As I trained as an IT systems integration specialist at PARI, you could describe me as being home-grown! My traineeship according to Germany's Dual System consisted of six blocks of two weeks spent at technical college interspersed with work experience at PARI. This allowed me to get to know the different sectors of the company. Before starting work here, I'd never have thought PARI was so big and involved in so many operational areas. Today I really appreciate such variety in my role as a systems administrator in the IT department. My work is only the start of this: I not only look after IT users in Second-Level Support, but also SAP systems – and get involved in all kinds of different projects. I'd especially like to deepen my knowledge of SAP in future.

Incidentally, as soon as I finished my training, I took part in one of the most exciting projects I've worked on to date: complete rollout of the eToken, taking charge, from planning to coordination of the process. One major challenge was responding to the positive and negative feedback from staff to the new hardware. But I had no problem in coping. Firstly, as I had already taken part in PARI seminars on self-development for trainees and relationship / conflict management, and secondly, because the company is simply full of friendly, helpful and obliging team players.

And by the way, our departmental outings are not only great fun: they're also a great opportunity to get to know colleagues in a more informal context. You can then get down to work again feeling refreshed.