We say hello and welcome: In mid-November, we welcomed the first participants of our new Graduate Program during the Welcome Week in Bonn. 23 graduates from different countries and with different degrees are taking their first steps into professional life with us. The Welcome Week was all about getting to know each other: The participants were invited to network with each other, get to know and understand the new company and, of course, have fun!
What do new hires want and need to know when they want to get started at T-Systems? The Welcome Week for our graduates was designed with this question in mind. It marks the start of the new Graduate Program: In a mixture of theoretical units and practical on-the-job project assignments, the graduates will learn all the necessary skills for a successful start at T-Systems in six to nine months, depending on their chosen track. In the process, they will also complete a certification by one of our partners such as Google, AWS or Microsoft or be trained as a SCRUM Master. They are accompanied on their learning journey by experienced mentors from the business units and a learning coach. This is how they get off to a successful start in their careers.
Settling in and networking
The first day of the Welcome Week was a time for settling in and getting to know each other. After a video message from CEO Adel Al-Saleh, the participants were welcomed by Klaus Newen from Learning & Development. In interactive discussions, the graduates got to know each other and were able to network right away. By immersing themselves in the Community of Practice, they were given a direct link to the T-Systems networks. In addition, the participants also had the opportunity to find out in detail about the structure, process and content of the various learning units of the Graduate Program.
Insights into the world of T-Systems
Over the course of the next few days, agile experts from TSI presented topics such as agility and mindset, and collaboration models such as communities of practice. The graduates were also allowed to get creative themselves and, for example, design paper airplanes in an agile setting.
Throughout Welcome Week, we had a good mix of representatives from across T-Systems on board, who presented their units, strategy, culture, portfolio, and individual customer projects, making T-Systems tangible. For example, the two large portfolio units Digital and Cloud or the topic of sustainability were presented and discussed. The participants were particularly impressed when they were actively involved and the speakers gave insights into real projects: What does everyday life with customers really look like and what challenges do colleagues face in international collaboration?
Personal exchange makes it easier to get started
Another highlight of the Welcome Week was the networking with the mentors who will accompany the graduates through the entire program and especially the practical assignments. The two moderators Manuel Illi and Peter Schmidt from Quality Minds, who will continue to support the graduates as learning coaches, also contributed to the good atmosphere. And of course, in spite of all the intensive exchanges and the large amount of information, fun was not to be missed. Physical activities helped the participants to clear their heads in between the sessions. At joint dinners, the Magenta After Work Party and a mystery rally through Bonn's city center in the evening, non-professional topics were also discussed and new contacts were made, making it easier to start a new job.
We wish all graduates a great start at T-Systems, many exciting challenges and are already very excited about the direction in which each individual will develop!
