How I came to work at Volkswagen:
My first encounter with Volkswagen was back in 2011 when I wrote my bachelor’s thesis in the automated driving department of the Group’s R&D unit. I was then employed there in a student staff position during my master’s degree study. I also wrote my master’s thesis with Volkswagen in the automated driving department. Immediately afterwards, I started a nine-month stint with Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory in California. It was after this that I began my doctorate.
Brief overview of my work:
I am writing my doctorate in the automated driving department. I am involved here in a number of different projects for developing the new driver assistance systems and automated driving functions for the entire Volkswagen Group. The advantage is that I can use the practical experience and wealth of insights gained directly for my doctorate and combine this with the theoretical components.
A further highlight of my work is that I can also test the software I am programming directly in the test vehicles. My goal is to be able to support automated driving at Volkswagen from research to series production.
My best moment at Volkswagen was ...
… patenting a procedure that I developed during my time at the Electronics Research Laboratory in California. The precept for this procedure was then also presented at an international conference. This made me feel really proud. Moreover, many of the topics I am currently covering in my PhD regularly attract a lot of attention and interest from other development departments. This naturally pleases me greatly since my doctoral research topic gets to be applied in practice.
Volkswagen is the right employer for me because ...
… Volkswagen is one of the largest car companies in the world and you can really achieve a great deal here. The friendly and cooperative working environment in particular inspires me. In addition, I have an opportunity to contribute both my theoretical and practical knowledge to forward-looking projects and experience how this knowledge is then used in practice. Volkswagen also allows me to work on a variety of different topics at locations both in Germany and around the globe.
For me, the mobility of the future means ...
… that self-driving and connected vehicles will be a reality. This should allow the number of accidents caused by human error to be reduced significantly. Moreover, many people who themselves cannot drive a vehicle for various reasons, such as older people, children or also people with disabilities, will also benefit.
My application tips are ...
… find out about job vacancies and apply in good time. The application should always be created individually for the respective position, so no mass application. Less is more. The application should clearly outline your personal strengths, soft skills, interests and corresponding qualifications for the position. Authenticity is important in this context, also during the interview incidentally. You should also be well prepared technically.
