But what exactly do assistants do? First of all, the term refers to a person who supports a manager or even an entire team. For Viola Frehse, Management Assistant at VTG Rail Logistics and founder of the VTG Assistance Network, the job therefore means “multitasking on all fronts”.

Fundamental role

Assistants therefore play a fundamental role in companies and combine a wide range of functions in just one position – and this is also the case at VTG. The VTG Assistance Network was therefore set up in 2022 in order to create a personal exchange within VTG, to support each other with common challenges and to exchange useful information for everyday work.

What do assistants do at VTG?

What contribution do assistants make in their daily work? What professional and personal requirements are necessary to master this complex field of work on the one hand and to actively shape the transformation within VTG on the other? And how is the position of the assistant changing in an increasingly complex working environment?

These questions were the focus of a joint virtual workshop of the VTG Assistance Network. Anja Clausen and Uta Vaagt were the moderators and led the participants through a multi-level deep-dive process in which they used 35 terms on a Miro Board to identify their most important competencies and soft skills. The result? Three top competencies and soft skills that describe the typical VTG assistant – from solution-oriented organisational talent to empathetic confidant.

In addition, the ideal working environment of a VTG assistant was also outlined, which can be summarised in three key words: Appreciation, trust and flexibility. Anja Clausen, Assistant Digitization at VTG Rail Europe and member of the VTG Assistance Network, will be happy to provide the complete Miro Board, which outlines the key points and changes in the position with over 35 terms, if you are interested.