Hi Clarissa, where can you be found on the weekend?

On weekends, I like to work on cars with my friends, play badminton, or have a relaxing day with my cats.

What are the tasks of an industrial mechanic at RAUMEDIC?

As an industrial mechanic, you are responsible for the mechanical maintenance and repair of our production machines and the control and regulation systems in the clean room. This involves carrying out repairs on pneumatic or hydraulic machines. Furthermore, we optimize the machines so that there are as few machine downtimes as possible. The fewer machine downtimes there are, the more efficient our production is. The industrial mechanics only work the day shift, after which there is on-call duty.

What is the apprenticeship process for industrial mechanics at RAUMEDIC?

The dual training program for industrial mechanics takes 3,5 years and requires at least a good qualified secondary school diploma. I have a 30 days of vacation per year. During my training, I'm mainly in the company, but also in the training workshop in Rehau and at the vocational school in Hof.

In the training workshop, I take basic courses specific to my job, such as turning, milling or welding. In these courses, the focus is on intensive practical training. There is an introduction to the respective machines beforehand. There we are also prepared for the final examinations, parts 1 and 2. My trainer always covers the theoretical part for the upcoming course before I go to the training workshop. This means, for example, that he explains to me how a drill works and how it is ground correctly.

I'm permanently assigned to the workshop, so there are no department changes. I always have a colleague by my side to supervise and support me in my daily tasks. The industrial mechanics are usually informed by the production department that there has been a malfunction or stoppage. Thanks to the extensive training, I can repair more than just RAUMEDIC machines afterwards.

And what about the training at the vocational school?

I visit the vocational school in Hof. In the first year of training, classes are held on one day a week and then on two days in the second year. The vocational school mainly covers the theoretical part of the training. I have subjects there such as "production technology", "construction elements", "maintenance", "automation technology" and "politics and society".

During the school year, we have to provide proof of performance in the form of impromptu tasks and school assignments. At the end of the 2nd year of training, the final examination Part 1 must be taken, which counts for 23% of the overall result. This examination is divided into theory, practice and a technical discussion. The final exam part 2 is divided into the following four areas: Practice, order and function analysis, production technology, and business and social studies.

What makes the apprenticeship at RAUMEDIC special for you?

RAUMEDIC has a "mentor program", which means that a colleague is assigned to you and takes you everywhere. I find this program very good because your "mentor" accompanies and supports you throughout your entire training.

In addition, there is a great working atmosphere. The colleagues are very nice and also have a few laughs. I also think it's great that we're fully equipped with IT equipment, work clothes and textbooks.

Women are still underrepresented in such skilled trades. How did you come to choose this profession?

I like to work on cars in my free time. So I was already very interested in this mechanical kind of apprenticeship. It also runs in my family, as two of my sisters drive trucks and my third sister is a mechatronics engineer. I learn a lot of useful things for life in my apprenticeship and the job brings a lot of variety.

Before the apprenticeship, I did an internship in the RAUMEDIC workshop. That's why my colleagues already knew me when I started my apprenticeship. My team didn't make any distinctions right from the start and immediately gave me a great welcome. The supervisor once said to me that I bring a breath of fresh air into the workshop and that this is very good for everyone.

What do you enjoy most and what do you enjoy less?

I particularly enjoy welding and maintaining our production machines in the clean room. But above all, I enjoy the varied work every day, because no two days are the same.

What I don't like that much is cleaning the workshop at the end of the day. But that's also part of the job.

In your opinion, what should you bring with you if you are interested in working as an industrial mechanic?

On the one hand, commitment and interest in the profession and, on the other hand, a basic technical understanding, since the machines can only be repaired if their processes are understood.

My recommendation to everyone is: Do an internship beforehand to get an insight into the job and the daily work routine. This is the easiest way to find out if the job is something for you. It will also make it easier for you to join the team later on, and thus also to start your apprenticeship.

Do you already have plans for your future professional life?

Yes, I would definitely be very happy if I can continue to work with this great team. I would also love to continue my education after my apprenticeship and maybe even get my technician's degree.

Thank you very much Clarissa! We wish you continued success and lots of fun with your training and your team.