Traineeship at Koelnmesse – the all-round consultant

Close up! Our apprentice Lara Schawohl advises the exhibitors individually in the service center of gamescom for questions about the trade fair.

Lara Schawohl has been an event management trainee at Koelnmesse since August 2016. The 21-year-old has already spent ten months abroad in Michigan, in the United States. In a part-time job while still at school, she worked for Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH in the "Operative Business" department.

With which areas of Koelnmesse have you already become familiar?

After two years of training, I have seen many areas of the company. In Trade Fair Management, I supported various trade fairs, including international ones. I also worked in Event Design, Press and Customer Service, Procurement and Finance and Controlling. I recently supported the gamescom trade fair management team and had a lot of contact with the exhibiting companies there. My tasks included processing registration documents and dispatching ID card, parking and supply slips. In Exhibitor Service, I answered questions about gamescom and was the contact person for questions regarding set-up and dismantling. That was very exciting! In addition to administrative tasks, I also organized the team's move to the exhibition halls − for the duration of the event.

The great thing about gamescom is that there is a broad spectrum of exhibitors: from small, so far lesser known exhibitors to the big market leaders. That's why it's so interesting to be in the Service Center. Visitors, stand builders and exhibitors come there with their concerns and I can advise them individually. Especially when you are confronted with different languages and are under time pressure, this is a special challenge − on the other hand, it gives me the opportunity to be right at the front line.

Why did you decide on a traineeship at Koelnmesse?

I think the working conditions at Koelnmesse are great. In addition, the events are very different and all interesting in their own way. It sounded very promising for me to be part of the team during the planning, implementation and follow-up.

What should applicants be able to offer?

Good organisational skills are a must. Creativity and the ability to improvise are also required. In comparison, I have found that each department has different ways of working and communicating. This is very varied and exciting, but also requires careful work, empathy and good communication skills.

What opportunities does the traineeship at Koelnmesse offer you?

Koelnmesse offers me numerous internal opportunities for further training and supports external seminars. We trainees are well prepared for the world of work and learn what it means to be a part of major events.