It was a real highlight at the end of my stay abroad to see the tunnel boring machine in London still in operation! The landscape also had so much to offer.

Iris

Iris, site manager at ZÜBLIN Timber

Iris studied civil engineering in Biberach and applied for her dream job, the technical trainee program at ZÜBLIN Timber, a year before completing her studies. She used her acceptance as optimal preparation for her future career.
The application process was very informal. After she had submitted her application, she had an online interview and then a second interview at the Aichach site, including a tour of the plant.

My motto: In the thick of it instead of just being there. The preceding trainee program put me on the path to construction management.

Iris

How did you start your career?

After the graduation ceremony, I started my professional life seamlessly. During my trainee program, I spent twelve months in various positions at ZÜBLIN Timber and at different ZÜBLIN locations, as well as a three-month assignment abroad, which took me to London to work on Europe's largest infrastructure project. The trainee program gave me a great start to my professional life.

It gives you the opportunity to get to know many different departments within the Group and thus gain your own impression of the complex interrelationships. This is particularly helpful if you are not yet sure which position you would like to work in later on. I was only encouraged in my decision to see my future in construction management.

Have you ever worked with wood before?

During my studies, I had already worked part-time in a carpentry workshop to gain practical experience. This made the start of the trainee program, which took me into production at the Aichach plant for two weeks, a home game. I had already worked with wood as a material, but I was able to learn a lot for myself personally and also for my future tasks in site management during these two weeks. Experiences such as the exact sequence of production processes or planning lead times are something else on this scale.
I gained additional practical experience during my three-month construction site assignment at a large building complex in Rangendingen, where I accompanied the construction management.

Were you only at Timber or did you also move around the Group?

All of the Group's doors are open: other departments within the Group were waiting for me, including positions in costing, procurement and the legal department. You should be aware that you travel a lot during this trainee program. This also means constantly getting to know new people, working with them and familiarizing yourself with new subject areas. This requires a lot of flexibility, adaptability and personal openness.
It's exhausting, but it also allowed me to learn an incredible amount and I got to know so many nice colleagues who I can still call when I have questions or need their support.

Topics that you wouldn't have originally considered so interesting turned out to be surprising highlights.
Working in our legal department, for example, was one such case. Not monotonous at all, quite the opposite. There I was able to learn how to write defect reports quickly and in a legally correct way - a very important tool for future construction managers.
My favorite station was the calculation of turnkey construction at the ZÜBLIN headquarters in Stuttgart. I was able to learn a lot about digitalization here and can now apply my knowledge at the Aichach site. I really appreciate the transfer of knowledge within the Group. Before the planned stay abroad, I then returned to Aichach to support the construction management during the construction of our own office building ^T3.

Highspeed in London: How was your assignment abroad?

I spent three months abroad working on the spectacular HS2 project in London. HS2 is a high-speed rail line designed to better connect the north of the UK with the capital, London. I literally immersed myself in the project and took on site manager duties in civil engineering. She was responsible for concreting the floor slabs in a section where the tunnel boring machine is currently drilling and which will later serve as a track change for the trains. This presented challenges in terms of both language and technical skills.
I would describe my English as very good, but English on a construction site is a completely different challenge. Not only the technical terms, but also the different nations and dialects that come together on such a major project were quite a challenge for me in the first few weeks. But the construction site team made it a lot easier for me and together we were able to achieve the planned milestones.

The permits were also very time-consuming. It can take a whole day to get all the permits together. However, all the effort and compliance were worth it. The concreting of the last section was completed on time for their last weekend of work and the mighty tunnel boring machine, which had been assembled during their stay, was started at the same time.

What's next for you?

After 15 months, I was back in Aichach and took up my position as a site manager in turnkey construction at ZÜBLIN Timber.
I'm currently working in the office, but the first construction site is already waiting in the wings.
Over the past few months, I have developed a lot both professionally and personally. I have worked in different departments and have been able to build up a network that is now very helpful in my day-to-day tasks. I can only recommend the trainee program at ZÜBLIN Timber.

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