Sustainability and digitalization: Mona's trainee journey
What are the stages of your trainee program?
Mona: First, I moved from my home in the Allgäu region all the way north to Hamburg. There, I spent three months at STRABAG Property and Facility Services (PFS), where I got to know the traditional work of a commercial property manager. It also turned out that I was also able to provide support as a technical property manager.
Interestingly, this led me to discover my passion for technical processes in buildings, even though I am actually a classic business administrator. I was then even entrusted with a project in which I was allowed to digitally map the building's technical processes via the Digital Service Platform (DSP). I worked for a major customer and our digital coordinator. The first nine months flew by!
However, I was still missing a bit of a connection to my second focus: sustainability. So I went to Vienna for three months to support the Corporate Real Estate Management department. The focus here is on climate-neutral building management and therefore also on sustainable management, construction and leasing of the Group units.
Finally, I moved back home to Stuttgart to get to know a construction background on the subject of sustainability. I am therefore spending my last two months as a trainee on campus at ZÜBLIN's Central Technology department in the area of sustainable construction. I recently attended the symposium in Aichach at the production site of the timber construction company ZÜBLIN Timber, which was super exciting, as wood is an incredibly versatile raw material.
What are you learning in your trainee program and what do you enjoy most?
Mona: At the beginning, I actually learned how to find my way around a large company. That sounds easier than it is! It wasn't my first job in a company, but the corporate culture at STRABAG is also characterized by traditions and that creates a nice bond that I wasn't used to.
As soon as it went from the theoretical tasks to the practical implementation, I enjoyed working with so many different characters and getting an overview of many processes that only work across departments. After 15 months, things have come full circle and I understand the complex processes better and better, and I'm still learning new things.
What motivates you to give your best?
Mona: At STRABAG, there are so many opportunities to express yourself! Especially through the network that you build up in the various stations, you get to know lots of people with different skills. This motivates me to keep learning and acquiring knowledge.
I like to do my best because I quickly realized that you get the opportunity to make a difference here and work on many projects. What I mean by that is: I didn't have to get coffee once during the whole time!
Insights into Mona's trainee journey: from Hamburg via Vienna to Stuttgart
What has been your highlight of the program so far?
Mona: There's a clear answer: Vienna! The charm of the city, my colleagues on site and the proximity to corporate events made my time there an incredible experience.
I'm very grateful to everyone who helped make me feel at home.
What development opportunities do you have after the trainee program?
Mona: I think anything is possible here if you show the right ambition. Thanks to the diversity of STRABAG, there are development opportunities in every direction! So just get started and see where the journey takes you.
For me, I'm going to the Technical Property Management Competence Center at STRABAG PFS. There, I will take on a consulting role for the operational units and will be responsible for the implementation and digitalization of standardized processes, the expansion of quality management and the optimization of tenders for subcontractor services, among other things.
Thank you, Mona, for the interesting insights into your trainee journey and I wish you continued fun and success on your path at STRABAG PFS!