Onboarding is much more than a decorated desk or a friendly first day. As Professor Jutta Rump from the Institute for Employment and Employability (IBE) makes clear in the III/2026 edition of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry vocational training magazine, it is a planned process along milestones, spanning weeks and months. For example, the Bundesdruckerei Group achieves this with pre-boarding events, buddy systems, and a specially designed onboarding week in Berlin. 

An important factor for the integration of international skilled workers 

Onboarding plays a key role when it comes to integrating foreign skilled workers. The medium-sized world market leader IMS Messsysteme from Heiligenhaus successfully recruits employees in Vietnam with the support of the "Hand in Hand for International Talents" project. What helps them settle in: company-owned accommodations at the start, a mentoring system, joint apartment hunting, and German courses at the company's expense. The Länderbahn from Lower Bavaria even accompanies its international skilled workers before their arrival. And Rieke Albrecht from DIHK Service GmbH explains in an interview that language support and social integration are the most important success factors for a successful, long-term integration.

Opportunities and limits of AI in training

Another focus in the new "Position" is the question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the training of trainees. Read about where AI tools genuinely add value in vocational training – for example, in personalized learning plans or exam preparation – and where clear boundaries are necessary: in data protection, competence measurement, and the question of who ultimately bears the responsibility.

Noah David Nasimzadah has won the national final of the "Business Knowledge in Competition" contest – from a field of 26,000 participants. In an interview, the 16-year-old talks about discipline, social media, and his clear demand: Economics should be offered as a compulsory elective course in all schools.

Energy Scouts and Vocational Training Committee

Additionally, in the new issue of the vocational training magazine, you can read, among other things, how the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry programme "Energy Scouts" turns trainees into sustainability experts within their own company – with measurable savings effects, as demonstrated by the example of Wulff Textil-Service GmbH from Kiel. 

And: What does the Vocational Training Committee actually do? "Position" explains how this body often unnoticed ensures the quality of dual training on site – and why volunteering in it is worthwhile. Lastly, Miriam Schöpp from the Specialist Centre for Securing Skilled Workers draws attention to the danger that the overload of trainees remains unnoticed for too long. Her advice: look closely, listen, and accompany. 

The new "Position," which, as always, is primarily aimed at trainers, examiners, and personnel managers in German Chamber of Commerce and Industry member companies, will be available from 14 July. Selected articles are also available online at www.ihk-position.de.