Trainee onboarding with Cake Factory

Trainee onboarding – How a team is formed before the work begins

When you’ve just finished school and are just starting your career, the first day at a company often feels like jumping in at the deep end. A medium-sized company from Bavaria wants to organise this moment differently.
Instead of a dry introduction or PowerPoint presentation, the new trainees meet every year for a shared experience that they will not soon forget.

Team trainer Felix Neugebauer from BITOU has been attending the event for several years. “Almost all of them come straight from school,” he says. “Working life is completely new to them. We want them to experience what teamwork means before they really start their training.”

A trainee event that connects

The two-day Onboarding-programme in September is the starting point for every new intake. The company brings together twelve to twenty trainees from different areas – from IT to accounting to marketing. The aim is for them to get to know not only the company, but above all themselves.

This year, the decision was made in favour of the Cake Factory from BITOU. A format that demonstrates in a playful way what collaboration, role awareness and communication mean in a working context.
“The event was chosen by a trainee in her final year,” says Felix. “She was allowed to decide for herself which format would be best – and she was spot on with the Cake Factory.”

From chaos to clarity – an experience with learning value

First contact with real teamwork

The task sounds simple. One team, one goal, four production rounds and a cake business that needs to run economically.
There is uncertainty at the beginning. Nobody knows exactly how the processes work or what role they should play. After the first round, it is clear that with a turnover of 1,250 euros, the group is a long way from its goal of generating 9,000 euros.

Felix observes the first wrinkles appearing on their faces. “They had to understand that they can only achieve the goal together.” Gradually, the trainees begin to create structures, clarify responsibilities and make decisions.
The energy increases, the focus grows, and at the end of the fourth round the result is on the board: 9.010 Euro.

“At that moment, it was clear that they had made it,” recalls Felix. “They were really happy. It was that moment when a group of young people became a team.”

What good trainee onboarding can achieve

The event provides more than just fun. It is a valuable field of observation for the trainer. She can see who takes responsibility, who keeps an overview and who prefers to work in the background. For the trainees themselves, it is a first lesson in co-operation and mutual support.

Felix describes how many of the young people only realise how formative this day was as the training progresses. “You realise later that they treat each other differently. They eat together, they help each other, they know each other better.”

A special moment follows after the game. There is real cake – one classic and one vegan. A small gesture that shows that diversity and consideration are not just buzzwords at the company.

Experiential learning instead of theory

The Cake Factory combines activity, reflection and genuine emotion. During the game, the participants experience what pressure to perform, communication and structure mean. During the breaks, they reflect on how they can work better together.
This rhythm of experiencing, reflecting and applying reflects everyday working life – and makes what has been learnt tangible.

Felix sums it up in a nutshell. “The format challenges your body and mind in equal measure. You’re constantly on the move, listening to music, smelling the ingredients, feeling the stress and the relief. And that’s what sticks with you.”

The concept follows the principle of Experiential learning. It is based on the fact that insights from personal experience have a deeper impact than theoretical explanations.
The trainees learn how to improve their communication, take responsibility and support each other – all without pointing fingers.

When authenticity decides

Trust as the basis for every intelligent team building

Felix has learnt one thing over the years when dealing with trainees. They immediately realise whether someone is genuine. “If you try to fit in or play it cool, you lose them. They only take you seriously if you are yourself.”

He talks about small moments that create closeness – a conversation about vegan food, a laugh about his shoes, spontaneous openness. “That’s how trust is built. And trust is the basis on which you can learn anything at all.”

Authenticity and genuine encounters are therefore just as much a part of the trainee event as the playful experience itself.

A beginning that lasts

What our customer achieves with the trainee event is more than just a good start. It is the beginning of a culture in which young people feel seen and understand what teamwork means.
They learn to take responsibility, accept feedback and work together instead of against each other.

Felix summarises it calmly.
“The Cake Factory shows what teamwork is all about – playful, but with real depth.”

About the author:

Sebastian Otte is a team developer, facilitator and one of the managing directors at BITOU. Since 2016, he has been travelling with a wide variety of groups from all sectors at BITOU, from team building to team coaching. He is passionate about connecting with people and the diversity of every team. He writes about his own experiences and those of his team colleagues at the various events that BITOU organises with its customers.
Here you can find more articles by him.