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Finn Wolff stands in front of a conference room at BYK in Wesel, Germany.
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First an apprentice, now a confident negotiator

Finn Wolff shares how he took on responsibility at BYK and developed both professionally and personally.

“Today, I can hardly understand why making phone calls used to make me nervous.” Finn Wolff, who works in indirect procurement at BYK in Wesel, Germany, hangs up the phone. He has just been discussing a proposal for new automated robots with a supplier of robotics solutions. “In the end, we were able to negotiate very favorable terms,” says Finn. He completed his apprenticeship as an industrial management assistant at BYK last year and was subsequently offered a permanent position. He is now studying business administration alongside his job. “Of course, it can be demanding at times, but I really enjoy it because the degree program is directly related to my field and I learn a great deal.”

Finn Wolff stands in front of a conference room at BYK in Wesel, Germany.

The values here are not just words on paper. I believe that is also what drives the success of BYK and ALTANA.

Finn Wolff

Procurement Expert, Purchasing - Supply Chain, BYK

No two days are the same 

Indirect procurement is responsible for sourcing all non-raw-material goods and services, ranging from office furniture to building-related requirements. “In general terms, I handle purchasing processes for the company. This often involves renegotiating offers, reviewing order confirmations from suppliers, or conducting market and price comparisons.” For him, the variety of topics in indirect procurement is especially exciting: “One day it's office supplies, the next it's laboratory chemicals for research or an electrician for production. We work closely with the specialist departments to ensure that we fully understand the requirements behind each purchase.”  

Although Finn spends much of his working day at his desk, the wide range of interfaces across the company means he is in regular contact with colleagues from different departments as well as suppliers. “That's what defines my job and makes it so special to me. No two days are ever the same.” 

Finn Wolff works on his laptop while sitting next to a colleague at a desk.

Building confidence through negotiation 

During his apprenticeship, Finn was gradually introduced to one of the key aspects of his role: negotiation. “We received negotiation training, and even during the apprenticeship we were allowed to negotiate on smaller matters. I was definitely nervous before my first real negotiation.” He still remembers it clearly: “It was about the price of an office desk, and I managed to secure a small discount. Over time, the projects became more complex. Delivery terms, payment conditions, and many other aspects came into play.” As his apprenticeship progressed, negotiating increasingly became second nature to him. To prepare convincing arguments for negotiations, Finn not only relies on the knowledge gained through training and practical experience but also uses AI-based tools. “AI is a valuable support in my job.”

Two colleagues and Finn Wolff exchange ideas during a meeting.

Finn already knew during his school years that BYK could be an attractive employer for him. “If you grow up in this region, you know BYK. Either a neighbor or someone you know already works here,” he says. “I completed a school internship in a commercial department, supporting laboratory supplies. That internship convinced me to start an apprenticeship at BYK.” The apprenticeship itself was highly diverse. In addition to procurement, Finn worked in a variety of departments, including accounting, human resources, and technical operations. “You get to know a wide range of departments as well as many colleagues. And apprentices are quite popular because we usually build a strong network throughout the company.”  

Growing beyond expectations through trust 

Finn's apprenticeship gave him the opportunity to develop both professionally and personally. What motivated him most was the support and trust that he received from day one. He even graduated as the best industrial management assistant in the Lower Rhine region, an achievement of which he is particularly proud. “I owe that in part to the excellent and dedicated support of my training supervisor and the apprenticeship coordinators in the specialist departments.”  

For Finn, appreciation, trust, and the feeling of being treated as an equal are key factors behind his success so far. He is also still very happy about the decision he made to join BYK. “I genuinely enjoy coming to work every day. The values here are not just words on paper. I believe that is also what drives the success of BYK and ALTANA.”