Onboarding Programme
Training is an integral part of everything we do, and we will invest heavily in your personal and professional growth from day one. You, as our new colleague, will participate in the ProCredit Onboarding Programme, which combines both theoretical and practical training modules. Some of them will be held online, some in your local ProCredit bank and others at our training centre in Serbia (depending on the current epidemiological situation). This is where you will meet new people from many different countries, discover new cultures and enjoy a unique learning experience! To facilitate communication in this international environment, the programme is conducted in English, which is why English language skills are an important precondition for participation.
Step-by-step through the Onboarding Programme
Hello and welcome!
For those of you who have not done an internship with us, this is your first interaction with the ProCredit group, a week during which you will have the chance to ask questions and discover what ProCredit is all about. It is conducted in your local bank and you can expect to receive answers to many of the questions you may have:
Who exactly is behind ProCredit? What drives the company? What is the ProCredit way of banking and what is the rationale behind it? Is ProCredit’s claim of being a “responsible bank” more than just hot air?
You will get to know our core values and principles, as described in our Code of Conduct, and very importantly we will clearly explain to you who we are and who we are not.
The magic of modelling
To take informed decisions, banks need to be able to predict how much the value of their money will increase during a specific period under specific conditions. In other words, they need to calculate the “time value”. During this course you will model all the basic operations of a bank, and calculate their “time values” precisely. Don’t worry if you’re not a mathematician – the calculation directly follows the model, so the whole process is “mathematics-free”!
Banks – ending the stereotypes
“You don’t see yourself as a typical banker? Neither do we. That’s why you’re with ProCredit!”
How did money and banks emerge? What is their impact on society? How is the banking system supervised? As a ProCredit staff member, you will become a part of a rapidly changing banking system. Therefore, you will need to know how these changes influence us and where the future of banking lies.
Let’s begin with the basics
At some point in your life, regardless of your educational background, you have most likely heard of accounting – the “language of business”. If you are familiar with the topic, you probably think of balance sheets and the like; if not, you probably think of intimidating numbers and accounts.
Well, let’s begin from scratch. This course was created specifically for participants with different educational backgrounds, including those with very little or no accounting knowledge, which is why it strictly focuses on the basics.
How numbers tell the story of a business
Working as a banker means that you deal with numbers every day. Therefore, this rather unorthodox financial analysis course is designed to help you understand more about the basics of financial statements. But primarily, it aims to further develop your critical thinking processes and to help you look behind the mere surface appearance of any number, statement, or “fact”.
First-hand experience!
No matter which department you will eventually join, the five-week practical training phase for all Onboarding participants starts with the same key element – getting to know the bank and understanding what it means to work with clients!
Our driving force for decision-making
During this course, you’ll learn some additional things about ProCredit, but in order for us to better understand each other, we’ll need to go beyond the surface and start exploring the wonderful land of ethics and philosophy. This week is philosophical, thought-provoking, and exciting. It is full of intriguing discussion topics. You will debate the moral perspectives of how (business) relationships should – and should not – be defined and how morality and justice can or cannot influence our own decision-making.
Do we choose our clients or do they choose us?
A long-term relationship is based on mutual understanding, trust and shared values. For that reason, our business model is based on the idea of providing efficient services to specific types of clients. ProCredit banks are specialised banks for small and medium-sized enterprises, and we aim to be their “Hausbank” – the bank that handles most, or ideally all, of their banking business. We also actively address middle- and high-income private individuals who are interested in modern banking services. This might make us seem exclusive, but for a long-term relationship it is very important that we share the same understanding of growth, development, transparency, and social and environmental awareness with our clients.
Sympathy for the devil’s advocate
Never before has so much information been so easily available as it is today – and never before has so much of it been fake. But why are people so easily fooled by false, emotionally charged arguments? Why do we find it hard to make rational decisions? And why do we put so much faith in so-called experts? This course is designed to develop your ability to filter out false information, identify irrational opinions, and make your own arguments more convincing.
What makes one company different from another?
“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.” – Molière
Who am I? What makes me who I am? Who do I want to be? Do my actions reflect how I see myself? Do these questions also apply to institutions, such as ProCredit? These questions are not only vital for tapping into our identity, but also for choosing an employer.
Why does sustainability matter for ProCredit?
In the wake of the catastrophic events that have taken place in recent years – drought, flooding, forest fires, to name just a few – there is a growing realisation that exploitation of the Earth’s resources at present levels is not sustainable. These events have both direct and indirect consequences for the economies in which we operate. But what can we, as individuals and as employees of a bank, do to protect the planet we live on? At ProCredit, we are convinced that there is a lot we can do. So, during this block, you will learn about our sustainable approach.
To what extent are you shaped by your environment?
To what degree is your understanding of the world formed by the society in which you grew up? How important is your role as a member of society with regard to improving or even challenging the current setup? How important is your role as an individual and as part of an institution? What is the impact of institutions on society, and is your role strengthened by virtue of being part of such an institution? Does being part of an institution like ProCredit Bank make you more influential within your society? What does it mean to be part of ProCredit Bank? ProCredit describes itself as a “development bank” – but what does that really mean?
Back home!
You’ve been our colleague for four months now. Your training at the Avala Training Centre has just finished and it’s time for you to go back home, back to your bank and back to your practical training, preparing for “real” work. Based on your contribution so far, on your potential, and on the current needs of the bank, we will agree on which position is the best fit for you. This part of your training is very much related to your specific position.
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