How long have you been with ERICH JAEGER, and why did you choose ERICH JAEGER as your employer back then?
I have been working for ERICH JAEGER since November 2011, which is almost exactly 10 years ago. At that time, my mother-in-law was looking through the newspaper and came across an advertisement for ERICH JAEGER. I then applied for a job. I come from a garage background and always wanted to get into office work, so it was a good fit.
So you are a trained automotive electrician?
That's right, after my apprenticeship I worked in the same garage for a while and then worked as an all-rounder in another garage.
In which department did you start with us?
I started in harness development as a design engineer and have been head of department there since 2017. On the one hand, we develop wire harnesses for passenger cars for the aftermarket. That means we get the latest car models into the garage and then design a wire harness for them. On the other hand, we are commissioned by car manufacturers to develop a wire harness. To do this, we travel to the production plants, inspect the prototype vehicles and design our wire harnesses to match the model.
You recently completed your MBA part-time at ERICH JAEGER. How did this decision come about?
In 2016, I asked our managing director at that time which kind of career opportunities were available for young employees at ERICH JAEGER. He then suggested that a degree was necessary to advance to management level. I then found a suitable correspondence course at the Technical University in Friedberg. Normally, a bachelor's degree is a prerequisite for a master's degree, and fortunately the THM offered this in a package, so I had the opportunity to complete both degrees.
How did you benefit from your MBA?
Above all, I can use a lot of the methods I learned and thus simplify many analyses and processes. The studies are definitely having a noticeable effect and I can apply some things. Hopefully this will increase over time, but I also only finished my studies three months ago. We'll see what else comes up. During my studies, I also benefited from my network. Of course, after that I parted ways to some extent, but I'm still in touch with some of the people I met through social networks.
How did ERICH JAEGER support you during this time?
I was fully supported. My bachelor courses were in Kaiserslautern and I had to complete them on weekends within half a year. For this, the company had provided me with a company car including fuel costs.
How did you deal with stressful situations?
Studying while working is very time-consuming, and you have to be aware of that. In addition to work and studies, private life also has a big impact. All of this adds up to a certain amount of stress. But work has always been my focus. For me, there was never an option to reduce my working hours, and in the end everything worked out fine. It took longer, but it worked (laughs).
Your most important lessons learned from the MBA program?
You have to be aware of the fact that you are committing yourself for the next two years. And if you're considering a job change, family planning or anything else, you really have to think it through. You really have to focus on your studies or you'll lose the battle.
Your advice for young professionals who want to start a career at ERICH JAEGER?
Be communicative. Be interested and approach people proactively. My experience has been that you are quickly accepted into this small family here at ERICH JAEGER.