As part of the practical learning opportunities offered by IMC Krems, three students took the chance to spend a day behind the scenes at SPAR’s headquarters in St. Pölten. During their visit, they shadowed experienced executives and gained fascinating insights into various areas of the company.
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Job Shadowing at SPAR
From Scheduling to Senior Management: A Day with Purchasing & Controlling
Viktoria Riepl, a sixth-semester student of the bachelor degree programme Unternehmensführung (now: Unternehmensführung und Digitales Management), spent the day accompanying the Head of Purchasing, Martin Köfer. She not only gained an understanding of warehouse operations and market order picking, but also learned about the logistics involved in delivering goods from suppliers to the company’s central hub.
She was particularly impressed by the role of scheduling and the instinct required to respond to market trends – from innovative product ideas such as "Dubai chocolate" to challenges like supply shortages caused by avian flu. The process of developing new project ideas was also explained to her in an engaging and practical way.
Career Outlook and First-Hand Leadership Insights
A personal conversation with a graduate of the Management Trainee Programme gave Viktoria valuable insights into possible career paths after completing her studies. The day concluded with participation in a department head meeting, during which current controlling figures and marketing measures were discussed – including a personal welcome from Managing Director Alois Huber.
"I now have a much clearer picture of what my future career path might look like," Viktoria Riepl reflected.
Board-Level Insights and Artificial Intelligence in Daily Operations
Stefanie Staudenherz, a fourth-semester student of our master degree programme International Business and Economic Diplomacy, also spent an exciting day at SPAR. Welcomed by Eva Schmoigl, she was given an initial overview of the company during a conversation before spending the remainder of the day with Managing Director Alois Huber.
Together, they discussed current challenges and opportunities for SPAR, explored the company structure, and visited the logistics department. A particular highlight was taking part in an internal training session on artificial intelligence, as well as impromptu conversations with staff members during breaks.
Photo Opportunity with the Regional Governor
After a shared lunch, the day even included a photo opportunity with the regional governor. The day concluded with an internal meeting that offered further valuable insight into the company’s decision-making processes.
“A fascinating and educational day full of impressions – I am truly grateful for this opportunity,” said Stefanie Staudenherz.
Creativity Meets Strategy: A Day in Marketing
For Sina Dietsche, a sixth-semester student of our bachelor degree programme in Unternehmensführung (now: Unternehmensführung und Digitales Management), the day was spent in the creative world of SPAR’s marketing department. Accompanied by Hannes Glavanovits, Head of Advertising & Public Information, she gained a multifaceted view of current campaigns, social media concepts, and advertising strategies.
Sina was actively involved in meetings, asked for her opinion on product ideas and videos, and had the opportunity to give direct feedback. She found it particularly exciting to see how decisions are made and how marketing initiatives are designed to resonate with customers.
“I was able to discover many new perspectives and really understand how diverse the work in marketing can be,” she summarised her experience.
Conclusion: A Valuable Experience with a Lasting Impact
The Job Shadowing programme at SPAR gave all three students unique insights into different areas of the company and enabled direct exchange with experienced executives. In addition to practical experiences, the students also found inspiration for their future career paths. A day full of learning – and a great example of the strong connection between academic studies and real-world practice at IMC Krems.