At the beginning of fall, it's that time again: All For One's group-wide trainee program is entering its next round. Twenty-three young people who are enthusiastic about SAP, consulting, and digital transformation will then bring a breath of fresh air to the corridors, calls, and team meetings of the group. I spoke with four bright minds who are intensively managing or accompanying our trainee program. What does our trainee program offer? What do applicants think of it? And why are we putting in all this effort in these economically uncertain times? Find out all this and more here.
Jochen: Karla, let's start with you. In your role as Senior Expert Learning, you coordinate our various trainee programs within the group. Could you give us a brief overview of what that involves?
Karla: We basically have different trainee programs – from ERP consulting to technical consulting, business analytics, and sales. All of them include theoretical and technological training to learn the tools of the trade, and a lot of practical experience right from the start to understand the business and the tasks involved. The Next Generation Program connects the
different trainees through workshops and events such as design thinking or sketch notes for personal and methodological development. Here, we meet every one to two months outside of the technical trainee programs, creating a network of people you can come back to long after the trainee programs are over. This year, we also have colleagues from Egypt joining us for the first time😊.
Jochen: What happens to the trainees after the onboarding phase?
Karla: The ERP and sales trainees will start with us on October 1. The technical consultants have already been on board since September 1. We will meet with everyone after the Welcome Days in Filderstadt to get to know each other. After that, all trainees will start their specialized programs. For the ERP trainees, this means “learning SAP” (which Max & Oli can certainly tell you more about), our sales trainee will start his journey through the sales cycle in the Sales Operations Team, and the technical consultants will continue their training in our Managed Cloud Services Teams.
THE TRAINEE APPLICATION PHASE
Jochen: Let's take a step back to the application process. Alina, as an expert in talent acquisition, you were responsible for the entire application process in the private and public cloud division. How well did it go from your perspective?
Alina: The response was fantastic! To give you a few figures: we had over 450 applications and 120 initial interviews for the (public) cloud ERP area alone. The 21 offers I sent out for my area resulted in 21 acceptances. I think that speaks for itself. I was particularly pleased with the many recommendations that came from our employees. This also shows that our overall package as an employer is right.
"Above all, we want to find out whether it is a good match on a personal level."
Jochen: How does the application process work?
Alina: If the first impression from the application documents is positive, there is a telephone interview to clarify the general conditions. Salary, start date, SAP focus, etc. Then we invite the candidate to an applicant day. We do not use an assessment center. Above all, we want to find out whether there is a personal and interpersonal match and whether the applicants fit in with our values. That's why there are group introductions, individual interviews, speed dating, and plenty of time for networking and casual conversations at the buffet. Two former trainees are there all day to share their experiences. And, of course, the SAP business area is also directly involved.
SAP CONSULTING IN THE PUBLIC & PRIVATE CLOUD SECTOR
Jochen: SAP business area is the perfect keyword! Max and Oli; I'm looking in your direction. You are team leads and jointly manage the trainee program, Max from the perspective of the public cloud, Oli in the area of private cloud. You have closely accompanied the application process from the very beginning. What happens after this intensive getting-to-know-you phase?
Max: We provide trainees with a selection of SAP training courses and internal training courses (communication training, presentation training, cloud development, and much more). We prepare them specifically for practical work in the world of SAP consulting. In addition, we act as sparring partners for our trainees and are available to answer any questions or concerns they may have outside of SAP. We prepare them not only professionally, but also methodically and personally for their role.
Max | Teamlead Consulting ERP Public Cloud
Jochen: How do you ensure that trainees are integrated into a specialist team in a meaningful way?
Oli: First of all, we identify the requirements of the business areas and incorporate them directly into the applicant days. In addition, all trainees are assigned their own highly experienced mentor. Of course, this mentor also comes from one of the business area. Especially after the four-month theoretical phase, the mentor is the key factor in practical training.
Jochen: Let's take a closer look at theory and practice. How does that work in concrete terms?
Max: Right from the start, we give our trainees the opportunity to work hands-on with SAP Cloud ERP and run through real project scenarios, such as building a prototype using the 2-tier approach (editor's note: 2-tier = a two-stage ERP). At the same time, we teach them the consulting skills they need to confidently interact with our customers later on. Another important component is understanding the differences between private and public clouds—not only on a technical level, but also in terms of project methodology. We teach them precisely these differences.
Jochen: Is there anything else that is typical of our trainee program?
Max: The first phase deliberately has a campus feel to it: all fundamentally important content is taught in a structured manner so that trainees can build a broad foundation. It was particularly important to us that the training courses were conducted exclusively in person. This allows trainees to engage in intensive exchange, learn from each other, and at the same time establish a strong network within All for One. During this time, they comletely fill their toolbox with technical and methodological skills.
Jochen: Oli, you have been involved with All for One, and in particular the trainee program, for many years now, successfully guiding over 120 trainees through the program. I have seen for myself how passionate and committed you are to this work. Why do you enjoy working with young people so much?
Oli: I could say that it keeps me young (laughs). But at 57 years of age, that's only half the truth. I have been involved in numerous international projects. Passing on this wealth of experience is simply fun, especially when you see how much “the young wild ones” benefit from it. I am also a very empathetic person who thinks in a very entrepreneurial way. I know what young people need and what the company needs.
"Passing on this wealth of experience is simply enjoyable, especially when you see how much “the young wild ones” benefit from it."
(1st from left) Oli | Teamlead Small Projects Business & Clarification
Jochen: A trainee program is expensive and time-consuming for us as an employer. Many companies are now cutting back in this area. Why do we still stick to it?
Oli: Expensive is relative in this context. Of course, it costs a lot of money, but the labor market does not meet all our needs. So why not train people ourselves? And when I look at past trainee programs, I see that a real talent pool has emerged in consulting, full of high performers and young leaders. And perhaps we should also take a look at demographics and the associated age structure. This should be well balanced. This is another argument in favor of our own trainee program. And last but not least: digitalization is almost old hat. We are now living in the age of artificial intelligence. The generation we are addressing here has already internalized this much more and helps us as a company to approach these new fields innovatively and translate them into customer success. So for me, it's a win-win situation in every respect.
WHY CHOOSE ALL FOR ONE AS AN EMPLOYER?
Jochen: Max, if a candidate asks you during the selection process why they should join All for One rather than a competitor, how do you respond?
"With us, you don't just get a job, you get long-term prospects in a dynamic, evolving environment."
Max: I can only agree with Alina: I would tell him that our overall package is right. We are strongly focused on growth and expansion, work internationally, and therefore offer a wide range of career opportunities—both in consulting and in related areas. At the same time, we have a culture in which people are seen and encouraged. We attach great importance to mutual respect, short communication channels, and genuine cooperation. Everyone has the opportunity to take on responsibility quickly without being left alone. It's not just performance that counts here, but also that we are there for each other. In short: with us, you don't just get a job, but a long-term perspective in an environment that is dynamically evolving and where you as a person are the focus and can actively shape the future.
Jochen: Dear colleagues, that was very interesting. Thank you for your time!
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Sep 29, 2025 10:24:19 AM
