Success story: From starting out in design to being responsible for trainees

I started my training as a technical system planner at Südluft in Plattling in 2012, initially specializing in supply and equipment technology. I found heating and plumbing exciting, but even back then it was clear to me that I wanted to go in the direction of mechanical engineering.

That's why I decided in 2017 to do further training as a mechanical engineering technician at the municipal technical college for mechanical engineering in Straubing. I've been with SENNEBOGEN since March 2020.

What excites me about it? Accompanying the trainees from their very first point of contact with working life - experiencing and actively helping to shape their professional and personal development over 3 to 3.5 years.

My everyday life is incredibly varied. In September and October in particular, when the new apprentices start, the focus is very much on mentoring, especially in the first year of the apprenticeship. In addition, job interviews for the coming year start during this time - so the earlier you apply, the better.

Over the course of the year, my tasks are divided into around 90% regular activities in design and development and 10% training support. I currently supervise seven trainees, one cooperative degree student and two dual students.

The combination of design tasks and working with the trainees makes my job so varied and fulfilling.

* OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer, is a term used in industry to refer to companies that manufacture components, products or systems that are used by other companies in their end products.

My first apprentice left this year - the first one that I have accompanied throughout the entire training period. That was a very emotional and wonderful moment.

But every completed project is also a highlight for me. Seeing a finished machine in front of you, which you have worked towards for months, makes you proud.

I was particularly influenced by the simultaneous development of several similar machine models. Such projects are very complex and require not only clear organization but also close teamwork. In the design department, we work in specialized small teams so that everyone knows their area exactly - a project can only be successfully implemented if everyone works together. At SENNEBOGEN, we can always rely on each other as a team. When problems arise, there is always someone who can help - not only in their own area, but also across teams. There's no "ask someone else" - everyone pulls together, and that's what makes working at TB particularly valuable.

To master such challenges, you need enthusiasm for mechanical engineering, ambition and enjoy designing and further developing machines. At SENNEBOGEN I have also learned to approach tasks carefully and in a structured way right from the start. Quick fixes rarely bring the desired result - thorough planning and good teamwork allow projects to be implemented more efficiently and sustainably.

As a woman in construction, you often bring different perspectives to the table and that is a great advantage. New ideas are always valuable, no matter who they come from. The industry used to be clearly male-dominated. Today I see big changes: At vocational college, we're 50/50 in some cases, and in my engineering class there were six women out of 30 - so things are changing. Of course, there are still some prejudices. I sometimes have the feeling that as a woman you have to prove yourself a bit more than a man. But as soon as you've shown what you can do, there's acceptance.

Green. Big. Team spirit.