Young people are curious, eager for knowledge and committed. That is why Memmert, as an innovative company, places great value on promoting young professionals. Today, you can read two stories about the lives of our latest staff additions: “Girls’ Day at Memmert” and “Experiential learning near Big Ben and Chinatown”.
Girls' Day at Memmert
On Girls’ Day 2013 on April 25, we welcomed three girls to our production site in Büchenbach for one day, so they could get a taste of working life. Of course, especially training jobs that are traditionally dominated by males such as electrical engineer, cutting machine operator and construction mechanic were focused on. After all, on annual girls' day, girls are supposed to discover opportunities for their future in the fields of engineering, natural science, IT or crafts.
Many girls do not know what a technical job entails or think it is boring. After our guests had cut, drilled and milled to their heart's content under the guidance of the colleagues, all three of them were pleasantly surprised. “A male profession is really very interesting,” said Anna-Lena and Larissa. Meli felt vindicated in her original career aspiration as mechatronics engineer, electronics engineer or cutting machine operator.
The fact that none of the three girls thinks about having difficulties to be accepted in the male world is a sign that the classical role allocation in the working life is slowly disappearing.
“Women can stand their own,” says Anna-Lena laughing and like her colleagues is convinced that they would not have problems with men accepting them.
Experiential learning near Big Ben and Chinatown
For employees of an internationally active company like Memmert, the English that is taught in school is not enough. For this reason, many of our “rookies” are already interested in improving their language skills and getting to know other cultures in their training.
Janina Bittmann, commercial apprentice at Memmert, just returned from a trip to London. For three weeks, she had participated in a crash course at the European College of Business and Management. The motto was: “Preparation for internationalisation in the working environment”. The topics ranged from economy and politics via marketing and communication at work to professional telephone calls. Of course, it was not permitted to speak any German during lessons. In the case of non-compliance, a penalty fee had to be paid into a piggy bank. Additionally, field trips to the city centre of London, to the Docklands and a court hearing were also part of the programme.
Managing director Christiane Riefler-Karpa is happy to see that many of our young professionals, like Janina, show a keen interest in their personal up-skilling. “Young people are often talked down. Our experience is contrary to this. Most of our young professionals are highly motivated and enthusiastic. That’s why, like in Janina Bittmann’s case, we gladly support pro-activity financially with a contribution towards the costs of travel and accommodation.”
