Adult apprenticeship as an EBA retail assistant - Daliborka Antonic's experience report - A long-cherished dream realized at the age of 36

Please introduce yourself briefly.

I am Daliborka Antonic and I am 36 years old. I am a mother of two children. I have been working at Lidl for 8 years. Despite over three hundred applications and fifteen trial apprenticeships, I didn't find an apprenticeship when I was 16 and started working in retail. I had focused on starting a family and working. Later, however, it was important to me to complete a retail apprenticeship in the form of training as a retail assistant. This was so that I could prove to myself that I could do it with an adult apprenticeship. Despite having a certificate from a commercial college, the topic of "completing an apprenticeship" was always on my mind. This step with the adult apprenticeship was and remained a wish of mine.

Which course did you attend at the KV Aarau business school?

I trained as a retail assistant at the KV Aarau commercial college as an adult apprenticeship in the retail trade. After successfully completing this retail apprenticeship, I decided to do further training to become a store manager.

Why did you choose the KV Aarau business school for your adult apprenticeship?

I was assigned to this school for my adult retail apprenticeship to train as a retail assistant. As I had a very good experience with the KV Aarau commercial college during my training, I also chose this school for my further education. In addition to the teaching staff, the secretariat was also a decisive factor.

How does the retail assistant course support you in your professional activities?

The retail assistant course as an adult apprenticeship helped me progress professionally and I was promoted from employee to assistant.

Did the adult apprenticeship at the age of 36 also help you personally?

Yes, the adult apprenticeship was good for my soul, as it was my great wish to catch up on this apprenticeship after 20 years. I have now managed to do so. I was even very successful. The retail assistant course also enabled me to be a good role model for my children.

What did you particularly like about the retail assistant apprenticeship for adults?

I was able to get to know a lot of people and different cultures during the retail assistant course. I particularly liked the team of lecturers at HKV Aarau during the adult apprenticeship. I really enjoyed learning, the classmates and passing on my experience from my 20 years of professional experience.

What were your challenges during your adult apprenticeship in retail?

My challenge during my training as a retail assistant was balancing my job, my two children, my husband, my household and my studies. That was a lot, of course. That makes you all the more proud when you successfully complete your adult apprenticeship. I managed to do this thanks to my great motivation and enjoyment. I also had a lot of support from my husband and children during my adult apprenticeship.

Did you have a particular sense of achievement during the retail assistant course?

Yes, a family one. My daughter is now also training to be a retail assistant at the HKV Aarau. She has the same teachers, covers the same material and I can support her a lot with my knowledge from my adult apprenticeship. I'm particularly proud of that.

What did the retail apprenticeship as an adult apprenticeship bring you personally?

Training as a retail assistant has brought me a lot personally. I am now more in demand as a worker and have been able to move up the career ladder thanks to the adult apprenticeship. What's more, I can now increase my market value with further training.

What did you learn on the retail assistant course?

Some of it I already knew from a previous commercial college. However, I gained a lot of new knowledge from the retail assistant course, which I incorporate into my daily work in sales. The learning weekend in the mountains as preparation for the final exams of the adult apprenticeship was once again very instructive for me. Here I was able to intensify my knowledge once again and clear up any last ambiguities.

When did you enjoy your lessons most during the adult apprenticeship?

Always. Definitely always. I always enjoyed coming and enjoyed my lessons on the retail assistant course. I didn't miss any days during the adult apprenticeship. I was very interested in all the topics and was always curious about what would be covered next. It was simply very exciting.

What did you like least about the adult apprenticeship?

Homeschooling was my least favorite part of training as a retail assistant. It was worth the experience for once. But for me, it's not the same as face-to-face lessons during the adult apprenticeship. As a mother, I had too many distractions at home and was able to absorb less learning material. In terms of teaching and subject matter, the HKV Aarau has implemented this well for the adult apprenticeship.

What was the average age in the adult apprenticeship class?

We had someone aged 25 and I was the second youngest participant in the adult apprenticeship at the age of 36. The rest of the class in the retail assistant apprenticeship was older. The oldest participant was 58 years old. There really is no age limit for adult apprenticeships. True to the motto "You can and should continue your education throughout your life".

What was the atmosphere like during your training as a retail assistant?

The atmosphere during the retail assistant apprenticeship was great. Everyone was very motivated and enjoyed the adult apprenticeship. The whole class participated very well in the lessons.

To whom would you recommend this course in retail as an adult apprenticeship?

I would recommend the retail assistant course to anyone who wants to fulfill their desire for a future apprenticeship in the retail trade. If you're enthusiastic and motivated, you'll be able to complete this apprenticeship as an adult. Do it, it will bring you so much.

What did you like about the HKV Aarau school?

The KV Aarau business school is very well located. You can reach it easily from all directions. I often came by train. In addition, there were always people to talk to and issues were resolved quickly and competently by both teachers and the secretary's office during the adult apprenticeship. That was also important to me for the adult apprenticeship. The information evening on the retail assistant course can also be a good decision-making aid when choosing a school.

What is your personal conclusion of a subsequent apprenticeship in the retail trade?

My training as a retail assistant enabled me to achieve the following:

• To fulfill a long-cherished wish for an apprenticeship through the adult apprenticeship
• Proving to myself "I can do it"
• Getting ahead professionally
• Being a good role model for my children
• Create professional development opportunities for myself through the adult apprenticeship

Training and further education provider retail trade