Close

Industrial clerk

Learn more about the job description here:

In industrial company A, materials need to be purchased cheaply for the production of a huge metal drill. Trading company B is short of workers for an upcoming large order. And in craft company C, a cost estimate for a project must be prepared as quickly as possible. Different industries, different tasks - and yet all three processes have one thing in common: they are handled by industrial clerks. These multi-talented people work in companies in various sectors of the economy, where they take on a wide range of tasks.

 

Information at a glance

  • Recommended school-leaving qualification: Mittlere Reife
  • Duration of training: 3.5 years
  • Application area: plastics industry

The tasks as an industrial clerk

Industrial clerks control operational processes from a business management perspective: In finance, for example, they take care of cost and performance accounting, in sales they prepare offers and conduct sales negotiations, and in production they are responsible for process and production flows. In human resources, they select new employees, compile personnel statistics or take care of payroll accounting.

Generally speaking, industrial clerks are employed for all kinds of tasks with a commercial focus. As they communicate with customers, suppliers, employees and the management, they are regarded as important interfaces in the company. The profession is very varied and responsible.

 

Training and requirements

Industrial clerks need strong communication skills, the ability to cooperate, problem-solving thinking and negotiating skills. Maths skills and a command of languages are also indispensable. Speaking of which, it goes without saying that additional qualifications in foreign languages also increase employment opportunities for industrial clerks.

Industrial clerk is a recognised training occupation. The dual training takes place in the company (in industry and trade) as well as in the vocational school. In addition to general professional know-how, you will also acquire specialist knowledge during your training in the various departments.

 

This is how the training works

How do I become an industrial clerk?
During training to become an industrial clerk, you alternate between working in the company and attending vocational school.
In the company, you learn the practical side of the job description for industrial clerks and take on specific tasks. At the vocational school, the theoretical background knowledge is imparted.
During the training, a report book on tasks and activities must be kept as a training record. The trainer checks the report book regularly.

In the middle of the second year of training, a written intermediate examination is taken.
At the end of the training, there are 3 written examinations in the areas of business processes, commercial management and control as well as economics and social studies and a final oral examination in the area of application.
After passing the examination, the trainee is a state-approved industrial clerk.
It is possible to shorten the training from 3 years to 2-2.5 years.

After completing the training, there are numerous opportunities for further training. How about, for example, further training as a business economist or business administrator. Here you can choose different specializations, e.g. human resources, logistics or accounting. It is also possible to join a degree course at, for example in industrial management, business administration or economics.

 

What does this training mean at W. MÜLLER?

With us you will put theoretical knowledge into practice.
From the very beginning, you will be involved in the practical aspects of commercial activities, you will always be working on real projects!

In order to get to know all facets of industrial business management, you will work in various departments:

  • In purchasing, you will learn how to create inquiries, obtain quotes and negotiate with suppliers. Here you will also learn how to process and follow up orders until invoicing.
  • In the work preparation department you will learn how a complete production process is controlled.
  • In the warehouse management department you will learn everything important about stock-keeping.
  • You will get to know the sale of our products in our sales department. Here you will help to prepare quotations and process entire projects.
  • In the marketing department you will learn a lot about the external presentation of our company.
  • If you like to juggle numbers, you will certainly enjoy our accounting department, where you will learn everything about invoices.
  • Then there's our personnel department, where everything revolves around hiring, wages and salaries.
  • In our shipping department you will learn everything about sending our products worldwide, including customs clearance.
  • And to ensure that our products also work for our customers, we have a separate service and spare parts department, which is also part of the commercial training. There you will learn a lot about the planning of fitters and the provision of spare parts.
  • As we are a mechanical engineering company and have our own design department, we also offer our commercial trainees the opportunity to get a taste of technical design for a few weeks. Here you can learn how to read a drawing, among other things.

 

BACK TO CAREER

Industrial clerks ...

...work in almost all industries and all commercial business areas.

...deal with business management topics.

...buy and sell products, advise and look after customers and suppliers.

...plan marketing and advertising measures

...deal with personnel selection and deployment in personnel administration.

...take care of accounting procedures.

...organise projects and work processes.