Eric Schnabl successfully completed an apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer at voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG Kindberg. In the following, he tells us why he feels at home in the company.
Listening to Eric Schnabl, you wouldn't think that the young man was originally born in Germany: In his likeable Mürztal dialect, he talks about his apprenticeship at voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG Kindberg - and with justifiable pride
I initially attended high school in Mürzzuschlag, but dropped out in the 7th grade. It just wasn't right for me, which is why an apprenticeship at voestalpine was my first choice.
Eric already knew the company through friends, and the geographical proximity to his home was also a great advantage.
The first few weeks were initially a bit of an adjustment for the 23-year-old: "It's a completely new world when you go from the classroom straight into a workshop. But I quickly got into the swing of things, and thanks to many nice colleagues I felt at home right from the start.
Training as a mechanical engineering technician proved to be the right step for the gifted craftsman, and he passed both the vocational school classes and the master craftsman school with distinction. And the successes did not go unnoticed.
His parents were correspondingly proud: "At first they weren't so enthusiastic about my decision, but they quickly realized that I simply enjoyed the apprenticeship more - and at the latest with my successes, they also admitted that everything had gone right.
He continues to feel at home at voestalpine: "In my day-to-day work, I deal a lot with machine repair, and what I like most is the variety. Every day is different, and I'm always faced with new challenges. I definitely want to stay with the Group and am looking forward to the future."
Where does the talent for craftsmanship come from?
Even as a child, I helped my grandfather in the workshop - so it was clear that tinkering would also make sense for me professionally.
What was challenging about the apprenticeship?
At the beginning, I had a hard time working the night shift, but you quickly get used to it. The colleagues are so nice that the eight hours go by quickly.
What's on the agenda in your free time?
Sports provide a great balance in my life: climbing, skiing, ski touring and road biking come to mind ad hoc.
In 2021, his efforts were also appreciated by the Chamber of Commerce with the "Stars of Styria Award" for his final apprenticeship examination.
