Working student in Advanced Development
My name is Benny and I have been working for LEONI since January 2022. I completed a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Kempten before embarking on a master's degree in Innovation Management at FHWS University in Würzburg. I came across LEONI through a practical project I undertook in collaboration with FHWS. The project was a communication project where internal communications were evaluated with the help of surveys and workshops before defining measures; some initial measures have already been implemented.
While the project was ongoing, I applied for a working student position in Pre-Development, and I was very happy when I was accepted. Since then, I have been supporting the Ideation/Strategy/Intellectual Property team for two days a week, primarily in cost calculation and cost evaluation for innovation projects.
What does your typical working day as a working student in Advanced Development look like?
Start of the day
My day simply always starts at home with a large mug of coffee. I then either drive to the office in Kitzingen and walk to the desk I have booked, or I sit down at my desk at home. I usually start work between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., in the office I first check where my colleagues sit, and I greet them. I then reply to unanswered emails and check the day’s appointments.
Morning
After the emails I tackle the open tasks, for example reviews of a cost calculation or updates of data for evaluations or overviews in Excel. I also have a fixed day with my line manager once a week to give him a brief status update on my current tasks and to discuss with him what is upcoming in the near future.
Lunch break
During the lunch break we often go to the canteen in Kitzingen as a team; alternatively, if I am working from home, I go to the university canteen with my roommates. But the food at LEONI is a lot better. What I particularly like is the focus on regional products, the variety of dishes on offer and the salad bar. After a walk on the company grounds, we return to our workplace.
Afternoon
In the afternoon I mainly deal with projects, such as the improvement of individual tools in Excel that we need for the calculation of costs and the business case evaluation. Sometimes the projects lie outside cost calculation, for example a competition analysis or the preparation of a workshop. In other words, you can be guaranteed never to get bored. Quite the opposite, the work is really varied.
Evening
I finish work at around 5 p.m. As a counterpoise to work and study I have discovered road cycling, and so I often go for a spin in the evening, preferably with friends.
Why did you opt for LEONI as your employer?
I chose LEONI because I can learn a lot here as a working student. I joined a team that is great all round, and the conditions, such as salary and vacation, are very attractive. My advantage was that I was able to gain some insights as part of the practical project with FHWS and I already knew some people from the team – and because we liked each other it was doubly nice for me to accept the post.
What is the work culture at LEONI like?
My team is very open in its dealings, I really appreciate that. As a working student I am always treated like a fully-fledged employee, and we always communicate as equals. If I have a question, I can always ask someone, and I think that simply forms part of a pleasant work atmosphere.
What has been your best / most exciting moment at LEONI to date?
Probably my most exciting and at the same time most challenging moment happened as part of our practical project at LEONI. At FHWS, we students in the CTO department (= LEONI’s technology section) were given the opportunity to present our topic at an online event in front of around 900 people. Unfortunately, the technology went on strike for some of it, my heart was in my throat, and it was quite a challenge for me to remain calm and continue with the presentation. Despite all the obstacles, the feedback we received at the end was very positive, and the content struck a chord with many and really interested them. Our fellow students appreciated the fact that a lot of work had gone into the project, and the technology strike did not harm the result.
What do you love about your job?
What I find the most attractive here is the diversity: alongside my tasks, which often have to do with Excel, there are jobs that normally belong in a completely different area. An example: I was recently able to make a training video to help other colleagues familiarize themselves with our topics. For me as working student, in particular, it is very valuable to be able to try out different things and to gain experience in this way.
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