Management Assistant in Wholesale and Foreign Trade

specialised in Wholesale Trade

(Kaufmann/-frau im Groß- und Außenhandel der Fachrichtung Großhandel)

Type of profession: recognised training occupation

Type of apprenticeship: dual vocational education and training

regulated by the German Vocational

Training Act (BBiG)

Duration of apprenticeship: 3 years

Learning places: company and vocational school

What do you do in this profession?

Management assistants in wholesale and foreign trade specialising in wholesale trade buy products and services from manufacturers and sell them to traders, craftsmen and industrial enterprises. They advise their customers thoroughly on product features and ensure an on-schedule delivery to the right place. For purchasing goods, they find sources of supply and determine the demand for goods. They invite offers, compare conditions and negotiate them with suppliers.

After goods receipt management assistants in wholesale and foreign trade specialising in wholesale trade check invoices and delivery papers and ensure a professional storage. In shipping areas they plan deliveries by getting the goods ready for dispatch. They calculate prices, process sales orders and prepare invoices for the resale of the goods.

Where do you work?

Management assistants in wholesale and foreign trade specialising in wholesale trade work in commercial divisions of companies in almost all industrial sectors, e.g. in the electrical, automotive or textile industry.

Usually, they work in offices. In warehouses they check inventories, for example.

What is important in this profession?

·  Communication skills, service-targeted behaviour und negotiating competence are necessary for dealing with customers and suppliers.

·  You should be interested in mathematics and the economic system, since management assistants in wholesale and foreign trade specialising in wholesale trade work need to be able to calculate and carry out business transactions. Moreover, you have to be good at German, especially in spelling and grammar as well as oral expression to write quotations and commercial letters.

How much do you earn during the apprenticeship?

For example, apprentices can be granted the following monthly payments:

·  1st year of apprenticeship: from € 652 to € 698

·  2nd year of apprenticeship: from € 709 to € 766

·  3rd year of apprenticeship: from € 777 to € 836

What school leaving certificate should you have?

The law does not require any specific school education. In the practice, companies mostly accept apprentices graduated from intermediate secondary schools (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) or high-schools (Hochschulreife).

/ vocational training beginners in 2010 (in %)
without general education school leaving certificate (1.0%)
general education school leaving certificate (6.0%)
intermediate secondary school certificate (47%)
university entrance qualification (45.0%)
others (1.0 %)
*also called Berufsreife, Berufsbildungsreife or Erster allgemeinbildender Schulabschluss depending on the federal state

What are the alternatives?

If you have not managed to get an apprenticeship as management assistant in wholesale and foreign trade specialised in wholesale trade you can consider a similar profession with a specialisation in foreign trade. Here is a short list of other alternative professions with comparable contents:

• Management Assistant for Foreign Trade

• Industrial Management Assistant

• Retail Management Assistant

Looking for an apprenticeship position? Further information required?

/ Find in-house vocational training and internship positions at the
Online-JOBBÖRSE (job exchange): http://arbeitsagentur.de > JOBBÖRSE
/ Find school-based training places on the portal for vocational training and advanced training KURSNET: http://arbeitsagentur.de > KURSNET
/ Detailed description of education, apprenticeship and occupation, images and videos can be found in the career information network BERUFENET: http://arbeitsagentur.de > BERUFENET
/ Various videos give you insights into education, apprenticeship and professions. See http://arbeitsagentur.de > BERUFETV
/ For information on apprenticeship, education and professions (e.g. apprentices’ daily program) for schoolgirls and schoolboys up to the 10th grade, see planetberuf.de: http://arbeitsagentur.de > planetberuf.de > Mein Beruf > Berufe von A to Z
/ Internet terminals, media and information on education, apprenticeship and professions are provided by the job information centres (BiZ) at the Employment Agencies. For addresses and information on the BiZs, see: http://arbeitsagentur.de > Bürgerinnen & Bürger > Ausbildung > Berufsinformationszentren
/ Phone numbers for making an appointment for a consultation at the Employment Agency are listed on the following website:
http://arbeitsagentur.de > Partner vor Ort