Global Mobility

Why did I decide to go abroad? After my studies, it was clear to me that I wanted to develop professionally and personally as quickly as possible, gain a lot of experience and take on new challenges. That's why I was very happy and grateful when Groz-Beckert gave me the opportunity to work abroad for a while.

I then spent a total of two years and seven months in the Czech Republic at our site in Budweis, initially as project coordinator for mechanical engineering and later as head of production technology at the site. It was hard for me to say goodbye to my workplace, my colleagues and my "second home", which also offered great opportunities for leisure activities, because I felt at home there. My colleagues welcomed me warmly, were helpful and there was always a constructive and appreciative working atmosphere.

Overall, the work abroad was characterized by a high degree of independence, a broad field of activity, varied tasks and a high degree of personal responsibility. After a while, I even had the opportunity to take responsibility for a team. Overall, the learning curve was really enormous, I was offered a lot of opportunities and was able to develop a lot professionally and personally in a relatively short time and expand my network, which will certainly be an advantage for my future tasks at Groz-Beckert. In my opinion, the most important thing when deciding to go abroad is to always have a positive attitude towards new things and to approach the new environment with an open mind, to be willing to take on responsibility and to face new challenges with joy and a little courage.

If I add up all my international assignments, I have spent about 6.5 years abroad and I can really recommend anyone to go abroad if the opportunity arises. An international assignment is a great opportunity to develop both professionally and personally. The assignment process at Groz-Beckert has always gone well. You get a lot of support from the HR department, both in preparation and later on site.

I have been working as Plant Manager in Deerljik from February 2021 until August 2023, where our Belgian production site for the Carding Division is located. The site is on the border with France. In addition to Flemish and English, French is also spoken, which sometimes presents us with special challenges. With around 75 employees, it is one of the smaller production sites, which makes everything a bit more "familiar" and the hierarchies very lean. On the one hand, this means that you have to take on more responsibility for a wide range of areas, but on the other hand it also means that decisions can be made quickly. In addition, expertise can be called upon from Albstadt at any time.

I really enjoy meeting people from different countries and dealing with different cultures. That's why I've been going abroad again and again since 2006. With Groz-Beckert, I have already had the pleasure of working abroad four times. I have already been to Portugal twice, then to China for almost five years, and since 2019 I have been back in Porto, our subsidiary in Portugal.

Although I often find the day-to-day work here in Portugal very challenging, I feel very much at home and part of the organisation, where I have been very well received. However, At the beginning I quickly realized that English doesn't get you everywhere, so sometimes you have to use your hands and feet to communicate, which can be quite amusing. I was also impressed by the great helpfulness and openness of the Portuguese, especially if you appreciate Portuguese culture.

China, on the other hand, was an absolute adventure in a completely different world at the beginning, which somehow became normal in the end. Looking back it was a very positive experience both privately and professionally.

If there's one thing I miss when I'm abroad, it's my family and friends, whereas the best friendships have also lasted abroad over the years. All in all, I would definitely recommend going abroad. Looking back, all the countries and challenges have had a positive impact on me and helped me to grow personally.

As I always wanted to live and work abroad for a longer period of time, I seized the opportunity at Groz-Beckert and have now been working at our Indian location in Chandigarh as a production technician in the knitting sector since July 2022. Overall, I like it here very much. The work is interesting but, I won't lie, also incredibly exhausting. You work here 6 days a week, 48 hours, and honestly, sometimes that's not enough. Still, the work is fun. So if you're looking for a challenge, this is the place to be. The working atmosphere is very good. You work together amicably and feel part of the team.

My wife, who is accompanying me on this adventure and who also likes it here very much, and I spend a lot of time with the other expats outside working hours. But we have also made many friends in Chandigarh. Nevertheless, there are some things you miss during an assignment abroad, such as your family, German food and drink, or regular traffic. In addition, there is an "aha experience" almost every day, because you never know what to expect the next day. But on the whole, it is exactly these differences that make the stay so exciting and as long as you adapt to the conditions and are open to them, you can stand it here very well and also find many advantages.

The preparations in Germany went very well with the visa application, look-and-see and other preparations. In the first weeks in India, on the other hand, we had to deal with some challenges, but they were overcome. In general, I can only recommend everyone to make this experience and to get involved with other cultures and ways of working. It brings real added value, both professionally and personally.