"Office tasks just suit me!"

Why should you become an office management assistant at the HSZG? Eileen Schmirmund and Erik Hantsche have several spontaneous answers to this question:

• Because you're looking for a job with regular working hours and yet you do different tasks every day.
• Because, even if you mainly work on the computer, you are also in contact with service providers, employees and important contact persons who are in close contact with the university.
• In short, this job gives you an insight into the many different aspects of a university and makes you a valued first point of contact.

Eileen and Erik have been trainees at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences since fall 2021. "As such, they can expect both classic organizational activities and various university-specific tasks, for example in the areas of event planning and accounting," explains Julia Hockauf, trainer for office management assistants at HSZG.

The great variety in this profession is also the reason why Eileen opted for this apprenticeship. The 17-year-old is currently completing a placement in the secretariat in the Department of Studies and International Affairs. "What I like best about my apprenticeship is getting to know new employees in each department and learning more about the different activities in the current departments. In my current station, DSI, I enjoy processing incoming mail or doing small tasks such as preparing certificate folders," she says.

Erik Hantsche's current place of work is the university library. "There, for example, I deal with incoming mail, sort books or magazines in and out, process the loans or help with contact registration," says the 17-year-old. Born in Zittau, he is pleased that he was able to stay in his home town when he chose his apprenticeship. He is very happy with his apprenticeship: "Office work suits me."

What do the trainees learn during their three-year apprenticeship?

Performing commercial, administrative and organizational tasks such as

• Secretarial and assistant activities,
• Planning organizational processes for information events, education fairs and open days,
• Procurement of materials, starting with the invitation to tender, through to initiating orders and checking incoming goods

"The trainees learn these skills in the various structural units of the university administration," explains Julia Hockauf. During a six-month inter-company training period, they learn about payment and credit transactions as well as accounting.

What should trainees bring with them?

• Flexibility to be able to switch between different activities
• Good knowledge of German and English
• Good knowledge of mathematics and basic arithmetic
• IT skills

"And lots of fun trying out new things," says Julia Hockauf, rounding off the profile of the ideal prospective office management assistant.

Text: Cornelia Rothe M.A.