Four German trainees from Mercedes-Benz have traveled to Finland and more specifically, to Valmet Automotive. Now they can experience Finland and its culture up close, and they are seizing the chance. Elmedina, office management assistant, Simon, IT specialist for data and process analytics, Süleyman, industrial mechanic, and Muhammed Ali, manufacturing mechanic – are here at our Uusikaupunki car plant, working for three weeks.
All trainees have recently completed their “Abitur”, the general upper secondary school level qualification comparable to the matriculation examination, and currently they are going through the second year of their apprenticeship at Mercedes-Benz. Apprenticeships last 2 to 3 years and include learning the mentor’s tasks and exams, sometimes also an opportunity to visit countries like Spain, Finland, Romania or Ireland. The goal is to get to know other cultures and work in a different environment.
We had the chance to hear Elmedina’s thoughts about the apprenticeship and her first insights on Valmet Automotive:
- We are the first trainees with the chance to visit Valmet Automotive and we are excited for this experience, to get to know the Finnish culture and to strengthen our language skills. We are here for three weeks and I’m really looking forward to getting to know the company.
Pursuing an apprenticeship right after finishing school is common in Germany. Many teenagers find it appealing to gain practical and theoretical skills while earning money at young age. The first step in an apprenticeship in Germany is to apply to a company of your choice. In this case, our four trainees chose Mercedes-Benz.
- If a company is interested in your application, you’ll need to pass two exams. Completing these will lead to a job interview. If that goes well, you’re in! As part of my apprenticeship, we rotate through different departments. In addition to working in the company, we also attend vocational school, alternating between one month at the company and one month in class. If we succeed in all assessments and exams, we officially complete our apprenticeship and can begin working as full-time employees in the company.
During the trainee period at Valmet Automotive, Elmedina is working in HR, handling tasks across different departments. Simon is working in the ICT department, while Muhammed Ali and Süleyman are in the production area, performing maintenance work.
- The first few days at Valmet Automotive have been incredibly interesting. We’ve met fantastic people, had memorable experiences, and enjoyed some delicious food. One of the highlights was going for a drive with Mercedes-AMG GT 63s on the test track. The tour of the plant’s production facilities was equally fascinating.
We are happy to have you as our guests Elmedina, Simon, Muhammed Ali and Süleyman – welcome to Valmet Automotive!