Work-study program in electrical engineering – vehicle electronics
My name is Florian, and I have been employed at LEONI as a work-study program student in Electrical Engineering - Vehicle Electronics with a focus on e-mobility and alternative drives since September 2020. After creating a profile on the website of the Baden-Württemberg partner university, I was contacted by LEONI’s Human Resources department and invited to apply. This is how I came to be employed as a work-study student.
What does your typical working day as a work-study student in Electrical Engineering look like?
Start of the day
I am lucky enough to live only a thousand meters from the company – which means that I can cycle to work in next to no time. At around 8 a.m. I usually arrive at my desk, which is in one of our open workspaces. I start by replying to emails and clarifying the organizational tasks. I also think about what I want to achieve over the course of the day, run this past my colleagues where appropriate and organize meetings.
Morning
Because I almost always work on my own project during the practical phase, I usually do literature research in the morning and get new material that I need for my theory foundation. At the same time, I develop my degree project and consider which approaches are promising and which measurements I can carry out. I may then prepare for them.
Lunch break
During lunch break I go out for a walk with other students and trainees across the company grounds and take my own lunch box. At our canteen in Kitzingen I can also really eat well and enjoy a balanced diet at a fair price. I am happy to leave my lunch box at home for salmon fillets with thyme wedges or fresh apple strudel.
Afternoon
In the afternoons I go to a different place of work at the nearby electronics lab where I design and build circuits, search components or take and observe measurements. At the same time, I document all activities and results for my project work. In between, I regularly meet with other work-study students, trainees or the Technology team to coordinate my own or other projects, such as the New Talents Company, which is made up only of trainees and students. Together we plan, realize, and evaluate our projects completely independently with our own budget that is made available by LEONI.
Evening
My workday usually ends toward 3:30 p.m. and then I cycle home. After I get home, I relax before meeting my colleagues in the New Talents Company, usually we go cycling along the Main river or we have dinner together.
Why did you opt for LEONI as your employer?
The really very attractive region and beautiful location are not LEONI's only advantages: the pay for the training is high and the company's product range is well-matched to my degree course and content.
I also felt that the people who I met at the interview were very likeable and competent. The work atmosphere, both in the office and when working from home, is very pleasant and our collaboration very enjoyable. I also enjoy the freedom I have during the practical stage despite working full-time, thanks to working from home and our flexible working hours. I am free to choose which department I wish to work in and which project I want to support. This allows me to test and optimize my own ideas, and I have learned more in a short time than I could have ever imagined.
What is the work culture at LEONI like?
I find the atmosphere in my team very pleasant and relaxed. Our managers are very interested even in the smaller projects of work-study students and take a lot of time to understand ideas, for example, and to give feedback at good intervals. The coordination in the project teams and in our department as a whole is also very good: we all know at all times what is happening in the department and are able to provide support if needed.
What has been your best / most exciting moment at LEONI to date?
One of the best moments for me personally was the excursion organized for trainees and students to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. At this event, as well as at others, I had enjoyable conversations with other new talents and colleagues. Another definite highlight for me was when, after months of working on my project, the algorithm I developed was used for the first time to prove the concept. This moment was more than exciting for me because I had invested so much time and poured my heart and soul into it. It is simply great to translate your own work into practice.
What three words would you use to describe LEONI briefly and succinctly?
- Innovative
- Employee-friendly
- Trailblazing
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