Are you tough enough for TAF(F)?

Weinheim, January 28, 2014. Seek out, find and above all secure – this is the Freudenberg Group's strategy for its employees of tomorrow. Any intern attracting attention during his internship at the Company as a result of his commitment and performance, is included in the "Talents@Freudenberg" TAF(F) program.  One such intern is Jan Kemmerich. The 31 year-old completed his internship at Freudenberg, followed by a PhD and today works as a project engineer in the field of fuel cell components.

"We encourage talented people all over the world and have introduced clear rules for career development," explains Dr. Mohsen Sohi, Speaker of the Freudenberg Group's Board of Management. "We need the most creative and innovative people, regardless of their culture and whether they are male or female." TAF(F) is only one of a number of programs the Company has developed to target potential employees.

 "The Company has shown me – through TAF(F) - that it's interested in me and that it values my work. Furthermore, I can really contribute something as a young employee and change things," says Jan Kemmerich. From intern, to under-graduate and finally project engineer. Today Kemmerich works on the design and further development of existing sealing concepts for fuel cells. The 31 year-old is very happy with his first steps on the career ladder. "I really enjoy the international nature of the Company; I get on very well with my colleagues and even the region appeals to me."

Kemmerich originally comes from Cologne, and went to Aachen to study mechanical engineering where he got to know the Institute for Synthetic Materials processing. The Institute works closely with Freudenberg – which is how Kemmerich first learned of Freudenberg. "The Freudenberg Group is a very interesting employer, as it is highly-diversified. Compared to other internships during my studies, Freudenberg simply stands out above the rest."

TAF(F) – a worthwhile program for everyone

The prerequisite for inclusion in the TAF(F)-Pool is a very good assessment by the department where the internship took place. ""If an intern catches our eye with an impressive performance, we invest in him straight away – even during his studies," explains Christin Schulz, Personnel Officer at Freudenberg. "It's very important for us to develop and foster contact to young people who are especially talented." At the moment there are around 30 students in the pool to whom all the Freudenberg companies have access. In this way we are able to fill our vacancies with people who are already known to us. "Every candidate remains in the database for at least for two years. At the end of this period, we ask each individual whether he is interested in participating in the TAF(F) program," says Schulz.

In addition to regular information about Freudenberg, TAF(F) interns have the opportunity to participate in exclusive seminars and training sessions in Weinheim. New interns are invited to the annual TAF(F) event, a two-day conference at the headquarter in Weinheim. In this way, students gain valuable insight into the company and are able to demonstrate and deepen their know-how at a series of workshops. Maintaining contact to former interns is also of great benefit: the number of suitable candidates for vacancies is increasing and recruitment costs can therefore be reduced.