to make an informed decision about your next career steps. Now the role of operations manager sounds very attractive to me, but I still have to start the third part of my traineeship in which I’ll be introduced into the engineering department of our company, which is more focused on data analysis.”

While a management traineeship can be quite a handful for the young professionals they’re targeted at, mentors ensure that the trainees are supported. “I think it’s great to have a mentor with many years of experience whom I can ask questions and who stimulates us to grow and develop”, Brecht says. “Many people in the office, up until the national management, are also always more than happy to help out if needed.” And trainees are also encouraged to take trainings for self-development. “I was given the opportunity to follow a leadership training together with others in the company that has been really interesting. The fact that you’re encouraged to grow is much appreciated!”

Would you also like to work for a company that values its people’s development? Check our career portal on https://jobs.kuehne-nagel.com

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