Außenhandelsassistent/Außenhandelsassistentin (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung)

Foreign trade assistants receive school-based training at educational institutions (Berufskolleg and, if necessary, Berufsschule). Learning locations are classrooms. In addition, the training for the recognized apprenticeship takes place in a company and at a Berufsschule (vocational school).

Occupation Type: Apprenticeship (Ausbildungsberuf). Type of Training: Dual-qualification training (recognized apprenticeship and Foreign Trade Assistant qualification). Training Duration: 2 years. Learning Locations: Educational institution as well as training company and Berufsschule (vocational school) (dual training). What does one do in this profession? Foreign trade assistants process customer inquiries, prepare offers, conduct contract negotiations, draft sales contracts, and handle complaints if necessary. They take on tasks in sales planning and participate in the implementation of sales and presentation strategies. Furthermore, they create and maintain assortment, product, and price lists or files and catalogs. They look after existing customers and acquire new ones. As overseas representatives, they present products and services, for example, at trade fairs or to customers. It may also be part of their duties to interpret, for example, during negotiations with international partners. Where does one work? Employment...

2 years

Example for the distribution of hours: Professional competencies: Business administration: 1st year 11 weekly hours, 2nd year 13 weekly hours. Management and control: 1st year 6 weekly hours, 2nd year 6 weekly hours. General economics: 1st year 4 weekly hours, 2nd year 4 weekly hours. Information processing: 1st year 2 weekly hours, 2nd year 0 weekly hours. Elective area: Foreign trade/International marketing: 1st year 7 weekly hours, 2nd year 7 weekly hours. Business English: 1st year 5 weekly hours, 2nd year 5 weekly hours. Business French/Spanish: 1st year 3 weekly hours, 2nd year 3 weekly hours. Total hours: 1st year total: 38 weekly hours. 2nd year total: 38 weekly hours.

The in-company Ausbildung (vocational training) is free of charge for the trainees. However, costs may arise for things such as external accommodation, meals, and specialized literature, as well as course fees and examination fees.

During the Ausbildung (vocational training) as a foreign trade assistant, one acquires knowledge in areas such as: Business administration, management and control, general economics, information processing, project competence. Elective qualifications: Foreign trade/International marketing, business English, business French/Spanish. Training in a recognized apprenticeship, for example, as an industrial clerk, is also included.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements in this vocational training (Ausbildung): Theoretical lessons. Future foreign trade assistants attend courses in addition to their dual vocational training (duale Ausbildung).

For the vocational training (Ausbildung) in this recognized profession, trainees receive the usual training remuneration. Attending the courses to acquire the additional qualification is not remunerated.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for successful vocational training (Ausbildung): Economics/Law: e.g., to understand issues related to monetary and credit policy. Mathematics: e.g., to perform calculations. German: e.g., to express oneself confidently in customer correspondence. English and other foreign languages: e.g., to communicate with international business partners.

The following vocational training (Ausbildung) alternatives are available for the profession of Foreign Trade Assistant: Trade sector: Business Administrator (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung) for Foreign Trade, Certified Sales Specialist in Retail (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung), Certified Trade Specialist (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung), Business Administrator (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung) for General Business Administration, Certified Specialist in E-Commerce (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung), Trade Assistant (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung). Commonality: performing commercial tasks in trade, partly also in foreign trade. Foreign languages sector: Eurokaufmann/Eurokauffrau (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung). Commonality: taking on commercial tasks in foreign trade, applying foreign language skills.

2020: Amendment of the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO): among other things, introduction of a minimum vocational training remuneration; expansion of the possibility to complete vocational training (Ausbildung) in part-time. 2024: Entry into force of the Vocational Training Validation and Digitalization Act with adjustments to the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO): among other things, legal anchoring of the possibility of digital mobile training; introduction of an assessment and certification procedure (vocational validation) of individual professional competence based on the standard of a recognized vocational training (Ausbildung) profession, regardless of a formal vocational training qualification.

The Foreign Trade Assistant vocational training (Ausbildung) is a dual-qualified initial vocational training (Erstausbildung). It leads to a qualification in a recognized, usually commercial, vocational training (duale Berufsausbildung) and, in parallel, to the state-regulated qualification of Foreign Trade Assistant. The 2-year vocational training (Ausbildung) is conducted at vocational colleges (Berufskollegs), in commercial enterprises, and partly in vocational schools (Berufsschulen).

This qualification is legally regulated only in the specified Bundesland (federal state) and leads there to the following qualification title: Baden-Württemberg: Außenhandelsassistent/Außenhandelsassistentin (Foreign Trade Assistant). Generally, one additionally acquires a qualification in a recognized Ausbildung (vocational training) occupation, for example: Industriekaufmann/Industriekauffrau (Industrial Clerk).

Finding suitable employment after training: After their Ausbildung (vocational training), Außenhandelsassistenten (Foreign Trade Assistants) work in companies across various economic sectors. Securing employability: Through adaptive further training, one can keep their specialist knowledge current, bring it up to date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from foreign trade to customer service. Advancing professionally: Upward further training helps to advance professionally and achieve leadership positions. It is a logical step to take the examination as a Fachwirt/in für Außenwirtschaft (Specialist in Foreign Trade). With a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (higher education entrance qualification), one can also pursue a Studium (university degree) and, for example, acquire a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Becoming self-employed: The step into self-employment is also possible, for example, with an export-import company or as a sales representative.

This qualification is partly regulated by state law. School trial regulations: In the following Bundesländer (federal states), there are no state law regulations: Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia.

The general or subject-specific Hochschulreife (university entrance qualification) or Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) is required, along with an Ausbildung (vocational training) contract in a recognized commercial occupation.