one: You studied Management and International Business. Why did you then decide on a trainee programme at REWE International AG - a retail company?

Jana Sipkova: After my studies and initial experience in consulting, I wanted to acquire more practical knowledge and gain experience abroad. The degree programme was very general. We learnt a bit of everything there. But I wasn't able to find out which area best suited my interests. That's why I specifically looked for a trainee programme. The International Management Trainee Programme at REWE International AG offers exactly this combination.

one: Does that mean you also worked in the store as part of the programme?

Jana Sipkova: Yes, exactly. The very first stage of the programme was a six-month assignment in the store, both at BILLA and at PENNY. That was very instructive for me.

one: In what way?

Jana Sipkova: Firstly, it's a completely different world to working in an office, which was both very interesting and challenging. I started out stocking shelves in the store and later took on smaller management tasks and learnt about the tasks of the regional managers. I learnt what impact decisions made by the head office have on day-to-day work. You see a lot of things from a new perspective. In addition, as a student and administrative employee, I am not used to the physical labour that is required in the market. I now have respect for that. Last but not least, I realised that the way of communicating in the market is different from that in administration. That was also an important experience. Today, I can't even imagine starting an office job at REWE International AG without having had this experience.

one: What stations came after that?

Jana Sipkova: Then I went to Bratislava to BILLA Slovakia. I was able to support a country-specific project there and decided to focus on the marketing of private labels. During the four months there, there was a hard lockdown due to the coronavirus, so unfortunately I didn't get to see much of everyday office life. Nevertheless, I gained a lot of important insights into this part of the retail world. I analysed the status quo of private labels in the country and prepared the first steps for further development.

I then travelled to my home country of the Czech Republic for two months, where I was able to gain insights into strategy and project management and e-commerce. For my three months at the headquarters in Cologne, I decided to focus on sustainability projects at PENNY in order to get to know this business unit better. The trainee programme ends with the focus phase, in which you are slowly familiarised with your future job. In my case, this will be project management in the strategy department at BILLA CEE in Wiener Neudorf.

one: That's quite a lot of changes during the trainee period. What support do you get during this time?

Jana Sipkova: We are in regular contact with our Human Resources contacts. They are always available to answer questions and are happy to receive our feedback. We also made some suggestions for improvement during my trainee period, many of which have already been implemented in the new year. Some three to four months before the end of the programme, HR Development starts looking for possible positions for the trainees. We discuss together what REWE Group has to offer and what interests the trainees would like to pursue further and try to find a suitable offer. This has worked very well for me.

one: What are you particularly looking forward to now, shortly before completing the programme?

Jana Sipkova: First of all, I have to say that the trainee programme offers a very good overview of different business units within REWE Group. I really appreciate that. It was very exciting to get to know so many different places and the changes helped me to quickly get used to a new environment. Now I'm looking forward to my new role in Wiener Neudorf and to being in one place for a longer period of time.

one: You studied Management and International Business. Why did you opt for a trainee programme at REWE International AG, a retail company?

Jana Sipkova: I did some consulting after I graduated, but I wanted to gain more practical knowledge and gain experience of living and working abroad. My studies were very general by design, and we learnt a little bit of everything. But that meant that I wasn't able to figure out what area best suited my interests. So I specifically looked for a trainee programme. The international trainee programme at REWE International AG offers precisely this combination of practical knowledge and experience abroad.

one: That means you also worked in the stores as part of the programme?

Jana Sipkova: Yes, that's right. The programme started right away with a six-month assignment in retail, at both Billa and PENNY stores. I really learnt a lot there.

one: Like what?

Jana Sipkova: For one thing, it is a completely different world to working in an office, and it was both interesting and challenging. I stocked shelves at first, and I then later took on smaller management tasks. That's how I learnt what effects the decisions from headquarters have on daily work. You look at many issues from a new perspective. In addition, as a student and administrative employee, I am not used to the physical work that is required on the shop floor. I now have respect for that. Last but not least, I realised that people on the shop floor communicate in a different way to the people in administration. That was also an important experience. I now cannot imagine starting an office job at REWE International AG without having had this experience.

one: What did you do after that?

Jana Sipkova: After that I went to Bratislava, where I spent a month with a regional manager, before moving over to Billa Slovakia in Bratislava in November 2021. There I was able to take on a country-specific project and decided to focus on marketing our private label brands. During those four months, there was a strict lockdown due to COVID, which meant that I unfortunately didn't get to experience much of the routine office life. Nevertheless, I gained many important insights into this part of the retail world. I analysed the current status of private label brands in the country and prepared some initial steps for further development.

After that, I went back home to the Czech Republic for two months, where I was able to gain some insight into strategy and project management, and e-commerce. For my three months at the headquarters in Cologne, I chose sustainability projects at PENNY in order to gain additional experience of this business division. The trainee programme concludes with a focus phase in which you are gradually trained for your future job. For me, this will be in project management in the strategy department at Billa CEE in Wiener Neudorf.

one: The trainee period really seems to contain a lot of variety and change. What support do you receive during this time?

Jana Sipkova: We communicate on a regular basis with our contacts in Human Resources. They are always available for questions and are happy to receive our feedback. During my time as a trainee, we also made some suggestions for improvement, and many of them have already been implemented for the next intake of trainees.

About three to four months before the end of the programme, HR begins finding potential positions for the trainees. Together, we discuss what the REWE Group has to offer, and which interests the trainees want to pursue, with the goal of finding the right match. That worked really well for me.

one: What are you particularly looking forward to now, as the programme comes to an end?

Jana Sipkova: First of all, I have to say that the trainee programme offers a very good overview of the different business divisions of the REWE Group. I really appreciate that. It was very exciting to learn first-hand about so many different places, and changing from one to another helped me quickly get used to a new environment. Now I am looking forward to my new job in Wiener Neudorf and being in one place for a longer period of time.