Vocation -the future of a new generation

A role model on equal pooting

Markus Corn is passionate about training. Beginning work as a mechanic in the Automation (Maintenance) department at thyssenkrupp in Liechtenstein in 1994, he transitioned into the field of training in 2013.

The trained machinist and master in mechanical engineering and operating systems technology started off training apprentices to become multi-skilled technicians. Nowadays, in his capacity as Head of Training at thyssenkrupp at the company’s Eschen and Oberegg sites, he supports roughly 90 apprentices as they embark upon their professional careers. His motto: “Training is my vocation. I am a role model and treat apprentices as equals – this is the best foundation for providing the new generation with a successful future.” In the interview, he provides us with exciting insights and explains the role played by trust.

What inspires you at thyssenkrupp?

"Training apprentices. The training is an enormously important part of our societal and social responsibility. Young entry-level employees are our future. That is why we treat them as equals and provide them with training programmes that are attractive and varied. I don’t just want to help our apprentices progress in their chosen career. I also want to challenge them as individuals – and this is something that we do very successfully at the Eschen and Oberegg sites."

What do you associate with the word together from our slogan "engineering. tomorrow. together"?

"A very strong sense of togetherness. Both with our apprentices and within our team of trainers. Recently, for example, a colleague moved to another department. To mark his departure, we put together a really cool program for him without his knowledge under the motto "I trust you". Among other things, we made him believe that we were taking him bungee jumping. He only realized during the jump that it wasn't a real bungee jump from a great height, but a small jump into a children's paddling pool. The colleague trusted us completely and played along. I'm sure not many people would have done that. Things like that weld the team together. And you can see from this story that we have a very trusting team spirit. We also want to pass this trust on to our trainees. We always have workshops or events with them that bring us all together, including familiarization days, product training weeks, excursions and graduation trips. We always come up with something special for our graduation trips in particular. For example, our apprentices have already taken a look behind the scenes at the Lamborghini plant in Bologna and experienced our steering systems live in action on the race track in Barcelona.

I have had the pleasure of getting to know many people over the last 27 years at thyssenkrupp. I can now call many of them my personal friends. I think that's really nice. If I didn't work here, I would never have got to know them."

Where have you been able to achieve something really well together as a team?

"A great success in recent years has been the introduction of joint basic training for all technical professions here at the sites at the beginning of the apprenticeship. This introduction has clearly increased the cohesion of all professions. We are always trying to achieve something together. For us, there is no such thing as "We've always done that". We always have to pursue and implement new ideas. Time doesn't stand still."

Do you work together with other departments and specialist areas? Does that work well?

"Yes, we work with a lot of departments and specialist areas, as some of our apprentices complete their training there. It is important to us that they can work in as many different departments as possible after their basic training at the training center. This gives them a good insight into working life and they get to know a lot of people. Cooperation with the departments works very well. They see the added value of having trainees in their department. The junior employees can then already take on tasks for the department."

What do you think thyssenkrupp will stand for in the future?

"I think that thyssenkrupp stands and will stand for diversity in particular. For many different personalities and internationality. But also for sustainability and a future in which mobility becomes more autonomous and safer. We are actively shaping this for our customers."