Career Talk for Internationals – graduates and their successful transition from student to work life

• Muna Abdulrahman, a graduate of Innovation and Product Management (IPM), originally from the United Arab Emirates and now working as an Innovation Manager for BRP Rotax in Gunskirchen
• Tea Čičak from Croatia, a recent graduate of the Electrical Engineering (EE) who has been selected for the highly competitive AcceleratiON trainee programme at BMW in Steyr, together with
• Dhruv Somani, an Automotive Mechatronics and Management (AMM) graduate from India, who jumpstarted his career in the same programme at BMW Steyr last fall
• Germanno Longhi Beck from Brazil, now a developer at Fronius International, after having graduated in Sustainable Energy Systems (SES) and worked as a researcher and lecturer at FH Wels for a few years.

As an expert from industry, Ms. Alexandra Schwarz-Greiner from STIWA Group contributed her HR expertise in a panel discussion moderated by Assistant Professor Vanessa Prüller. More than 70 students were inspired by the speakers, asked many questions and took the opportunity to network with graduates and speakers at the buffet following the discussion.

The event contributed by providing a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges for international graduates when pursuing a career in Austria and showed four examples of a successful transition from student to work life. One of the key messages of all five speakers was: learn German! Even though many companies are making efforts to provide a welcoming environment to internationals and English might be used for work purposes, speaking the local language is still key to social integration.

We thank all speakers for sharing their experience and being role-models for our current international students at FH OÖ!