A Launchpad for Young Talent: STILL Apprenticeships
Each year, more young people embark on their careers at STILL. Dedicated trainers pass on technical knowledge, show them how to work as a team, and help them lay the foundation for their future careers. In 2023, STILL welcomed over 71 new apprentices and vocational students. In 2022, the company was recognized by the Schulewirtschaft network for the high-quality training it provides and its promotion of women in STEM professions, such as mathematics, IT, science, and technology. This award highlights STILL’s deep commitment to supporting young people in their careers.
The company regularly presents in schools and offers career guidance to inspire and inform the next generation about the wide range of training opportunities available at STILL. These events give pupils a practical insight into just how fascinating work at STILL can be. The Hamburg-based company also works with universities, attending information events and offering internships, student jobs, and work placement opportunities for vocational students. STILL’s high-quality training program makes the company an attractive employer, as does its social outreach work, long-term careers, and unique sense of team spirit. Just listen to what the employees themselves have to say. Here, we interview six young people to find out why they chose to begin their careers at STILL, what their jobs involve, and why they would still choose STILL if they had their time again.
What’s your name?
Maximilian Schwenn
How old are you?
30
What do you do at STILL?
Since 2019, I’ve been working as a metalwork training supervisor. Before that, I trained as a construction mechanic and worked as an industrial robot assembly welder for six years.
What’s special about the team spirit at STILL?
The support for each other, both professionally and personally.
Why did you decide to become a training supervisor at STILL?
Both during and after my time as a trainee, I realized that I really liked passing on my knowledge. I enjoy helping young people develop professionally and fostering their potential.
Which elements of your job do you look forward to the most when you start your working day?
Hands-on work with the apprentices and sustainable projects.
What’s your name?
Malte Lueder
How old are you?
25
What do you do at STILL?
I’m in the third semester of my vocational course in electrical engineering and information technology.
What’s special about the team spirit at STILL?
At STILL, everyone helps each other—after all, nobody can know everything. We also spend time together outside of work, going wakeboarding and karting for example, so we have really got to know each other well.
How did you come to join the vocational program at STILL?
After secondary school, all I knew was that I wanted to do something technical, so I trained as a mechatronics engineer. While training, I realized that I particularly enjoyed electrical engineering and computer science, and that this was what I wanted to study. I found out about STILL’s vocational program from the website of Hamburg University of Applied Science. STILL is a great fit for my studies because there are so many electrical engineering and information technology opportunities here.
What career goal are you hoping to achieve thanks to your time at STILL?
I would like to figure out which specialization to choose for my studies. Working with the different departments at STILL helps me to find out which areas interest me the most.
What’s your name?
Hanifi Alamese
How old are you?
19
What do you do at STILL?
I’m a third-year mechatronics technician.
What’s special about the team spirit at STILL?
The strong sense of solidarity. Whether you’ve had a good day or a bad one, there’s always someone there. Plus, everyone here is so helpful.
What career goal are you hoping to achieve thanks to your time at STILL?
I would like to complete more training to become a service technician. That might help me find a job elsewhere or I could also stay at STILL.
Was there a day that particularly stood out during your training?
Yes, when I visited my old school to talk to the pupils there about STILL and the training they offer here. They were so interested and excited. I really enjoyed the day.
What’s your name?
Kaan Yunus Akkoc
How old are you?
19
What do you do at STILL?
I’m in my first year of training to be a warehouse logistics specialist.
What’s special about the team spirit at STILL?
At STILL, there’s no ‘I’, just ‘We’. For me, that’s team spirit. The welcome in the morning and the farewell in the evening also play a big role in promoting the sense of team spirit and the positive atmosphere at work. After all, wellbeing is so important.
What helped you most when you started your training at STILL?
The way the training year was organized. We were given a warm welcome and time to get to know the other apprentices. We were also introduced to a contact person, who was then able to support us whenever we had any questions.
What tip would you give to new apprentices?
Stay motivated and be yourself. Keep in touch with other apprentices who are in the same job as you.
What’s your name?
Merit Vorwerk
How old are you?
23
What do you do at STILL?
I’m training to be a mechatronics engineer and I’m in my first year.
What’s special about the team spirit at STILL?
For me, it’s the fact that I felt the team spirit at STILL right from my very first contact with the company. From the job interview, to the internship, to the start of my training, the open, friendly atmosphere quickly made me realize that STILL attaches great importance to team spirit and communication as equals.
How did you come to train at STILL?
Initially, I completed a two-week internship. During those two weeks, I found out more about the factory, the apprentice workshop and the work, and had the opportunity to chat to apprentices from the higher apprenticeship years. After that, I knew that I wanted to do my apprenticeship at STILL.
What do you expect from STILL as an apprenticeship provider?
I expect two important things: First, good collaboration throughout the apprenticeship—both on a professional and personal level, and second, future career prospects.
What’s your name?
Lucia Silva
How old are you?
20
What do you do at STILL?
I’m currently in the second year of my vocational training to be a construction mechanic.
What’s special about the team spirit at STILL?
For me, there are three elements: First, cooperation – we work effectively as a team to achieve common goals and share our knowledge and skills to solve problems and drive projects forward. Next, open and efficient communication – we listen to each other, share information, and keep each other up to date on everything. And lastly, flexibility—we adapt to changing requirements as a team and stay open to new ideas.
What advice would you give to young people when choosing a career?
Use an internship as an opportunity to broaden your horizons. Further education is about more than simply developing a specialization, so take the chance to find out more and try out different fields and roles. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith to discover something new. It can be intimidating to face new and unfamiliar challenges, but these challenges enable you to develop a versatile skill set and find your dream job. So be brave and curious!
Was there a day that particularly stood out during your training?
My personal highlight was the forklift construction seminar. This challenged us to improve our communication skills through a series of short games and we also had to compete in groups to design the best forklift truck. It was a great opportunity to put my technical skills and our sense of team spirit to the test.
