Traineeship at Koelnmesse – the worldwide woman

With which areas of Koelnmesse have you already become familiar?

I have already received of what trade fair is all about in the management of Cologne Fine Art, spoga+gafa and spoga horse. I also worked in Procurement, Advertising, Event Technology and in the area of events. I am currently supporting the International division, which is responsible for our business outside of Germany.

With a global network of sales partners and subsidiaries, Koelnmesse organizes around 30 events abroad. I am currently in the team for the children's product fairs abroad. There, I complete tasks such as competition research, writing letters to potential visitors, preparing registration documents and working on the catalog. I also support the team in creating a manual for our subsidiaries in which all processes, working steps and Koelnmesse templates are described.

In the International division, we work closely with our colleagues abroad. It is fascinating to talk or write to people on the other side of the globe every day. At first I had to learn how to deal with the language barriers and the different ways of working. That's why I keep reminding myself: different countries − different customs. In order to enhance understanding for different cultures, Koelnmesse offers seminars to promote intercultural competence.

Why did you decide on a traineeship at Koelnmesse?

When I was looking for a traineeship, I first researched which companies offered training as event managers. As a large and international company, Koelnmesse was one of my favorites in this regard. Here I get to know the most diverse areas of the job and experience the entire organization of an event. I quickly realized that it really is a job that I enjoy.

What should applicants be able to offer?

Anyone applying to Koelnmesse should, on the one hand, be well organized and a good planner. On the other hand, they should also be able to improvise if something doesn't work as planned. It is also important to be communicative and approach people with an open mind.

What opportunities does the traineeship at Koelnmesse offer you?

I have been able to make a lot of contacts, which is already helpful and will also be advantageous for my later professional life. By gathering insight into many different areas of the work, I have gained a great deal of knowledge − not only about the trade fair business, but also about self-organization and time management.