Interview with Evelyn H.
Hallo Evelyn!
What did you study and how did you end up dropping out?
I studied “General Education” with a minor in “Sociology” at the LMU Munich for one semester after my Abitur. I was actually interested in psychology, but my Abitur grade point average wasn’t good enough for that (I would have needed an A average). That’s why I hoped to find one or two subjects in the education programme that had something to do with psychology. This was the case, but I still lost motivation to study after a few months because a lot of theoretical knowledge was taught. I realised that I would rather learn things that I know I can use later or that I can apply directly. Another reason for dropping out of my studies was that the future in an educational profession did not seem very promising to me, both in terms of the situation on the labour market and the financial prospects.
How did you come to CIB?
I first started an apprenticeship as an electronics technician in Munich and therefore moved to Munich to a hostel for students and apprentices. After I broke off the training after three quarters of a year, I was looking for a new training position. This time as an IT specialist, as this profession seemed to fit my skills best. The hall of residence where I was still living at that time had a pedagogical support service, i.e. there was a contact person on site every day for any concerns. The counsellor responsible for my residential group at the time knew about my search for a training place and told me about CIB and that they were looking for trainees. I then wrote an application to CIB and was invited for an interview shortly afterwards. One week later, I received an acceptance letter and voilà – here I am!
In which department did you start and how did you get started?
I started in the support team. There, together with the other four trainees, I was able to get to know CIB’s products. This gave us a first insight into the diverse product range and at the same time we got to know the other trainees. The start was well organised and structured in such a way that everyone was allowed to learn at their own pace and there was always a contact person on site in case of problems.
Where are you now?
I’m now in the development team and work on automating processes, among other things, and have already contributed a small part to the new doXisafe.
What do you like best about CIB?
What I like best is that even as a trainee you are involved in ongoing projects and the general openness to new ideas and suggestions.
What tips do you have for dropouts?
If you are more of a practice-oriented person, an apprenticeship might suit you better. Especially in the IT sector, a degree is no longer absolutely necessary to get a good job later on. That’s why I recommend that anyone who doubts whether a degree is right for them simply take a look at the job market and consider whether an apprenticeship might not be enough. In the best case, you can swap a lengthy, theory-heavy degree programme for a varied, practice-oriented apprenticeship in which you not only earn money but also gain valuable work experience.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
