Marc Wilhelm

"As an engineer, Continental gives me the opportunity to take the planning of my future into my hands"

How did you find us?
When I started my career, I completed the dual cooperative degree program CIS (Cooperative Engineering Studies Program Systems Engineering) at the University of Applied Technology in Wiesbaden, Germany. The education program took a total of five years and was divided into two parts. After the first two and a half years, I completed my intermediate diploma and my degree from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce as a mechatronics engineer. The advanced study period followed in the second phase. I worked as a work student at Continental at the same time. After I completed my diploma project, which I also prepared in cooperation with Continental, I was offered a full-time position.

What does a typical work day look like for you? Is there such a thing?
That really depends on the focus of the particular job. Today, close to 70% of my duties involves office work such as project planning or drafting project concepts. The remaining part of my duties involves working in the production department, for example commissioning and optimizing equipment on site or performing an actual analysis of certain processes and workflows that on their part serve as the basis for planning new concepts.

Which was your most exciting task thus far?
I was given the opportunity to be a part of an extensive in-plant project, which had to do with how to handle and remove empty workpiece carriers, while I provided support during the entire planning and implementation of the project at our plant.
My involvement during each project phase was significant. It began early with my involvement in the simulation-aided draft of the concept, then the selection of vendors and included the detailed planning that followed later. It went on to the equipment commissioning and optimization process. Throughout, I was encouraged to add my own ideas and suggestions.  To be able to see how the entire process was implemented into real–time and to see what changes evolved for the entire plant on a structural level was really quite fascinating for me.

Why pick Continental as your employer?
Continental is a full-service supplier in the automotive industry. Working here opens up a wide range of opportunities for professional advancement. You are given a chance to work in so many different departments and to widen the scope of your professional options.

What skills and knowledge should applicants bring with them who are interested in a career at Continental?
Being competent in your particular profession is clearly a basic condition. In addition, though, you should also be able to adjust to new situations quickly and to not be afraid of the challenges that you need to be able to overcome in our environment more or less on a daily scale.

What is your opinion on the career opportunities offered at Continental?
I'm very positive about the opportunities offered here. The wide range of opportunities that I already mentioned offers the chance to even be able to move forward within the company if you wish to go in a new direction. In addition, here you have excellent tools to advance your career in each specialist area and while doing so create your path according to your own expectations each step of the way.  

How important is teamwork to you?
Teamwork is a critical aspect. Especially when working on larger projects, you really have to be able to rely on the cooperation of your colleagues in different departments. Typically, critical decisions are made at Continental in teams so that the employees involved can actually identify with the decision made by the team.  

How important is experience abroad?Have you been able to gain this type of experience?
Unfortunately, up until now I have not had the chance to work abroad, but generally I think that those kinds of experiences are important. What's important has less to do with the language aspect of those experiences, but more with learning about different work methods.

How do you balance work with leisure time and family?
Since I do not yet have a family of my own, this balance is relatively easy for me to handle. However, in general I like they way that Continental integrates family life well with the range of events it offers. With family days or even its sporting events, such as the Conti Running Day, families identify much more with the employer. 

How do you spend your time off?
I try to keep fit by jogging regularly or riding my bike. But otherwise, I don’t find it hard to fill up my days.

How do you picture your professional future?
I can very well imagine spending a longer period of time abroad. If I do so, I would like it to involve the production environment and project management. I am certain that this kind of experience would open up perspectives for my professional future.