Testimonial
Graduate Specialist Program

Human resources

I am Nina, and I have completed the Graduate Specialist Program in the human resources (HR) department at Bosch Rexroth. Since finishing my trainee program, I have been assisting with staffing efforts as an HR business partner and supporting our (strategic) personnel planning and development, particularly in the regions of Africa and South America. I am also responsible for key topics such as talent management in the area of research & development as well as for global organization management at Bosch Rexroth.

We often talk about the “Bosch Rexroth family” – and that is a very accurate description. It is this environment of trust, appreciation, authenticity, and openness that makes the difference.

Why did you decide to join the Graduate Specialist Program at Bosch Rexroth in the area of human resources?

While studying business education, I worked in HR and project teams for various companies both at home and abroad. This allowed me to experience the diversity of HR work and the opportunities that this area offers. I quickly realized that while I felt at home in the HR world, I was not ready to opt for a specific role straight after my studies. The trainee program at Bosch Rexroth allowed me to experience many different facets of HR within a short space of time.

During the selection process, I was very impressed by the authenticity of the Bosch Rexroth associates. When faced with new challenges, it was very important to me to be able to call upon the help of colleagues and superiors – people who could both push and support me so that I could grow as a person. Even in the very first conversations with my mentor during the Assessment Center, I knew that I was in safe hands. It was clear that this was the right place for me.

Where did the GSP take you on your placements?

In my first trainee placement, I worked as an assistant to my mentor, an experienced HR manager. This gave me a comprehensive insight into the Bosch Group, Bosch Rexroth AG, and a wide range of HR topics, and this is something I continue to benefit from today.

I then supported the personnel marketing team, a role which included organizing a trade fair event with around 600 students from various universities.

After this time spent in central HR departments in Lohr am Main, I moved to the local HR department of the Elchingen plant, where I assisted with day-to-day operations as an HR business partner.

My final trainee placement took me to South America. Here I was once again able to assist my colleagues in a wide range of HR tasks, while also brushing up on my Spanish skills and getting to know new countries, cultures, and people. With a great deal of curiosity, warmth, and openness, we were able to learn a lot from each other and foster the continued exchange between our countries. I also used my time in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile to familiarize myself with (trans-)regional topics and the associated, aforementioned tasks that I do today.

What fascinates you about this area?

The sheer variety of it.

For me personally, it is the perfect mix of business administration, psychology, sociology, organizational development, and law. In my everyday work, I enjoy the alternation between structured and free work as well as operational and strategic collaboration with colleagues from a wide range of departments all across the globe.

But that’s not all. Buzzwords like work/life balance, lifelong learning, generation X/Y/Z, diversity, war for talent, recruitment 4.0, or networking and coaching demonstrate the diversity of current challenges and underline the need for HR transformation.

What do you do in your free time?

I have been playing tennis since the age of six, and this is not only a passion of mine but also represents the perfect counterpart to my professional life. While I would consider myself a total team player at work, I relish the “1-against-1” competition on the tennis court. In a match, of course, it’s all about mental toughness, since the toughest opponent is probably yourself. There is simply no room for doubt or uncertainty as decisions have to be made spontaneously, intuitively, and at lightning speed.

As is often the case, however, this is another area where the professional and personal spheres can come together to great effect. By way of example, my integration in the various locations at home and abroad was facilitated not only by the strong (international) team community, but also by the existence of (Bosch Rexroth) tennis groups.

The ability to get to know different locations, teams, and topics in a short space of time along with the wide-ranging training provision, the individual and flexible program planning, and the very effective mentoring have made the GSP the perfect start to my career. It has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally, thereby laying the foundation for my professional management career.