Harm Osmers, Philipp Benseler, Anika Bieck & Rene Borries

"Continental provides us with the international tools and a dynamic environment so that we can develop in accordance with our personal notions” 

How long have you been employed at Continental?
Harm Osmers: Philipp and I started Conti Bachelor training in September, 2005.
Anika Bieck: I began working at Continental in September 2004 and was thus a part of the first group of people entering in the Conti Bachelor program.
Rene Borries: I have been with Continental since 2003 and completed the dual-track BA Business Administration course. The structure was similar to the Conti Bachelor Program today.

Why did you decide to take a position at Continental?
Osmers: I have always had an affinity for cars and so I wanted to start in a large company in the automobile industry. Continental was a candidate from the beginning.
Philipp Benseler: After graduating from high school, I wanted to complete a dual course of study. The Conti Bachelor Program won me over very quickly.
Anika Bieck: From the very start, what was important for me was to be able to work for a large corporation that does business on an international playing field. Continental was able to meet both of those conditions.
Borries: For me too, general interest in the dual course of studies was the central factor. When I was looking for suitable employers, I proceeded strategically and looked for companies that interest me. Continental was one of them.

What are the unique features of the Conti Bachelor training?
Anika Bieck: The integration of theoretical knowledge and practical experience is certainly one of the largest advantages of the program. But, there are also other aspects that make the program beneficial. The opportunity to complete an internship abroad, for example, was especially important for me. But also worth mentioning is how high the program is valued within the Continental Group.
Benseler: What I like:From the beginning, you are the manager of your own talents. Even in short practical phases in the departments, you are involved in projects and you can stand out as the result of good achievements.
Osmers: What particularly surprised me: You can have an active influence even at the practice locations and the site of the internship abroad.
Borries: The relatively short duration of only six semesters study is very attractive. The independence is also appealing: You're earning your own money right away and standing on your own two feet from the start. The opportunity of developing contacts at an early stage also helps in the subsequent internal job search.

How was the cooperation among the Conti Bachelor candidates?Did they help each other or was a certain competitive thinking in evidence?
Osmers: The cohesion in the group was great.
Benseler: In contrast to studying at a university, you work in small groups of 30 people at the most in the Bachelor training. You know each other and the interchange is definitely much easier as a result.

How did Continental support you during the training?
Benseler: Continental offers a lot of courses to the Bachelor candidates. During the practical phase, for example, there is an English course once a week.
Osmers: You are also very well prepared for the time spent abroad. For example, I was able to attend a cross-cultural seminar before my internship abroad.
Anika Bieck: If you see the need for further personal development in a specific area, you are always encouraged to discuss this openly. It is always worth your while to take the initiative at Continental.

Let's move on from your time in training.Today, you are working as young professionals in different business units.What is a typical work day like for you?Is there such a thing?
Osmers: Certainly there are tasks that are repeated time and again. With me, for example, those are the typical jobs in Controlling, such as the monthly or annual financial statements or work on the annual report. Beyond that, there are always unscheduled matters so that the day can never be planned exactly. 
Anika Bieck: I can divide my functions into two groups. My main duties are in the department Temporary Employment West EU. By strategically bundling the work volume and job activities, we aim at being able to negotiate improved terms with temporary employment agencies. In addition, I am responsible for the department HR Services, Training and Seminars, which oftentimes focuses strongly on specific projects. Here, my goal is also to be able to negotiate better terms as the local purchasing agent.
Benseler: I am responsible for employees who have been transferred from abroad to Germany. The tasks have multiple layers. In principle, we have to deal with the entire process. It starts with the cost estimate for the transfer, moves on to the wording of the contract and hiring outside service providers (house search, tax adviser, etc.) and ends with the repatriation of the assignee to his home country. 
Borries: My job is also multi-faceted. As a product manager, one of the things I am responsible for is the product portfolio. This involves taking “dead” products off the market and bringing new products to market. In a nutshell: I have to estimate its chances in the market.

