Career Factory: Insights into Germany’s Silicon Valley
In the jungle of entrepreneurial diversity, in the labyrinth of seemingly endless possibilities, choosing an employer often comes down to a metaphorical roll of the dice. The Career Factory at TUM Campus Heilbronn aims to remedy this situation and offers students and companies a joint platform for exchange, networking, and inspiration.
The future belongs to graduates with interface skills – this mantra hovers over the age of digital transformation and also over the Heilbronn-Franconia economic region. Students at TUM Campus Heilbronn are currently experiencing it: their skillset is in demand like never before. At the same time, graduation brings with it the agony of choice – and with it the need for help in making a decision.
At least, that’s how those responsible at the campus see it. A new exchange and information format is designed to help. And so, last summer, the Career Factory took place for the first time on TUM campus in Heilbronn. Six hours were allotted for students to experience a somewhat different kind of speed dating in the campus auditorium. Instead of potential life partners, they got to know various economic players in the region, networked if they were interested, and were able to weigh various career options. Among others, representatives of the Tii Group, Bechtle AG, RECARO Aircraft Seating and the Schwarz Group were on site with information booths – in order to establish contact with the international young talent of their industry, but also to inform about requirements, realities, and development plans. Germany’s Federal Employment Agency also had a booth, where students could get tips and information on how to write a successful résumé (CV).
In addition to the information booths, the Career Factory had an attractive stage program up its sleeve: presentations by company representatives were interspersed with an improv theater in which students were asked to act out various pitfalls and faux pas of everyday working life together with actors and actresses.
Apparently, the offer hit a nerve: more than a hundred participants – and thus about a quarter of the enrolled students – took advantage of the opportunity and sought exchange with potential employers. This is one of the reasons why the Career Factory is to be held annually from now on. But there are other arguments as well.
Because Heilbronn, as a business location, also benefits from networking: “Of course, we want you to stay here in the region after graduation. After all, Heilbronn is ideal for starting a career,” emphasized Campus Managing Director Daniel Gottschald in his opening speech to the students. Addressing the attractive working conditions of the competition in the American Silicon Valley, he noted: “The Heilbronn region has just as much quality, innovative character, and development potential to offer. Making this reality clear, showing our students appropriate paths, and breaking down prejudices – the Career Factory can make an important contribution to this.”
