Subject matter and content of the training
Areas of competence
The subject matter of the apprenticeship for commercial clerks is no longer divided into subjects, but is now based on five areas of competence. Within the learning units of the competence areas, various of the former subject contents are applied in an interdisciplinary and practical manner. The five areas of competence are
1 - Acting in agile forms of work and organization(includes learning material from the previous subjects German, Business and Society, Information, Communication, Administration)
- Review and further develop commercial skills development
- Building and using networks in the commercial sector
- Receive and process commercial orders
- act as a self-responsible person in society
- Incorporate political issues and cultural awareness into his actions
2 - Interacting in a networked working environment(includes learning material from the previous subjects German, English, Business and Society, Information, Communication, Administration)
- collaborate and communicate in different teams to process commercial orders
- Coordinate interfaces in operational processes
- have a say in specialist economic discussions
- carry out commercial project management tasks and work on sub-projects
- Help shape operational change processes
3 - Coordinating business work processes(includes learning material from the previous subjects German, English, Business and Society, Information, Communication, Administration)
- Plan, coordinate and optimize tasks and resources in the commercial work area
- Coordinate and implement commercial support processes
- document, coordinate and implement operational processes
- Implement marketing and communication tools
- manage and control financial transactions
4 - Shaping customer or supplier relationships(includes learning material from the previous subjects German, English and French)
- Receiving concerns from customers and suppliers
- Conducting information and consultation meetings with customers or suppliers
- Conducting sales and negotiation talks with customers or suppliers
- Maintaining relationships with customers and suppliers
5 - Use of technologies of the digital working world(includes learning material from the previous subjects computer science, information, communication, administration)
- Use applications in the commercial sector
- Researching and evaluating information in the economic and commercial field
- Evaluate and prepare market and business-related statistics and data
- prepare business-related content in multimedia format
Foreign languages and national language
The national language is the language of the school location. All prospective commercial apprentices must acquire knowledge of 2 foreign languages (including at least 1 other national language), and they have a choice (compulsory option):
- Either they acquire in-depth oral and written skills in both foreign languages, with which they can communicate on economic topics (this choice is mandatory for candidates for the vocational baccalaureate)
- or they acquire in-depth oral and written skills in the first foreign language; in the second foreign language, oral language skills and listening comprehension and cultural skills are acquired, which usually have to be demonstrated in the form of project work.
Options
In the course of the second school year, students design their education according to their abilities and interests. They choose one of the four options (candidates for the vocational baccalaureate can only choose from the first three options):
- Finances
- Communication with stakeholders in the local language
- Communication with stakeholders in the foreign language
- Technology
The training profile is documented in an online portfolio. In addition to the options and compulsory choices, other achievements - such as language certificates or ICT certificates (e.g. ECDL) - are also recorded in the portfolio and serve well later in the application process.
Internship
The skills acquired are put into practice and practiced during the internship.