Guild in Krefeld absolves 21 specialists
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Apprenticeship as a carpenter after breaking off his teacher training course
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The new journeymen celebrated the successful completion of their training in the carpentry trade with the carpenters’ guild in Krefeld.
Photo: District Craftsmen’s Association
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Krefeld The Krefeld carpenters’ guild absolved 21 new specialists. The best of their class have interesting biographies and big plans for their careers.
(RP) Foreman Dirk Kosanke gave perhaps the most important piece of advice to the 21 new journeymen in the Krefeld carpentry trade: “Do your job with love,” said Kosanke during the absolving ceremony of the Krefeld carpenters’ guild.
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It was a solemn moment when the foreman traditionally absolved the youngsters in the Kleinlosen house from the duties of their training and welcomed them to the journeyman status. The young specialists do not have to worry about their professional future: “Anyone looking for a job in the carpentry trade will find it. The market is hungry,” emphasized Dirk Kosanke in the presence of Marc Peters, General Manager of the Lower Rhine district trade association, and the head of the training department, Stefanie van der Wielen.
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The best of the year were especially honored. Jan Hückelhoven, who completed his apprenticeship in the joinery Ludwig Klapdor, passed the best journeyman’s examination. Behind them came Calvin Backer (Schreinerei Thomas van der Hoven) in second place and Nils Menges (Woodworker GmbH & Co. KG) in third place.
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The results of the “Die Gute Form” competition, in which a three-person expert jury judged the journeyman’s pieces primarily on the basis of their design, were also eagerly awaited. Fritz Körber, head of the carpentry training course at the Glockenspitz vocational college, introduced the award winners: Nils Menges won the competition with his bar cabinet. The jury saw “an aha effect when opening, varied and perfect in terms of craftsmanship and design”. Jan Worringer (Kurt Lohmann GmbH) came in second. Third place went to Luke Volkhardt (Joachim Gottschalk joinery). The jury gave praise to Augustin Rütten (Flümann GmbH & Co. KG) and Moritz Benjamin Tim Hase (carpentry Gerald Hase-Thies).
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The time before the training and the next steps of the newly minted journeymen and women look different. The best of the year, Jan Hückelhoven (24), had completed his vocational diploma with a focus on construction and wood technology before starting his carpentry apprenticeship. He then studied wood engineering in Aachen for two semesters, but dropped out “because it was a bit too theoretical for me and I wanted to do something with my hands”. He sent unsolicited applications by e-mail – half an hour later his future teacher Ludwig Klapdor got in touch. After three weeks of trial work, Hückelhoven began training with him. “He’s taken over me now too. I want to gain professional experience as a journeyman for about two years. After that, I’m aiming for master school. If possible, I would also like to do internships with a wood turner and restorer.”
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The second, Calvin Backer (20), has always worked with wood. After an internship, he began his carpentry apprenticeship. “I was really lucky, the van der Hoven carpentry shop is a small company with a focus on furniture, I was absolutely satisfied during the apprenticeship.” Now he continues to work there as a journeyman and wants to gain experience. And: “The master school is in the back of my mind”.
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Third best is Nils Menges (29). After graduating from high school, he began studying to become a teacher. “In 2019 I discussed with a buddy that this is not for me. His father was a carpenter and ran a business. I did an internship with him, then started my apprenticeship – and definitely found my dream job.” Next year he wants to go to master school.
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Two journeymen are among the graduates of the summer exam. Rilana Nahrstedt (29) started two courses after a voluntary social year (FSJ). “Actually, I wanted to do the carpentry apprenticeship right after high school – now I’ve completed it. I enjoy our trade, especially making furniture.” After graduating from high school, Annika Wilhelmi (22) specifically wanted to train as a carpenter because she wanted to do something practical. From 2023 she wants to study product design at a university of applied sciences, specifically furniture design. “If the opportunity arises, I can also help out as a journeyman carpenter in a company and thus gain experience,” she says.
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