Gerard Nkenngni

"The working atmosphere? It couldn't be better!"

How did you join the company and what exactly does your job involve?
While studying engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt, I attended the "konaktiva" careers fair where I first found out about Continental as a major, innovative company in the field of automotive electronics.  I joined the company in 2003 to do an internship and then also wrote my degree dissertation at Continental. I'm currently employed as a software developer in the Transmission Business Unit and am involved in the development of software for the electronic control of double-clutch transmissions.

What has been your biggest challenge or most exciting project so far?
I've been involved in my current project right from the start. Each individual phase has been, and remains, a huge challenge.

How would you describe the working atmosphere and corporate culture?
Fantastic! I have great colleagues and the work is a lot of fun. It couldn't be better!

What further training measures does the company offer?
Continental offers its employees a wide range of opportunities for further training. Speaking for myself, for example, I took part in last year's Juniors Managing Projects (JUMP), a program for the advancement of junior employees. This further training measure lasts one year and is especially targeted at young employees who are to be prepared for management positions.

What advice would you give to future applicants?
In my opinion, the core competencies required for career success include not only specialist knowledge, but also the ability to communicate and work in a team. This is why I would advise future applicants to always be open and honest in their dealings with colleagues.
I am confident that graduates who are reliable, independent and ambitious will have fantastic career prospects here at Continental.

Your job is no doubt often highly stressful, but what do you do to relax when you're not at work?
Sport has always been a very important part of my life. When I was at university, I played in a student football team. Nowadays, I keep fit by jogging.