What do you do at Prysmian?

I am a material scientist in the R&D department in Schwerin, Germany. In R&D I spend a lot of time working in our research laboratory, where I carry out mechanical and thermal tests on the insulation and jacketing material we are using for our energy cables. To be able to predict how our products perform after years of being used at full capacity is important, as it is a key quality factor to our customers and the end consumers.

The aim of the project I am working on is to better understand the aging process and to determine the means necessary to make improvements on the long term behavior of our products.

3 adjectives to describe your experience @Prysmian Group

My experience can be described as diverse, foresighted and innovative.

With diverse I am primarily thinking about the variety of opportunities Prysmian offer their employees in terms of job description and work location. Due to the large product range and diversity of customers there are opportunities to get involved with a range of different industries.

This means there is always something new to learn and creates a dynamic work environment.

By foresighted I am referring to the graduate program particularly. During our two-week introduction in Milan we were introduced to Prysmian top management who explained us that the graduate program is a unique opportunity for Prysmian to ensure that current know-how and competencies do not get lost. It is an investment in our and the company´s future.

Innovation is important in Prysmian although the cable industry and market are typically slow moving with few drastic or sudden changes. However innovation plays an important role in developing products based on customer specifications or new norms and standards.

What do you like most about Prysmian?

What I like the most about Prysmian is the global presence, which leads to an international work environment with colleagues from all over the world. As an example, our group of graduates from the graduate program has 40 participants from 18 different countries.

The opportunity to meet and work with people from different countries and cultures is one of my favorite aspects of my job, and I find it rewarding to work in an international environment.

What is the best thing about your job?

In my current role the best thing is that I get to spend most of my time in the lab carrying out research. After some months of training I am able to design and carry out experiments and produce results of use to the R&D department. I also highly appreciate that I receive the support and mentoring I need from my colleagues, who are training me and helping me out whenever necessary. About the graduate scheme I think the best thing is the opportunity to work in different departments during the first year to gain understanding of the company as a whole.

Why would you recommend Prysmian to a young talent?

I believe that for a young talent “learning by doing” is the best way to fully understand the company, the products and the industry. In my experience, Prysmian offers this opportunity through the graduate scheme. During the first year we receive a lot of general training which help us understand the Group as a whole. At the same time we have tasks in our local plants involving ongoing problems and the practicalities around solving them.

I find this combination of training and practical work a valuable experience, which I would recommend to anyone seeking a technical, managerial or business challenge in an interesting industry.