From Internship
to Apprenticeship
to Purchasing

INSIDE RK

No Two Workdays Are Alike

The computer starts up, the first emails are already waiting, and shortly afterward, the purchasing team’s daily meeting begins. What happens next isn’t always predictable. A delivery is delayed, a supplier reports a machine breakdown, or an alternative needs to be found for a project at short notice.

For Alina Berberich, hardly any two workdays are the same. She works in operational purchasing at REINHOLD KELLER’s headquarters in Kleinheubach, Germany, where she manages her own area of responsibility.

From First Internship to Apprenticeship

Alina’s path into purchasing developed step by step. Her journey at RK began with an internship. Afterward, she quickly realized that an apprenticeship in industrial business administration would be a good fit for her. In September 2020, she officially joined #TEAMRK.

During her apprenticeship, she gained experience in various departments and was actively involved from the very beginning. “I liked that I wasn’t just sitting there watching. I had my own tasks and knew I was responsible for them. You grow into that role pretty quickly,” Alina recalls of her early days.

FINDING HER PLACE IN PURCHASING

Over time, Alina realized that purchasing was becoming an increasingly good fit for her. She became more familiar with the processes, developed a better understanding of how the different departments work together, and could see herself staying in purchasing long-term.

When she was offered a permanent position, she didn’t have to think twice. She stayed with the team and gradually took on more tasks and responsibilities.

Today, Alina is responsible for purchasing commercial goods and externally sourced services. And that can involve much more than it might initially sound like. “We’re not just purchasing individual items. When it comes to sourcing external services, we might even be responsible for purchasing everything needed for an entire hotel room,” explains the 22-year-old.

FROM QUOTES TO DELIVERY DATES

“Varied, unpredictable, and sometimes a little challenging,” is how Alina describes her job with a smile. Before an inquiry turns into a purchase order, several decisions have to be made. She requests quotes, compares prices and services, and evaluates which solution best fits the project. But sending out the purchase order is far from the end of the process.

“Sometimes you think you’ve placed the order and the job is done. If only it were that easy,” Alina says with a laugh, adding, “Often, that’s when the real work begins!”

Delivery dates need to be monitored, questions answered, and changes coordinated. To keep everything on track, Alina works closely with colleagues in project management, estimating, and logistics.

Communication with suppliers goes well beyond emails and phone calls. Sometimes business partners visit Kleinheubach for project meetings, while other times Alina travels to meet manufacturers in Germany and abroad.

When Plans Suddenly Change

Things become challenging in purchasing when plans change unexpectedly. A product is unavailable, a deadline shifts, or a delivery doesn’t reach the construction site as scheduled.

That’s when the search for a solution begins. Can the goods be included in a later shipment? Is direct delivery to the construction site possible? Is there an alternative that meets the project’s requirements?

“You never really know in the morning what’s going to land on your desk before the workday is over. One thing’s for sure, it never gets boring,” Alina confirms. And sometimes it takes a few extra phone calls to get everything back on track.

From Order to Hotel Room

Alina experienced how visible the results of her work can be during her first projects for Moxy Hotels. These colorful, creatively designed hotels often require items that are rather unusual in everyday project work. Back then, the purchasing lists included suitcases, luggage carts, beanbag chairs, and even model airplanes.

“That was pretty cool and definitely something different. After all, you don’t buy things like that for a hotel every day,” she recalls.

Projects like these give Alina a clear sense of the role purchasing plays in the finished interior fit-out. Her work doesn’t end with an order confirmation. Many of the products she previously sourced eventually become part of the completed hotel and contribute to the overall design concept.

Now She's on the Other Side

Since completing her own apprenticeship, Alina’s role has changed in another way. She now helps train apprentices and interns within the department. Just a few years ago, she was learning the processes herself. Today, she’s the one explaining how inquiries, quote comparisons, and delivery schedules work.

“Even as an apprentice, you’re actively involved and given your own responsibilities. That really helps because, at some point, you realize: Okay, this is something I enjoy, or maybe it’s just not for me,” Alina explains.

Helping others take their first steps comes naturally to her. “I’m just someone who likes helping people. If there’s something I can do to support someone, I’m happy to do it.”

Music On, Mind Off

Sitting still isn’t really Alina’s thing. She coaches a performance dance group, dances herself, and regularly comes up with new choreography. When she’s not at practice, she enjoys spending time with friends. Plenty of movement, lots of people, and always something new. In that sense, her life outside of work isn’t all that different from her day-to-day job.