Apprenticeship at RKW: Sandra Gains Accounting Experience at the Mannheim Headquarters
Some learning experiences leave a lasting impression — especially when they change the way you see your day-to-day work. That is exactly what happened to Sandra, a second-year apprentice as a wholesale and foreign trade management assistant at RKW’s Wasserburg am Inn site. In early June 2026, she had the opportunity to spend four days at the RKW headquarters in Mannheim, where she gained first-hand insights into the Accounting department.
For Sandra, it quickly became clear that this assignment was about much more than simply working at a different location. Anyone who is usually based at a production site experiences a completely different working environment at the Headquarters, with new processes, new contacts, and a deeper understanding of how the various areas of RKW work together.
Right from the start, Sandra was eager to learn. She wanted to understand how central processes function, how they are connected to the workflows in Wasserburg, and what happens behind the scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly across the company. At the same time, she was looking forward to meeting colleagues in person whom she would otherwise only know through emails or phone calls.
During her time in Mannheim, Sandra gained insights into a range of accounting tasks. Among other things, she worked on invoice verification in accounts payable for the Wasserburg site. In accounts receivable, she also learned about the dunning process and the review of incoming payments. What she found particularly exciting was seeing how closely the different areas are linked and how important teamwork is for ensuring efficient and reliable processes.
What Sandra took away from those days went far beyond professional insights alone. Many of the topics she had learned about at vocational school suddenly became much more tangible and understandable because she was able to experience the theory directly in practice. At the same time, her stay helped her place her own work in Wasserburg into a broader context. Individual tasks became visible process chains, and familiar names became real personal connections.
It was exactly this personal exchange that made the experience especially valuable for her. The colleagues in Mannheim took the time to explain processes clearly and answer her questions openly. As a result, what was initially a new and unfamiliar environment quickly became a workplace where she felt welcome.
Sandra’s experience shows how valuable cross-site learning can be during her apprenticeship. Getting to know different perspectives not only helps apprentices better understand their own tasks, but also strengthens their sense of collaboration, interconnections, and responsibility within the company.
Her advice to other apprentices is therefore clear: opportunities like this should definitely be taken. Anyone who stays curious, asks questions, and remains open to new impressions will gain far more than just professional knowledge.
Sandra’s advice:
"You should definitely make use of this opportunity. It really helps you understand processes better and see vocational school topics in practice. And my most important tip is: don’t be afraid to ask questions."
Are you also looking to start your professional career or take a new direction? Then take a look at our apprenticeship opportunities. Maybe your path to RKW is just one application away.