Company–Apprentice Speed Dating in Korneuburg

This year, the #Bildungsmeile (Education Mile) was replaced by the Company–Apprentice Speed Dating in Korneuburg – an event organized by the WKO.

GST offers the following training opportunities for interested young people:

• Apprenticeship: Metal Technology – Module Mechanical Engineering (3.5 years)
• Apprenticeship: Electrical Engineering – Module Plant and Industrial Engineering (3.5 years)
• Dual Apprenticeship: Metal Technology and Electrical Engineering (4 years)

In 2013, we took part in the Bildungsmeile for the first time. Many young people, school classes, and families took the opportunity to come to Sierndorf to get to know GST better and to gain insights into the apprenticeship program in Metal Technology.
Many young people were so impressed by us that they decided to start an apprenticeship at our company. Apprentices are equally important to us – back then, during, and now also after the Bildungsmeile.

Today, getting to know each other is different – faster: The WKO tested “speed dating” between companies and applicants in several federal states. Both sides only have 8 minutes to get a first impression. Those who are genuinely interested in the company or profession can then take a deeper look.

At GST, we offer trial days for this purpose. While the name may sound rather informal, these days are already much more in-depth compared to the first 8 minutes of introduction. What our apprentice David Fischer-Mantler and our production manager Christian Mangel can convey in just 8 minutes is hard to say. Spending a full workday gives you a much clearer picture.

Traveling to and from the company is also an important aspect. The community on site, the working atmosphere – these things cannot be conveyed at a “speed dating” event. And our products – high-precision grinding machines – look far less impressive in a brochure than in real life.

In any case, we had a lot of fun at the event. I also had the chance to gain some insight on site and take photos to report “back home” about this first speed dating event. Short conversations with WKO District Office Manager Magª Anna Schrittwieser and the promoter Mr. Toni Ferk gave us further insights as a company.

But we all need to keep at it together: In the future, it will remain important to provide young people with solid training and give them the opportunity to receive support in choosing a career. Companies and the WKO share this responsibility. We take it seriously – not only at speed dating events, but also later on throughout the entire apprenticeship at GST.