Shaping tomorrow, starting today

Thinking back to her apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at Dürr, Sabine Hillebrand notices one change in particular: “When I started at the age of 17, I was very shy and reserved. Today’s apprentices are much more self-confident,” she says. “Back then, when I had to negotiate something in the purchasing department, I preferred to go to an office where nobody could overhear me. Young people today aren’t worried about that. They approach these tasks completely openly and without reservations.”

Hillebrand’s apprenticeship was around 40 years ago now. She has spent her entire professional life at Dürr. Only once did she put her feelers out to other companies. But her former boss brought her into his department and a potential move was off the table. This loyalty to Dürr is not an isolated case. She says, not without pride, that three of the four commercial apprentices who started with her back then are still with the company today.

Hillebrand originally wanted to become a bank clerk. But that didn’t work out. Since her father was a department manager at Dürr, she also ended up applying there. That is what connects Hillebrand to Lea Ruof, whose father works for Dürr’s subsidiary Teamtechnik. “That's why the company was also on my radar” says the 22-year-old, who is training to become an industrial clerk.

Ruof embodies the young, self-confident generation of apprentices. What she appreciates about Dürr is that she can get involved in many different ways and take on responsibility in projects. During her time in the HR department, for example, she was involved in selecting candidates for the trainee program. In the second year of her training, she completed a four-week work placement in the United States. After her apprenticeship, she first wants to gain professional experience at Dürr before pursuing further training. “I'm not sure yet whether to go for an advanced training qualification or a part-time degree,” she says.

Lena Heßlinger came to Teamtechnik through a school internship. “I live nearby, so it was a no-brainer that I would check it out,” she declares. “I really enjoyed the internship. That's why wanting to do my apprenticeship here was an easy decision for me.” She is now in her second year of training as an industrial mechanic — a profession in which women are still the minority, although she says they are steadily increasing in number. She is particularly enthusiastic about milling. In fact, she assures us that there hasn’t been anything in her apprenticeship so far that she hasn't enjoyed.

Heßlinger also likes the fact that the apprentices at Teamtechnik have their own workshop where they can try out new things. When she compares this with her fellow vocational school students at other companies, this place is really something special. She can also work regularly in other Teamtechnik workshops. She was even on an assembly job in her first year of training. “That was quite cool.” Her plans for the future: “First settle in and gain some professional experience,” she says, then adds with a mischievous smile: “Maybe then I'll make it to 40 years at Teamtechnik, too.”