Apprenticeship motor vehicle mechatronics technician

This apprenticeship is a dream fulfilment for me. Almost my entire family works in the trades, most of them in the automotive industry. So it was clear early on that I would go in the same direction. I've been in the workshop since I was 6 years old, screwing, tinkering and drilling on all kinds of vehicles.

After a few rejections, I looked for help with my applications. CSB Schimmel Automobile was suggested to me several times. I then applied and was accepted straight away.

We have a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere in the workshop. A joke here and there, but also the constant willingness to help and openness to explain things until I understand them, make it very easy to enjoy coming to work.

First, the coffee cup is filled - of course! Then the orders are looked through and the workshop is prepared for the day.

My journeyman assigns me the tasks. Mainly everything that has to do with the mechanics and electrics of commercial vehicles. As we take on our customers directly, we have to quickly change our perspective and rethink things. In addition, many foreign professional lorry drivers also come to the workshop, so they have to be able to speak English.

I have already specialised in commercial vehicles. My original motivation was to become a professional firefighter. You need a truck driving licence and the relevant specialist knowledge for that. Now I like the job as a mechanic and CSB Schimmel as an employer so much that it is no longer an option for me.

Openness and friendly behaviour can be found here every day, even on bad days. The patience of all the masters and journeymen here is very long. I can ask the same question 3 or even 4 times, I always get help and everything is explained until I understand it.

Before I specialised, I was still involved in the project. Together with Julian, I hooked up the axles and the engine on the Mitsubishi Lancer and primed the underbody. I'm no longer responsible for the new project.

I have a week of vocational school once a month. My subjects there are technical English, social studies and economics. But the most important subject is the learning field. That's where we learn the theory behind our professional practice.

I realised early on that I wanted to work in the skilled trades. Craftsmanship runs in our family. My enthusiasm for cars then ensured that I chose this profession.

I only live a 5-minute walk from here, so I was already familiar with the company before I started looking for an apprenticeship. Of course, I did a lot of research at trade fairs and on the internet, including about other companies. But by the end of my internship, I realised that this was the company for me. Short distances, diversity and the company atmosphere - nobody else could beat that.

Hammer! Joking aside, that's how it is. Everyone helps everyone and always with a smile on their face. I really appreciate the good communication because I know that my classmates at vocational school don't necessarily feel the same way.

I don't like the taste of coffee, so I can't give the standard answer. laughsFirst we get changed and then tidy up and prepare the workshop.

We get everything here in the workshop. We've just had our "tyre change day", there's always a lot of pressure behind it. In my normal day-to-day work, I do oil changes, maintenance, everything that comes with the job. I now know quite well what I can and can't do, so my journeyman hardly has to share the jobs with me any more.

I find the high-voltage sector very exciting! I recently started specialising in it. It's an area with a future, but you can see that. The diesel scandal will be followed by the petrol scandal. We won't get very far without alternative drive systems.

What I particularly like is this "one hand washes the other" philosophy. People help each other without comment, questions are answered often and for as long as it takes to understand them. In general, this team spirit is very important here, you can tell!

We all restore vintage Mitsubishi cars together. My job is to do everything mechanical on the engine and in the interior.

It works individually for everyone here. I spend one week at the company and one week at school. There I learn technical English, legal and business basics and the necessary theory for my day-to-day work.