Jobtalk

Please briefly describe your current job. What does your day-to-day work look like? What tasks do you have?

• Analysis of patent applications, as well as search and analysis of the state of the art
• Processing of patent applications from filing to the grant of a patent
• Written communication (English, French, German) with the patent applicant or patent attorney, oral negotiations on the applications

To what extent did your studies prepare you for this job? And what other skills did you have to acquire?

At university:

• Broad knowledge of communications engineering, signal processing, data processing, audio/video processing, neural networks, programming in machine language/C/C++/Python, Unix/Windows, self-discipline

Additionally acquired:

• Practical experience in the implementation of complex technical systems
• Organization of projects and an eye for the essentials
• Latest developments in the field of artificial intelligence

What advice can you give students regarding career orientation?

• Discover your own inclinations and passions
• Choose a profession in which you feel optimally employed and can make the best use of your talents
• Keep an eye on your development and choose the best decision for your life at every moment

Which three skills do you consider essential for your profession?

• Analyzing technically complex contexts and integrating detailed information into an overall picture
• Precise verbal and written expression
• Communication skills and team spirit

Please briefly describe your current job. What does your day-to-day work look like? What are your tasks?

Technical consulting and support throughout the entire process chain, starting with requirements analysis, tendering/quotation, detailed specification/project implementation/quality assurance through to rollout. My customers are usually the project departments of well-known airports in Germany and abroad.

To what extent did your studies prepare you for this job? And what skills did you still need to acquire?

The formal training in engineering provided a good professional foundation. I think the requirement for a total of 26 weeks of industrial work experience was positive. Two months of work experience at EdF in France and a course on digital methods for electrical energy systems in the USA did more to boost my foreign language skills than my entire time at school. However, at that time, trips abroad were almost unheard of. I had to organize and finance these trips myself. I consider intercultural communication and cooperation to be indispensable.

What advice can you give students regarding career orientation?

The most important thing is that you are interested in and enjoy the content of your chosen degree course. Then you will be successful in your studies. 
On the advice of teachers and careers advisors, I first started studying chemistry. I first discovered the interesting aspects of electrical energy supply through vacation jobs. With the basics of engineering, especially mathematics and physics, it is not difficult to find your way into other disciplines. During my PhD, it was power plant and control engineering. Later it was IT or aviation.

Which three skills do you consider essential for your profession?

1. mathematical and physical understanding
2. enjoying working with people
3. foreign languages and intercultural competence

Please briefly describe your current job. What does your day-to-day work look like? What are your tasks?

In the Process Planning & Construction Operations department at Züblin, I deal with formwork - from technology to purchasing - and from the quotation to the final invoice.

The formwork is rented from formwork suppliers for our construction projects and has a major influence on the shell construction costs.

In order to avoid unforeseen additional costs, we have adopted a holistic approach (from technology to purchasing - and from the offer to the final invoice). Together with my formwork team, I manage the formwork throughout the entire project cycle: starting with realistic calculations, through efficient and comparable procurement, to supporting the execution with target-actual comparisons and forecasts.

My tasks are very varied. I work a lot with our internal departments and executing divisions and am the interface to the formwork suppliers. We also use various tools that we are constantly developing ourselves.

To what extent did your studies prepare you for this job? And what other skills did you need to acquire?

My studies prepared me with a comprehensive technical understanding. As well as the basics of operational processes in construction companies. 
    
The fact that the subject of formwork is so complex was not taught to me during my studies. I taught it myself and continue to learn more every day. 
    
The studies also didn't prepare me for team management and dealing with challenging situations. But that will come with daily practice. :-)

What advice can you give students regarding career orientation?

As a civil engineer, there are so many more opportunities than planning offices or construction management. The only way to find the right one is to try it out, e.g. with working student jobs or internships. Use your contacts too! Most civil engineers are happy to tell you about their work and companies!

Which three skills do you consider essential for your profession?

1. analytical thinking and the ability to abstract - simplifying issues
2. effective communication - with team, suppliers and construction site
3 Excel - complex formula calculations and data analysis