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Anything but dullThe versatile apprenticeship at thyssenkrupp
Her training at thyssenkrupp proved to be a direct hit. After all, Özlem Akdogan found her dream job here. As an office management assistant, she is now starting out in Human Resources (HR). Özlem first found her way to thyssenkrupp via a detour.
Searching for the right career path
Until she graduated from high school, Özlem did not have a clear career plan. After completing an internship at an elementary school, she decided to study teaching, specializing in mathematics and Turkish. However, she soon found the program monotonous. What Özlem missed most was practical experience. Perhaps an apprenticeship would be a better fit? She researched the training opportunities available, browsed online job portals, and looked into what companies in her home state of North Rhine-Westphalia had to offer.
thyssenkrupp: more than steel
While conducting her research, she came across thyssenkrupp's comprehensive apprenticeship programme – a company that Özlem had held in high esteem even back then. Indeed, this was because her grandfather was a former employee. "I come from Duisburg and thyssenkrupp is a very popular and well-known company in the region - It's known especially for its steel, of course," she reports. "I wanted to see what else thyssenkrupp had to offer and form my own opinions." No sooner said than done: She had been convinced, and, in 2019, she applied for an apprenticeship to become an Office Management Assistant. Upon completing a recruitment test and attending an interview, she was then offered the apprenticeship.
A change of perspective: from applicant to HR department employee
Unlike the teaching degree, the apprenticeship at thyssenkrupp turned out to be a winner.
"The apprenticeship was very varied because apprentices at thyssenkrupp are given the chance to work across a variety of departments."
"We also had the chance to do further training to become a state-certified foreign language correspondent. So, after two and a half years, I came out of my apprenticeship with two different degrees in my pocket."
Özlem was particularly interested in working in Human Resources (HR). "When I was assigned to HR, I noticed immediately that I really enjoyed working in this area," Özlem reveals. "I could work independently and got to learn about a whole host of different topics. It was really very interesting seeing HR from the perspective of an apprentice, because, up until then, I had only known it from the perspective of an applicant."
Two qualifications and a permanent contract
It soon became clear to Özlem that she wanted to continue working in this field beyond her apprenticeship, and, upon completing her training, the native 'Duisburger' was given two pieces of good news by her employer: Not only was Özlem was hired on a permanent contract, but she was also able to continue working in her dream field. Since February 2022, Özlem has been responsible for recruiting new hires in her role, i. e. searching for and identifying suitable candidates to fill open vacancies across thyssenkrupp's various companies.
"My responsibilities include writing job descriptions and maintaining the system we use to manage our applicants and coordinate interviews," Özlem reveals about her day-to-day work. "I've also recently started supervising working students and interns, preparing contracts, and other documents including various certificates, for example."
Team spirit, respect, and a willingness to help
This is a job that is quite challenging, as Özlem reveals. "We are responsible for many job roles and this involves overseeing lots of different departments. I think everyone recognises that: there are days when it feels like you're spinning lots of different plates. With this in mind, it's very important that you work in an organised and structured manner and prioritise tasks so as not to miss anything. Otherwise, you can find that you very quickly lose good candidates."
Özlem can always rely on her colleagues' support. The 'together' of thyssenkrupp's claim 'engineering. tomorrow. together.' holds a special significance for Özlem.
"To me, together means team spirit, respect, and a willingness to help. I saw just how open and willing my colleagues were to help while I was undergoing my training and this is something I continue to see even now. They did a brilliant job of introducing me to various topics and this made work a great deal more fun. Indeed, I was given the confidence to start working independently and take on a greater number of responsibilities very quickly and very early on."
Looking back, Özlem is more than convinced that the decision she made to pursue an apprenticeship was the correct one. "The apprenticeship was the best decision I ever made. I never thought that I would ever work for such a large company - let alone work at its headquarters."
Would Özlem recommend an apprenticeship at thyssenkrupp to others? "Of course, I would! After all, your future is dependent on the choices you make today. Be courageous and go for it!"