Michael Maulbetsch

"Continental is a global player with unique career opportunities."

How long have you worked at Continental?
I have been with the company since Continental took over Siemens VDO. Before that, I had worked for Siemens for just under 25 years.

How did you come to join the company?
As I said, I joined the company as a result of the takeover. I didn't have any problem with the takeover, as I believe that I still work for a first-rate company.

What is a typical work day like for you? Is there such a thing?
Today, typical tasks on the computer make up around three quarters of my daily work. These include process coordination and administrative tasks. My employees in the lab test electronics for environmental sustainability, such as the electronic control units of cars.

Why should prospective employees choose Continental?
Continental is a global corporation with a wide range of products. We offer technicians in particular interesting tasks in various fields. These range from tire technology through to automotive technology. In addition, around 190 locations in 35 countries mean that there are plenty of opportunities for development in the company. On top of that, Continental is a cornerstone of German industry – an aspect that is very important to me personally.

What skills are required for a career at Continental?
I think that two things are crucial for a successful career at Continental: an interest in technology and commercial understanding. Employees also need to be flexible – both in terms of mobility and in their specific career field.

How do you rate the career opportunities at Continental?
The international focus and the manifold opportunities in the various fields are highly attractive and offer first-rate opportunities for development.

How important is teamwork for you?
Teamwork is a top priority. Nowadays, it is impossible to make progress without being able to work together on projects. And I don't just mean cooperation within individual departments. A corporation with more than 130,000 employees can only function with interdepartmental cooperation.

Describe your management style for us, please.
Firstly, employees are by far the most important thing for me. Nothing works properly without an effective and motivated workforce, so I tend towards a familiar management style.

What has been your most exciting task on the job so far?
The most exciting task was definitely moving the separate labs to a central site.
We had to organize an empty industrial building so that the individual departments from the various locations could be brought together in the most effective way possible. It was certainly a mammoth task!

How do you strike a balance between work, free time and family?
My job is very time-consuming and it doesn't stop at 5 o'clock. But the most important thing it that I enjoy it and can identify completely with the work and the content. But work isn't everything! Of course I look forward to the end of the day and going home to my family.

How do you spend your free time?
In my free time I drive vintage cars and tinker with cars. I've even built my own car, which I'm very proud of! I spend the rest of my free time with my family.

How do you envision your professional future?
I'm very happy with my position and current job.