What was your application process like at Schulmeister?
I applied spontaneously and was invited to an initial online interview the next day and then to take part in a personality analysis. A personal interview with Matthias Schulmeister was arranged on the same day. The atmosphere was very pleasant and we agreed to work together in the future with a handshake right at the meeting.
Why did you choose this job?
I moved from Upper Austria to Vienna at the end of 2020 during the Covid lockdown. At the time of my application, I was working for a tour operator and had already been on short-time work for a year. As I wanted to work more again and also build up social contacts in Vienna, I finally decided to make a career change. The application to Schulmeister was my first and it was a perfect fit.
I started in march 2021 in the front office as a management assistant and office manager. The success stories of candidates and colleagues made me want to develop professionally, so I decided to study HR management. When I started my studies in fall 2022, I moved internally from the front office to project assistance - for which I am very grateful to Matthias Schulmeister. It's not a given that you can change positions within the company and easily adjust the number of hours to suit your individual circumstances. My new part-time role as a project and research assistant allowed me to flexibly combine my day-to-day work with my studies. In summer 2023, I also took on a team management role for the project assistant team and in fall 2023 for the quality control team as well.
What does your typical working day at Schulmeister look like?
My typical working day always starts with a trip to the kitchen to get some water and coffee. Then I check my emails and get an overview of the day's to-dos. Every day is a little different - my tasks mainly consist of internal meetings, attending customer briefings, designing advertisements, searching for candidates in our database and on social media, contacting them by phone or in writing, preparing application documents, writing reports and general administrative tasks. In my role as team leader, I also constantly evaluate processes or take care of training new colleagues. In between, I appreciate the exchange with my teams - also outside of work on a personal level.
What's great about your job?
What I currently appreciate most about my part-time job is the flexibility and the fact that I can combine it with my studies and my private life. I can adjust my working hours to suit my needs and focus on every area of my life. I also like the variety of tasks in my role and the fact that I not only gain insights into different job profiles, but also into different industries. And, of course, it's always great to be involved when there's a perfect match between client and candidate.
What challenges does your job entail?
As a project assistant at Schulmeister, there is always a lot going on - our consultants manage many projects in parallel and therefore rely on our support. The workload can be challenging at times, but this is exactly how I have learned to handle tasks efficiently, set priorities correctly and keep a cool head even in stressful situations. My additional role as a team leader is also challenging for me at times. On the one hand, I try to support my colleagues in consulting operationally in their project work, but of course internal issues must not be neglected either - finding the right balance is important here.
What makes your team special?
Open communication and uncomplicated, friendly interaction with one another. We support each other as best we can. As both the quality control and project assistance teams are made up of part-time employees who are all studying at the same time, we understand each other and also take each other into consideration when planning shifts. But it's not just in my team, but throughout the entire company that I appreciate the open and appreciative exchange without hierarchical barriers - our consultants and the management also make time for all employee concerns despite their busy schedules. Regular company outings and celebrations also promote a sense of togetherness and interaction with colleagues at our other locations.
Why does Schulmeister suit you as an employer?
I came to Schulmeister by chance and yet I found exactly the right employer for me. Schulmeister has given me room for personal and professional development. I've been able to learn a lot of new things and because we work for and with different people every day, the learning and growing never stops. I have experienced, not only through my own example, that individual wishes are dealt with in the best possible way. It is noticeably important to the management to provide employees with the best possible support on their career path and to create a good environment and a pleasant working atmosphere.
