Florian has been an apprentice at Kiwigrid since September 2022. He previously worked as a plumber, but now he's learning how to program applications at Kiwigrid. His work may have become less physically-intensive, but now he has to use his brain all the more. 

In this blog, you can find out what Florian has been learning during his apprenticeship at Kiwigrid and the skills he has already picked up during his time with us.

What is your apprenticeship about and how does it work?

Florian: The exact name of my training is "IT Specialist: Application Development". It's a dual training program, which means that during my three years of training, I alternate between a few weeks at vocational school to learn the content and a few weeks working at Kiwigrid to get a taste of the practical side of things. With Jens, I have a trainer at my side who accompanies me throughout the entire apprenticeship, helps me keep track of things and always knows what needs to be done.

What does your typical work week at Kiwigrid look like?

Florian: A typical week at Kiwigrid for me starts with talking to my instructor Jens about the status of my hands-on learning projects, where he usually shows me a whole bunch of new stuff. Most recently, for example, I worked on a weather data application that I had to develop myself. Programming has been on my agenda since day 1 at Kiwigrid. On Tuesdays, I usually spend a lot of time talking with our Java expert Christian, and Wednesday is a team day consisting of lots of meetings with my friendly colleagues. On Thursdays and Fridays, I work on my projects partly at the Kiwigrid office and partly at my home office.

What do you enjoy the most?

Florian: I think the fact that completely new opportunities are opened up to me through the knowledge I gain at work is particularly great. Everything I do helps me to develop further. What was completely new to me a week ago, is already second-nature to me a week later. I find that very inspiring – it has even made me not want to stop programming after work.

How does the apprenticeship help your personal and professional development?

Florian: On a technical level, I learn a lot about the numerous possibilities and special features of programming. It's also different to have a mentor with whom you can discuss problems instead of just looking them up on Google. Information that I have learned in personal exchanges is much more valuable and sticks in my mind a lot easier.

On a personal level, I realize that the job has already given me a lot more confidence. At Kiwigrid, I'm always asked for my opinion. That makes me feel valued. Everyone here has a lot of respect for each other, which you can see, for example, in the way people truly listen to each other without interruption.

What makes Kiwigrid stand out to you as an employer?

Florian: I felt very comfortable at Kiwigrid right from the start. You can chat with anyone here - about all sorts of topics. I really like this friendly atmosphere. Hierarchies are flat, everyone is on first-name terms, and we communicate as equals. I also like the company philosophy. I'm motivated by the idea that I'm not just sitting in some corporate group and working for the sake of it, but that I'm contributing towards the energy transition, and that I'm actually doing something good and meaningful.  

It was definitely the right decision for me to do the apprenticeship at Kiwigrid. Even though the challenges that programming can bring can be demanding, I enjoy them. I'm also grateful to no longer be under such a great physical strain and to be able to flexibly schedule my working hours.

Do you want to work in a sustainability-oriented company that develops forward-looking technologies for the energy transition? Then take a look at our careers page!