We've already briefly touched on time living abroad.How important is this experience for working in the company?
Borries: Very important! You have to learn to get away from the German way of thinking and to adjust to other ways of working and cultural realities. My two months in Malaysia were a great help to me in this regard.
Osmers: I was in Shanghai for several weeks and also derived a great deal from the experience. Quite apart from the professional benefits, a stay abroad is also a fantastic thing with respect to your personal development.
Anika Bieck: Very important! What you learn is that there is an entirely different mentality and way of dealing with each other in other cultures or even plants. At the headquarters, you don’t find these kinds of differences in that particular form.
Benseler: This experience is extremely important. I already had the opportunity during my year at a high school to become acquainted with U.S. culture. The 10 weeks that I was able to spend actively working in the U.S. were very helpful regarding differences in the ways people work.

Why should someone decide for Continental as an employer?
Borries: Continental is an internationally positioned company. Its products are highly regarded. Conti is the market leader in many fields. The opportunity of assuming responsibility at a young age exerts a great attraction.
Anika Bieck: For me, what was very important was that as a young professional I was able to take on a role of responsibility at an early stage. What’s more, the supervisors are always open to new ideas. Here, you can easily be included in business processes.
Benseler: One of the biggest points in Conti's favor is certainly its international atmosphere. The flat hierarchies are attractive. Because: Pragmatism is the order of the day at Continental, rather than rigidly hierarchical structures.

Which skills and knowledge should people bring who want to have a career at Continental?
Benseler: Even if it sounds trite: Ability to work in a team, strong communications skills and flexibility are very important.
Anika Bieck: Curiosity and a mindset clearly geared towards performing well are especially important. In addition, you should be able to handle change well.
Borries: You should also bring a certain affinity for the automobile industry. Good English language skills are indispensable. English is the corporate language for us!

How do you rate the career opportunities at Continental?
Osmers: That depends almost entirely on yourself. There are good preconditions for developing professionally in any event.
Anika Bieck: This depends exclusively on the person themselves. The company definitely offers great opportunities to advance professionally.
Benseler: Of course, it depends primarily on yourself. The luck factor also plays a big part. You need sponsors and you have to be in the right place at the right time.
Borries: Career opportunities are very good. I am already a product manager at the age of 26.  If you perform, set up a network and know what you want, you can advance rapidly along your career path.

How important is teamwork for you?
Benseler: In the assignment department, we are naturally dependent on cooperation with the individual countries. But in our department, we attach a great deal of importance to internal teamwork as well. We promote a lively interchange in order to avoid errors.
Anika Bieck: Teamwork is critical! In the purchasing department, we consider ourselves internal service providers and for this reason alone we rely on collaboration and teamwork. But also in our dealings with the external contacts, we work closely with our vendors and see them as partners.
Borries: Teamwork is essential in our unit because we mesh like gears–across borders as well. Communication and teamwork belong together for me.

How do you strike a balance between work, free time and family?
Osmers:During the Conti Bachelor training, free time was in even shorter supply. Besides the monetary aspects and the factor of free time, the end of training has one more central positive aspect for me. When work is over for the day, written exams and homework assignments are not buzzing around in my head any more.
Anika Bieck: After completing my Conti Bachelor education I now have a bit more time for myself, my family and my friends. And yet, that might just change again quickly. Because: If you want to advance your career, you have to put in plenty of effort.
Borries: During the time I was studying, it was not always easy to maintain a good work-life balance. I knew the life of a student only from hearsay. Today, it is somewhat easier to find time for myself and my interests.

How do you spend your free time?
Benseler:Sports, friends, family and a relationship are the central points in my free time.
Anika Bieck: I try to travel as much as I can to discover the world.
Borries: I like to be among people and I mostly spend my free time out in nature. I do some sports and like to pick up a good book now and then. 

How do you envision your professional future?
Benseler: My time abroad was really very enriching. So I would absolutely like to live and work abroad for a while.
Osmers: I don't have a typical 5-year plan–but I can think of a number of things. At any event, I would like to continue to develop further and discover new things.
Anika Bieck: For my medium-term future, I can imagine that I will want to complete an MBA.
Borries: I don't have any immediate plans, but I see my future in the Marketing & Sales division. My experience has shown me that opportunities come and go, and it is very difficult to plan the future.