Between cheese fondue and Swiss chocolate – My time at Jungheinrich Switzerland
Our JIG Jonas spent some time in our Swiss Sales Unit, where he provided valuable support. Here, he shares his impressions and experiences.
My name is Jonas and I am part of the Jungheinrich International Graduate (JIG) programme in Hamburg. As part of my assignment, I had the opportunity to spend several weeks at Jungheinrich in Switzerland – a time full of professional development, exciting insights and heartfelt encounters.
Grow professionally – with responsibility and trust
During my stay, I worked on two exciting projects that gave me deep insights into the local business. My assignment concluded with a presentation to the Leadership Board of Jungheinrich Switzerland – a moment my project manager and I had worked hard towards to. His constructive feedback in the run-up to the presentation helped me to hone the content. The positive response I received afterwards gave me a boost, both professionally and personally.
Memorable customer visits
Another visit was more spontaneous, but therefore all the more impressive. After completing my projects, I had one day off during my last week. I contacted the Automation Service Leader, whom I had not met personally before, and asked if I could accompany him on a visit to a technician. He agreed without hesitation and organised several appointments. Among other things, we visited an automated deep-freeze warehouse at -26 °C and an automated beverage warehouse. In just one day, I met eight technicians from Jungheinrich Switzerland – all of them friendly, open and full of exciting stories from their everyday lives.
A smooth start
What made my stay so special? The openness and warmth of the team.
Thanks to my previous assignments in the JIG programme, I am used to getting to know new working environments on a regular basis. But the smooth start in Switzerland was by no means taken for granted. Even before I arrived, I was surprised – my colleagues had kindly prepared my hotel room and even done some initial grocery shopping. It was a small detail that made a big difference: I felt welcome right away.
This welcoming culture continued throughout my entire stay. Whether it was coffee together, quick chats in between or appreciative feedback – I always felt well looked after. To be honest, it was quite difficult for me to say goodbye.
Cultural diversity and active integration
What particularly impressed me was that as soon as I joined a conversation, all my colleagues automatically switched to standard German. This gesture showed me how much value is placed on integration and cooperation.
My advice to future JIGs:
Find out about the characteristics of your host country in advance – it's worth it! In my case, that meant skiing and city breaks in Switzerland at the weekends – a real highlight!
