Traineeship at Koelnmesse – the guide

Orientation is the most important thing at a trade fair. Justin S. explains what the Visitor Services/Entrance Management department contributes to this.

Justin S., in his second year of training, achieved his higher education entrance qualification before joining Koelnmesse. The 20-year-old talks about his experiences:

With which areas of Koelnmesse have you already become familiar?

I have been in Trade Fair Management, Event Management and Communication Services. I'm currently in the Visitor Services/Entrance Management department, where I program the dynamic displays in the exhibition halls. They show information about the trade fair or directions, for example, and are individually adapted to the different events. I also support my colleagues in calculating the cash desk and security personnel. We even organize a kindergarten for some trade fair events.

The Visitor Services/Entrance Management department also works closely with traffic control and site security. Together we coordinate the infrastructure of the events, which is particularly important at large trade fairs. In doing so, we plan the routes by which trade fair visitors are "guided" through the exhibition grounds and what security precautions have to be taken. Here it is also very important to see the small, inconspicuous things. Particularly with hall signs and signposts on the exhibition grounds, attention must be paid to a standardized design and the correct placement of elements such as pictograms, lettering, etc. My experienced colleagues already have a trained eye for this and are able to spot any mistakes immediately.

Why did you decide on a traineeship at Koelnmesse?

I like to get actively involved in projects and event planning. Here I have the opportunity to experience event management up close and personal − in a wide variety of industries and on a wide variety of scales. That's why I decided to apply to Koelnmesse.

What should applicants be able to offer?

Flexibility and the ability to work in a team. Not everything always runs as planned. Especially then, you have to communicate properly with colleagues and service providers and keep a clear head. Openness for new things and for other people is an important prerequisite.

What opportunities does the traineeship at Koelnmesse offer you?

During training at Koelnmesse, you are involved in many small and large projects and gain a lot of experience and contacts. That's why I am already able to gauge which skills are in demand where. Once I have completed my training at Koelnmesse, I will be able to apply for a variety of positions here and hopefully become part of a team.