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Interview 5 January 2021
Qualified Trade: Mechatronics Technician

Iván Almarza Fernandez is from Spain – specifically, Madrid.

After graduation, he moved to Germany and completed training as a mechatronics technician at WAGO. In an interview, he told us about his decision to come to Germany, how he likes his training program and about his plans for the future.

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You are originally from Madrid and moved to Germany for your vocational training. Why did you decide to do that?

My initial motivation was the high level of youth unemployment in Spain and the lack of career prospects. So I decided to look for alternatives in other countries. The high quality of the training in Germany is famous worldwide. WAGO offered me an opportunity to train in electrical technology, which I find very interesting. It is an internationally renowned company and an exciting employer.

From the first moment, I felt as if I had found a second family that would support me both personally and professionally. This new family helped me tremendously when starting out.

In the meantime, have you settled in? How have you been received at WAGO?

The beginning was not easy, of course. After all, I was alone in a new country and couldn’t even speak the language correctly yet. Since my training was important to me, I really made an effort to learn German quickly. That helped me manage better – in training, at the company and with people from the area, like my new neighbors. I like to spend my time exploring the area. On the weekends, I ride my bike around the city or visit other nearby towns. A few of my new friends often come along, helping acquaint me with the culture and the people. My integration into the company was super – all of my colleagues have been friendly and open, and ready to help if I need it. In addition, there’s always a contact person close by if I have problems or questions. The process of adjustment and integration took a great amount of time, both for myself and for the instructors, and commitment from both sides was essential in order for it to develop so positively. From the first moment, I felt as if I had found a second family that would support me both personally and professionally. This new family helped me tremendously when starting out.

How do you like your training? What plans do you have for the future?

I like the training a lot, since I’m embarking on a broad and interesting career that will provide me with good opportunities on the job market later. In addition, I like that teamwork and collective work are important to the company – even as a trainee, I can offer suggestions that are acted on. After my training, I’m going to work towards becoming an electrical engineer. I hope that I can obtain my second vocational qualification at WAGO. I would really like to work for WAGO here in Sondershausen or at another of WAGO’s international locations.

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